Stornoway in the 1930s. The site of Matthew Russell’s shop where Charles Morrison worked as a salesman is located directly above the ferry terminal offices (a beautiful art deco building, regrettably demolished very recently), with a red roof. (K. Morrison)

Monday 12^th January

Received a letter from Jno Melville Glasgow. I saw in the Inverness Courier that Mary Forbes was married on the 30^th Dec.

Tuesday 13^th January

Blew very hard & rained heavily all day. Very busy sold a quantity of meal. Row with D. McLeod Crossbost

Wednesday 14^th January

Fair today. Dreamt last night of being in G – – – house and also going wrong in singing in church

Very busy today

Thursday 15^th January

After 5 weeks illness Miss Margaret McDonald died this morning at 10 minutes to 6 o’clock.

Friday 16^th January

Fine day. I was chusing tonight the valentines to be ordered.

Saturday 17^th January

Rained and blew very hard all day. Today as far as I recollect I have seen a corpse for the first time that of Margaret McDonald’s how changed and how pale Death has made her.

Sunday 18^th January

In the morning Mr Graham preached from John 6^th chapter 54^th verse Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day shewing the expiatory nature of Christ’s sufferings and that it is by faith alone that one can realise & appreciate the full meaning of the texts In the afternoon Mr McKenzie the two remaining heads of his sermon last Sabbath. After dinner I went to see Miss Elizabeth McDonald. In the evening Mr Graham preached from Exodus 3^rd chapter the 2^nd to the end of the 6^th verse Wherein he represented the burning bush in the wilderness to the church. I was precenting in the morning and evening.