A Truly Great Treasure

 by Lizzy B. age 12

August 18, 1880

Dear Diary,

 It has been two days since we ran away from home. Father has not been acting right since Mother passed away from scarlet fever. Carolyn doesn’t even remember Mother very well anymore. Well, I do. We are riding on Sapphire and hope to get somewhere soon. Food is scarce right now so we will ask some other travelers if they would like to trade with us. I should  probably get some sleep now because it is getting dark and we have a very long day tomorrow. Good night.

 

August  19, 1880

Dear Diary,

I bet you’re wondering who I am. I am  Lillian , the daughter of Maria, who once owned you. I feel we are close to a ranch and  I hope we get to town soon, for Carolyn does not look well. I fear she is starting to starve. The last time we had a meal was four days ago and we have not had much water either. I believe I see a town up ahead. Wish me good luck .

 

August 20, 1880

Dear diary, we could not afford anything but 2 licorice. I gave Carolyn half of mine. We met a kid named Cary… or was it Cory?  Ah, yes, Cory, that sounds about right. Well anyway, we met a kid named Cory in town and he told us that there was a ranch not far up ahead and if we set out now we may be able to get there in time. I will now start on my journey with Caralyn and hope for the best.

 

August  21, 1880

Dear Diary,

I think we have taken a couple wrong turns on this journey and may not make it to our destination. Caralyn has been acting funny but has no symptoms of sickness. I have turned us around in hope that we simply just passed by the ranch but I believe I am very wrong. I have asked many people for spare food, but they have none. The last of our food is finished so I am hoping someone will be very kind.

 

 

August 22, 1880

Dear Diary,

Carolyn is sick and I believe she has scarlet fever. I have gone to many towns in search of a doctor.

 

 

August 23, 1880

Dear Diary,

I am sorry for the sudden stop yesterday, Carolyn got sick and I had to go help her. None of the towns we’ve gone to have had a doctor we could afford. With the little money we have it is hard to afford anything. Caralyn is sick again so I will have to go now.

Goodbye.

 

August 28, 1880

Dear Diary,

The last five days have been hard. Carolyn has not moved much now for quite awhile and I am very frantic about her. I turned around and started to head home. Hopefully Father will be happy to see us both, that is, if we make it. I am very fond of Carolyn and I hope she lives longer than I do.

 

August 29, 1880

Dear Diary,

Today is Carolyn’s fifth birthday. Oh, how I wish Mother was here to celebrate.

I could not afford a proper birthday present for her so I traded our bag that we brought along for a few pieces of jerky and a small doll. When I gave it to Caralyn her hopes seemed to rise a bit. I believe that we may make it home and everything will be back to normal.

 

August 30, 1880

Dear Diary,

Carolyn is dead. I believe that she did indeed have scarlet fever and because of this she has died. I don’t think I have much longer to live either for I am very weak and ill.

 

August 31, 1880

If this is my last entry then I hope whoever finds this will be a very great person and take good care of Sapphire.

I will leave you beside this tree now and I will write what my mother wrote on her final day of living, “When life is rough and it gets hard, you can remember, every day has an end, every life has a finish, and there will be better days.” Goodbye.

Summer, 1883

Andi picked up the worn out notebook and smiled. She had found a treasure, a truly great treasure.