Barnes discusses a possible visit from his mother and muses on life in general, saying ". . . we Rise in the morning full of vigorous hope and expectation and we find that our hopes are all Blasted and expectation are disappointed. . . ." The author also describes the recent harvest, saying that the cold and wet have led to unfavorable corn and wheat crops. Hopes that the area will benefit from the upcoming construction of a railroad from New York to Buffalo, running within 15 miles of Centerville.