Most families lived on farms in rural areas, so there were lots of animals to take care of. Children were in charge of feeding and watering all the animals. They had to milk the cows and collect the chicken eggs. They would gather fruits and vegetables from the garden and would sometimes run errands for their parents.
    Boys that lived on farms would help their fathers with things. They would help hunt birds and other animals for the meat they ate every day. If there was a body of water nearby, boys would sometimes fish for food too. They helped harvest the crops, like wheat and corn, in the fall. Boys that lived in the city would build furniture, sell things at the markets, and repair household items.
    The girls were in charge of sweeping, cooking, knitting, and sewing. To sew, the women would need thread, so they would first have to sheer the sheep to get their wool. They would use a spinning wheel to spin the wool into thread. Then they would use that thread to sew clothing, blankets, and other things. Girls would also help make candles and soap. To make candles, they would tie string to a stick and then put the strings into a pot of boiling wax and tallow. Once they had the first coating of wax, they would let it harden. Then they would add another layer. They would keep doing this until the candle was the perfect thickness. In large families, the older girls would usually be in charge of watching and taking care of the younger children.