worldwide.) It goes through to the bone. (6 words, also absolutely true.) No fire is hot enough to warm the January chills. (10 words, very true.) That's what the field hands spend their time doing in January — looking for something to eat and a warm place to eat it. (23 words, everybody needs warmth and even that's hard to find too.)
Most of the little children in the Quarters don't have shoes or warm clothes. (14 words, the very poor kids.)
Mothers come to Aunt Tee's cabin to get salves and root potions. (12 words, help wherever and whenever you can when possible!)
I been working hard in the kitchen and the Big House, slipping out food a-plenty. (15 words, people must have gotten really dumb to never even notice at all about this.)

160: 179th diary entry annotated.
Tuesday, January 10, 1860 (Florida leaves the United States the following year on this day.)
Miz Lilly called me to her room today. (8 words, why?) Jumped right on me — talking about why I didn't tell her about Spicy and Mr. Harms. (16 words, well, the answer to say is obvious.) "I didn't know." (3 words, yes make it seem like you never knew.) She took my shoulders in each hand. (7 words)
Then she sighed. "Clotee, you could be my pet, my favorite, if you let me. You're so bright and pretty just like your mama. (24 words, that's the last thing she would ever want.) Did you know, we were best friends? — always laughing and laughing, like silly girls do. (15 words, I really still have a hard time believing that, honestly.) Then we got all grown-up . . . She made the most lovely gowns for me and my sisters." (16 words, only believe you about that part.) "Then you let her go." God, help me to keep my mouth. (12 words, Amen girl, Amen indeed.) Miz Lilly eyed me hard. "Go on now, get out of here," she said. "You're useless." (16 words, well it's because you kept hounding her she never wants to say anything, ma'am.)

161: 180th diary entry annotated.
Wednesday, January 11, 1860
True to his word, Mas' Henley freed Hince today. (9 words, nice actually kept his said word.) I sneaked paper out of the study while dusting a while back. (12 words, bold as ever, honestly.) So, I've made a copy of the way a free paper is made up, and I got a copy of Mas' Henley's sign'ture. (23 words, copying was such a big fuss back then as it is today especially concerning signature fraud.) Hince can't leave though, because Mas' Henley say the papers have to be took to the courthouse. (17 words, Master Henley is being a good citizen here.)

162: 181st diary entry annotated.
Sunday
Now that Mr. Harms is gone and we don't have no more study time, I don't know what the date is. (21 words, I already figured that.) But today is Sunday. (4 words) Missy done made sure everybody in the Quarters thinks Spicy is a bad girl. (14 words, she don't even know it was a pure setup of a rumored plan, hilarious.)
Hince staying his distance for a spell. (7 words, good idea just for now, before you accidentally beat up somebody in the Quarters for messing around about your girl and insulting her dignity.) As long as Hince and Spicy know the truth, that's all that matters. (13 words, that's so truthful indeed.) Aunt Tee's pot is mighty low. (6 words, oh no, that's not really good at all.) Not enough to make a meal for us, never mind anybody else. (12 words, that's bad.)
Still she tries. Sharing what we got. (7 words, what a woman!) This plantation makes us all kin," she say. "Not by blood, but by suffering." (14 words, that is one very intimate way to look at it now.)

163: 182nd diary entry annotated.

January cold
My fingers are cold. My feet are cold. (8 words, the damage of the winter month cold do deal their damage to slaves.) My nose is cold. I cough all the time. (9 words, not surprised, winter cold will make you very sick.) My head hurts. This is the coldest winter of my life. (11 words, I know what one of those have felt like for awhile cause I had one of my own in September/October one or the other Hocking Hills National Park I woke up one when I could feel the chill through and sleeping bag and just kept shivering all the time until I was put in our car and the car heat was turned on. I remember the dark blue cloudless night sky I was having to walk under shivering. I have never come that close to a cold chill since, but man that was pretty bad honestly, Skylights.)
I stay by the fire, but I'm never warm. (9 words, I feel you girl.)
In the room over the kitchen it was always warm and comfortable. (12 words, when the kitchen was also filled with endless movement too so that kept the heat more abundant also.)
I sleep in a fit and wake up tired. (9 words, this has happened to me.) I will speak to Miz Lilly about getting some of the old blankets in the upstairs room of the Big House. (21 words, you can make an effort to try.)
Everybody gathered around Aunt Tee tonight. (6 words, she's similar to a Guardian Angel in the way she nurtures everybody physically and mentally.) They seem to find hope in her spirit to keep going. (11 words, she is a very wise respected clever old woman
Somebody sang —

Rabbits in the briar patch,
Squirrel in the tree,
Wish I could go hunting
But I ain't free.
Rooster's in the henhouse
Hen's in the patch,
Love to go shooting

But I ain't free.

"We going to eat tomorrow," say Aunt Tee. "Don't you worry."

164: 183rd diary entry annotated.
Next day
Most times Miz Lilly is cold and mean. (8 words, very true.)
Today, she found a little kind piece hidden away in a pocket of her heart. (15 words, I'm pretty sure it was also a gift for helping William be able to stand again. She knows you were assigned to help with such a basic task.)
I told her how bad it was in the Quarters.
"It has been a bad winter." (6 words, wow!)
She let us take quilts and shirts and shoes down to the Quarters. (13 words, she cares that people stay warm at least in the Quarters that's something.) Boxes of stuff. It was like the Big Times all over again. (12 words, wow! Kept so much clothing up their unused totally crazy.)
While Miz Lilly was busy helping me in the attic, Aunt Tee slipped and rung the necks of two hens and had them in the pot with dumplings before anybody could say "how-do-you-do." (33 words, pretty gutsy still for an old woman today.)
Aunt Tee was good on her word. (7 words, course she is, you can always trust to say a promise and keep it no matter what she's faced down with afterwards.)
We ate good tonight. (4 words, yep that's a true win, Skylights.)

165: 184th diary entry annotated
Day or so later
My head hurts. My arms and legs hurt.
Even my teeth hurt. I can't write any more. (17 words, nothing to say except this is an indication of very sour weather days coming up.)