March 15th Monday

It has been very cold all day the wind still coming from the North, towards evening it shifted towards the South East. The thermometer is now 12° below zero. The sentry's voice rings out clear & sharp ["]all's well["]. I have literally done nothing today, except attend to my regular duties and put a bottom to a box of which I am endeavouring to make a desk to keep my papers and letters in. I have finished "The Country Neighbourhood"[.] I like it but it seems unsatisfactory. I do not think it has the genuine[?] [?] about it. I had loaned all the books you sent me, so I borrowed "Lorna Doone" + read a portion of that. But now I must put down in my notebook the outlines of a case of hemorrhage I have on hand. So good night.