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1858 to 1859

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October 10, 1858Today we left Britain on a ship calledthe Thames City. I am sad to be leavingmy friends and family, but I can stillwrite to them and it sounds interestingto start a new life in a far off land.

I should probably write more aboutmyself, (just in case I become famous).I will make a list.1)My name is Hazel.2) I am 12.3) I have an older brother named Henry.He is 14. I also have a younger brothernamed Lexis. He is 6.4) I have unruly brown hair (mother saysit is curly).5) I want to be an author.6) I have green/gray eyes.

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October 11, 1858We left the harbour at 2: 23 pmyesterday. It was quite exciting.Mother went to our shared room whileHenry. Lexis and I waved to the peopleon the docks. They waved back.Our sleeping areas are quite cramped asthere are many other people on board.Sadly there are only 33 other children.Most are Lexis’s age. Hopefully I willmeet someone my own age.

October 16, 1858Nothing interesting has happened so farand I still hope to make a friend.Father says that there are cows, pigs,sheep and even a goat! Father promisesto take me to see the goat sometime!Mother has had to take of f her hoop fromher skirt. The boat is too crowded for

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those silly skirts so all the women willhave to take them off.

October 17, 1858I have finally made a friend. Sadly itis not a human girl. It is the goat.The goat and have grown quite fond ofeach other. I have even named her Dolly.I am also fond of her keeper, Leo. Leois only a year older then me but he isvery kind.

October 18, 1858I have done a horrible thing! I stolemother’s hoop skirt and threw it over theside of the ship! Henry and Lexis saw mebut they won’t tell mother because theythought it was very funny. Mother hasnot yet noticed.

October 18, 1858

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Father has told me that he is a RoyalEngineer. He also said that GovernorJames Douglas specially picked father.Sadly it is seven months before father isto work as a Royal Engineer. I am veryexcited. Henry knows but Lexis is tooyoung to understand.

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October 19, 1858Henry, Lexis and I have been invited to aparty on the deck of the ship. All ofthe children have been invited so thereis a good chance I will meet someone myown age. There party will be on the25th.

October 22, 1858I have been locked in the galley. Henrythought it would be funny but right now Iam quite mad. I had snuck into the galleyfor a snack. Henry had followed me andslammed the door behind me. The lock ison the outside of the door. I startedyelling and pounding on the door but noone came. Luckily I had my journal withme and there was a pencil on the table.Finally Henry has unlocked the door. Iwill not forgive him for this but I willnot tell mother.

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October 23, 1858Today father took me to visit Dolly andLeo. Before we entered father was called(by Lexis) to go see mother. He said Icould go in by myself.I shoved the heavy wooden doors open andcouldn’t believe my eyes. Henry washolding hands with a very kind girl namedMary Swen. I was so shocked that Ifainted instantly.

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October 24, 1858Still unconscious.

October 25, 1858I can’t decide what to wear. Should Iwear my emerald coloured dress or myacorn brown dress? I have decided towear the acorn brown dress.The party was horrible. There were noother girls my own age except a mean girlnamed Katrina!

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November 24, 1858I am so busy with taking care of theyounger children that I have no time tomyself. Mother found out about Henrylocking me in the kitchen. She was askedto help Mrs. Mary Linn’ have a babybefore she could yell at Henry.

November 26, 1858Some of the Sappers are putting on adance! I must go! There will be a bandlead by Professor Haynes.

The dance is over now but I must writeabout it! I will make a list.1) Leo and I waltzed.2) Mrs. Linn called me Hazel (she used tocall me Nasal)!3) Henry and Mary Swen waltzed.

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4) Lexis spilled that horrid lime juicethat we have to drink all over the doctor. It was very funny. It was the besttime of my life.

November 27, 1858My family and I are horribly sick fromthe sea. I blame Lexis because he wasthe first one to be sick. Mother says itis no ones fault but I don’t believe her.Since I am sick I have to miss my visitwith Dolly and Leo. That has made mevery grouchy. Oh no, I feel like I haveto upchuck.Later that day: Mother is very mad for Ihave up chucked on the Doctor. Lexis wascheered up instantly. Mother says I mustget some sleep now.

November 28, 1858

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I am very upset right now. I have beenthrown out of my bunk! An older lady wasin need of a bunk and she ended up withmine. I am to sleep with Dolly. Mothersays it will be like a sleep over. Atleast Dolly is nice and warm.

November 29, 1858It is Fathers day to shovel out thestalls in the animal area. Henry has tohelp him. He is so mad.

November 30, 1858This afternoon Lexis and I where lookingfor Henry when we came across the doctor.Lexis is not very fond of the Doctor andit didn’t help in the least when we sawhim force feeding Henry triple the amountof lime juice. Lexis got very mad and ran

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full speed into the Doctor. The Doctorwas standing atthe edge of the boat. He was knocked offhis feet and into the salty sea.“ Lexis, how could you? ” I yelled at him.Lexis was laughing like a crazy person.Henry had to carry him down to Mother andI told Mother what happened.

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December 1, 1858It is Henry’s birthday today. He is 15.Lexis is grounded for the rest of thetrip. He also has to eat in the room byhimself. Luckily Doctor survived becausehe could swim although he was awfullywet.

December 2, 1858Today I played pirates with Lexis. Weeven found some black cloth to use ashats and eye patches. Sadly we have nowooden swords like we had in our house inEngland.

April 15, 1859 (Victoria)I am glad I have found this journal. Itwas in one of our trunks. I wasunpacking the trunk and this journal was

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wrapped up in my pinafore. I believeHenry hid this journal, but then againLexis likes to annoy me also.

I am very happy we are off the ThamesCity. I will miss everyone especiallyDolly and Leo. They were the onlyfriends I made. I will stay in touchwith them but will probably never seethem again.

Summer 1859We are staying in the Royal Engineerscamp. It is not very clean and the menstill have to build our houses. Fatherwill be leaving to start surveying work.He will be gone a few months. Sadly hewill be missing my birthday. He hadalready missed Lexis’s birthday when hewas away for a short time. Maybe he willbring me something spectaculaer back mybirthday.

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Father has left and all mother, Henry,Lexis and I have to sleep in is a verywet tent. I am very happy though to beoff of the Thames City for good.

Epilogue

Hazel grew up to become an author. Thefirst thing she had published was herjournal. She married the son of one ofthe Royal Engineers. She had one daughternamed Kalleen.

Henry started building and engineeringboats when he was only 18. He nevermarried.

Lexis became an actor as soon as he wasold enough. He preformed in the TheatreRoyal in Barkerville. He married a

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beautiful servant of one of hisproducers.

Hazel lost contact with Leo three yearsafter the Thames City when she moved toBarkerville with he mother and brothers.Her father died on the trip toBarkerville.