I have almost 20 of the books and this has been the one I read the most. I love this book!!! I keep reading it over and over. I will do as Mama asks and pray tonight that God will spare us such a calamity.įrom Dear Canada: Whispers of War, copyright © 2002 by Kit Pearson.

What if my brother had to fight? Perhaps Papa would as well, although I hope he would be considered too old. When I think of war I feel the same icy dread as when Mama talks about Richard. Will there really be a war? The adults have been talking about it for months, but I do not entirely understand it. I leaned against her and no one knew how violently my heart was beating. Mama began to weep, and Hamilton soothed her by reading poems from the book he had brought her. Two uncles I will never know, all because of the war. Papa has also told me about his brother, Shubal, who was shot when he returned to New York from New Brunswick after the war. She often tells me about the terrible day when she found out he was dead. Mama was as devoted to Richard as I am to Hamilton. Mama's older brother, Richard, fought in Papa's regiment against the rebels and was killed by them in Virginia. All my life, it seems, I have sat on my stool and listened to the adults talk about war. 'Oh, please pray that there is not! We have had too much war. Mama covered her eyes, even though her headache had gone.

'Everyone in Kingston believes there will be a war,' he said. Tonight Mama and Maria and I sewed while Hamilton told us more stories about Kingston. Every evening after supper I sit on my stool in the parlour with the rest of the family until we all retire.

Whispers of war kit pearson