Explorers
Dear Diary,
What is Mrs. PinPold thinking? For some strange reasons she thinks that across the ocean there is a new place full of gold and riches. She talks about volcanoes that spill sticky lava and endless mines filled with gold, silver, and diamonds, she is sending us to be explorers - to find the trails and new plains.
After months stranded on the wild ocean, we finally saw the land. It was beautiful. Tall pines swayed in the wind and there wasn't a living men around. No cities, no roads, no farms. Just vast prairies and wild, crystal rivers. How are we to survive in this land? Will our supplies last us long enough? And what will we do? There are so many challenges ahead, and yet I cannot help but feel excitement at richness and beauty of this land!
As the night approached, we built a fire. September nights get chilly out here in the wilderness. And the winter is still to come! Wide sky filled we stars as we laid in our sleeping bags. Strange hoots echoed over the tall cedars. Was that an owl or one of the natives we heard stories about. Our mission is to find a trail to bring new settlers, the pioneers to this land. I understand why native people think we are the bad news. But this land is so vast, maybe there'll be room for everyone.
My thoughts drifted to the riches Mrs. PinPold promised. Back home, in old Europe there is a word of this new land filled with precious treasure. But we have walked for days down the huge river and found nothing but animals and plants. Could they be wrong?
Shannon
Explore the Explorers
IMAGE SOURCE:
Northwestern University. Library., Evanston, Ill.
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.award/iencurt.cp03023
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They came for adventure or for the riches. They were sent by mighty nations like Spain, England, and France. As they explored the land they claimed it for their countries- they never asked if the land belonged to those who lived on it for centuries. Today we celebrate their bravery and are amazed by their findings. And yet, you should ask, what did they come to America for?
Mrs. Pinpold