Epilogue

And so, this is the end.  I see it as the beginning.  This story is over, but mine has just begun.  Oh, how cruel time can be.  Years and years apart, what seemed like an eternity but was a mere matter of years.  The shadow that has befallen me has now been lifted; it now should be a joyous celebration, but something doesn't feel right with all the losses I had along the way.






George's Poem




Many of my hopes and dreams
were just a mere trick of the light.
I yearned for something that wasn't there,
I reached for something I couldn't have,
I looked for something out of sight.
When I thought I had it, it was just
A mere trick of the light.
When oh so sour sorrow befalls me,
And skies of blue turn grey,
I strain to hear my name called out,
But just a mere trick of the light,
A fool I thought I was to call out for you,
Just to hear a hollow echo.
I tried to follow what was lost,
Just to gain more pain and sorrow,
And when the search was done,
And when I finally found you,
Oh, what a fool I was to think
That you were a trick of the light.
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And so I guess this is the end of my story, yet it is just the beginning.




Farewell,

December 30, 1814

Dear Sarah,

The war has ended, and peace has returned to our village.  A treaty has been made, and Britain has dropped its goal of a nation for the first nations.  They have also agreed never to use the First Nations people in war.  The Alien Act was passed on March 14th, and makes it illegal for people with strong connections to the States to have gone to the United States after the war had begun.  I have a very strong feeling that you are nearby, and with the information I have gathered, I will probably find you soon.  When I find you, writing letters will be pointless, so this may be the last letter I write.  For many years I had false hope that I was going to find you the next day.  This time I know it, I will find you.  If I don't, then there is nothing to believe in anymore.  Ma and Pa have passed away.  It is only  me and you left.

So long,

George Davis Lanott

July 26, 1814

Dear Sarah,

Yesterday there was a terrible war.  Hundreds of people died on both sides.  Everyone was confused because of the battle taking place in complete darkness.  Both British and Americans accidentally killed their own men.  The intense pounding of Niagara Falls constantly added to the confusion.  The war only lasted five hours, and devastated many people.  Today the British are claiming victory, but I also heard that the Americans are also celebrating victory.  I really have no idea who actually won, or if they were so confused that they couldn't tell who won.


Your brother,

George Davis Lanott

P.S.  We still haven't  given up the search

July 4, 1813

Dear Sarah,

Many American leaders think that taking over British North America would be  simple.  Thomas Jefferson puts it as "a mere matter of marching."  They believe this because the population is greater than ours in British North America.  Also because Britain was busy with the war against Napoleon, so they can't give many troops.  People aren't even sure that the settlers will fight off the Americans.  I think that Thomas and the others are wrong.  This war has already lasted a year and most likely continue on into the next year, and maybe even the year after that.  The British are strong and we will not give up!  Even if that means most of us fall in war, so be it.  We will do as much as it takes to stop them and protect our beloved country.

Your brother,

George Davis Lanott 

June 17, 1813

Dear Sarah,

Did you hear what our dear friend Laura did?  She bravely set off to warn the British of an attack, after she overheard men discussing plans to attack Beaver Dams. She walked 32 km through a dense forest, and met a group of Haundenosaunee people allied with Britain.  They took her to General Fitzgibbon.  The British fought off all the Americans attacking.  Laura saved the Niagara Peninsula.  I heard that a  fortune teller told her that her future was in chocolate?  I have no idea what that means.  I hope that Laura Secord gets what she deserves.

Your brother,

George Davis Lanott 

July 30, 1812

Dear Sarah,

On the 12th, William Hull invaded Canada.  He is stationed in Sandwich and is telling people not to oppose his invasion.  The nerve!  He has come to our country to kill people, yet he tells them to just sit back while he runs around Canada, invading our land.  Isaac Brock is ready to defend our colony.  He has made a response to Hull's proclamation.  From what I heard, some people are starting to desert the British forces and join the Americans.  This makes the general mood negative around here.

Your brother,

George Davis Lanott 

June 20, 1812

Dear Sarah,

After the American Revolution, Britain decided to let the western First Nations to keep a large territory.  The territory kept the Americans from expanding.  The Americans think that the British want the First Nations to be hostile towards them.  They also believe that Britain is supporting the First Nations leader Tecumseh's effort to protect First Nations land.  A group of American politicians called the War Hawks wants to expand the borders of the United States.  The War Hawks feel that they should just take over British North America, and First Nations in the Ohio Valley.  Just yesterday president James Madison declared war on Britain.  And so it begins again.

Your brother,

George Davis Lanott 

January 5, 1812

Dear Sarah,

I am afraid that another war might begin.  In Britain, their priority is defending the English Channel.  They think that Napoleon might invade England through the English Channel.  I hear that the conditions on the British ships are so bad that many sailors left, and joined the American merchant navy.  Britain started stopping American ships to find the people that abandoned them.  Sometimes the British would impress American soldiers into serving the British. The people in the United States got really angry with that  (no kidding).  Britain has a war strategy to try to hurt Napoleon's effort.  They use it's navy to blockade Europe, and prevent countries from trading with France.  That hurt the American economy though.


Your brother,

George Davis Lanott