Frozen Fire

https://openlibrary.org/

Dear Annie: The weather is cold, so I'll try to make this brief. My companion and I are on the move to an old gold rush claim here in the Yukon. We were doing well and making good time, until recently that is. Recently, things have been getting weird.

My companion and I started out on our trek to the old claim at about nine in the morning; we were supposed to meet my companion's friends. Against the advice of an older man at Sulfur Creek, my companion decided not to take a face strap (and precede with the trek), even though the temperature was about -75 degrees Fahrenheit. I think it was a mistake, but I always stay nice and warm because of my coat.

We started following a stream to reach the camp. Worrying like he does, my companion was always concerned about stepping on a thin sheet of ice where springs gush up from the bottom. To ensure he did not step on thin ice, he always sent me first. I did not like that very much. As we progressed, I could see the cheeks of my companion turn from a beautiful red to a crisp blue. He was getting frostbitten, and that is only what I could see. When he got too cold we did stop to make a fire; it was lovely to bask in its warmth.

Once my companion warmed himself, we continued on. It was not long though before he inevitably fell through the thin ice. He was soaked from head to toe, and on the verge of freezing. I watched him start another fire, attempt to warm himself, and then disaster happened; the fire went out.

This is the part why I am writing. My partner built his fire under a tree, and when he went to pull branches for tinder snow fell and put the fire out. Ever since then he has been trying to restart it, but he has been eyeing me suspiciously. I have moved farther away from him, fearing for my own safety. Do you think that he would kill me in order he may live? Do you think he was foolish to undertake this trek? Will he die in the Yukon? Any advice you can give will be very helpful to me. I am getting really nervous that if I don't act fast something bad may happen to me!

http://www.litteratureaudio.com/

-- Frozen and Fearful Friend

____________________________________________________

Dear Frozen: Your letter is perhaps the most unique one I have ever received, and I am very glad you sent it to me. Like you, I will also try to be brief.

I believe your friend was foolish for not heeding the advice of those I am assume were more experienced than him. Also, I think it is just plain common sense that when temperatures are reaching the extreme colds that they do in the Yukon, it would be best to take as much protection as possible. As the old saying goes though, "hindsight is 20/20."

When individuals are in unfavorable situations, they can do desperate things. Since your friend seems to be losing options as well as extremities, it would not surprise me if he tried a desperate move in order to improve his situation. With this said, I would watch out. Because of the position you are in I doubt he would care if you sacrificed in order that he may be saved. I know that sounds terrible on your part, and being honest that would scare me. Now that you are aware he could target you to save his own life, you are better prepared for what may come.

Since I am being candid, I will say that I believe your companion will die in the Yukon. He was not prepared, he did not heed advice, he did not take another person along, and he virtually had no way of calling for help if something happened, such as it has. While I do not like to pessimistic, unless by and act of God, I do not think your companion will not survive his ordeal.

It is a shame that the situation is turning out like it is. However, I think that it serves as a good lesson that when we let our egos and desires get in the way of logic and experience we must suffer the consequences. Keep your head up, your eyes open, and your ears listening. When the eventual scent of death does bathe the air, you must do what is right for you to survive. For you though, I do not think that will be much of an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU8lmdwIlwM

____________________________________________________________________________

Notes

• Jack London is one of my favorite American authors. I love the rustic and outdoor tone he takes with each of his stories. 

____________________________________________________________________________

http://www.elacommoncorelessonplans.com/

Works Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4  Mar. 2016.  

London, Jack. "To Build a Fire." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.  Ed. Julia Reidhead.  628-639. Print.

Going Down in Flames

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3120865-barn-burning

Dear Annie: I am just a young boy of only ten years of age. I live with my father, mother, aunt, and siblings. We do not have a lot of money, we can be called poor. Being farmers, I guess being poor goes with the job.

That is not why I am writing you, I am writing you because I am concerned for my father. I love him very much, but he is always such an angry man. He lets his feelings get the better of him sometimes, and he lies to cover up his wrong doings. Father just the other day had to go before a judge because Mr. Harris accused him of burning down his barn. He accused my father of burning down his barn because my father would not pay a dollar to get back our pig that had broken in Mr. Harris' cornfield. My father denied burning the barn, and he had me say in front of everyone that he did not. But he did! Father did burn down that barn, I know he did, I know he knows I know he did. He had me lie about it too. If I did not lie though he might have gone to jail. I love my father and do not want to see him in jail, but he lied and had me lie too! After Father saw the judge, we were forced to leave town.

I thought after this that Father would have learned his lesson, that he would calm down. We had not been settled into our new home very long when Father did something mean again. After leaving our last town, Father went to work farming for Major de Spain. He is a wealthy landowner. Father went to go see him at his house and the servant said he was not home. But instead of leaving Father pushed his way past the door and got horse manure all over the nice rug. Miss Lula, Major de Spain's wife was not happy. Later that day a servant brought the rug to us to clean it. We did, but the rug was ruined anyway. Major de Spain told my father he had to pay for damages, and a judge said the same thing. During the meeting with Major de Spain and the Judge, Father had me lie again! This accrued just earlier in the day.

Annie, I love my farther, but I can see he is angry again. The last time he was angry he burned down a barn! I don't want him to do that again! Next time he does he could go to jail, or he could be shot. Is there any reason why my father is like is? Is there anything I can do about it? Should I keep lying to protect him? I love my father but I don't want him to continue to be this way. Is there anything at all that I can do?  

http://www.buzzle.com/

-- The Young Colonel

______________________________________________


Dear Colonel: Do not get deeper into this mess that you father has created anymore than you already are. Your father is a grown man who is old enough to deal with his emotions and understand the difference between right and wrong.

I can only imagine how hard it is for you to be dealing with the situation that you are. Growing up, I also loved my father. I would have done anything if he asked; I idolized him and he was my hero. It sounds like you view you father in much the same light as I did mine. No matter what he does he is still your father and you should love and respect him for that fact. However, that does not mean that you have to agree, accept, or be a part of what he does. You said your father burned a barn; you do not want to be associated with that! If you are associated with that in any way, such as lying to the judge in court, then can found just as guilty as your father. I know you feel a sense of obligation to your father, but you do not have to lie for him, you do not have to cover up his wrong doings, you do not have to apologize for his anger. Everything your father does is his problem to deal with, not yours. I find it heinous that your father would ever involve you in his wrong doings in the first place. He should be looking out for your best interests, rather he is dragging you down with his sinking ship.

While you probably do not want to hear this, I think it is best if you distance yourself from your father, both physically and emotionally. I would usually never say that, but I think he is a greater detriment to you the longer you remain around him. That is hard to hear at ten years old, but I think that it is in your best interest.

I think that the reason your father is the way he is stems from an underlining jealousy. He is jealous of the wealthier people in life, people who are in a better situation than he and the rest of his family. Possibly he thinks he is being treated unfairly in life, and he is just looking to "even the score." That is why I feel your father acts the way he does.

At the end of the day he is still you father, and you must love and respect him for that fact. However you do not have to involve yourself in his vicious activities, and I urge you not to. You cannot change your father, only he can do that if he truly wants to. All you can do is keep yourself out of his troubles, and pray that he finds his way.

https://essaybox.org/essay-writing-service.html?ref_id=1077

____________________________________________________________________________

Notes 

• For the part of the letter when it was Sarty's turn to talk, I tried to make it sound the writings of a ten year old. Honestly, that was the hardest part of this blog post, and I do not think I did my best job.  :)

____________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4  Mar. 2016.  

Faulkner, William.. "Barn Burning." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Julia Reidhead.  1004-1016. Print. 

Riding the Streetcar of Desire

http://dementeddoorknob.blogspot.com

Dear Annie: Have you ever known a time when your family caused you a headache? Well, I have; I have been having many headaches lately.

I originally come from a upper-class southern family of French decent. Life was good and easy growing up on my family's estate known as Belle Reve, with my parents and my sister. When I got to age however I met a man, Stanley. He is a big man, sometimes overbearing; a veteran of the last war with Germany and of Polish decent too. He did not come from a wealthy family, rather a poorer, industrial working class family. This means when I decided to marry him I also married the lifestyle of the lower-class, which did not bother, and still doesn't. It does bother my sister though, quite a lot.

My sister, Blanche, decided as she grew older that she did not want to truly associate with the lower-class. Instead, she became a teacher and stayed at our childhood home, Belle Reve. Several weeks ago, Blanche came to stay with Stanley and I in our New Orleans home. She said that it was because she needed a break from it all, she needed a rest. Ever since she has been critical of the way I live, who I associate with, and of my husband. Neither Stanley or Blanche hit it off when they met, and they still do not really get along.

Ever since my sister's arrival, Stanley has been growing progressively angrier, meaner, and more hostile, to both Blanche and I. Of course, Blanche has done nothing to help the situation, constantly badgering Stanley and mouthing off to him. However, Blanche is such a delicate soul and I keep telling Stanley this, but he does not want to listen. He has been telling me stories he heard a work, stories about how Blanche is promiscuous, how she was fired from being a teacher, how she is not what she seems. If these stories are true it means she has been lying to me. I just cannot believe that these stories are true though, Blanche is so delicate. Because I do not completely believe Stanley, and because Blanche mouths off to him, he gets so angry. He became so angry at Blanche once that he hit me! I know Stanley has a volatile temper, but most of the time I find it addicting.

I guess what I am trying to ask you, is this normal? Is there usually this much conflict between family, or between classes? Could this situation worsen? I am pregnant and do not want this conflict to harm the baby. Thank you in advance for your advice, and I look forward to your response.

-- Old Southern Sister


____________________________________________________________________________



Dear Sister: Your story and situation are very interesting, and alarming to me. On one hand you have a husband who you seem to love, but has obvious anger issues. On the other hand you have a sister that you love, but she is almost disrespectful, and she may not be all that she appears. To compound everything, both of these individuals are currently residing in the same household. What a predicament to be in.

https://www.austinfilm.org/

Let me say that a little animosity is normal among family. No one will get along all of the time, so anger and annoyance toward one another once in a while is normal. Your situation has surpassed being normal though. If after weeks of being with you your sister and husband are still having problems, and these problems are worsening, something is wrong. From your letter I gather that the situation has only continued to deteriorate since your sister's arrival. Because of this, I believe the situation at your home will only continue to worsen, not improve. If your sister cannot control her mouth, and your husband his anger, neither of them should be together. This arrangement is not only hurting them but you and the baby as well. The stress on you as a result of these two must be high, and stress is not good for a pregnant mother. You need to remove yourself from that situation, or remove other variables to relieve the situation's mounting pressure.

You may believe your sister has a delicate soul, but I get the feeling she is using you, trying to get between you and your husband. Because she is your sister you may not want to believe the stories Stanley he has heard about her. I would definitely check the sources, but be prepared if the information you find is not the information you want to hear. There is always that possibility as people are rarely as the seem.

There is no excuse for Stanley hitting you, at anytime, ever! You may find his anger addicting at times, but I find it scary. Stanley needs to find help if his anger and temper are truly this volatile. It only take once for Stanley's anger to get the better of him, this could have a negative impact on you and the baby. That is something I know you do not want.

Just to be clear, I think your sister has overstayed her welcome, and she needs to move on. You must move past the thought that her soul is delicate or you will continue to caudal her and exacerbate the problem. However, you must also not let Stanley abuse you like he does. This is uncalled for, this is unloving, this is cowardly. You seem to be the only logical
 

person at your home right now, so you have the power to make real change before things get worse. If I were you I would move quickly before the situation worsens further; the further the situation worsens, the harder it will be on you. That is something that we can agree nobody truly wants.

http://www.rafsy.com/films-1920s-1950s/a-streetcar-named-desire-forever-young/

____________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

http://electricearl.com/parkersburg/streetcars-6.jpg

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4  Mar. 2016.  

Williams, Tennessee. "A Streetcar Named Desire." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Julia Reidhead. 1116-1177. Print. 

The "Great" Heart Trouble

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gatsby

Dear Annie: I live in a beautiful mansion on West Egg, New York. Life here is great! I host massive parties every weekend, prohibition has helped me make my "new" money, and I have almost everything I have ever wanted. The only thing I do not have is Daisy Buchanan. You see old sport, she is why I moved out here to West Egg, she is why I through massive parties, she is why I decided to become rich.

I met Daisy five years ago, before I went to fight in the Great War. You see old sport, I was just a poor soldier and she was a rich, beautiful maiden. We loved each other and I told her to wait for me to return home from the war. Until recently, that was the last time I saw her. I went of to war, won medals from every allied nation, including one from Montenegro. At the war's conclusion, I wrote Daisy to tell her I would be going to Oxford School in England, then I would return home; I never heard back.

Staying in England only five months, I returned to find Daisy had married Tom Buchanan, heir to one of the largest fortunes in the United States. I still held hope though that one day she would be with me, but I needed to make some money. You see old sport, in the 1920s, making vast fortunes is not hard if you know the right people, which I do, and so I amassed a great fortune. With my new wealth, I decided to buy a mansion in West Egg across the bay from where Daisy lives in East Egg. You see old sport, there is a green light the flashes at the end of her dock, and sometimes I walk out to the end of my dock and reach my hand toward the light. It is like I can almost reach out and grab her, she is so close to me. She is also the reason I through my parties every weekend. I always hope old sport that one day she will wander in and I can see her, but it has never happened.

I do not know why she continues to stay with Tom Buchanan? He only cares about image, and he does not love her like I do. Daisy deserves much better than Tom, that much I know. Thanks to Daisy's cousin and my friend, Nick Carraway, I say Daisy for the first time in five years the other day at tea. From just talking to her, and the expressions on her face as I showed her my home, I know she would be much happier with me. This is just like we always planned.

Annie, old sport, is this pushing too far? Even though Daisy says she still love me, could she really love Tom Buchanan too? Is it wrong to try to get the love of my life back? I am so close to having the life I have always dreamed while sharing it with woman I have always dreamed about; yet something does not feel just right. Any advice would be appreciated old sport.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_great_gatsby_2013/

-- The "Great" Gatsby


---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear "Great:" Love is a powerful and vital human emotion. It allows us to care, gives us empathy and compassion, and it is something that, at a certain level, everyone craves. The nasty side of love (yes there is one) is that it can lead people to make blind and impulsive decisions based off of it, and this can lead to tragedy and heartache.

This is what I see happening to you. You love Daisy, you have since the moment you met her. Daisy has made her decision though, she chose to marry Tom Buchanan rather than wait for you. No one forced Daisy to do this; she is a grown woman and can make her own decisions. She chose.  It is said that a person cannot repeat the past, and this is true. You need to stop living in the past and see the reality of the situation. You need to stop and look at what the consequences of your actions will be.

In your letter you asked if it was wrong to try to get the love of you life back. My response, look at the situation, it is different for everyone. In your case though, I think your pursuing of Daisy will be detrimental to at least one, but possibly every party involved. If I read correctly about the family, Tom and Daisy have a daughter. Your pursuing of Daisy could lead to a break up of that little girl's family, and for what? Are you willing to destroy a family simply because you cannot control your emotions? Are you willing to let you desires get in the way of the big picture? Also, by trying to pull Daisy from her established family, you are laying the heaviest burden on her, you are making her choose. Is this fair to Daisy, giving her the ultimate decision whether to leave her family or not? In my opinion, if you truly loved Daisy, you would not make her choose, nor would you endorse her to sin by cheating with you. You also assume that Tom Buchanan is only concerned about image, but you do not know the details of his heart. Do not assume that at some level he does not love Daisy, this is a foolish thought.

You truly love Daisy, and your motives are pure, that is easy to see. However, as I said at the beginning of my letter love can lead to people making blind decisions. This is what I believe you are doing, and you are so caught up in your desires that you do not see it. Let go. Let go of the past, for you can never change it. Let go of your desires and lust, for they will only lead to heartbreak and despair. Let go of your life as you wanted it to be, it will never come to fruition. While you may not want to hear this, it is true. You must move on with your life or you will remain stuck in a rut, continually spinning your wheels gaining nothing but hurt, sorrow and tragedy.

My best advice, let her go.

http://www.seesawaustin.com/2013/05/saw-the-great-gatsby/

 ___________________________________________________________________________

Notes

• The newest The Great Gatsby film was released in 2013. Its most notable actors include Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. More information about the movie can be found using the provided link below. 
• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/

____________________________________________________________________________

http://hookedonhouses.net

Works Cited 

"The Great Gatsby." IMDb. Amazon.com, 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4     Mar. 2016.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1953. Print

Blood, Fear, Courage, War

http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/articles/2013/08/20/1812.jpg

Dear Annie: I am writing to you from the front lines of a war. It is a terrible war with much blood and violence. That is what I think now, but until a few days a ago I had never never actually been in battle. I am a soldier in the Union Army, the army of Lincoln, a "Yankee." I volunteered to go to war, and along with my unit, I am supposed to fight the Rebels, and show the courage to stand-up to them in battle. But, that is where my problem is.

Before I had ever gone into battle, I wondered if I would ever be able to muster the courage to stay and fight. I did not just want to runaway in the middle of a battle. That is exactly what happened though. My first battle, the Rebels charged and I helped my unit beat them back. When they charged a second time, I lost my courage and fled believing that my unit could not beat back the attack (my unit did beat the charge back). I kept running, deeper and deeper into a wooded area, until I saw a rotting corpse in-front of my. This sight stopped me dead in my tracks (no pun intended) and then I turned around.

After leaving the wooded area, I joined a procession of wounded soldiers making their way away from the battlefield. This was in spite of the fact I was uninjured. In this procession a, "tattered soldier," kept asking me about my wound, and my friend died in-front of my eyes. What makes me feel worse however is when the tattered soldier continued to ask about my wound, I left him behind. He was truly wounded, and his physical condition was deteriorating. Without help he was going to die, and yet I left him, left him to die on the God forsaken road.

I will spare you the details, but after leaving the tattered soldier I was hit in the head with the butt end of a musket. This left a gaping slash across my head, bleeding and bruised. I was left for dead until a soldier, who's face I have never seen, helped me find my unit. When asked about my wound, I told my unit I had been shot.

This all happened yesterday. Here I am the next day, feeling guilty for my actions. Annie, was I right to be scared? Should I have runaway during battle, in order to preserve my own life? Was it wrong to get into the procession of the wounded soldiers? And the tattered soldier, would he have died even if I had helped him? I am very conflicted, scared, I feel guilty, and I feel more like a boy than like a man. Any advise you have would be gladly welcomed.

http://cheddarbay.com/CivilWar/Confederate/master03_background.gif

-- Yankee Without Courage


---------------------------------------------


Dear Yankee: War is as terrible, brutal, bloody, and tragic event perpetrated by mankind. Wars have made men famous, but have also destroyed countless lives.

It is only natural that we as humans would be afraid of going to war. We are biologically designed with a sense of self preservation, so anything we can do to preserve ourselves we will most likely do. With that said though, we are also the most cognitively developed species on the planet, meaning we can understand our emotions and control them. Remember that you volunteered to join the Union Army, you were not drafted. You volunteered to put yourself into a situation you knew would be dangerous, where you knew you would eventually have to fight. I find it morally wrong that you fled the battle rather than to staying and fighting with the men of your unit, many of which did stay. You have a responsibility to protect their lives just a they have the responsibility to protect your's. You should never abandon your friends if they would never abandon you, especially if it is just for self preservation.

Getting into the line with the wounded soldiers was also not a wise choice. Those men were leaving the battle with real wounds and physical aliments. The only wound you appeared to have was a wounded pride. When you were clubbed in the head by a rifle, there is no reason for someone to just do that. Where you doing something that may have provoked that? Joining this line of wounded soldiers seems like a way for you to run from your fears and never face them; a cop-out.

Perhaps the tattered soldier would have died even if you had helped him, but there is no way of knowing. You should not have left this man to die alone on the side of the dirt road. You let the lie of you being "wounded," and your wounded pride get between you and doing the right thing, helping that soldier. Just because you have done wrong and are trying to conceal it does not mean that man should have suffered the repercussions. At the end of the day, who was right and who was wrong? Both of you where fighting for the same team, the same cause. It has been said, never leave a man behind.

You have the opportunity to be one of the greatest soldiers your country has. You have the chance to change the lives of those around you, and of those you have never met. However, you must be honest to yourself and others; and you must never let your fear get the better of you. There are great times ahead for you, but you have to find the courage to run out and grab those opportunities. When you do this you will no longer be a boy, you will be a man.

http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/11/Battlle-of-Chickamauga-Hero-H.jpeg

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Notes

• The U.S. Civil War, or the War Between the States, was the deadliest war in American history. Including both Union and Confederate deaths, the death toll exceeded 600,000, with millions more injured. 

• The Red Badge of Courage was made into a move in 1951. The main actor who played Henry was Audie Murphy. You can read more about this movie by going to the link I am providing below this point.
• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043961/

____________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

"American Civil War." History. A+E Networks Digital, 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. 

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. New York: Avenel Books, 1985. Print. 

"The Red Badge of Courage." IMDb. Amazon.com, 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. 

Playing Poker with the Outcasts

Dear Annie: I am a gambler that once resided in the small western town of Poker Flat. I say I once resided there because, a little over a week ago, myself and several other "improper persons" as we have been called were banished from Poker Flat. Each one us, for which there where four, where banished because of our "activities." I am a gambler (and a good one too), The Duchess is a younger promiscuous woman, Mother Shipton has been described as the town bitty, and Uncle Billy is a suspected sluice-robber, but a confirmed drunkard. Because of how we lived our lives, the town had a change in its moral atmosphere and subsequently banished us. The last the town has seen of us we where riding mules toward the camp of Sandy Bar, on the other side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

http://24hourlocksmithinnyc.com/the-outcasts-of-the-poker-flat/

Once reaching the heart of the mountains, us outcasts ran into a young couple eloping to Poker Flat. There names, Tom Simson and Piney Woods. At this point, all six of us decided to spend the night in a dilapidated cabin off to the side of the trail. We started a fire and went to sleep. However, when I woke up, I found Uncle Billy gone along with our mules, and it was snowing. It snowed so deep that those of us left could not venture far from the cabin. Luckily we stored the supplies inside the cabin with us.

Its been over a week since that incident occurred, and the snow will not relent to let us continue on. Mother Shipton has died, starving herself in order that Piney may have enough food to survive. She took good care of Piney while she was alive. Since Mother Shipton's death, The Duchess has taken up the role of looking after and caring for her (she was doing some of this before Mother Shipton's death). Tom is the member of the group staying eternally optimistic that our circumstance will turn around for the better. He is always telling me (much to my annoyance) that, "the snow'll melt and we will be back together." For this reason we call him "The Innocent." As for me, I keep going over in my mind every scenario, every possibility in order that I may think of something that will help us. I don't want what happened to that Donner party a few years ago to happen to us.

That's my story, and the story of my fellow "outcasts." I have been wondering throughout this entire ordeal if this situation we are in is because of who we are, what we have done. Are we being punished? Could Poker Flat be right about us? Why does this have to happen to those young like Piney? At the time of this writing I have dispatched Tom (The Innocent) to go get help. Annie, do have incite as to why this is happening to us? Has this ordeal changed us? Is there any way to survive this? We could all use your advice before we freeze to death!

http://www.freepik.com/

-- Outcast of Poker Flat

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Outcast: It is obvious through your letter that much has happened to you and your fellow "outcasts" over the past week. However, after reading your words I have come to several conclusions about you and your group.

I do not believe that your group being in this position is any way a "punishment." You are in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Large snowstorms are rather
common there, and judging by how much snow you are encountering I would guess you wrote this letter in either November or December. It is sad that a young person, such as Piney, has to be stuck in the middle of this ordeal, but nature rarely discriminates.

From what I can tell, the personal
character of you, Mother Shipton, and The Duchess have undergone a great transformation. Most likely though, the undesirable outward traits of each of your personalities have been replaced by your true characters and compassion for others. Mother Shipton is the perfect example; once the town bitty, she took to caring for, and even giving her life for Piney. The Duchess has also discarded her undesirable traits in order to also help care for Piney. I would not consider these people "improper persons" as they have been called. Rather, I think they where lost souls looking for a purpose, and now they have found it. Also, I think you sir have found a natural skill to lead, and to help bring out the best in those around you, even in the worst situations. You are levelheaded, have a realistic and logical point of view, and you are always trying to find a way to help the others. For these reasons I believe that Poker Flat was wrong for banishing the three of you. You all do what must be done for those lesser than you, which tells me all your hearts are in the right place. Uncle Billy on the other-hand is a different story, one we will save for a later time.

As for surviving your predicament, hold on! Help will come even if it takes some time for it to reach you. Keep a fire burning if possible; the heat will warm your bodies and prevent freezing. Continue to ration what food you have left, and never lose hope that you will be rescued. It would be a shame if you or someone in your group where found frozen, or had committed suicide because you struck a streak of bad luck.

http://www.ten12entertainment.com/audiobooks/

____________________________________________________________________________

Notes

• I read "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" online by Page by Page Books. Here is the link to the first page of this short story: 
• http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Bret_Harte/The_Outcasts_Of_Poker_Flat/The_Outcasts_Of_Poker_Flat_p1.html

• Also, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was made into two movies; one in 1937 and the other in 1952. For more information about these movies, visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and type "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" into the search bar. The link for the main website page is provided below.
• http://www.imdb.com/

• The card hand in the bottom photo is known as a "Royal Flush" in poker. It is the highest hand in the game. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Harte, Bret. "The Outcasts of Poker Flat." Page by Page Books. n.d. 15 Mar. 2016.

IMDb. Amazon.com, 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. 

Siemens, Beth. Personal Interview. 21 Jan. 2016

When Yellow Wallpaper is too Much

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/Yellowwp_med.jpg

Dear Annie: My husband, John, decided to rent a colonial mansion in the country over the summer for us to stay in. It is a beautiful home, with gardens and even an old greenhouse.

The problem I have though is why he rented the home, to help me overcome my "hysteria." I have been telling John for awhile now that I am sick, but he refuses to believe it. He is constantly telling me that I am not sick, just suffering from nervous depression, with a slight hysterical tendency. When your husband is a physician in high standing, and he is telling you that you are not sick, what is one to do?

Because he believes I am just depressed and slightly hysterical, he has put me on the rest cure. While doing the rest cure I am not supposed to do any physical work, I am cannot have many interactions with people (John won't let me see my cousins), and I am not supposed to do any writing. If John had found out I wrote this letter, he would be mad at me. When he is someone of high standing though, what is one to do?

What drives me insane the most however is the yellow wallpaper in the room where John and I sleep.  I never saw a worse paper in my life! I started to hate it the moment I saw it in our room. I have asked John to change the paper, but he doesn't see the need since the lease is only for a few months. I have asked John to let us sleep in the downstairs bedroom instead, but he says no and keeps telling me "you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not." I don't feel any better though.

Please help me. I know John loves me so, but the longer I stay around this yellow wallpaper the sicker I feel. I have begun to see a woman behind the wallpaper, and she wants so desperately to get out. The wallpaper also has a pattern to it, and I am beginning to figure-out what it means. Please give me some advice of what I can do before I find myself creeping crazily around the room!

http://img01.deviantart.net/da71/i/2009/327/f/d/the_yellow_wallpaper_by_fit51391.jpg

-- Yellow Wallpaper

-------------------------------------------

Dear Wallpaper: Are you not a grown woman? Are you not able to make your own decisions? It sounds like your husband does love you, but at the same time your husband appears controlling. Consistently not allowing you to move bedrooms, see your cousins, or write are red flags to me that your husband is trying to control as much of your life as he can. You do not have to let him consistently tell you what to do. You need to stand firm and put you foot down sometimes letting your husband know that you are allowed to make your own decisions.

Although your husband is a physician, and although he says you are not sick, that does not mean that you aren't. You know your body and mind better than anybody else. If you think that you are sick, you have the right to seek treatment on your own. The symptoms you described regarding your interactions with the yellow wallpaper suggest that you probably have a psychological disorder. It is normal for the time in which you live for men to misrepresent a serious psychological illness as nothing more than hysteria, even doctors. If I were you I would seek a out psychiatrist to evaluate you for any illness or disorder.

As for the resting cure, it was proved an unsubstantiated cure. If you like writing, visiting people, and doing physical work, like gardening, do as much of it as you want. These activities will keep you mind sharp and occupied.

Just remember, even though your husband is a person in high standing, you still need to do what you feel is best for you. If your husband truly cares, he will allow you to make your own decisions. By doing this, the woman behind the yellow wallpaper should disappear and you will not have to worry about crazily creeping around the room.

Hyperphagia. The Yellow Wallpaper. 2016. Deviant Art. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

____________________________________________________________________________

Work Cited

"Annie's Mailbox." Arcamax Publishings. Arcamax.com, 2016. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.Ed. Julia Reidhead. 485-497. Print.