Patsy's Diary

8/3/2019 Patsy's Diary

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Dear Diary,June 12, 1771

Allow me to introduce myself. My

name is Patsy Henry. I am 16. Mydad is Patrick Henry. He is a lawyerin the American Revolution. He alsois a part of the House of Burgess.My mom's name is Sarah Henry. I

have 2 sisters and 3 brothers.Edward who is the youngest, Betsywho is the second youngest, Anne isthe middle child, William who is thesecond oldest, John who is a yearyounger then me, and I am THE

oldest. I am also living with myAfrican-American slave whose nameis Pegg. My mom just tried to drownmy baby brother. I had to give herbrandy to becalm her. My mom is

going mentally insane. No Joke. I amthe only one that knows right now. Idon't want to think about my momgoing insane. I remember the dayswhen she would get on the floor and


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play dolls with Betsy, and have longtalks with me about how I feel aboutPapa being gone, and how I feel

about, just life in general. I reallymiss my old mama, and I miss myPapa not being around, but I amreally proud of my Papa for goingout and being a part of the war. I

don't know what I should do aboutmama. I have to watch the childrenconstantly, AND make sure thatMama doesn't do any harm toherself or anyone. Well, I better getgoing. Check up on my Mama. I talk

to you soon.~Patsy Henry.

Dear Diary,June 12, 1771I am back. Pegg locked Mama in

the dry cellar as punishment for fortrying to drown Edward. She told


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Mama to stay in there for an hourand reflect on her actions. Peggdoes not understand that Mama is

mentally insane and sometimesdoesn't know what she did wrong. IfMama came out, Pegg would havetold Papa. I told my Mama that Pegghad no right to tell her that

because, Pegg is supposed tofollowing OUR orders, not the otherway around. Pa will be sure to hearabout this incident. Sometimesbeing the oldest stinks. You have alot of responsibilities! I have more

responsibilities the most girls myage because my Mama is not able tohelp take care of the family and dosome of the chores. I have to takeon my responsibilities as the oldest

AND take on my Mama'sresponsibilities as well. MyJohn,who is my fiance, is sometimesaround to help. I want to wed to himsoon. I need his strong voice and


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firm hand around here. Especiallywhen the kids act up. He knows howto make them behave. Also, if he

watches the kids, and Pegg takescare of the chores, it helps me outtremendously! I am so thankful tohave MyJohn in my life. Well, Ibetter go down and help Pegg tend

to supper. I will be back tonight.Write you soon!~Patsy

Henry

Dear DiaryJune 13, 1771Sorry that I didn't write last night. Iwas super busy at the end of thenight. Guess what I found out? Anne

decided to tell MyJohn that Mamatried to drown Edward yesterdaymorning. I knew that I could notkeep it quiet any longer. Pegg hadturned my own sister against me,


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and she locked Mama in the drycellar. MyJohn told me that withMama being ill, she senses

something is wrong, and that themistress of the house is weak. Peggis taking over to help fill that weakspot. MyJohn offered to talk withPegg, which I appreciated, but I told

him I was going to do it because if Ididn't, she would never respect me.I want to wed MyJohn! Sooner thenplanned actually. I need him to helpme run the place when Pa is gone.Anne and William run like wild

Indians, and Betsy looks up to me toteach her and guide her in the rightdirection.Pegg is telling the childrennonsense stories about Chiswell and

his grave. I don't understand whatwould posse her to do such a thing.I remember the days when I wouldsit on her lap, and she would tell mestories, she would be there for me,


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and her arms were my refuge. Peggis the one who had always go withme when I was invited to balls,

routs, or barbecues at anotherplantation, but now that I amgrowing up, I am distancing myselffrom her. Which is a sign of growingup. Well, I better go talk to Pegg.

Talk to you soon! ~Patsy HenryDear Diary,

June 13, 1771I talked to Pegg. I got sass back,and for the first time, I stood up to

her. I told her I won't take herattitude. Pegg eyes flicked to theground when I told her that. Shehad NEVER been spoken to in thatmanner by me until today. I also

told her to stop telling Anne ghoststories and to encourage herdisobedience. Right as I was leavingPegg told me that we should hire awet nurse for Edward because my


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Mama's mind is set to drown him,it's better to let him be nursed bysomeone whose intent isn't to

drown the poor kid. She told meDelia was going to give birth soon,so she could nurse Edward. I didn'twant to think about it , even thoughPegg told me to.

Super was okay. I didn't tell Mamathat Pa was going to come home. Itold my siblings not to say a wordeither. I decided that at super Iwould tell her. When I told her, I gotthe most shocking response back. I

had expected her to be jumping upand down with joy, but no....insteadshe told me that apparently Pa died.She told me that he took the sick atthe Charlotte County Courthouse.

He had a bowel blockage and so Dr.Cabell gave him vial Mercury as alast resort, and it apparently killedhim. My siblings didn't know whatwas going on. I told Silvy that they


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needed to be taken away so I couldtalk to my Mama in private. I triedto explain to her that we live in

Hanover County. I asked her whatwe be dong in Charlotte County, andshe told me that we lived therewhen Pa was ''sick'', and when heoffered himself as a candidate. She

insisted that it was Delegates andthat this was after he was electedGovernor for the 6th time. I toldMama that Pa could never begovernor because he was a Colonialand was accused of Treason, but she

didn't listen. She is predictingthings now and I am sorta scared.Well I better get to bed! Good nightand write you later tomorrow!

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary,June 20 1771It has been quite a while since I


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have written. I am sorry I did notwrite like I promised. I have beenreally busy. MyJohn took me to see

the asylum that Mama would havebeen stuck in, had we not donesomething about her. Mama told methat Pegg was about to poison herwith her tea. Pegg doesn't quite

understand that Mama is sick in themind because Pegg was reallysurprised that Mama would havethought that because Pegg is theone of the African-Americanservants my grandpa(her daddy)

gave when she wed. I don't evenfeel like God is here right now. If hereally were here, he would not havemade Mama this way. I don't seewhy God did this to our family. On

the bright side, Delia had her babylast night! I was freaking out thismorning that something hadhappened to Edward, but he is okay.He was taken down to the quarters


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for Delia to nurse. Well it is time togo to breakfast. If anything excitinghappens I will write back!

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary June20 1771At breakfast this morning Annedecided she was going to tell us awonderful story about divinevengeance. She told us that RichardParson was playing cards in RaleighTavern and said that if he did not winthe next round his flesh would rot

and his eyes would never shut. Ofcourse he apparently didn't win thegame(according to Anne), and so ablack spot that started out on his legspread all over his body. He died intwo days. His whole flesh was rotted

and no one was able to shut his eyes.I thought that she was talkingnonsense! I don't see how Pa can takeher nonsense talk! She claims it wastrue, but I challenged that. I asked


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her why his obituary wasn't in theGazette but she says that it will be inthere soon. I told her that Clementina

Rind said no such thing. Guess whatelse!? She got this story from Pegg.Wow...shocker! Not...I can not believePa allows her to hang around withPegg and let Pegg tell her all thesenonsense ghost stories and the most

terrible backwoods tales.My Pa made me sit at Mama's spot atthe table because I am now themistress of the house and ourAfrican-American servants need toknow that.Dr. Hinde came to take a look atMama. We were supposed to actnormal but it is hard. He told me thatMama has taken up residence in hermind in some place far away from

here. I was thinking ''Do we REALLYneed YOU to tell us that!? We alreadyknew that!'' He also told us that it isthe worst for the person caring forher, but we had to accept it as it was


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God's will. He also said that Pa's ideaof putting her in the cellar with one ofour servants to take care of her is the

wisest way to go. God will call herhome in his own time. I was tryinghard not to cry. I just wanted toscream ''NOT FAIR! HOW COULD GODDO THIS TO OUR FAMILY! IT'S NOTFAIR!''. Had I done that, Pa would

have not liked it. Pa left before ournoon meal. I was sorta upset aboutthat. Pa told me that I was in charge.I told him that Anne never listens tome. He told me that I had theauthority over her and for her toplease me, I had to show I waspleased with her. Ignore the littlemistakes she makes. I remember hetold me Authority corrupts, likepower. He told me it would corrupt

me. I told him I drank some of the teaand he was angry that I did, becausewe are not allowed to drink tea. I toldhim I drank it to see if Mama wasright about Pegg poisoning her. He


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told me that he expected me to setthe right example. Right before heleft, I asked him if I could wed to

MyJohn sooner. He told me that I wastoo young, but I pointed out to himthat he was 18 and Mama was 16. Hewasn't going to change his mind. Ifind that unfair. You know what iseven MORE unfair!? He told me I had

to wait TWO years! TWO! Last time itwas only ONE! He told me I was hisdear little girl and it was sensible. Itfinally came to me! I asked him if itwas because I'd end up on Mama'send when I wedded and had kids. Allhe told me in response was to givemyself more time, and to not leaveMama alone with any of the kids.Then he kissed me and left. I satthere sobbing. I couldn't believe it! I

KNOW WHAT HE IS THINKING! Hethink that when I get married, I willbecome JUST like her and go insaneJUST like her! I don't get it! I think heis just really paranoid. He is SO


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unfair. I think he is just stressed. Ihave to go tend to the kids right now.I will hopefully be back tomorrow or

the day after!~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary,June 27 1771

I was SO worried that I would turnout like Mama. Pa scared me so bad!Is that seriously what would happento me? I thought of all the marriedwomen I knew. Clementina Rind wasthe first one who came to mind. Shewas sane. She didn't go insane. How

about Mrs. Hooper who is ourneighbor that I hate? She June bemean, but she is sane. Aunt Annie?She lived in Indian Territory anddon't have any reports of her mindgoing insane. I thought about Mrs.Parson. She was pretty sane too. I atfirst thought it ran in the family, butseriously, could what Pa said, betrue? Would I become mentally


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insane like Mama? I decided not tothink about it too much any more. Tokeep my mind occupied, I went to

see what Pegg was making fordinner. She was making cold Chickenfricassee, Yellow Squash, Turtlesoup, and for desert, Pound Cake.Ew! I hate squash and I hate turtlesoup with a passion! Pound cake isyummy though. My Mama used tomake the best Pound Cake! I alsowent to cast an eye to Daphne whilethey were making soap. I also wentwith Silvy to help her air out her

mattress tickings. It is a beautifulday out! The sun is shining bright.Not a cloud in the sky! I have to takeEdward to Delia to be nursed rightnow, but I just can not bring myselfto do it. I can't think of anyone butMama nursing him. I am havingPegg do it instead. I will be backtomorrow. I must go for the night.By the time I get more free time to


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myself, it will be too late. Goodnight for now. I will write right awayin the morning!

~PatsyHenry

Dear Diary,June 28 1771After I brought Edward to Pegg to bringto Delia yesterday, I heard Mama

crying. Pegg informed me that it wasbecause she can't see Edward. When Iwent in there she was screaming,''EDWARD, EDWARD! WHERE ISEDWARD!? I WANT MY BABY! BRING MEMY BABY!''. I calmly explained to Mama

that Edward was being nursed and thatDelia had a baby boy. Mama said thatshe didn't want Edward nursed by anAfrican-American, but I told her it wastime she was treated like a lady(mostplanters' wives do not nurse their own

babies). She screamed to me ''DON'TTELL ME WHAT MOST PLANTERS WIVES'DO! I WANT MY BABY!!!! BRING ME MYBABY!!''. I told Mama that she had totake some tea and some powder the


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doctor left and then she'd feel good!She screamed to me ''YOU DON'T THINKI KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO

TO ME!? I AM NOT TAKING IT! JUSTBRING ME MY BABY!!!''. She thenjumped up, got out of bed, pushed measide and ran out of the room. I beggedher to come back but she didn't. Betsywas sitting playing dolls with Pegg's

Letty. This is EXACTLY the kind ofbehavior Pa and I didn't want the kidsto have to see. Thank goodness MyJohnand John were behind me. Mama hadleft to the quarters so at Delia's stepMyJohn took Mama and they both went

inside. I can not believe Mama actedlike that! It was scary. I wonder whathappened once they were inside. DidMama get to nurse him? Did Delia seeMama acting up? I hope she didn't! Ihate to admit it, but sometimes I am

ashamed and embarrassed of myMama. I know she can't help that she isinsane, but her behavior makes meembarrassed. Thank goodness forLaudanum! She had gotten Edward and


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now he is resting in my room. EarlierMama told me about a supposed floodand a new governor we apparently

have. She told me that Mr. Jeffersonlost his mill, and that James andRappahannock river overflowed. Shealso said many people lost 4,000hogsheads of tobacco, crops, livestock,lives, and homes. I don't understand

where she is getting this from! She toldme that our new Governor was given acoach by King George. I know that ourold Governor(Boutetourt) died last fallbut we haven't a new governor yet. Idon't know. I am just really worried

about Mama. I talked to MyJohn aboutit. I told him how I was afraid whatmarriage would do to me. He told methat I am the most sensible and steadyyoung woman he has ever known. Thatmade me smile. Anne wanted to go see

Mama just a little while ago, but I toldher no because Mama is resting. Anneand I are going to see her soon. I mustgo now. I will be back in a couple days.Tomorrow is going to be a crazy busy


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day and I don't have time to writetomorrow! Have a lovely night.

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary,June 28 1771MyJohn set up Mama's room in thecellar. I think it looks really roomy. I am

not so sure how well Mama will like it. Iwas reading the Gazettewhen I wassupposed to be working on Anne'sdress. The article I was reading said:

Whereas Martha Beasley, my wife, has

absented herself from me and goesabout scandalizing my character andthreatening that she or some of herassociates will swear away my life; andas I am of the opinion that she has losther senses: These are therefore to

forward all persons from harboring ortrusting her on my account, for I willnot pay any debt she shall contract,from the date hereof.Sighed, Williamiam Beasley.


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I thought it was a pretty interestingarticle. I kept reading those words overand over again. I was telling MyJohn

that I noticed a lot of women arerunning from their husbands. If Mamahad run off by now MyJohn didn't haveto make that cellar for her. I wasthinking that with the women runningoff, they are able to hopefully save

their sanity. What I don't understand is,why don't men just face somethingthey wash over and pretend that itnever existed? MyJohn told me thatlocking Mama in the cellar was the onlyway to be able to be responsible for the

younger kids AND keep Mama out ofour way. I knew the cellar ceiling waslow, but I don't see why it seemed SOmuch lower now? Pegg was putting upthe curtains when I walked in. Thecurtains were homemade. The new

heart-pine floor was covered withanimal skins. There was the hearth thathad always been there but a kettlemade of brass now hung from a cranethat was neatly polished. There was


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also an oak table. It wasn't very light.John and MyJohn were standing thereas I examined the room. I told them

that it was beautiful, because honestly,it was the BEST our cellar has EVERlooked! I told the guys that Mamaneeded more time, but they could seeright past my lie and they understoodthat I was the one that actually needed

more time. It wasn't Mama, it was me. Ihave been so used to having heraround in her room, it would seemreally weird to just all of a sudden, nothave her there. Well, I better get going.I June not be writing for a couple day

because I have to get Anne andWilliam's clothes made to get ready togo to the Hoopers'. I hope to moveMama to the cellar by then as well. Tata for now!

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary, July


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5 1771Sorry I have not written for few days.Mama is not yet moved to the cellar. I

haven't had time to worry because Ihave been busy readying William andAnne's clothes so they can to theHoopers'. I am so thankful to MyJohn.He has not been pushing me to put herthere. He has been so patient with me.

I do not know what I would do withouthim! I told him that we should do itwhen the children are absent. The lastcouple of days, I have been putting thefear of God into Anne and William. Ihave been on their case about

manners, but when they left today, Istill felt fearful as to what was going togo on. I should have ridden with them,and I should not have allowed Anne totake her Lacquered box. I knew thatthe box alone would stir up trouble

with the other girls there. It startedraining JUST has they left. MyJohn ispreparing to leave now. Just a littlewhile ago, he wanted me to kiss himbefore he left, but I would not. I


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refused. He thought something waswrong with me. He asked me why Iwouldn't kiss him, but I gave him no

answer. I knew in my heart I wanted tokiss him. Right before he left, I let himkiss me and I huddled in his arms asthe rain beat down upon us. John andBarley came up and took MyJohn. Hewas gone. I would no longer have him

around. I would only have John, Barley,Edward, and Betsy. Well I must begoing. I need to get a few odds andends done before this night ends.

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary, July

6 1771John was telling me that the Hoopers' saywe are in for a flood with all the rain andlightening and thunder that was goingon. I have been thinking about what


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Mama said about the flood. Could sheREALLY see into the future? Last nightwas crazy! About 10'o clock, I had woken

up due to the thunder and the lightening.I looked out my window, and I saw thiswhitish figure. I had squinted my eyesand I knew who that was! It was MAMA!She was holding a small child. I quicklyran to Edward's cradle and there he was,sleeping as soundly as could be. Therewas only one other little one in the houseand that was.....BETSY! I RAN out of myroom to John's room and pounded on hisdoor until he opened it up. He was nottoo thrilled to be awoken, but I told himthat Mama was outside carrying Betsy,

he immediately woke up, got dressedand grabbed a lantern. I was amazedthat I was able to dress because I wastrembling. John went to wake up Barleyand Pegg. We all grabbed lanterns.Barley went to get the horses and a rope,

Pegg was to wake the other servants andMr. Melton. Mr. Melton was told to takeanother search group, and Pegg and Iwere to watch in the house in case Mamareturned. This whole thing was MY fault.


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I was the one who didn't want to Mamain the cellar. Thankfully nothinghappened to Betsy, but had something

happened, it would have been all myfault. It took them all of two hours to findand get Mama and Betsy. I guess fromwhat Pegg told me, Mama was takingBetsy and running away because shethought I sent away Anne and William,and Mama didn't want me taking awayBetsy. I am just thankful that Barley andJohn were able to get Betsy and Mama.John tied Mama to her bed for the rest ofthe night last night. It made me sad. Ifinally decided last night that today weare putting Mama in the cellar. We have

not yet done it. We are planning it afterbreakfast. I must go for Breakfast. I'llwrite soon!

~PatsyHenry

Dear Diary,July 6 1771This day has been a busy one! I hadn't timeto write until just now. I stayed up the mostof last night with Mama. She was resting


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yet when we got up this morning. MyJohnwas home. He heard from everyone he metin the road, about Mama's running away.Mama was apparently found by an old shednear the mill by the river. MyJohn told Johnthat he had done Pa proud and he told methat I knew what we must do, and I knewwhat that meant. I was not ready to do it,but I knew it had to be done. I had decidedthat I was going to write up a notice for the

Gazette. Here is what I wrote: Whereas:Sarah Henry hath tried to drown one of herchildren and ran off in the middle of thenight in a storm with another, her familyhas decided with all convenient speed, toconfine her to the cellar of her home. Shehas fettered the tender cords that tied

their souls together, and has from sometime past, tired to ruin them. There is toforewarn all persons from dealing with her,for we, her family, are parted in affection.About mid-morning we decided it was timeto move Mama to our cellar. It was also the

time that Delia needed Edward for hisfeeding. Mama took one look at Delia andsaid ''She's goin' steal my baby!'' Iexplained that Delia was just going tonurse Edward. Mama wouldn't have it. Shesaid that Delia was here to take away


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Edward. She was holding Edward so tight, Ithought that he would surely suffocate.MyJohn came in at that time. He told Mamathat Edward was a spitting image of Pa.Mama said ''Too bad Patrick(Pa) wasn'taround to see him born''. Diary, Pa is stillalive. Mama just think Pa died like I saidbefore. We didn't try to convince her thatPa was still living. We just brought herdown to the cellar. As we were walking

down the stairs, I prayed that Mamawouldn't drop Edward walking down thestairs. She didn't....thank goodness! Mamawas mesmerized by the decor and stuff inthe cellar. As she was examining it, MyJohnwas able to get Edward from Mama, andthen got Edward and I upstairs so I could

get Edward to Delia for nursing. As soon asI was gone, she finally got it. MyJohn musthave told Mama that she was to stay downthere because then I heard screaming ofMama and of MyJohn trying to calm her.Finally he was able to come upstairs.

MyJohn looked a mess! I felt bad for him.His hair was messed up, his shirt torn, andscratches/bruises on his face! Thankgoodness that the floors and door wasthick so I didn't have to hear Mama unless Itried. I heard her calling my name and it


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just tore at my heartstrings. Why notMyJohn or Johns name!? Why mine!? It wasstill raining this afternoon, but I decidedthat I needed time out of the house, so Itook Jolly(my horse) for a ride. I took myfavorite paths with her. The rain felt sogood! After my ride, I spent the rest of myafternoon in our detached kitchen cooking.Betsy, at one point, tugged on my skirtsaying ''Mama?'', like she was asking

''Where is Mama?''. I told her that Mamawas sickly and needed to rest. It workedand it got Betsy off my case, but I amwondering, how long am I able to use thatexcuse with my younger brothers andsisters? Just a little while ago, ClementinaRind stopped by. She was coming by to

write a story. It started raining harder andharder and harder and HARDER!Clementina stayed longer then expected. Itwas raining SO hard, we decided it wasbest that she not start back toWilliamiamsburg. Clementina was writing a

story about how our neighbors were faringwith the rain. She told me that crops andorchards were ruined, and that the worstwas on the Rivanna and James Rivers. Shealso told me that Cattle has been lost,houses destroyed and Thomas Jefferson


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even lost his mill! It finally came to me!Diary, what is Mama really DID have thesight like Pegg said?! I even toldClementina that, but she said it could justbe a coincidence. As I write this entire, I amthinking more and more about this...it HASto be true! Mama has the sight. There is noshilly-shallying around it! Not with thestorms and floods brewing outside. Well itis time for dinner. I am going to bring some

food down to Mama. I will write as soon as Ican! Which will either be late tonight orearly tomorrow morning! Ta ta! Have awonderful evening!

~PatsyHenry

Dear DiaryJuly 7, 1771So, last night when I went to bring Mama

her food, she asked me how she wassupposed to bake a cake without frog legs.I had NO idea what she was talking about!After Mama started eating the food Ibrought her, tears came out of my eyes justwatching her. I told her about the floods. I


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told her I knew that she had the sight andthat she could tell me what was gong tohappen. Mama was smiling. There was ONEthing I NEEDED to know! I asked her whichone of us girls was going to inherit hermadness. She did not tell me. She justleaned close to me telling me that the froglegs would make a great spice if cute upright for a cake. I had NO idea where shecame up with that. I just left her there with

the food, and went back upstairs. WhenAnne, William, and Silvy returned fromtheir week at the Hoopers', the FIRST thingI saw, was that Anne cut her hair. SHORT!Like boy short! I couldnt believe it! Shetold me that the other girls wanted to seewhat she looked like with short hair, so she

cut it. UNBELIEVEABLE! I found out a lotmore too Diary, but I will not get intodetail. Lets just say, that Betsy startedwetting the bed again too. I was clueless asto why they were going back to the waythey were. Pegg told me that it was

probably because, they hoped that if theyacted the way they did BEFORE Mama gotseriously ill, she would go back to normal.This morning during our breakfast time,Sarah Hallam(who ran off from theHoopers') and Jonathan Snead came to our


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doorstep. Apparently they were in our barnlast night. They came to stay with us.Jonathan was hoping that Pa would find aminister to marry him and Sarah Tonight Pajust came home a little while ago. Heagreed to have Uncle Henry(who goes byReverend Henry) wed them. The weddingwas going to be here at our house. Wewere busy preparing for the wedding! Pawent after dinner to see Mama. He played

Handel and Vivaldi on his violin. It wasMama's favorites. Well Diary, it has been along day. I better be getting to bed. I won'tbe writing for a few days. Sorry! See youlater!

~Patsy Henry

Dear Diary,July 20, 1771Things have been SUPER busy! Sorry I havenot written in over 10 days! There was anannouncement in the Virginia Gazette

about Sarah and Johnathan wedding! Hereis what the announcement said:Married: Two evenings past, at Scotchtown,the home of Mr. Patrick Henry, Jr., MissSarah Hallam, niece of Mr. and Mrs. Hooperof Hooper Run Plantation in Hanover


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County, and Mr. Jonathan Snead of thistown. The mutual affection and similarityof disposition in this agreeable pair affordthe strongest assurance of their enjoyingthe highest felicity in the Capital state.I am really happy for Sarah and Jonathan! Iam proud of the announcement because Iwas the one who helped Pa write it! Thereason Pa signed it Patrick Henry Jr. wasout of respect for his uncle Reverend

Patrick Henry. There was thumpingdownstairs during the ceremony, but wedidn't mind it. Ever since the flood, wehave been collecting clothes for thevictims. Pa sent a note around that wasfrom the House of Burgesses. John was toget the word to our neighbors. Silvy came

to tell me that, apparently Anne has beensneaking down to see Mama. I guess thatwe have been too busy with the flood tonotice. I guess, from what Silvy has beentelling me, that Mama has been talking toher and what she says makes sense. I

talked to Anne about it. Anne said that sheknew about the wedding, and she knewthat Pa was alive. I told her she was not togo down to see Mama anymore. I explainedthat it was because there was the risk ofher turning against Anne, just like she had


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done to Pa and MyJohn. Anne told me thatMama was going to tell her who wouldinherit the bad blood next time she wentdown there. Anne kept to her word, anddidn't sneak down to see Mama. Was itreally possible that Mama couldcommunicate this to Anne? Was Annemaking this all up, so I'd let her go down tosee Mama again? It took me 2 days tofigure this all out. I finally let her go talk to

Mama. Only when MyJohn was home, andonly if she allowed John and I to stand atthe top, to keep watch. The door had to beclosed though because if Mama feltsomeone listening, she wouldn't tell Anne. Iwanted to know desperatly so I agreed.After the visist, I found out it wasn't me

that was going to inherit the blood(so now Icould wed. to MyJohn.). It was Anne herself.I felt SO bad. I decided I was going to helpAnne through this. I told her we were goingto work through it together, and that wecan make our own fate. It doen't have to be

the way it is now. Well that is what is goingon right now. If I find time, I will write somemore, but right now, things are so hectic, Iwill be lucky if I can write once a month!So, the entries will be a little morewidespread. I hope that is okay! Thank you


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for listening Diary!Yours Truly,

~Miss. Patsy Henry

Disclaimer: All entries that have Italicizedquotes: they were taken straight from thebook: ''Or Give Me Death'' By AnnRinaldi. They are not my own words. No

copyright intended.

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Patsy's Diary