Barrow Bookstore Presents:
Trivia
The world runs on gossip, and you love it. After all, you live in Concord in the year 1773, and winter days on the farm can be tedious. Gathering with your friends helps break up the hardships. Near the end of December, you hear from a nearby farmer’s wife that, on December 17th, a man from Boston suddenly showed up in Concord looking to relocate. You don’t have proof, and you’re certainly not one to point fingers, but you suspect this man was involved in some illicit behavior. What could it be? (Guess away - we promise we won’t tell anyone that we heard it from you.)
2
True or False: Despite neighborhood gossip and suspicions, the suddenlyarrived man from Boston in the above question is, by law, “presumed innocent until proven guilty in a Court of Law.”
3
In his journal, Massachusetts lawyer John Adams (later President Adams) called this event “The most magnificent Movement of all.” Was he referring to: A. His wedding to Abigail Adams B. The concluding Christmas Eve carols in Boston’s King’s Chapel C. New Year’s Eve fireworks over Boston harbor D. The Boston Tea Party
4
Related on her mother’s side of the family, Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was John Adams’ (1735-1826) fourth cousin twice removed. (Written another way - John Adams’ 3rd great-grandfather was Louisa’s 5th great-grandfather). On Christmas Eve of 1854, twenty-two-year-old Louisa placed what she called her “first born” into her mother’s Christmas stocking as a gift. What was this “first born” and what was it called?
5
In the opening line of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 book Little Women, Jo March grumbles, “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any….” what? 52
A. Snow B. Firewood C. Visitors D. Presents
6
In Little Women, what did the March sisters do with their Christmas morning breakfast? A. Overcooked it B. Gave it away to a family in need C. Prepared it for their mother D. Invited Laurie and Mr. Laurence to join them
Gilbert Stuart, John Adams c. 1800-1815
7
Which Louisa May Alcott story opens with the following line: “I’m so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!” exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given.” (And for bonus points, about which prior book does this remind you?) A. Revival of Holiday Spirits B. A Christmas Dream and How it Came to be True C. Christmas at Plumfielde D. Little Women Part Second E. Edna Steals Christmas
8
In his 1854 book Walden, what did Henry David Thoreau say was “the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations?” A. Books B. Food C. Water D. Wilderness
9
If you wanted to share a holiday drink with friends in Concord, in which of the following year(s) would you be able to do so? A. 1618 B. 1718 C. 1818 D. 1918
Discover CONCORD | 2023 Guide to Holiday Gift Giving
©Barrow Bookstore
Q 1
Commons.wikimedia.org
CONCORD
10
Which famous Concord resident said the following about gifts: “Next to things of necessity, the rule for a gift, which one of my friends prescribed, is that we might convey to some person that which properly belonged to his character, and was easily associated with him in thought…. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore, the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and pleasing, for it restores society in so far to the primary basis, when a man’s biography is conveyed in his gift, and every man’s wealth is an index of his merit.”
