Ellie's short story (titled this for now)

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I never thought it would come to this. War? At the very back of my mind. Falling in love? Never! I was a spirited, devoted girl of the South. I didn't realize my beautiful country would be divided. Brother against brother, sister against sister? I didn't think so. But that all changed. *** I was walking through the meadows of my beautiful mansion in Savannah, Georgia. My family was very blessed to be in such a house, because our ancestors were not as fortunate. My father made a good living, owning a plantation. We greatly appreciate our slaves, who work dusk till dawn harvesting our cotton. We give our slaves a fair meal, unlike other plantation owners. I do wish they would be free sooner or later. My father does not feel the same way. I have a soft, tender heart. That's what people tell me anyway. I can never raise the whip to anyone. Father says it is good discipline for the slaves, but I don't quite believe him. Why whip them when they already work hard? Our country is at war over this matter, as well as others. Some say the Confederacy will come to victory, but I secretly am siding with the Union. We should not have slavery! Why do we even have it? Of course, I could never tell my father this. He practically lived off of slaves. I couldn't disappoint him. But some small, minuscule rebellious part of me wanted to go see how the Union fights. They do not fight far from here. I decided I shall. What harm could be done? I strolled silently towards the clearing, where the meadow ends. I started for the forest that was near the Union camp, where they stayed for a short while. I bent down low, in fear of someone seeing me. I made my way towards a bush right beside a Union tent. Peering through the bushes, I saw lots ... ... middle of paper ... ...ung fellow. He was quite funny. He stopped by before he left for the war, and that reminds me! He had something for you." I looked curiously over the counter, wondering what it might be. The man came back with a small box a short time later. He handed it to me and then resumed his work. My slender hands trembled as I opened the tiny box. Inside was a beautiful silver locket. As I opened the tiny heart up, I saw something I didn't expect to see. The beautiful faces of my family, including my brother. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw my mother, who had looked much like Jasper and I. She died when I was a little girl of about seven. It had been hard on all of us, especially father. I took the locket out and examined it. "This must have cost a fortune," I whispered softly, "Thank you, Jasper." I mailed the package that day, hoping he'd receive it soon.

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