June 17, 1793

June 17, 1793

Dear Diary,

Sorry I never finished my story earlier…but I was kind of busy…and this time it isn’t just chores like animal feeding…it’s taking care of my family. You know how papa was always working in the fields. Well one day he wasn’t feeling well so he came inside early…and as he was about to sit down…he fainted and didn’t wake up till the next day. It was really scary and mama and I thought we lost him. While he was sleeping, mama told me to go in to town and see if anyone knew first aid. When I got someone and came home…they said that papa had smallpox and that he is one of the lucky ones. Smallpox is deadly and can kill you quickly if you are not being treated…well I’m pretty sure that’s how it works…mama won’t tell me anything about it and every time I ask her she just screams at me and tells me to go to my room. A few months after papa got it…he passed away. I can’t get over the fact that he’s gone. But before he passed, I was in his room…with him…and he said “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to raise you and care for you as much as your mother. Don’t be mad at me but the other day I saw you writing in your notebook and while you were sleeping…I went through it. You are an amazing writer and I want you to continue writing your book. Don’t let the chores, the work, and mama get in the way of you. Because we both know how she is sometimes”. Then he told me to finish the book in honor of him. Then papa gave me his cross he had gotten from his father when he was a child and said “Whenever you think of me or get a stuck at a cross road, just hold on to that cross and know that I am always with you.” The next day papa passed. Now mama has to work in the fields all day to pay the taxes, and I have to feed the animals, cook breakfast, lunch and dinner, milk the cows, collect the eggs, clean up in the barn, do the dishes, and clean up in the house. And every time I complain, mama brings up papa and how he worked every day of his life without a word. It’s been hard writing again but I know that I have to finish my stories for papa. I will try my best to find time Diary.

Love,

Samantha Jones

August 26, 1793

Dear Diary,

I think we should catch up where we left off…you know…the story of John Graves Simcoe. Well I think I promised you his story a long time ago, so here it is.

A little while after Simcoe went to York, he had drawn his plans and since he and his wife lived in York, York became the base for the government and the colony’s capital. And remember the time I told you about Sir Guy Carleton; well he didn’t really agree about making York the capital of the colony, he preferred Kingston instead. And yeah that’s it I think.

Oh wait, how could I forget? Simcoe needed settlers for Upper Canada and now they are talking about some war that is about to start. I hope it isn’t another seven years long thing because then it would take me a long time to write back. So until next time…

Love,

Samantha Jones