Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

We enjoyed the drive to Werner’s – and the visit into this quaint little German couple. She is 79, he 87 – She said they had sold the farm to the son for $4000. They were not happy about it, and she in particular, said that the son would not hire a house-keeper, but expected her to do the cooking for the family (consisting of 4) – when she had long ago expected to spend her last years relieved of such duties as is her right.
The son, as they told us, no longer “furnishes” the syrup at the house, clarifying it with milk, but does it all at the camp, and relies on a special straining cloth to do the clarifying. The syrup was higher in price & we took only six gallon – and it was good for us we did – for when we got home, we discovered it was no longer of the same high quality. In fact, we wished we had brought considerably less of it.
Apr. 24 – (Sat.) –
Example of how a tiny incident will start a train of thought, and lead one to do that which is against his better judgment: Grace Milsom told Martha she had nominated me as a juror for the W. N. Y. chair, but was told I was to be an exhibitor – I had not intended showing but the remark made me wonder if I should, and B seemed to think too perhaps I should, as a gesture of good-