Annie Henry was ten years old. She had dark brown hair and lovely green eyes. She lived in Scotchtown. That is a big plantation. Annie had an older sister named Patsy, two older brothers, (John and William) a little sister named Elizabeth and a little brother named Edward.
One day in the grain field there was a fire. Annie snuck into a wagon and rode to the fire. Everyone who worked at the plantation helped to put out the fire. They formed a bucket brigade and even Annie was in it! The men dug trenches to keep the fire from burning them. The fire wouldn’t stop. Suddenly, Annie felt something. A raindrop! Finally, the fire went out.
The next day Annie’s father Patrick Henry came back home. They had a harvest party at Scotchtown. Patrick played the violin at the party. Everyone had a great time.
A few weeks later, Annie was taking a walk by the river. She tried fishing with a spear but she fell in. That’s when she met Mrs. Thacker. Mrs. Thacker was a nice lady. Annie and Mrs. Thacker walked back to Scotchtown together. They got to know each other very well.
Some time had passed when Patrick Henry called a meeting. Patrick Henry, Richard Dabny (the children’s tutor), John Fontaine (Patsy’s soon to be husband) and Francis Doyle (a Tory) talked about being free from England. Unfortunately, Francis Doyle did not agree. He stormed out of the room and never came back.
The next morning Annie and her father went horseback riding. Annie told her horse to jump a fallen tree. But, she fell off and broke her arm. Poor Annie!
It was almost Christmas and the Henry’s were very busy. Annie and her father went out and got the biggest tree in the forest. It was the best time of the year.
In February, Annie walked along the river she had fallen in. There was a boy named Andrew Thacker. He and Annie became good friends.
When she got home she found Patsy crying. She ran downstairs and found her mother lying in bed. She was dead. Annie, Patsy and the rest of the Henry family were very sad.
That night Annie couldn’t sleep. Not because of her mother but because her father was leaving to Richmond. At midnight she snuck into Mr. and Mrs. Thacker’s wagon to go to Richmond. They soon got there. Annie got in big trouble. But, she got to go to Patrick’s big meeting. He said these words, “Give me liberty or give me death!”. Annie was a pretty brave girl.
Last week was our first day of Friday school. My sisters and I home school, but on Fridays we still have a full day of classes so mom can have a break. I absolutely LOVE Friday’s! This year I am in 5th grade. It is fun.
