December 27
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 27, 1997
Worked from 7-2. Showered. Went 2 Rogers' again. Went 2 Phish chat room again and met Eddie. Nicest guy—gave me a hug, sent me his pic, got my #, gonna call me this week. Lives in NC. Aahh! He makes me nervous! Had dreads, etc. I'm happy, but he's 19.
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 27, 1960
Still trying to clean up here and there. Lo shopped at noon. Went to Carrie’s with papers in the A.M. In P.M. took her groceries. Has a head cold again and owly. In P.M. had pains so went to bed early.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 27, 1938
It is a beautiful day. Almost like summer except for the coldness (which it certainly is). I got up about 9:00 and went to the bathroom. Then came back to bed and after finally getting all my writing material together I copied some of my readings in a notebook. First my fountain pen broke, then the ink leaked all over the window sill. I had to use Mother’s fountain pen and after a lot of persuasion I got it to write like I wanted it to. About 11:30 the family got up so I did, too. We ate breakfast about 12:00. Mary 'phoned to say that she could come this afternoon but she couldn’t remember what time it was so I told her. Then we talked for about 15 mins. After that I washed the dishes and cleaned my bedroom. Just as I was starting to take my bath Daddy had to shave so I had to wait for him. Meantime a girl came to the door with a Christmas gift for us. When Daddy had finished we opened it. A thing to hang in the kitchen with holders and memo pad, etc. Then I took my bath. The company was due at 2:00 and I hadn’t even finished dressing when the first guest arrived, Betty Hagameyer. She came in the bedroom and waited for me to finish. I wore my purple dress, gold belt and gold chain (around my neck) with the beautiful pin on the chain. It looked very nice and noone guessed it was a pin (until I told them). Next to arrive were Helen McCarter and Marie Burgess. Next Mary. Then came Elma, whom I hadn’t expected. She brought me a gift but I didn’t open it just then. I had every one put their wraps in my bedroom. The last to come was Ella. June Key was out of town and couldn’t be here. We then went into the dining room and all sat around the table and played “Pit.” After about raising the roof, Marie won. The required no. of points was 500 but we only played to 200. Then we played Budge-e-gar. Very noisy but Marie won again. Helen and Betty got the booby prizes. Then we all went in the living room and had an amateur contest. They did as follows:
Helen - played “A Tisket, a Tasket” on piano
Marie - sang “A Tisket, a Tasket” without piano
Ella - played “In the Garden” with one hand on piano
Elma - sang “Carolina Moon.” I played for her.
Mary - sang “In the Garden.” I played.
Betty - sang “Little Town of Bethlehem.” I played.
Mother was the judge and Helen got first and Elma second. Then they all gathered around the piano and we sang Christmas carols. I played. Sang other songs, too. Then about 4:30 Mother called us and we went in the dining room and ate. Had lots of fun. Teased Elma. I never liked Elma better than I did today. We then drank some water and went in the living room. Elma was playing some popular songs. Soon, when everyone had come in we sang some more. I played. Marie fell in love with “My Buddy” and we sang it 3 times. About 5:00 Elma had to leave but the rest of us sang until Daddy came (he had been at the office). We got him to sing a few songs for us. Then we all got ready to leave. I teased every one. Helen went home. Daddy had the car outside and drove the others home. I went along, too. Let Betty off, then Marie. Across town and left Mary and then Ella. Everyone said they’d had a wonderful time. I certainly did. Daddy had to stop at la Post Office so I waited for him in the car. We then went home. The fireplace had been going all afternoon and looked especially nice now. I opened Elma’s gift. Two pictures of ships. Very nice. Then I took some refreshments up to Allan. Came back and opened the car from Anne Blake and then the letter and snaps from Verna and Rita at Manitoba. We soon ate supper in the kitchen. Nice and warm. Then we got ready for the movies. Drove to town and went to the Princess and saw Newsreel, “Jungle Jitters,” Charlie McCarthy short and the main picture “Boy’s Town” with Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan, and Mickey Rooney, as Whitey Marsh. Very good. Sad, funny, exciting (Pee Wee). A few weeks ago we saw a short subject called “Boy’s Town” and it was the same place. There really is such a place in Nebraska and the man who started it is really Father Flanagan. Mother said she never enjoyed a picture so much. No love in it (thank goodness). Then home to the fireplace. We had some hot cocoa and fruit cake. I read the paper. There was a write-up called “The Happiest Man.” Very good. I’m going to put it in my scrap book. To bed about 11:30. End of wonderful day. Cold though.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 27, 1887
I stayed in the house the most of the forenoon to help Kate about the washing. This afternoon I spent in sawing wood in the slashing. It has been snowing all day and the snow is getting so deep it bothers me about sawing wood; it is fully a foot on the level. I feel almost used up tonight, think I must have taken some cold.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 27, 1862
Mr. Henry started this morning to the hogs, going to drive some home to slaughter. Mr. Peak left with him. Rained all day. Betsey did not go home. She finished the last one of Harrie’s socks. I began to crochet the gloves today, got the thumb started. I wish they were done as they are troublesome & my other work is needing me so badly. Mrs. Fanning has not got the negroes jeans in yet & will not soon I think. She has acted badly about that piece of cloth I think.
*(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 27, 1667
Up, and by water to White Hall, and there walked with Creed in the Matted gallery till by and by a Committee for Tangier met: the Duke of York there; and there I did discourse over to them their condition as to money, which they were all mightily, as I could desire, satisfied with, but the Duke of Albemarle, who takes the part of the Guards against us in our supplies of money, which is an odd consideration for a dull, heavy blockhead as he is, understanding no more of either than a goose: but the ability and integrity of Sir W. Coventry, in all the King’s concernments, I do and must admire. After the Committee up, I and Sir W. Coventry walked an hour in the gallery, talking over many businesses, and he tells me that there are so many things concur to make him and his Fellow Commissioners unable to go through the King’s work that he do despair of it, every body becoming an enemy to them in their retrenchments, and the King unstable, the debts great and the King’s present occasions for money great and many and pressing, the bankers broke and every body keeping in their money, while the times are doubtful what will stand. But he says had they come in two years ago they doubt not to have done what the King would by this time, or were the King in the condition as heretofore, when the Chancellor was great, to be able to have what sums of money they pleased of the Parliament, and then the ill administration was such that instead of making good use of this power and money he suffered all to go to ruin. But one such sum now would put all upon their legs, and now the King would have the Parliament give him money when they are in an ill humour and will not be willing to give any, nor are very able, and besides every body distrusts what they give the King will be lost; whereas six months hence, when they see that the King can live without them, and is become steady, and to manage what he has well, he doubts not but their doubts would be removed, and would be much more free as well as more able to give him money. He told me how some of his enemies at the Duke of York’s had got the Duke of York’s commission for the Commissioners of his estate changed, and he and Brouncker and Povy left out: that this they did do to disgrace and impose upon him at this time; but that he, though he values not the thing, did go and tell the Duke of York what he heard, and that he did not think that he had given him any reason to do this, out of his belief that he would not be as faithful and serviceable to him as the best of those that have got him put out. Whereupon the Duke of York did say that it arose only from his not knowing whether now he would have time to regard his affairs; and that, if he should, he would put him into the commission with his own hand, though the commission be passed. He answered that he had been faithful to him, and done him good service therein, so long as he could attend it; and if he had been able to have attended it more, he would not have enriched himself with such and such estates as my Lord Chancellor hath got, that did properly belong to his Royal Highness, as being forfeited to the King, and so by the King’s gift given to the Duke of York. Hereupon the Duke of York did call for the commission, and hath since put him in. This he tells me he did only to show his enemies that he is not so low as to be trod on by them, or the Duke hath any so bad opinion of him as they would think.
*(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.)