From Miriam Webster: Tedious has been in use since the 15th century and has been included in hundreds of dictionaries, although perhaps none have rendered so poetic and succinct a definition as Nathaniel Bailey’s entry in his 1756 “ New Universal Etomological English Dictionary”: “Wearisome by continuance.”
It’s January in Leelanau County and we are in the grip of a major winter storm, with temperatures hovering around zero degrees and winds howling. Schools are closed and we sit indoors and look out, grateful that we are warm and safe. On days like this Reverend Smith of Northport would be housebound, stoking fires, keeping warm, having church meetings when possible. Of course, the animals still needed tending. Imagine the challenges of getting water to your horses and cattle when the wind howls, the snow drifts, and the temperature plummets. It would involve buckets and hand pumps, gloves and boots, and digging snow to even reach the barn (no snowblower involved):
• Jan 1st 1864 Mer 0°– 8°– 14 16º Wind W, a most furious gale – Snow drifting so that we can scarcely see & piled up in great banks every where so it is almost impossible to get out door any where it is probably 4 feet all around our West door, the window nearby banked up! I have been 3 to Mary’s [his daughter, up the hill] by wallowing through the banks. Carried some fresh beef, onions & c – it is a fearful time I think I never knew so severe a day – thus begins the New Year
