December 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 17, 1997
Exams: Art and World Civ. Okay. Went 2 mall with Ashley. Met Renée, Zach, Scott. Shopped some. We all went 2 Renée’s. (No Scott.) Ashley and Renée gave me my present from them. Nice sweater. Mom came. Had 2 rake. Wrapped Renée’s present. Went 2 Dad’s. Ate. Studied hard. (Renée.)
Crisis, age 20, London
December 17, 1980
Egg on toast. Hamburger. Soup. Woken up before 8am by Frank to go to Heathrow with him, Marion and Mark. After went to squat where Iain was very quiet. To work about 7pm, after went home and I am locked out so to Frank’s pub then 7am home to sleep. Steve P. let me in.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 17, 1938
Got up in time to go to music lesson at 9:30. Last one not till Jan. 3. Cool and cloudy. Home afterwards and cleaned house and washed dishes. Daddy home for dinner. After dinner and dishes I went over to Mrs. McClure’s to sew on the bags for Monday night. She couldn’t help me so I did them by myself. A man who stays over there was singing (trying to) “Trees,” “Sweetheart,” and others and he sounded like he had a hot potato in his mouth. Very funny. I finished about 3:30 and went home. Mother got the car, and after I left a note for Mr. McCarter about the lights, we went to town. Did some shopping and then I went to the library and got “Tale of Two Cities” and “Under Two Flags” in one book. Went back to car and waited for Mother. Then home (about 5:00) and I wrote in this journal and read “Emily’s Quest.” [In upper margin: “P.S. Daddy got holly and Christmas tree. P.S. Mr. Redding and George got G’s tree. P.S. Drove Mrs. Rodgers to town.”] A man came to see Mother about T.B. seals. After supper, for which Daddy came, I did dishes and then read. Had fire in fire place. Then to bed. Dull, cloudy, dreary day.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 17, 1887
I took a letter and a postal over to the Court House this morning to be mailed. I finished writing a paper for the Literary Society tonight. I left it with Mr. Harvey this afternoon, as I did not think I could attend very well. I practiced flourishing some this evening, but I feel too tired to work much. Una called out for “mama” on waking up once this evening, and it was very distinct. It commenced to snow a little this evening.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 17, 1862
Finished one shirt & began another. Nothing new going on in the country. The children well. It is rumoured that there is a case of small pox near Garmen’s bridge, some 4 miles from here. I hope it is not so, yet I fear it is so, it is raging in the army considerably. Very cold today.
*(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 17, 1667
Up, and to the office, where very busy all the morning, and then in the afternoon I with Sir W. Pen and Sir T. Harvy to White Hall to attend the Duke of York, who is now as well as ever, and there we did our usual business with him, and so away home with Sir W. Pen, and there to the office, where pretty late doing business, my wife having been abroad all day with Mrs. Turner buying of one thing or other. This day I do hear at White Hall that the Duke of Monmouth is sick, and in danger of the smallpox. So home to supper and to bed.
*(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.)