November 19
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
November 19, 1997
Good day. Justin Hooks is the best guy ever. All my friends are awesome, but I’m still missing Courtney more than ever. Went home with Ashley. Me and Mom got me a new book bag. Dad came. Had dinner. Did my shit load of homework. It’s kickin’ me.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 19, 1938
Rainy and cold. Up about 8:30. Went to music lesson at 9:30. When I came home I didn’t do a thing but study for Home Ec. test and Algebra. About 12:00 Mother had to leave and go down to the food sale (without any dinner). She left our dinner in the oven. About 12:15 Daddy came and we ate dinner by ourselves. Then I cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes while Daddy got us some wood. When he had gone I cleaned up my bedroom and then studied and tended to the fires. I studied from 1:30 till 3:30, without stopping. Then I read till 4:00 when I went outside. George told me Mother was at Mrs. Rodgers’ so I went up there. We drove home. While Mother was at Mrs. McClure’s Elma came by on her way to Mr. Ballard’s and told me that she had had a date with Arthur Friday night. Faint! I read. Daddy came. After supper I listened to the radio awhile then the dishes and to bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 19, 1887
It was snowing when we got up this morning and the ground was covered. It was from the south and warm this forenoon, but turned to the north and grew cold and howled this afternoon. Miss Smeltzer, a last winter’ student of mine, visited my classes this afternoon. I did not go to the store at all today so did not spend any money. I am in hopes to curtail the expenditure now that we have the most of our winter supplies in.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 19, 1862
I made Pinck a pair pants today & knit on the comfort after I finished them. I will finish the comfort tomorrow. Very pleasant weather now. The hands mostly gathering corn, will soon be done. It is reported that Pinck Allen is lying in the woods as he is a deserter. It would be much better for him to go to his Regiment. He belongs to the 25th Reg. He was no use when at home & now he is no use to his country. Not at home as I hear of a good many hen roosts being robbed.
*(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
November 19, 1667
To the office, and thence before noon I, by the Board’s direction, to the Parliament House to speak with Sir R. Brookes about the meaning of an order come to us this day to bring all the books of the office to the Committee. I find by him that it is only about the business of an order of ours for paying off the ships by ticket, which they think I on behalf of my Lord Bruncker do suppress, which vexes me, and more at its occasioning the bringing them our books. So home and to dinner, where Mr. Shepley with me, newly come out of the country, but I was at little liberty to talk to him, but after dinner with two contracts to the Committee, with Lord Bruncker and Sir T. Harvy, and there did deliver them, and promised at their command more, but much against my will. And here Sir R. Brookes did take me alone, and pray me to prevent their trouble, by discovering the order he would have. I told him I would suppress none, nor could, but this did not satisfy him, and so we parted, I vexed that I should bring on myself this suspicion. Here I did stand by unseen, and did hear their impertinent yet malicious examinations of some rogues about the business of Bergen, wherein they would wind in something against my Lord Sandwich (it was plain by their manner of examining, as Sir Thomas Crew did afterwards observe to me, who was there), but all amounted to little I think. But here Sir Thomas Crew and W. Hewer, who was there also, did tell me that they did hear Captain Downing give a cruel testimony against my Lord Bruncker, for his neglect, and doing nothing, in the time of straits at Chatham, when he was spoke to, and did tell the Committee that he, Downing, did presently after, in Lord Bruncker’s hearing, tell the Duke of Albemarle, that if he might advise the King, he should hang both my Lord Bruncker and Pett. This is very hard. Thence with W. Hewer and our messenger, Marlow, home by coach, and so late at letters, and then home to supper, and my wife to read and then 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.)