Transcript of A pilgrim in the eyes of a child audio book
- By: Melanie Blackman and Tracy Juliet
- Once upon a time in 1620, there was a little girl named
Sue.
- She lived in a little town called Plymouth which is in abig
country named England. One day Sues mothercame into her bedroom and
woke her up.
- Her mother told her it was time to leave for America, soshe
quickly got dressed and rushed out the door. Withher luggage in her
right hand and her blanket in theleft, they walked towards a huge
ship.
- There were lots of people getting on the ship. As Sue entered
the ship,she noticed a word at the front of the ship. It says
M-ay-fl-ow-er.Mayflower. She heard people talking and whispering
amongstthemselves. As Sue listened closer, she heard that the trip
may bedangerous and that the Indians may attack them. She even
heard themsaying that there might be storms and pirates! Sue got
scared and beganto wonder why they are leaving?
- While quietly sitting next to her mother, she thought that
nowwould be the best time to ask her. Her mother said that theKing
of England wanted everyone to follow his religion. Buteveryone on
the ship wanted their own. They would secretlymeet and pray
together but the King sent soldiers to arrestthem. After many
arrest, they decided to leave England. Suesmother told her that
they are called Pilgrims.
- The pilgrims left their homes and their friends inEngland. They
hoped for a better life in America.
- Soon it was nighttime and Sue began to feel sleepy. Shethought
of sleeping in a nice warm bed but when her mothertook her to the
first floor of the ship she was surprised.
- There were about 102 people. Some were trying tofind a place to
lay their blankets while others weresleeping. It was cold and
stuffy.
- She wanted to use the toilet but there were notoilets. She
wanted to wash her hands but there wasno water. Sad and tired, Sue
quickly fell asleep onher blanket.
- Suddenly, she was awakened by a huge jolt. Everyone
andeverything began sliding to the left and then to the right.
Hermother grabbed her and told her that it is a storm and soon
itwould be over. As Sue was about to get up, in came somewater
gushing down the first floor. Their clothes became wetand they felt
even colder.
- After hours of rough seas and strong winds, the stormstopped
and the sun shined again! Everyone went tothe top of the ship to
get the warmth of the sun and drytheir clothes. They had pickled
beef, cheese and drybread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They ate
thesame meal every day. Nine weeks went by and Suebecame tired of
the same food and of sailing.
- One day, a man ran to the first floor yelling he sawland.
Everyone ran to the top of the ship. They were allhappy to see
land. It is America! Sue was excited to seeher new home.
- Sue slowly walked with the other pilgrims onshore. Shenoticed
some people wearing feathers on their headhiding in the
bushes.
- They began looking for a place to build theirhomes. The
pilgrims found a spot and named itNew Plymouth.
- Sue helped her parents by bringing branches and sticks to build
theirhouse. They must build their house before leaving the ship.
But the coldwinter weather slowed them down. It took weeks to
finish their house.
- Sue heard the pilgrims calling the people with featherson their
head, Indians. She saw them from afar as theysat around campfires
and sang songs. The weathercontinued to get cold and icy. Everyone
tried to keepwarm by hugging each other.
- Many pilgrims got sick and many of them died. Suewas very sad.
She prayed that it would soon be overand they would all be happy
once again. Only half ofthe Pilgrims survived the winter.
- The Indians came closer and closer. Then one day an Indian
walked intotheir village. Sue ran and hid because she was scared.
Suddenly, sheheard the Indian speaking in English. She was
surprised. He said hisname is Samoset. The pilgrims greeted him
with gifts and they wanted tobe friends. Sue quietly came out of
her hiding spot because she wanted tobe friends too.
- The next day, Samoset returned to the village with
anotherIndian named Squanto. Squanto decided to live with
thepilgrims and he showed them how to plant corn and huntfor food.
Sue heard the pilgrims and Indians making plansfor the Indian King
to visit their village. Sue was excitedbecause they all became
friends.
- The next day, the Indian King visited. They all talked and
laughed.Sue even laughed at their silly jokes. Before leaving, the
Indian Kingand the Pilgrims signed a Treaty. Sues mother told her
that it was apromise to each other that they would be friends. In
April, theMayflower sailed back to England. They all loved America
anddecided to stay.
- In the summer, Sue helped her parents and the other
Pilgrimsplant many crops. They all worked very hard. By fall it
wastime to harvest their crops. They thought that it would be
niceto give thanks for all that they have grown. So they decidedto
have a thanksgiving feast. The pilgrims invited the Indians.
- On the day of the feast, the Indian King brought ninetyIndians.
Sue watched the Pilgrims become concernedabout having enough food
for the Indians. She thenheard the Indian King sending out his men
to hunt fordeer. They caught five deer and the Pilgrims
wererelieved that there would be enough food for everyone.
- The Pilgrims said a prayer of thanks before beginning
theirmeal. They ate bird, deer meat, fish, goose, lobster,
turkey,corn bread, berries, onions, and pumpkins. Thethanksgiving
feast lasted for three days.
- Sue and her friends sang and danced with theIndians. She became
friends with an Indian girlnamed Aiyanna. They played games
togetherwhile the adults ran races. They all had awonderful
time.
- From then on every year the Pilgrims celebratedThanksgiving.
The town of New Plymouth grew largerand larger as more people came
from England.
- Sue and her Indian friend Aiyanna grew older. Theyremained good
friends.
- Many years passed. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln, thepresident of the
United States of America madeThanksgiving Day a national
holiday.
- The End
- Greene, G. (2002). The very first thanksgiving day. New York
,NY: Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division. Melmed, L.
(2001). This first thanksgiving day: a counting story. New York,
NY: HarperCollins Publishers Hayward, L. (1990). The first
thanksgiving. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. McGovern, A. (1973).
The pilgrims first thanksgiving. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Dougherty, B. (2008). The littlest pilgrim. New York, NY:
Scholastic Inc.