The War of 1812 Diary of Susanna Merritt
Written By: Kit Pearson
Dear Great-Granddaughter Paige,
I have just finished reading a book entitled Whispers of War written by Kit Pearson, who happens to be one of my very favorite authors. What I liked the most about this book is that Susanna writes about her life to her future great-granddaughter, Constance, in order to share the details of her life. Susanna does so in a diary format, making her life even more exciting and personal. The book is even shaped in the format of a real diary, complete with a red ribbon- just like the one described as Susanna's diary. Susanna's brother Hamilton, encouraged her to write just so, so that the events of her life would be recorded down in history. And so, my dear Paige, I thought I would share my life with you too because Susanna's life was infinitely different from mine as I imagine yours to be from mine too. The first difference I noticed in Susanna's life compared to mine was the way in which she was schooled. Susanna went to school in a one-room building and in the winter, the students had to bring firewood to keep warm. Susanna says her teacher was not that intelligent and only required that the students write long lists on their slates as he slept. But Susanna was a smart little girl because her mother taught her at home. Granddaughter, I picture this way of school in my mind so eagerly and vividly because I am currently attending school to learn how to be a teacher myself. And oh, how things are so completely different! I am learning how children construct their own knowledge through active learning, how to develop tasks which enable a student's critical thinking and reading skills and how to promote elements of cooperative learning to ensure success. I wonder what it will be like when you go to school Paige. Will children be so far advanced by that time that school will not be needed? If not, will you become a teacher too? I hope so Paige. I am the first person in my family to attend university and so I intend to carry on the line of well-educated individuals. But whatever you choose to do darling Paige, know that I love you. Another aspect of Susanna's life that is so different from mine is in her relationships with other people. There appears to be little personal time for Susanna to be independent and free. Her relationships with other people lie almost directly in relation to her family. I thought of how interesting it was to read how after supper, Susanna's family would stay inside and occupy the silence with knitting or reading or work for the men. Time spent with Susanna's friends were precious because so much time was spent with her family, working, doing the chores and simply being together. I do not see my family on a regular basis, even my mother and brother who live so very close to me. We do not live in the same household and weeks can fly by without us as much as saying hello. Yet, I feel as though I love and respect my family just as much as Susanna does. I hope Paige, as you grow up that you know the joy and love of belonging to a family; one that cares for you, loves you and supports you in whatever way that may be. The last aspect of Susanna's life that I wish to share with you Paige, are the events in which Susanna's life was negatively affected every single day- war. Susanna was directly affected by the war of 1812 and experienced fear, sorrow and loss in a way that I have yet to experience, most thankfully. I cannot even begin to imagine the immense fear and caution with which Susanna lived her life- and being just a child at that! There is war going on in the world as I write these words to you Paige, but thankfully I am not directly affected. I do not live my everyday in fear of war, yet I ponder the possibility of it ever being so. I pray that I do not as I do for you. War is a terrible tragedy which destroys lives. Susanna's life taught me a great deal about life in general and about the way things were. I have gained a greater appreciation for my own life and will count my blessings each and every day. I will continue to share the details of my life with you Paige so that you too one day will know a sense of what life once was and what it could become.
I have just finished reading a book entitled Whispers of War written by Kit Pearson, who happens to be one of my very favorite authors. What I liked the most about this book is that Susanna writes about her life to her future great-granddaughter, Constance, in order to share the details of her life. Susanna does so in a diary format, making her life even more exciting and personal. The book is even shaped in the format of a real diary, complete with a red ribbon- just like the one described as Susanna's diary. Susanna's brother Hamilton, encouraged her to write just so, so that the events of her life would be recorded down in history. And so, my dear Paige, I thought I would share my life with you too because Susanna's life was infinitely different from mine as I imagine yours to be from mine too. The first difference I noticed in Susanna's life compared to mine was the way in which she was schooled. Susanna went to school in a one-room building and in the winter, the students had to bring firewood to keep warm. Susanna says her teacher was not that intelligent and only required that the students write long lists on their slates as he slept. But Susanna was a smart little girl because her mother taught her at home. Granddaughter, I picture this way of school in my mind so eagerly and vividly because I am currently attending school to learn how to be a teacher myself. And oh, how things are so completely different! I am learning how children construct their own knowledge through active learning, how to develop tasks which enable a student's critical thinking and reading skills and how to promote elements of cooperative learning to ensure success. I wonder what it will be like when you go to school Paige. Will children be so far advanced by that time that school will not be needed? If not, will you become a teacher too? I hope so Paige. I am the first person in my family to attend university and so I intend to carry on the line of well-educated individuals. But whatever you choose to do darling Paige, know that I love you. Another aspect of Susanna's life that is so different from mine is in her relationships with other people. There appears to be little personal time for Susanna to be independent and free. Her relationships with other people lie almost directly in relation to her family. I thought of how interesting it was to read how after supper, Susanna's family would stay inside and occupy the silence with knitting or reading or work for the men. Time spent with Susanna's friends were precious because so much time was spent with her family, working, doing the chores and simply being together. I do not see my family on a regular basis, even my mother and brother who live so very close to me. We do not live in the same household and weeks can fly by without us as much as saying hello. Yet, I feel as though I love and respect my family just as much as Susanna does. I hope Paige, as you grow up that you know the joy and love of belonging to a family; one that cares for you, loves you and supports you in whatever way that may be. The last aspect of Susanna's life that I wish to share with you Paige, are the events in which Susanna's life was negatively affected every single day- war. Susanna was directly affected by the war of 1812 and experienced fear, sorrow and loss in a way that I have yet to experience, most thankfully. I cannot even begin to imagine the immense fear and caution with which Susanna lived her life- and being just a child at that! There is war going on in the world as I write these words to you Paige, but thankfully I am not directly affected. I do not live my everyday in fear of war, yet I ponder the possibility of it ever being so. I pray that I do not as I do for you. War is a terrible tragedy which destroys lives. Susanna's life taught me a great deal about life in general and about the way things were. I have gained a greater appreciation for my own life and will count my blessings each and every day. I will continue to share the details of my life with you Paige so that you too one day will know a sense of what life once was and what it could become.
Love Your Great-Grandmother
Tiffany
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