We would be busy preparing hasty pudding for our large family and outlining the days Christmas preparations. Dad and the boys would slog through the snow and get our Christmas tree. We would have had to make a lot of bayberry candles to use as lights for the tree, as well as for light at night. The children would have to pop corn over the fire place and string it and cranberries for tree decorations. All gifts would be home made. The boys would probably make wooden bowls for their Mom and the girls would dye homespun with poke berries to create caps and garments.

The drawing of water and the hewing of wood would take an enormous amount of time. If you were fortunate enough to have a bound girl or a bound boy, your chores would ease up somewhat. There would be a lot of animals to care for. Sheep for wool and cows for milk.

You would have learned that King George III had established Dartmouth College by royal charter, in Hanover, N. H. There would be rumors of dissatisfaction with Great
Britain for unjust taxation. You would be worried about your teen age boys going up against a royal army that would overwhelm them.

Every century is unique. I think the worst time to be alive was during the Civil War. The losses were immense on both sides. When we feel pressured and stressed perhaps we ought to remember the past.