December 21 1871This is my book. It was not always mine though, a couple of weeks ago it was a birthday present for the workhouse master's daughter, but she didn't like it so he gave it to me. He was going to give it to one of the older girls, but they can only read a little and not write so I was his other resort. The paper is quite smooth and the colour of the pages is buttermilk so I hope my poorly shaped letters do not spoil it that much.The workhouse master says I am unique, because I am the only one who can write out of all the inmates. I think Louis can write a little but not as well. The master told me that I should write about myself so I guess I will start now.I live in one of the two workhouses in Bermuda, but this one is the poorest. I am the only girl of my age here. Indeed there is Louis, but he is a year older than I am and a bit of a rebel so he is punished quite a lot.December 22 1871Sorry I had no more time to write yesterday, I had to go and help with the oakum and with the washing and later scrubbing the floors in the kitchen. I will now start with introducing myself; I am Mistletoe Lynch an orphan (like many others) living at the St. George's workhouse. I came here before I could walk with my mother. We had just came from a ship from England looking for a better life and when the ship was wrecked off the coast of a chain of islands called the Azores we lost everything due to the icy water (it was the middle of January) which is why when we got to Bermuda we went to the workhouse looking for a place to stay. Shortly after we arrived cold with almost nothing my mother passed away from a fever she got in the Azores and on the new ship that bought us here. So since then it's just been me.The workhouse in on this steep hill near Alexander's Battery and between the local farm and a fort where I go every morning to get milk and other necessary items (the farm not the fort). Now back to the subject, from the outside St. George's workhouse it looks like a prison and is not much better on the inside, the hallway is bleak in the worst possible way with some occasional hissing gas lamps. High echoing corridors covered in a dark green paint does not give one a good first impression. There's not a single ornament or decoration to enlighten the depressing scene. The smell of stale and rotting food hovers everywhere but after a while you get used to it.Later.I just heard the most exciting news ever! I'm spending Christmas with a RICH family. Recently a smartly dressed man and his beautiful wife have been coming and looking at the children in the workhouse because their own child died last year so they are looking for one to spend Christmas with and they picked me.December 23 1871 (TWO DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS)Today must be the best day of my life; I am leaving the workhouse for two days to stay with Mr and Mrs Canterbury. They chose me out of 23 other children because:I would be the same age as their daughter if she was still alive (12).They think I am lonely because I lost my mother.Mrs Canterbury lost her own mother when she was a little girl.So because of these similarities they picked me. Oh I forgot they also just wanted a workhouse child to have a nice Christmas. Today at breakfast Louis kept saying how high and mighty I will be when I get back and my reply was I just might be which made him close his mouth (that is a rare event).Sorry I have to go the master found I was writing and not packing the few possessions that l have. I must set aside this diary now. QuicklyLater.I'm now at their house and oh how beautiful and divine it is. It looks like one of those Victorian houses in England. It's in the parish of Warwick and we take a train to get here and when I arrived there were three servants waiting for us and there was a feast of food on the table and Mr. Canterbury said that it was actually small. And the decoration and furniture is the best quality I can tell and I think I had better slow down now. Phooey that was a mouth full. Well I'm now in my own room and I think I'll describe it before I go to sleep. The wall paper is a light shade of pink which is pretty, there is a canopy bed with dark pink (urgg I will be sick of pink at the end of my stay) covers and a variety of pictures on the wall. There are new cloths in the closet that are for me and I have my own tree! How amazing is that. I am tired of all this, I have to go diary but a maid just came telling me I have to go to bed so bye.December 26 1871Oh diary I'm so sorry I have not written for the past few days. I am now back at the workhouse but not for long. MR AND MRS CANTERBURY ARE ADOPTING ME!!!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT. On Christmas morning I came downstairs after a long day yesterday of decorating and wrapping presents with them and they said that I was the kid that they had been searching for since their child died and they were adopting me, now before I go on and on I will describe my Christmas.Christmas in Bermuda is like no other thing in the world, our tree was a cedar tree covered in tinsel red, gold, green and white along with candy canes and chocolate Santa Clauses. There were pure gold bells which were amazing.For food we had a roast boar with fresh vegetables, and avocado. There was cassava pie which is my absolute favourite. The dessert was the best it was Christmas cake made with Bermudian fruit such as cherries, banana and avocado. I have to go now since they are calling me so,Bye for now diary.