Candles and whale oil lamps provide the only artificial light. Roads are dirt, and often muddy. Macadam roads are introduced in 1812, but rural roads remain mostly dirt. There is no paper money until 1861. Coins are made of gold, silver and copper.
Few people receive mail, and if they do, they have to pay the postage.
Stamps, purchased by the sender, were not sold in the U.S. until 1847. People travel by foot, horseback, carriage, stagecoach, and, in winter, sleigh. Quill pens made from the shaft of a feather are used for writing. Few people own books other than the Bible. Many, especially women and girls, do not have sufficient literacy skills to read a book or a newspaper or write much more than their name.