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PATRIOT DOG |
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 Sonha returns to Monticello for the Jefferson Facts Treasure Hunt © Ravay Snow 2006 |
"Try to imagine a row of small houses along this lane. It was called Mulberry Row."
"How big were they?" a curious girl with dark curls asked.
"About the size of a 2-car garage. A couple and all of their children lived in the one-room house. Sometimes there were a dozen people."
"That's a big family!" an eight-year-old boy added.
"Yes, much bigger than the size of most families in Virginia nowadays," tje giode agreed. "Young man, how many hours a day do you spend at school?"
"I don't know. Eight maybe?" he replied blushing.
"The slave children didn't get to go to school," the guide told them. "As soon as they turned 10 years old, they worked on the plantation."
"And they worked from sunrise to sunset. That's 14 hours a day in the summertime."
Sonya started counting the hours on her paws. "That's a long time!" Sonya woofed. "I almost ran out of toes!"
"Sunday was the only day they didn't have to work on the plantation," the guide continued.
 The slaves' homes used to be located along Mulberry Row © David Muenker |
"A grandmother or other older woman supervised while the kids aged 8 and 9 years looked after the little ones."
"That's what I do whenever my puppy friend Denali comes to visit," Sonya said proudly to the woman next to her. "The big people feed us and make sure we have all our toys. But I'm the one who takes care of Denali."
"What kind of food did the slaves have?" the curly-haired girl asked.
"Usually vegetable stew made with produce from their garden, like the one over there."
"Ugh! Vegetables!" The boy turned up his nose. "Is that all they got to eat?"
"The grown-ups also received a small food allowance from Mr. Jefferson every week," the guide told him.
"So they went to McDonald's!" the boy exclaimed.
"No, they couldn't leave the plantation. And the allowance wasn't money. It was food - four salted fish, half a pound of bacon, corn meal, and at times some milk, molasses and black-eyed peas."
 The vegetable garden provided most of the food © David Muenker |
"That and any animals they raised or hunted."
"Like chicken?" the girl asked.
"And rabbits, raccoons and squirrels."
The girl squealed.
"Squirrels sound delicious to me!" Sonya woofed. A squirrel on a tree branch started scolding her.
"I'd rather have birthday cake!" the boy shouted.
"Me, too," the girl said, clapping her hands.
"Me, three!" Sonya added, spinning in circles.
A man walked by holding dozens of colorful balloons. Everyone turned their heads to watch. There were so many balloons that he could hardly keep his feet on the ground. Several other men carried tables and chairs.
 Thomas Jefferson's Logo © David Muenker |
"Yes!" Sonya and the kids jumped up and down.
"Here are the treasure hunt's last three questions." The guide handed out small sheets of paper. "Remember the rules. To get an invitation to the party, you must answer all nine questions. Answer them as soon as you can. Good luck!"
"Bye. See you at the party," the group responded together.
"I can already taste that birthday cake!" Sonya licked her lips.
Click here for this episode's questions.
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to great websites about Thomas Jefferson, Monticello and the University of Virginia Academical Village.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
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Photographs ©2005-2010 David Muenker. Text ©2005-2010 Rose Muenker. Illustrations ©2005-2010 Ravay Snow Any use without express written permission is illegal and punishable by law. All rights reserved. Site designed and developed by Josh Bergman. |
