Upon Which Lennie Has a Shocking Week

Okay, okay, I'm playing with you. Lennie indeed had a "shocking" week but the word refers to working in the oat fields.

The photos are vintage photos found online and are of this era or close to it. (Click for a closer view.)

The first photo is in an oat field. The second is in wheat, but I'm thinking both oats and wheat were harvested in similar manner. Lennie was undoubtedly working for a nearby farmer. While the men worked in the field the farmer's wife would be cooking up a storm, making sure each man had a good portion of vittles including pie for dessert. A farmer always fed his hired crew.

Sunday, July 17, 1898
A hot day.
Wind blew hard all day.
Union meeting.

Monday, July 18, 1898
Tried to fix Guy's wheel.
93 in the shade.
Took possession of Santiago yesterday.
(Lennie is writing in reference to Santiago, Cuba, and the surrender of the Spanish forces to General Shafter, U.S. Army. You can read about that in the Omaha Daily Bee for this date by clicking here. You may have to enlarge the page to read it. )

Tuesday, July 19, 1898
Came out Peterson's last night.
Rained this morning.
Shocked oats in the afternoon.

Wednesday, July 20, 1898
Shocked oats.

Thursday, July 21, 1898
Shocked oats.
IOGT had picknick in Dixon's Grove.

Friday, July 22, 1898
Shocked oats.
Cut weeds in afternoon.
Came in town to IOGT.
Out for 3 mo.

Saturday, July 23, 1898
Cut weeds in morning.
Shocked hay in afternoon.
Band in town at night.
Got a watch.
Next week Lennie's friend, Joe Peterson, will have been impressed by Lennie's new watch and will be ordering one for himself.