December 29
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
December 29, 1997
Up at 12:00! Mrs. D. gave me a ride home. Thought I had 2 work but they called and said they didn't need me. Cleaned. Ate. Courtney came at 9:00. She was pissed at her Mom. We talked some. Went outside, watched TV. Bummed 'cause she didn't have a car.
Anna L., age 76, Illinois
December 29, 1960
Woke up at 5:00, decided I’d do some washing, no big pieces until next week. Mrs. B came later than usual so fixed scram. eggs and bacon. Lo to have hair done. Clothes of course froze stiff but seemed good they are clean.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
December 29, 1938
It is a cloudy, cold day. I wrote when I woke up until nearly 12:30, when Mother and Daddy called me for breakfast. After that I dressed and ironed Mother’s slip. Then I washed the dishes. About 15 till 2:00 Mother and Daddy left for the Methodist Church where Daddy is to sing at a funeral. Mary Ballard I think. Mrs. D’Armmond, the mayor’s wife, died yesterday. Funeral Sat. I was just getting ready to go up to Helen’s when a C.C.C. boy came with some T.B. seals.Then the vegetable woman. Then, as I was practically going out the door, the telephone rang and it was Mary saying her mother had my smock ready to try on and could I come over then. Of course I had to. Mary was coming to meet me partway. We met over by the Junction. Had to wait for a train to get by. Went over to her house and I tried on my smock while Mrs. Farmer fixed it for me. Another lady, a neighbor of theirs, came in and when introduced to me, said she felt she already knew me because Mary talked about me so much. About 2:30 we left and Mary walked nearly to the Pres. Church with me. We talked nearly an hour! Too cold to stand and talk any longer so we separated. I got home about 3:30. Daddy was there but Mother was at town. I wrote some Christmas thank-you notes. Soon Mother came and about 4:00 she left for Rockwood to see Vivian. Daddy wrote New Year’s cards and I sat in front of the fireplace and read “Under Two Flags.” I read, without stopping, ’till 6:15. Mother got home about 5:30. We ate supper around 6:30. Then I washed the dishes. I felt very sleepy, as though I had been drugged. I felt weak and all shaky, but it passed off. About 20 till 8:00 we all took the car and went to the post office. Then I waited in the car while M. and D. went into the D’Armmonds a few mins. We got home at 4 mins. after 8:00. Listened Maxwell House Program. Snooks (Fannie Brice) and her daddy (pretend-like) were very funny. Lionel Barrymore was in a play, on the same program. Very good. From 9:00 till about 20 till 10:00 I read “Under Two Flags” (Bertie Cecil). Very good. So interesting. I didn’t want to stop. From then till about 10:00 Daddy and I sang “A Little Love, A Little Kiss.” Mother played. My voice was extraly good. Got high notes fine (Mother said). Then to bed. Lay awake and thought till nearly 12:00.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
December 29, 1887
The storm and wind lasted until noon today. I started to go up town this forenoon, but did not go farther than Neill’s; it was bad walking. Fred brought my mail to me this afternoon. I had a letter from Isaac’s on business. I went up town myself this afternoon and called at Mr. Harvey’s, then got a shovel for snow, and a few other things and came home.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
December 29, 1862
Old Mr. Parker died yesterday morning. He has been to see his son in the 60th Reg. & came home sick. Only lived a few days after he returned. Tom Parker died whilst he was there. George Boyd died a short time ago in the same Reg. I crochet some on Harrie’s glove today & went to Parker’s burial, but few people there. I went in the buggy. Charlie drove. The children rode as far as the mill & then came back. Zona cried a little to go with me. Miss Mathies brought home Harrie’s socks this evening not knit as I directed, so I only paid her 50 cts.
*(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 29, 1667
(Lord’s day). Up, and at my chamber all the day, both morning and afternoon (only a little at dinner with my wife alone), upon the settling of my Tangier accounts towards the evening of all reckonings now against the new year, and here I do see the great folly of letting things go long unevened, it being very hard for me and dangerous to state after things are gone out of memory, and much more would be so should I have died in this time and my accounts come to other hands, to understand which would never be. At night comes Mrs. Turner to see us; and there, among other talk, she tells me that Mr. William Pen, who is lately come over from Ireland, is a Quaker again, or some very melancholy thing; that he cares for no company, nor comes into any which is a pleasant thing, after his being abroad so long, and his father such a hypocritical rogue, and at this time an Atheist. She gone, I to my very great content do find my accounts to come very even and naturally, and so 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.)