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As I looked
at the Mississippi River I wondered how our little wagon was going to cross
it. The bank was soft, muddy and
had a most disgusting brown color to it.
The large
dark river frightened our two oxen, Lacy and Stacy. Mama and my baby sister, Kayla, were scared too. We had very
little money, so we couldnÕt take the ferry.
ÒYah!Ó Papa
ordered. The oxen started into the
freezing low rapids of the Mississippi. We were all right up until we hit the
deep part. We started to sink
slowly at first, then fast.
I jumped
out of the wagon. When I hit the water I wanted to scream but my body wouldnÕt
let me. While I was swimming I
looked for any sign of my family.
Then I saw Mama, Papa, the oxen and the wagon. I swam as hard as I could. I felt as if my arms and legs were going to fall off, but I
still swam.
When I finally reached the shore, I wanted to kiss the ground. ThatÕs when I realized my trunk of clothes was floating down the river, my familyÕs food floating along side it because the top of the wagon was ripped off. But worst of all, Kayla was gone.