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

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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

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Notes

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

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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

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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

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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.  :)

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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.