that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. In
him I trust.

SUNDAY, January 1. Attend the burial of old Mother Baer, at Brother
George Kline's. Age, ninety-six years, four months and twenty days.

THURSDAY, February 3. Perform the marriage ceremony of Michael May and
Julian Custer at George Riddle's.

About this time Brother Kline became deeply interested in the
construction and erection of a bridge across a ford in the North Fork
of the Shenandoah river. His design in this, however, included more
than the avoidance of one dangerous ford; it took in two others. It
was equivalent to spanning three bad fords with one bridge. His plan,
which has since been exactly carried into effect, was to cut down the
end of the mountain in the Gap where it projects into the river, open
up a good highway through the cut, and thus shorten the distance very
materially and shun two dangerous and ever-shifting fords, one above
and the other below the cut. His patience and perseverance in this
great enterprise yielded to no discouragements, and he saw the bridge
built, and the projecting end of the mountain cut down. Like all other
men who have embarked in great enterprises above or beyond the grasp
of ordinary comprehension, he had to combat opposition from some who
should, on the score of direct personal interest in the improvement,
have been most willing to aid in the work. Brother Kline did not live
to see his design fully executed, but it has been carried into effect
within the last decade by the construction of a new bridge upon the
old abutments, and a new road on the very line he proposed. As the
improvement under consideration is a very great one, and originally
undertaken by individual contributions; and as future generations may
wish to know who the prime movers were, and when the first move was
made, the following entry in the Diary will be given here:

FRIDAY, February 25. Attend a meeting of some public-spirited men, at
Samuel Coots's store near the Gap, for the purpose of agreeing upon
the construction of a bridge across the river near the store; for
cutting down the face of the Gap Rock; for making a new road through
the Cut; and for raising funds to meet the same.

Samuel Coots, State Senator from Rockingham County, took an active
part. Abraham Funk, Benjamin Bowman, John J. Bowman, with many other
prominent citizens, nearly or quite all of whom have passed away,
deserve to have their names enrolled a