December 23
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 23, 1997
Kathy came at 11:00. Showered. Did Jane Fonda abs tape. Worked on glitter presents. (Mom’s and Eddie’s.) Me and Kathy went 2 the mall. Got Em a CD and Eddie a candle. Em came at 5:30 and we went 2 Eddie’s. We got remote control cars! Home at 9:00. Courtney came with Liam, Andy, Thor, and Travis. Left at 10:30. “Beauty and Beast.”
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 23, 1960
13 degrees below this A.M. Not so windy later it came up. Went to Carrie’s with papers and over to Mrs. B.’s to read letters. Her sister coming today. Sort of planning things for tomorrow.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 23, 1938
Guess how late I slept!?!?! ’Till 1:00 P.M.!!!! I woke at 9:00 and told Mother I’d be up in a few mins. but I went to sleep for 4 hours more. Had bad dream about snakes but beautiful dream about wonderful view, lovely castle and Sandy. Rainy, cloudy, dull day. Daddy not home. Mother ate a 2nd breakfast with me. Then I wrote in this while Mother took a nap in the living room and later I made Mary a Christmas card in the l.r. and painted it. Helen came with another holder for Mother and soon after she had left Mrs. Martin came over with my Christmas gift. (She just got in from Dayton for Christmas.) About 5:00 I finished the card and washed the dishes. Mother washed her hair. Then I read till supper time. Daddy came. We had a dinner. At 7:00 we heard the Christmas play, on Little Theater. Then George Burns and Gracie Allen. Very funny. At 8:00 we got the car and took Margaret Scott (who is at George’s awhile) and George around town and over to South Harriman to see the Christmas decorations. Got back in time to hear Death Valley. Very good. Then dishes, bath and to bed. Rained all day. Mrs. Henley died of T.B.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 23, 1887
A raging old storm set in this morning and continued all day. I went up to the College this forenoon and finished my teaching for this term and for 1887. Sawed a little wood this afternoon to keep us going. Cut Kate’s hair. Fred Neill came over this evening and ordered more cards, which I have just written. He told Kate she could go along with them to the Christmas tree, but she don’t know as she will be able.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 23, 1862
Finished Zona’s dress & knit some on Harrie’s sock. Mrs. Jamison came here today & Betsey. Warped a piece of flannel & blankets & got it in the loom ready for weaving. Betsey is to weave it. Nothing new going on. All are well. Willie’s bowels loose.
*(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 23, 1667
Up before day, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry’s, and with him to White Hall, and there walked a great while with him in the garden till the Commissioners of the Treasury met, and there talked over many businesses, and particularly he tells me that by my desire he hath moved the Duke of York that Sir J. Minnes might be removed from the Navy, at least the Controller’s place, and his business put on my Lord Brouncker and Sir W. Pen; that the Committee for Accounts are good sober men, and such as he thinks we shall have fair play from; that he hopes that the kingdom will escape ruin in general, notwithstanding all our fears, and yet I find he do seem not very confident in it. So to the Commissioners of the Treasury, and there I had a dispute before them with Sir Stephen Fox about our orders for money, who is very angry, but I value it not. But, Lord! to see with what folly my Lord Albemarle do speak in this business would make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool. Thence meeting there with Creed, he and I to the Exchange, and there I saw Carr stand in the pillory for the business of my Lord Gerard, which is supposed will make a hot business in the House of Commons, when they shall come to sit again, the Lords having ordered this with great injustice, as all people think, his only fault being the printing his petition before, by accident, his petition be read in the House. Here walked up and down the Exchange with Creed, and then home to dinner, and there hear by Creed that the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester, and the Dean of the Chapel, and some other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lords; and I believe it will be a heavy blow to the Clergy. This noon I bought a sermon of Dr. Floyd’s, which Creed read a great part of to me and Mr. Hollier, who dined with me, but as well writ and as good, against the Church of Rome, as ever I read; but, Lord! how Hollier, poor man, was taken with it. They gone I to the office, and there very late with Mr. Willson and my people about the making of a new contract for the victualler, which do and will require a great deal of pains of me, and so to supper and to bed, my wife being pretty well all this day by reason of her imposthume being broke in her cheek into her mouth. This day, at the ’Change, Creed shewed me Mr. Coleman, of whom my wife hath so good an opinion, and says that he is as very a rogue for women as any in the world; which did disquiet me, like a fool, and run in my mind a great while.
*(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.)