George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born in 1864, in Diamond Grove, Missouri, on Moses Carver’s farm. George W. Carver and his mother were captured by Confederate soldiers! Thankfully Moses found George, but his mother was never found. He left to pursue his education at age twelve since there were no schools available for blacks. He then moved to Newton County, in southwest Missouri. Later, he attended college at Iowa Agricultural College, where he gained much of his wisdom of nature. As an agricultural chemist, he discovered three-hundred different uses of peanuts, and found hundreds of different uses for soybeans. Remarkably, he made improvements on grease, bleach, buttermilk, instant coffee, and ink! What an incredible scientist. Wouldn’t you have wanted to see his laboratory? Wow!
-Elizabeth, South Carolina

Jean Henri Fabre- The Great Entomologist

Jean Henri Fabre is known as the world’s greatest entomologist. He earnestly believed that God created all living creatures. He did not believe in evolution, the theory of creation which was being spread by Charles Darwin. Since Charles Darwin did not believe that God created living things, Mr. Fabre strongly disagreed with him. Mr. Fabre said “Without God I understand nothing, without Him all is darkness….You could take my skin more easily than my faith in God.”
Mr. Fabre was born in 1823 in France. He became a naturalist, someone who studies nature. Over his lifetime, he studied grasshoppers, sparrows, butterflies, snails, lizards, crickets, bees, wasps, and beetles because of his fascination with nature. He served as a knowledgeable teacher of science at many schools in France. Wouldn’t you want to go on a field trip with him? Sadly, he died in 1973 having made a remarkable place in history.
-Rebecca, South Carolina

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Rush
Grayce Owens

Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) was a physician, teacher and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was enraged with slavery and capital punishment and supporter of better education for women and of free public schools.

His views on cleaning the environment were unwanted during the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793. In his view, the advance the physical health of the world would improve mental health as well. He is remembered for improving the condition of psychiatric patients and influencing improvement in all asylums.

Even though he contributed a great deal to early American society, he is best known for renewing the friendship of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams by encouraging them to write each other.

Today, we know that his methods during the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia were, not to mention useless, but also dangerous. During the worst of the outbreak, Benjamin Rush was serving one hundred and twenty patients a day. He caught the fever himself, but survived.

Benjamin served the people during the epidemic and didn’t give up hope. Dr. Benjamin Rush died at the age of sixty eight in 1813. He is considered to this day one of the greatest doctors of America.
-Grayce, South Carolina

A Mini Biography of Elizabeth George Speare

Elizabeth George Speare played a wonderful role in being a wonderful American author. Elizabeth was born on November 21, 1908, in Melrose, Massachusetts, and had a happy childhood with wonderful parents, and extended family. Elizabeth learned of her writing talent at age eight and began writing stories in high school. After she finished her Bachelor of Arts degree at Smith College, in 1930, she got her master’s degree in English from Boston University, and she taught at several different private high schools in Massachusetts from 1932 to 1936, and she met her future husband Alden Speare. They had two children, named Alden Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Carey. Elizabeth George Speare wrote several books that I love to read. I have not read one, but I highly recommend them all. She wrote Calico Captive, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Bronze Bow, and The Sign of the Beaver. She died of aortic aneurysm on November 15, 1994.
-Elizabeth, South Carolina

Sign of the Beaver

Dear Elizabeth Speare,
I had wondered before if it would be scary being left at home alone. Twice I have stayed at home alone. Once for almost an hour while my dad went to the hospital to help someone. When I read your book The Sign of the Beaver I thought of that time. Also, I am close in age to Matt when he stayed at home. As I read of Matt staying with the cabin instead of going with the Indians, which would have been safer for him, I thought that Matt's waiting for his parents was good. I believe my decision would be the same.
One more way that I related to the story is my dog, Sheba. Now we call her "Pizwat, " because she acts like she can't smell anything but food. She sometimes also barks at nothing.
Thank you for writing this book. I really enjoyed it.

Sincerely,
Hannah, Jackson

Ideas on Friendship in Gilgamesh

Four specific relationships stood out to me in Gilgamesh. First, we have Gilgamesh, who is the great ruler of Uruk, and Enkidu, Enkidu and Shamhat, Enkidu and the animals, and Gilgamesh and Ishtar.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu's friendship is the principal relationship in the book. When Enkidu first met Gilgamesh, "Gilgamesh met Enkidu in his rage. At the marital threshold they wrestled... the doorposts shook...and then the rage of Gilgamesh subsided... then Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced and kissed." What a way to meet! After that, Gilgamesh and Enkidu were companions until death. The key to their success of conquering evil was because they willingly stayed together in good times and bad. During the times Gilgamesh and Enkidu were together, Gilgamesh was confident but when he was without his companion, Enkidu, he got worried and discouraged. By reading about this relationship, we learn about two people who always encourage, confide and protect one another and always stick together.
Enkidu and the animals form the second relationship from which we can benefit. Enkidu took great care of the animals. Loving and protecting the animals is what made them be at ease with Enkidu. Everyone wants a friend who they can trust even when times are tough.
The third relationship was between Enkidu and Shamhat, who is a harlot. For Enkidu, this relationship was a distraction. When he was with shamhat, everything was at peace for him, but it cost him the relationship he had with the animals. Shamhat and Enkidu were captivated with each other but it was not a beneficial relationship. Clearly, we see from this relationship that we can't be overly careful with whom we form friendships.
Ishtar also wanted to form a friendship with Gilgamesh. To Gilgamesh, however, it would not be a worthwhile relationship because of what Ishtar's former relationships looked like.
Gilgamesh is full of relationships that demonstrate how to have a good relationship with someone. Opening your eyes a little is all you need to do in order to see them. Hopefully, you will walk away from this book a wiser friend.
-Shelby in Michigan

Jim Eliot

When Jim Eliot was a boy, he dreamed of becoming a missionary. He wanted to share the good news with those who had never heard it. His dream came true and he traveled to Ecuador where he and his partner studied Spanish. When they knew enough Spanish, Jim and his friend stayed in a small hut. There they were close to the Indians. Through many trials and pains, Jim and his friend continued to care for and preach to the Indians. One day, Jim learned that another Indian tribe was nearby. These other Indians were known to be dangerous and violent, and they usually settled arguments with death. However, Jim felt that God was calling him to help these Indians, and to show them how to live in peace, instead of hostility.

Jim and his partners developed a plan to help the Indians without getting too close. Jim’s friend, Nate Saint,was an exceptional aircraft pilot and so Nate would fly over the Indian Territory while Jim or his friend would be in the back of the plane slowly lowering a basket full of supplies down on a rope. They did this many times until they felt that it was time to get closer. Together, Jim and his friends built a tree house near the Indian’s territory. The tree house was to serve as a temporary headquarters for the men as they preached to the Indians.

After a few days without meeting any Indians, the men became worried that maybe the Indians did not want to have anything to do with the missionaries. But finally, some Indians came to visit. They were actually very kind. One of the Indians even wanted to ride in the airplane!

A few days after the Indians visit, an Indian woman appeared on the other side of the river. The men started to swim over to greet her. But they never had a chance. Something dreadful happened. Out from the bushes behind the woman leapt Indian warriors. The Indians started to throw spears at the missionaries. Even though they had pistols, the men did not shoot. They promised each other that if this were to happen, they would not kill anyone.

The spears were thrown, and the men died. The men were found down river a few days later. But their death did not stop anyone from preaching to the Indian tribe. Many in the tribe were converted and then they taught other Indians. The story of Jim Eliot continues to this day to encourage missionaries around the world.

“For he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
~ Jim Eliot

by Grayce in South Carolina