December 2
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 2, 1997
Me and Zach went 2 Renée’s without Renée ’cause she had 2 talk 2 her boss, but she came later. Mom came at 4. We went 2 the mall and got me a cheesy outfit and shoes. It looks preppy, but nice. Did some homework. Evan came 4 guitar. Good. Did homework. Had Chik-Fil-A 4 dinner.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
December 2, 1960
Was at Mrs. B.’s in forenoon had coffee. She going home with Myrtle in P.M. Joe came and disconnected tubs. Later Jim and Ralph came, broke it up and took it away. So heavy. Did some ironing. Carrie went downtown in P.M. and to Mrs. Merchants at nite! Caught cold.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 2, 1938
Didn’t practice. Went to school. No chapel. Usual classes. I wore my green knitted skirt, a pink lace waist with a green and white chain of beads with a “shade puller” on it (a little basket of roses, pink, white and green; the Lofts sent 2 of them to me a few years ago. I took it off one of my bedroom shades). Everyone said it was very pretty. I told some of them what it really was. In Home Ec. class Nancy had a splinter in her thumb so I basted part of her uniform for her. Mrs. Cummins came back to see how I was getting along. She didn’t mind my helping Nancy. She whispered to me that her niece (Joe’s sister, I guess) was coming tomorrow and that she would like me to look after her because she (Mrs. Cummins) was going to Knoxville and she didn’t think her niece would want to go. Here’s hoping they don’t even come. Then Algebra. Home for dinner after planning with Mary about this afternoon. Back to school. Martha and Mary me me at the top of the steps. Mary can go to town. During study-period they sent us in the library. I sat at the same table with Mary and Elma. I got most of my lessons. Then English class. I got my Eng. lesson for Mon. in class and had time to read “Enchanted Barn” a little. Then in last period I was able to read all the time. Nancy Wallace sat at the same table I did, though, so I talked to her a little and drew dolls. When school was out Mary and I started for town and were going to walk with Elma but Arthur came along so we went on ahead and left Elma to him. Mary and I went straight for the library where we got the Latin book to get our report out of. Arthur came in and later Elma. Ella came for a few mins. Jean Davidson also, came and waited for the Latin book. I finished before Mary so I waited for her. We got tickled a lot. Then we went to Cate’s where I got some apron goods for Mother for Christmas. Just as we were leaving George came in. I was going to wait for him but he couldn’t get waited on so M. and I left. We just went around the corner, however and I was begging Mary to go my way and she to go her way. Finally I persuaded her. Just then George passed with some girls going up another way. I called him so he came with Mary and I. Mary walked as far as Pres. Church with me and then she tried to get me to walk down to the garage with her but it was dark so I couldn’t. We parted and G. and I walked home. I went in the house but Mother wasn’t home, although the light was on. So I went over part way to the garage but the car wasn’t there. I then came back and went over to George’s. He was listening to the radio. In a few mins. Mother came so I went home. I practiced a little and about 6:15 we ate supper. Daddy didn’t get home. While Mother dressed I washed the dishes. At 10 till 7:00 I remembered that the performance started at 15 till so we flew around and got started as soon as possible. Very warm night. Just like spring. Drove to town and went to the Princess Theater. I sat farther down than Mother, who sat near Mrs. Rodgers. We got in just as it started. There was a very good short. About a family going to Hollywood and talking about movies. Then a newsreel. Finally the main picture, “Valley of the Giants” with Wayne Morris, Claire Trevor and others. Very exciting and funny. A man sat next to me and then a little boy who kept coming in and out etc. Quite tiring. After the picture M. and I drove home. Daddy not home yet. I finished the dishes and then to bed. Have had wonderful day.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 2, 1887
It was snowing when we arose this morning, and stormed a good share of the forenoon, but it turned into rain at noon and has been quite warm all the day. Kate’s thumb pains her a good deal tonight, and I am afraid she may be very sick with it yet. I am so tired tonight that I have done no studying at all.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 2, 1862
Made 10 sacks for the flour Mr. Henry wrote for. Finished Lonzo’s shirt & began Hanes’. Finished Hanes’ after night & sewed some on Charlie’s so that was a very good day & night’s work. A good deal cooler today. Nothing of interest going on. Boyd at work at the loom. George grinding the flour. The other hands putting in wheat. Old Jim Night is going with the waggon.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 34, London
December 2, 1667
Up, and then abroad to Alderman Backewell’s (who was sick of a cold in bed), and then to the Excise Office, where I find Mr. Ball out of humour in expectation of being put out of his office by the change of the farm of the excise. There comes Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I to Westminster, and there walked up and down till noon, where all the business is that the Lords’ answer is come down to the Commons, that they are not satisfied in the Commons’ Reasons: and so the Commons are hot, and like to sit all day upon the business what to do herein, most thinking that they will remonstrate against the Lords. Thence to Lord Crew’s, and there dined with him; where, after dinner, he took me aside, and bewailed the condition of the nation, how the King and his brother are at a distance about this business of the Chancellor, and the two Houses differing.: and he do believe that there are so many about the King like to be concerned and troubled by the Parliament, that they will get him to dissolve or prorogue the Parliament; and the rather, for that the King is likely, by this good husbandry of the Treasury, to get out of debt, and the Parliament is likely to give no money. Among other things, my Lord Crew did tell me, with grief, that he hears that the King of late hath not dined nor supped with the Queen, as he used of late to do. After a little discourse, Mr. Caesar, he dining there, did give us some musique on his lute (Mr. John Crew being there) to my great content, and then away I, and Mr. Caesar followed me and told me that my boy Tom hath this day declared to him that he cared not for the French lute and would learn no more, which Caesar out of faithfulness tells me that I might not spend any more money on him in vain. I shall take the boy to task about it, though I am contented to save my money if the boy knows not what is good for himself. So thanked him, and indeed he is a very honest man I believe, and away home, there to get something ready for the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and so took my wife and girle and set them at Unthanke’s, and I to White Hall, and there with the Commissioners of the Treasury, who I find in mighty good condition to go on in payment of the seamen off, and thence I to Westminster Hall, where I met with my cozen Roger and walked a good while with him; he tells me of the high vote of the Commons this afternoon, which I also heard at White Hall, that the proceedings of the Lords in the case of my Lord Clarendon are an obstruction to justice, and of ill precedent to future times. This makes every body wonder what will be the effect of it, most thinking that the King will try him by his own Commission. It seems they were mighty high to have remonstrated, but some said that was too great an appeale to the people. Roger is mighty full of fears of the consequence of it, and wishes the King would dissolve them. So we parted, and I bought some Scotch cakes at Wilkinson’s in King Street, and called my wife, and home, and there to supper, talk, and to bed. Supped upon these cakes, of which I have eat none since we lived at Westminster. This night our poor little dogg Fancy was in a strange fit, through age, of which she has had five or six.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)