My Brother's Keeper My America 1 Read Online Free PDF

afternoon.
    Pa and the doctor will have to carry him to the buggy. He will not be able to walk at all for many months, the doctor said. In time, his broken leg should heal.
    August 3, 1863
    Jed is home safely. Right now I am in my bed, resting.
    Jane Ellen and Mrs. McCully have just arrived. They have brought bread.
    When Jane Ellen said hello to Jed, he barely even looked up. He did not seem to remember meeting her before.
    I wish Jane Ellen could know the old Jed.
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    The one who laughed so easily and told good stories. This Jed seems only half here.
    But I am glad Jane Ellen is visiting with him. I need to rest. I have not rested in a long time.
    August 11, 1863
    I am finally awake.
    When I went to sleep, I slept for almost a week. I slept and slept and slept.
    Jane Ellen told me that everyone grew worried about me. But I knew it was just my time to rest.
    Jane Ellen helped keep our house while I slept.
    Jed seems better. With Pa and Jane Ellen's help, he can get outside to the porch.
    He does not talk much. But he seems to like watching the blue sky and feeling the warm sunlight.
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    I am sitting on top of Cemetery Hill.
    This is the first time I have been here since the battle.
    Many of the tombstones around me look wounded. They are chipped and riddled with holes.
    My mother's, though, was not struck by even one bullet.
    I think she is resting in peace again now that Jed and Pa and I are all safe together.
    August 15, 1863
    I am feeling very nervous.
    Jed has asked me to read him my entries in his journal. I am worried that he will not like my writing. He might think it is too childish or simple.
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    Anyway, this will be my last entry, as I am certain he will want his journal back now. Thank you, Jed, for lending it to me.
    Later
    I am in heaven.
    Jed listened very carefully as I read from his journal. He laughed when I read some parts. He looked very serious as I read others. Once I even saw him wipe tears from his eyes.
    When I finished reading, he just stared at me for a long moment. Then he said I was a very good writer.
    I could hardly breathe.
    Jed said I should never stop writing. He said he wanted me to keep his journal and write in it every day.
    I told him he should write in it himself.
    Jed said he was done with writing for a
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    while. He said I was the writer in the family now.
    I did not know what to say about that.

    August 16, 1863
    This morning, Jane Ellen came by again. She talked about her favorite books with me and Jed. She said she loves to read Sir Walter Scott's stories with their daring adventures.
    Her face was aglow. I had never seen her look prettier.
    It's odd that Jed never seems to take much notice of Jane Ellen. When I read my journal to him, I skipped over the parts about feeling cross with her. I think I had been a bit jealous.
    I would have to say that I am not at all jealous of Jane Ellen anymore. Jed thinks I am a good writer. In his eyes, that is the very best thing in the world to be.
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    One of the Smith boys had a terrible accident today. He and some other boys were roaming the battlefields and found some shells. When the Smith boy picked one up, it went off in his face. He is not expected to live.
    People from out of town also roam the battlefields. They are looking for souvenirs, such as cannonballs and cartridge boxes. They even take away dried mosses and twigs! Pa thinks they are being disrespectful of the dead.
    August 19, 1863
    Jed cried today.

    He was reading to me, Pa, and Jane Ellen from
    The Death of King Arthur.
    It was the first time he has felt well enough to read.

    In the middle of reading, he stopped and
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    just stared at the page. He was blinking hard. He seemed unable to catch his breath.
    Jane Ellen asked him what was wrong.
    In a halting, choked voice, Jed said that real battles were not like the battles in myths and legends. He said he did not understand why men did such terrible things to one another. He said that good men -- not just terrible men --