Dec. 2--Washed and cleaned four blankets and clothing. Chief Scherum came by with four bundles of hay and himself on a burro about as big as a good-sized dog--he stopped and spoke--not a bad-looking Indian.

Dec. 3--Washed all day--the weather has been so delightful--warm--not a cloud--stand out of doors and wash and rinse in cold water--dry a blanket in a few hours. One of Chief Scherum's boys came by on a horse and good saddle--he got off and stood at the door--they never enter a house if anyone is in it. Or if the door is closed. I gave him a piece of bread and butter and an onion--he smiled all over.

Dec. 4--Finished cleaning and patched ever so much; 'Will' went to Park to take the burros home and get the mail--looking for letters from home.

Dec.5,Sun.--Clear and warm--not working today--dressed up for company--Mr. Thomas Burke came to see us--stayed for dinner--had steak, potatoes, dried corn, light bread, buckwheat cakes, pies, butter, lemon butter, jelly, maple molasses, dried apples, coffee and tea. Mr. Burke gave us some fine specimens--he says I am the first white woman ever in this basin.

Dc. 6--Washed and mended; weather clear and warm--men at work on I.O.U.

Dec. 7--Baked and parched. Live on the trail from Canyon station to Stockton--Indians passing very day--stop to look in--do not come inside or molest anything.

Dec. 8--Went with the men--are working assessments for Mr. Burke on Fairview Claim--is about l� miles from cabin down a very steep mountain, near Mr. Elliber's cattle ranch on edge of _____.

Dec. 9-Rained some last night--is cold and looks for snow.

Dec. 10--Snowed a little--ice thin as knife blade--first have seen since coming here--baked and read--men at work.

Dec. 11--Warmer and clear--baked pies--read novels of which there are dozens here. Tom Burke came today to stay all night.

Dec. 12, Sun.--John, Jim and I went to look at the spring 3� miles up the valley--have just got back.

Dec. 13--Washed--did not iron as Chief Scherum's wives, my nearest neighbors four miles away, use any irons to judge by the look of their apparel--made sometimes of red calico or plain sacks (flour sacks) or blankets--baked too, so I could go with the men to the spring.

Dec. 14--Went to the spring--they are digging along a trench making the spring deep and making a sump to get more water, of the valley[sic]--took dinner along--had quite a picnic under a cedar tree--the only thing that can be called a tree on this mountain--some piñons--got some lovely cactus to take home--and lots of needles in my hands to take out--then men killed a scorpion the day before--I did not see it.

Dec. 15--Went to the spring--it is seven miles there and back--climbed the highest butte I could near the spring--found it quite a climb.

Dec. 16--Went to the spring--met Chief Scherum; 'Will' had quite a talk with him as he can speak some English.

Dec. 17--Went to the spring--we took dinner along---and made tea there; it has been so warm every day the butter gets quite soft.

Dec. 18--Stayed at home to bake--so warm I can scarcely keep the door locked--afraid to leave it open.

Dec.19, Sun.--'Will' went to the Park for the news--Tom came over and we went to the I.O.U. mine and from there to the falls--the most picturesque spot around here--the water falls about ten feet into a natural bath tub formed by the action of the water--it is large enough for a grown person to bathe comfortably in--is a solid rock and white as marble--from thence the water falls eighty feet to the bottom of the canyon--the rocks on one side rise perpendicularly to a height of 100 ft.

Dec. 20--Washed and made some bolsters; 'Will' did not go to work--not feeling so well.

Dec. 21--Made pillows--changed the feathers and washed the boys' pillows--do not feel so good--three little Indian boys came to see me--'Will' not savee what they said.

Dec. 22--The last day the men will have to work on the spring to do the assessment--'Will' did not go--is hunting horse he wants to buy.

Dec. 23--Men are working on I.O.U. mine--'Will' did not find the horse.

Dec. 24--'Will' went to the Park--am baking pone bread, rusk and ginger bread with[out] milk or eggs--with condensed milk.

Dec. 25--Xmas--Bright beautiful weather--John hunted the forenoon--got 2 quails--Jim hunted the afternoon--got nothing--alone all day.

Dec. 26, Sun.--Jim went into the valley to hunt--got five quail and one cottontail--John and I took a walk to the Westmoreland claim, then to the Monarch and in sight of the Stockton, then home by the way of the IXL.

Dec. 27--Washed a little; had the pounded roots of yucca soaked--washed with the water--is better than the spring water--it is what the Indians use as soap.

Dec. 28--Baked and read novels and talked to Tom Burke who was here for supper.

Dec. 29--'Will' went to help Tom; John went to hunt and Jim went to dig--John got three quail and a road-runner--will have pot pie for supper--quite warm and clear.

Dec. 30--Men working at mine--I have been getting cacti to take inside and dry to shell to take home for hanging baskets.

Dec. 31--'Will' went to the Park for letters--got some more cacti.