*
1851
Sat Oct 25th Mr Scott & Holbrook have been to work
all day papering the parlour and they have got
it papered only from the little entry door
around to that corner of the mantlepiece.
Mr Smiley worked here about two hours to day
put on the border in the parlour as far as it [was]
papered and some paint on top of the closet
shelves. I have trimmed the paper and &c.
The wallpaper in the illustration above is an example of a mid-19th century pattern that might have been available in Boston, where Evelina purchased her new paper for the parlor. Two men, Mr. Scott and Mr. Holbrook, did some papering today, but not fast enough to suit Evelina. She was so eager to have the paper up that she helped by trimming some of it herself. What did the workmen think about that? Mr. Smiley, who only seemed to work a few hours at a time, applied a border to what paper had been put up and painted a few shelves.
Oakes Ames was probably absent today, as Saturday was his usual day to be in Boston taking orders for shovels. Sons Oakes Angier and Frank Morton would have been at the factory across the street, honing their skills in the manufacture of shovels. Little Susie was probably at school.
*Example of mid-19th century wallpaper, courtesy of adelphiapaperhanging.com
evelinaames 
And to think these days scarcely anyone wants papered walls.
Linda, you’re right. But in 1851, papered walls were IT!