December 13
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 13, 1997
Sandra picked me up and I worked rom 9-4. Closed with Meri and Brian. Dad came. Showered. Took a nap. Ate and decorated the X-mas tree. Slept with Becca.
Marcy S., age 47, North Carolina
December 13, 1971
I just reread my vow to write a positive thought each day — which I haven’t done, but I have been thinking more positively and repeating to myself “Trust the Holy Spirit.” Someone who signed himself (or herself) “Lonely and Lost” had written Ann Landers a confidential letter. Her answer was that he needed to lose himself in something bigger than himself.
Maybe this Christmas can be different if I really concentrate on other people’s happiness. The more I think about others the less time I’ll have to fall into the trap of depression that took all the joy out of last Christmas.
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 13, 1960
Mary Ann came Tuesday nite. I had cleaned and picked up everything but last minute things. Over to Carries with papers. Saw Mrs. B. as usual. I had taken tree in and later got it in hall. Had to straighten it a little and decorate it, no lites.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 13, 1938
Practiced. No chapel. Usual classes. Way behind in Home Ec. Home for dinner. Back. Bad English class. In bad mood. Mary wouldn’t ask Miss Davis if she could help me with my dress in last period. So mad I nearly cried. Very selfish of me. Mother had gone over to Mrs. McClure’s for some church meeting. I cried when she had gone and felt very sorry for myself. Silly. After praying, however, I felt better. Miss Fowler said to try that but I’d never done it before. Worked, though. Practiced with a lighter heart. At 4:30 went to music lesson. Had to play for June Smalley. Went to Dress Shop after lesson and got Mother something else for Christmas. Dark. Then home. Daddy was there and soon Mother came. Mother is going over to school tonight to a club party, as Mrs. Gollihar’s guest. She ate a little supper, though. After supper I took my sewing over to Mrs. McClure’s to sew on the machine in the breakfast room. George was getting his lessons. Mrs. McClure was going over to school, too, but she helped me a little first. I sewed George’s “cap” (an old hat lining) right down the middle because he was mean. Made him mad. Mr. Redding came in late and wanted some supper. George insisted on fixing it but finally, after a big fuss, let his grandmother do it. I went home about 8:30 and not having my Algebra, Daddy had to do it for me. I took a bath and to bed. Mother home late.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 13, 1887
Did some pen work this forenoon. Richard Robins and wife came just about noon and made us a visit; I had to leave them and go to my teaching this afternoon. After school Mr. Harvey and I went over to the store and got a transom window belonging above the door to my room and put it in place also fixing the stovepipe. I practiced flourishing this evening, and finished a piece of Pen work for Mr. Montgomery, which is to hang in the post office window.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
William B., 19 years old, P.O.W. in Delaware
December 13, 1864
Wrote Cousin Minnie Anderson yesterday. No news from Genl. Warren + the Yankees are anxious about him. May God let his column be destroyed before it reaches Weldon. No news from Sherman. Weather cold but moderate towards night + rained during the night. Many officers enjoyed themselves sliding on the ice formed in the pens. Put up a Notice about my coat but could not hear anything of it.
*(William Hyslop Summer Burgwyn Private Collection, North Carolina State Archives)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 13, 1862
Finished the dresses & washed the children & put them on in the evening. They look very well for the colors. I looked for Mr. Henry all the evening. He did not come. I wish he would. Betsey did not weave any. After dinner went home, will be back Sunday evening or Monday morning. I am very tired this evening. I have done sundry mending tonight & knit some. Sam & the others have killed three hogs this week. They were not very fat.
*(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 13, 1667
Up, lying long all alone (my wife lying for these two or three days of sickness alone), thinking of my several businesses in hand, and then rose and to the office, being in some doubt of having my cozen Roger and Lord Hinchinbroke and Sir Thos. Crew by my cozens invitation at dinner to-day, and we wholly unprovided. So I away to Westminster, to the Parliament-door, to speak with Roger: and here I saw my Lord Keeling go into the House to the barr, to have his business heard by the whole House to-day; and a great crowd of people to stare upon him. Here I hear that the Lords’ Bill for banishing and disabling my Lord Clarendon from bearing any office, or being in the King’s dominions, and its being made felony for any to correspond with him but his own children, is brought to the Commons: but they will not agree to it, being not satisfied with that as sufficient, but will have a Bill of Attainder brought in against him: but they make use of this against the Lords, that they, that would not think there was cause enough to commit him without hearing, will have him banished without hearing. By and by comes out my cozen Roger to me, he being not willing to be in the House at the business of my Lord Keeling, lest he should be called upon to complain against him for his abusing him at Cambridge, very wrongfully and shamefully, but not to his reproach, but to the Chief justice’s in the end, when all the world cried shame upon him for it. So he with me home, and Creed, whom I took up by the way, going thither, and they to dine with me, and pretty merry, and among other pieces of news, it is now fresh that the King of Portugall is deposed, and his brother made King; and that my Lord Sandwich is gone from Madrid with great honour to Lisbon, to make up, at this juncture, a peace to the advantage, as the Spaniard would have it, of Spain. I wish it may be for my Lord’s honour, if it be so; but it seems my Lord is in mighty estimation in Spain. After dinner comes Mr. Moore, and he and I alone a while, he telling me my Lord Sandwich’s credit is like to be undone, if the bill of 200l. my Lord Hinchingbroke wrote to me about be not paid to-morrow, and that, if I do not help him about it, they have no way but to let it be protested. So, finding that Creed hath supplied them with 150l. in their straits, and that this is no bigger sum, I am very willing to serve my Lord, though not in this kind; but yet I will endeavour to get this done for them, and the rather because of some plate that was lodged the other day with me, by my Lady’s order, which may be in part of security for my money, as I may order it, for, for ought I see, there is no other to be hoped for. This do trouble me; but yet it is good luck that the sum is no bigger. He gone, I with my cozen Roger to Westminster Hall; and there we met the House rising: and they have voted my Lord Chief Justice Keeling’s proceedings illegal; but that, out of particular respect to him, and the mediation of a great many, they have resolved to proceed no further against him. After a turn or two with my cozen, I away with Sir W. Warren, who met me here by my desire, and to Exeter House, and there to counsel, to Sir William Turner, about the business of my bargain with my Lady Batten; and he do give me good advice, and that I am safe, but that there is a great many pretty considerations in it that makes it necessary for me to be silent yet for a while till we see whether the ship be safe or no; for she is drove to the coast of Holland, where she now is in the Texell, so that it is not prudence for me yet to resolve whether I will stand by the bargain or no, and so home, and Sir W. Warren and I walked upon Tower Hill by moonlight a great while, consulting business of the office and our present condition, which is but bad, it being most likely that the Parliament will change all hands, and so let them, so I may keep but what I have. Thence home, and there spent the evening at home with my wife and entering my journal, and so to supper and to bed, troubled with my parting with the 200l., which I must lend my Lord Sandwich to answer his bill of exchange.
*(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.)