Kate


 * Hello! My name is Maria. It is the year 1620 and the Pligrams are going to the new land. We are going on the Mayflower. We are leaving because in England we can not practice our religon. To me it just feels like we are going on a long vacation, but to others it's different. Well, I just don't care where we go so I just go along with the plan. My father was the one that wanted to come on the Mayflower.

"Maria wake up. It is time to leave," said my father. I got up and got dressed. I ran out side. My mother and father were all ready outside. Peter and Annabell were there. Then we set off for harbor.

The trip on the Mayflower was not fun at all. My father was thown overboard. There was a huge wave in a storm, my father was up on deck, and it pushed him over. When we pulled him back on deck, we found out that he couldn't walk. My mother and Aunt Lilly came rushing out of the cabin. Aunt Lilly is very strict with me. I was sad because he was a really good hunter and Peter would have to do it which means more chores for me, but mother is crying over him. Finally we reached the new land. The journey on the Mayflower took six months. We named the place we were about to settle Plymoth, after Plymoth in England. The new land was beautiful. I was excited to start a new life but my excitement did not last long.

When winter came we were in terrible condition and many of us died. My mother was one. That day was one of the saddest days of my life but, I was about to have the same fate. My mother died of scurvy. There was not a lot food. It was also very cold.

Finally the long harsh winter ended. This is the bad news, my father can not walk, my mother died, my little sister Annabell can't take care of herself, and my older brother Peter is always out hunting. I had to do all the work, but then Aunt Lilly comes to live with us. "Maria! Come inside and tend the fire this instant!" yelled Aunt Lilly.

"Yes mam," I yelled back. Then I ran inside to do more chores.

When I was finished, I ran outside again but something caught my eye, a gun with gun powder in it. I looked at it and decided it was my chance to prove girls could do things that boys could** **do. "How surprised Peter will be when I bring a deer home from the woods," I thought.

As I marched through the woods I kept my eyes open for Indians, deer, and my brother. I knew quite well I would be in so much trouble if I got caught. Then I heard something move. I froze in my tracks. I pointed the gun at the noise. The leaves restled. Something was moving in a bush. I held my breath. "If it is Peter I am going to scream and run away," I thought. It sounded like a person too. "Who is there?" I called.

"Please! do not shoot me!'' a voice called back. Then a person came out of the bush. It was not Peter. It was an Idian girl. "Hi, I am Swan Circling," said the girl. "Who are you?"

"I am Maria. I live in Plymoth," I replied. It was strange to hear an Indian speaking English, but I kept that to myself. Swan Circling looked puzzeled.

"Where is that?" she asked.

"Outside these woods" I replied.

"MARIA!" yelled a voice. It was Aunt Lilly. I knew she was looking for me.

"I have to go. Can we meet here tomorrow?" I asked Swan Circling.

"When the sun is highest in the sky, I will meet you," she said. She turned around, and climbed back in the bush. I was about to go, but saw a deer. Then I shot it. It fell down and died. I ran over to it, picked it up,then ran home.

The next day I ran to meet Swan Circling. I got to the place I told her I would meet her, sat down on a rock and waited for her. The bush rustled, and she stepped out. "Hello Swan Circling," I said.

"Hello Maria," she said "I want to show you how to make something. Follow me." Then she ran off. I followed. Then she stopped in front of a big pile of twigs. She knelt down and grabbed some. "I want to show how to make a doll from twigs," she said. Then she started to make it step by step. I did too. It was very fun. When I had to leave, we said good bye. I ran home and clenched my doll in my hand. I could not wait to show Father.

The next day I was introduced to another Indian. His name was Squanto. He was a Wampanoag. I never saw him before, but Aunt Lilly said that it was because I was always running off when he came to help us. She also said we were going to have a big feast with all Wampanoags. She told me we met Squanto earlier this spring. I could not wait for the feast. As the days passed before the feast I helped around Plymoth. I cooked and washed clothes by the stream. Washing clothes is really Annabell's job, but Aunt Lilly wants her to help around the house. She is also taking care of the animals. Squanto came to visit us often too.

The day of the feast was a good day. Swan Circling and her friend Thunder Storm ran to greet me. They took me to meet their chief, Masasoit, and I took them meet Peter, Annabell. and my father. We all had a wonderful time. It turned out the feast lasted for three days. We danced, played games, and ate food. The food we ate was duck, corn, beans, squash, and seafood. Some Wampanoags built homes near us so they didn't have to walk miles just to get home. This was a time of thanks for a good harvest. I was sad when it was over but had a good time and that's what counts.**