Storybook,+S.S.+Melissa+C.

__ Chapter 1 __ __ The Calm before the War __ I sat quietly at the breakfast table, staring down at my plate of eggs. My dad sat across from me, reading the newspaper. My mom sat next to him, frowning while she read the newspaper over his shoulder. “What’s wrong, Pa?” I asked. He looked completely pale. “Nothing, Anna. Finish eating your breakfast. You’ll need your strength to help your mom make dinner.” He kept his eyes focused on the paper. I giggled, “But we’re just eating breakfast. You’re worried about dinner already?” My dad gave me a hard look. “Finish eating.” My mom turned to Pa and said, “Tim, Harpers Ferry was robbed in Virginia last night. It was by a man named John Brown. Isn’t he one of our neighbors?” Pa nodded, “Yah, he is. It says that he robbed Harpers Ferry in order to get weapons for slaves. He and twenty one other men, including five blacks, failed the attempt, and John was trialed and executed. In all, ten were killed, seven captured, and five escaped. I always knew old Johnny would flip out and make trouble; all this for his own belief to end slavery. I know I am against slavery, too, but this act will surely cause a war between the North and South!” “Tim, relax. You know we are already planning on going into war. It wasn’t John’s fault. Slavery is making plenty of other people angry. We live in the North, so there are plenty of abolitionists around.” “A war, really? Ma, Pa, are we going to be involved? I don’t want to die!” I cried. Ma gave me a small smile, “I know. Nobody wants to die. Hopefully our people will elect a good president to help stop this before it gets out of hand.” Pa nodded, and then stared at my plate. “For the last time young lady, finish eating.” I sighed, “Yes, Pa.”

I sat on top of a hay bale, and stared out into the cornfield, watching the world go by. I could hear the sound of wagon wheels on the dirt roads, heading to the markets down the road, and birds chirping while nestled in the trees. Everything seemed so right in the world, so peaceful. How could there be a war now? Sure, slavery was a big issue, but why was it always up to the men to decide? Why did they always have to kill each other to come to a decision? They are all men that are equal, and yet they don’t seem to realize that. My pa was working quietly in the barn, feeding the livestock and cleaning the animals. I went to visit him. “Pa?” He looked up and grumbled, “What is it?” “How old do you have to be to be in the war?” He sighed, “I don’t know, honey. My guess would be at least eighteen and up.” “Are you going to be in it? Are you going to fight, Pa?” I gave him a nervous look. “Again, I don’t know. You seem very worried about this whole idea of war. What’s wrong?” He put down the pitchfork he was using to bale hay into a stable, and had me sit on his lap. “Well, I don’t want you to fight in it. War seems very scary, all those men dying, and for what reason? Why do lives have to be lost to come to a conclusion about something?” He smiled at me with his big, brown-eyed grin, and said, “Well, if men believe in something, they want to show how much they can do to get their way. We die for reasons that you are too young to understand, but just remember this- we die in wars for what we believe is right.” He stood up, and I jumped off his lap. “I have to get back to work now. Go have some fun for a while in the fields. Enjoy being a six year old!” He smiled, and waved to me as I bounded out of the barn. I smiled to myself happily. Maybe, just maybe, there wouldn’t be a war… Suddenly, my ma came bounding out of the house, tears in her eyes. She ran past me and into the barn, where she fell, weeping into Pa’s arms. “What’s wrong?” He asked. “They… they’ve declared war.” __ Chapter 2 __ __ The War __ Pa began packing some small things for the long journey to Pennsylvania, where he planned to enlist in the Union army. I walked silently into the bedroom, and sat at the foot of the bed. “Pa, are you sure you want to do this?” I asked. He looked down at me. “Yes, I am sure. Remember what I told you a couple of weeks ago? We fight for what we believe in, and I am against slavery.” He strode out of the room, and into the kitchen to grab one last thing to eat before he left. It was getting pretty late, and it was going to get dark out soon. Pa wanted to head out late so that no Confederate spies would see him going. If only I could go with him, just to make sure he was safe. He would never let me go, though. Never! Was there some place I could hide so that he wouldn’t know I was there? Some place that I could stay hidden through the war? I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I would sneak into the back of Pa’s wagon, and hitch a ride with him! I immediately put my plan into action, and ran into the kitchen, where Ma and Pa were exchanging good-byes. “I love you so much, honey. Be careful out there!” Ma sobbed.