Sunday, November 9, 2014

A Journey to Freedom: A diary by Mary Jonas

Sept. 3, 1620
   Today is the first  day of our journey to  the New World. Jonathan has set off days before us. It is only us now, little Timmy, Horace and I. My dear friend Carry is coming to the New World with her three sons, Jim, Gareth, and Colby. We, along with other women and children, were  waiting to board the ship. Sailors are running to and fro, everyone is in a rush. They do not know what calamities await us, and we all must be prepared for anything. "Mother," says little Timmy, only four years of age. " When will we get on the boat? I am tired,"
  "I am sorry, dear, we must wait only but a little longer," I say to him. Horace, who is eight years, points at the sails.
" We should be off soon, now! Look how the sails are unfurling, Timmy!" Timmy looks in awe as the " big waving sheets", as he calls them, rolled out slowly. Before we knew it, we were on board, below the deck, and putting our small bags of clothing and private items on the shelves on the wall. The sleeping quarters were very tight, and the boys shared a bed. Cramped as we were, we managed to make do. Dozens of people were in our cabin, blankets spread on the ground as make-shift beds. I looked around and decided that if we were going to be living here for several weeks, we had better get comfortable. I am writing these events as the boat rocks back and again, dim candles glowing, and sleeping persons.
Sept. 4, 1620
    The waves are tossing up against the sides of the ship. We are all feeling weak. The small meal we were given was hardly enough to fill us up. Timmy complains of being tired now and again. I tell him to go to bed, but he refused to leave my side. I finally convinced him to go, and concerned that he might be ill, I go to Carry for advice.
" When my boys have been ill, they are tired and hot. They toss and turn, and fall asleep. I soothe their head with a damp rag, and keep them cool. Keep them out of the sun, and in the cabin," Carry suggested. I took her advice, and put Horace to work on finding a rag, while I looked for water. After a long search, I found a basin of cool water next to the wash rag for hands. Soon, Horace was back with a clean rag. Timmy lay in his bed, his forehead very hot. What luck, when we finally set off, we have barely started, and many people are not used to the rocking of the boat.  
" Poor Timmy, he is sick so early in the journey," said Horace. Carry helped me with Timmy, while Horace and Carry's boys played with some little friends of theirs that they made. Later in the morning, the Captain called us all above deck. Every one who had boarded was up there, making it very difficult to move around. "All boys, please step forward," he said, in his booming voice. "You will climb the ropes from this day forth. You will look out for other ships, and storms, way up there!" Capt. barked, as if the children were still infants. Horace and the others cheered, and set off with the sailors, who would show them how to climb. I do not like the idea of my children climbing the high ropes, that are used to turn the sails. Timmy would have loved to climb them, but I insisted he stay in bed. Thank goodness for that! I wish Jonathan was here to help me. I miss him dearly.


Saturday, July 7, 2012

Married

Music sounded over the microphone.  The sermon began.  Mack swallowed hard.
"Mack, do you promise to love your wife?"
"I do."
"Rachel, do you promise to love Mack?"
"I do."
The sermon was over.  Mack kissed Rachel.
Love began!
Pregnant!
Rachel was pregnant.  When the baby was born, they named her Emily.  So, blessed be the name of the Lord!

The End

The White House!

On the train to the White House, Jake took out a drawing pad.  He started sketching a picture.
At the White House, he got a medal for the greatest art in the country!  Proud as ever, Jake beamed with pleasure.

Parents, test your kids...
1.  Fill a cup with water.
2.  Pour out a little each second.
3.  Ask your kids if they can stay even with obeying you.

Artist on the Way!

"Jake!" called his mother.
"Yes?"
"Please set the table!"
"Okay!"
Jake set down his pencil and pad.  He ran down the stairs, took the forks and spoons and set them neatly on the table.  He took the table cloth and spread it on the table.  Jake sat nicely at the table, waiting for the others.  After the prayer, Jake saw that he should set the milk on the table.  He got up quietly and put on the milks.
Suddenly the phone rang.  "Brrrrrring!"
"May I get it, Father?" Jake asked.
"Yes."
"Is this Jacob Moseart?" asked the President.  Jake nearly fainted.
"Y..y..yes, sir."
"You have won the grand prize for art.  Come to the White House on fifth."  Thud!
Father immediately stood.
"Jake?"
No answer.
"Jake?"
No answer, again.
"Jake!"
The house shook.
Father ran into the room.  He shook Jake.
"Yes, Father?" Jake woke from the faintness.
"Why did you faint?" His father asked.
"The President asked me to go the White House on the fifth."
"Oh, wow!"

Parents ask kids
1.  Are you honest and obedient like Jake?
2.  Are you an artist?
3.  Do you obey your parents?

The Circus

"Save her!  Save her!" People shouted at the clown.
They were at the circus watching firemen clowns get tangled in their own hoses.  Everybody laughed.  Emma bought cotton candy for everybody.  Jake helped her organize the children.
"Jake Moseart!"
The Judge called for the grand prize or art.
"Go Jake!" D.D. shouted.

The circus went on for days.  The children got spoiled off popcorn and candy.  Poor Emma.  She had bought them daily tickets.  She gave them the money to ride on rides.  She helped them win prizes.  She bought Lucy a diary.  She gave Shang new American foods each day.
Finally, the circus left.  Emma brought them home.

Parents ask kids
1.  Would your parent let you have cotton candy each day?
2.  Can you ride rides?
3.  Do you like circuses? 

Babysitting Days

"Emma, can you babysit my youngsters on Thursday at four?" Mrs. Raven asked.
"Um...I'll ask Mother."  Emma covered the phone with her hand.  "Hey Mother, can I babysit for Mrs. Raven on Thursday?"
"Well, Father and I have a date on Thursday, so you'll have to have them come here." Mother answered.
"Okay.  Yes, Mrs. Raven, but bring them here, okay?"
"Okay."
Emma hung up.  Maybe I can have Lucy babysit those brats, she thought.
That night, Emma wrote a small poem.
Babysit
Babysit
Can't someone babysit me?
Emma Moseart
Emma thought she could never get away from babysitting.

Parents Ask Kids
1.  Have you ever babysitted before?
2.  How old are you?
3.  Do you have a phone?

Bad School Times

At lunch, on January 3rd, things didn't go so well for Lucy.  First, it was being tricked in her lunch.  Jacob likely put ketchup on her pizza instead of sauce.  Kaylee H. made fun of Lucy's hair style.  (It was a fat bun.)  Amber and Riley Booket yanked out one of her loose teeth and laughed because she still had her baby teeth in.  Lucy burst into tears.  Brad Cop and Kelly Morgan (her best friends) tried to comfort her.  The next day, it snowed!  Nobody had seen Lucy's knocked out tooth so she thought, the snow is hard enough, so I can make a mold of my tooth, put snow in it and stick it in my mouth!  So Lucy too some modeling clay, wrapped it around her tooth, pulled the tooth out of the clay, filled the clay tooth with snow and stuck it in her mouth!  "Lucy!" her mother called.  "wft goft'in fun dowf theft?" (She was saying, "What's going on down there?")  Lucy asked. "What did you say?", her mother asked.  Lucy took out the tooth.  " I said, 'What's going on down there?"  "Oh!"

At school, Lucy did not talk to anyone.  You can guess why!

Parents ask your kids:
1.  When did you lose your first tooth?
2.  Have you had a bad day at school before?
3.  Why didn't Lucy talk?

Answer: 'Cause of her fake tooth