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Authors: Julie Dewey
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much to do with the other children so she instructed me to tend to Edmund. I gave him a pail with sweet milk and a buttered roll that he gobbled down immediately. He savored the tart green apple, letting the juices run down his chin, and holding it out to share with me.
A dozen children were adopted on that stop but more than half of us remained homeless so we pushed onward to the Dakotas. The conductor yelled “all aboard” setting us in a click clack motion that we were well accustomed to now.
Agnes approached me cautiously. “We have a slight problem.”
“Oh dear, I hope it doesn’t have to do with me, Sister.” I was afraid for Agnes was very serious.
“Well in fact it does. It seems Edmund simply can’t be placed without you. He was inconsolable, crying for you nonstop.” The nun gently fluffed Edmund's dark curls while he sucked his thumb trying to make sense of our conversation.
“Oh, Sister, do you mean it?” I asked. “Can we possibly be placed as siblings? That would be marvelous!” I might not have to become a nun like Sister Agnes; there still remained hope for me after all.
“It may be impossible, it’s difficult enough to find a home for a dark skinned toddler and red headed girl but we will try.” Agnes adjusted her cross and left us to reunite, a wistful expression crossing her face as she went.
The train rambled on a northwest route taking us through Wisconsin and Minnesota before stopping in North Dakota, then heading to South Dakota and continuing on through Nebraska and Kansas. We would eventually cross into Missouri, Kentucky, and wind our way back through Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. But that took many weeks and everyone including Agnes was growing restless. Mr. and Mrs. Porter left us in the Dakotas as there were no babies left to tend. I would put braids in the little girls’ hair and we would sing Christian songs to keep the children entertained. The older boys played at checkers and cards and arm wrestled in the filthy boxcars, but many more jumped out of the train in an attempt at finding their own way.
As we approached Pennsylvania and New York Agnes spent her time finishing up paperwork for the children already adopted. She continued to make notations in her folders for those of us still available as well. One day while Agnes was bathing and dressing the elementary age children I found her notebook open and snooped.
I saw my name and it read:
“Mary is an insecure yet proud and capable girl of ten years old. On account of prior malnutrition she weighs approximately fifty-five pounds and is shorter than most her age. She has red hair that is growing out nicely after being shaved on account of lice. While she is able to launder and press clothing, she can also care for small children. If given the opportunity she would be best placed in a home with Edmund, if not as his care giver, then as a sibling.”
I sifted through the paperwork until I found Edmund's name.
Under his description were the words “underdeveloped”, “hopeless”, and “unusual attachment issues”.
That night I said a heartfelt prayer. I prayed to God and to my mama and da, I prayed to Edmund’s family and anyone else who would listen. I promised to be good, I promised to always take care of Edmund if only a family would come for us. I recited this prayer over and over hundreds of times before drifting into a fitful slumber.
The next morning we were greeted and paraded in front of the good people of Binghamton, New York. It was a small city several hour’s train ride from New York City and I was glad to be finishing our trip, but sad that so many of us remained.
Edmund and I were paying attention to ourselves when an older woman wearing a plaid dress and matching bonnet approached us. She smelled of verbena and powder and appeared to be in her late forties. This woman had no children of her own and spent her time as a volunteer for the library and hospital. Her husband
A dozen children were adopted on that stop but more than half of us remained homeless so we pushed onward to the Dakotas. The conductor yelled “all aboard” setting us in a click clack motion that we were well accustomed to now.
Agnes approached me cautiously. “We have a slight problem.”
“Oh dear, I hope it doesn’t have to do with me, Sister.” I was afraid for Agnes was very serious.
“Well in fact it does. It seems Edmund simply can’t be placed without you. He was inconsolable, crying for you nonstop.” The nun gently fluffed Edmund's dark curls while he sucked his thumb trying to make sense of our conversation.
“Oh, Sister, do you mean it?” I asked. “Can we possibly be placed as siblings? That would be marvelous!” I might not have to become a nun like Sister Agnes; there still remained hope for me after all.
“It may be impossible, it’s difficult enough to find a home for a dark skinned toddler and red headed girl but we will try.” Agnes adjusted her cross and left us to reunite, a wistful expression crossing her face as she went.
The train rambled on a northwest route taking us through Wisconsin and Minnesota before stopping in North Dakota, then heading to South Dakota and continuing on through Nebraska and Kansas. We would eventually cross into Missouri, Kentucky, and wind our way back through Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. But that took many weeks and everyone including Agnes was growing restless. Mr. and Mrs. Porter left us in the Dakotas as there were no babies left to tend. I would put braids in the little girls’ hair and we would sing Christian songs to keep the children entertained. The older boys played at checkers and cards and arm wrestled in the filthy boxcars, but many more jumped out of the train in an attempt at finding their own way.
As we approached Pennsylvania and New York Agnes spent her time finishing up paperwork for the children already adopted. She continued to make notations in her folders for those of us still available as well. One day while Agnes was bathing and dressing the elementary age children I found her notebook open and snooped.
I saw my name and it read:
“Mary is an insecure yet proud and capable girl of ten years old. On account of prior malnutrition she weighs approximately fifty-five pounds and is shorter than most her age. She has red hair that is growing out nicely after being shaved on account of lice. While she is able to launder and press clothing, she can also care for small children. If given the opportunity she would be best placed in a home with Edmund, if not as his care giver, then as a sibling.”
I sifted through the paperwork until I found Edmund's name.
Under his description were the words “underdeveloped”, “hopeless”, and “unusual attachment issues”.
That night I said a heartfelt prayer. I prayed to God and to my mama and da, I prayed to Edmund’s family and anyone else who would listen. I promised to be good, I promised to always take care of Edmund if only a family would come for us. I recited this prayer over and over hundreds of times before drifting into a fitful slumber.
The next morning we were greeted and paraded in front of the good people of Binghamton, New York. It was a small city several hour’s train ride from New York City and I was glad to be finishing our trip, but sad that so many of us remained.
Edmund and I were paying attention to ourselves when an older woman wearing a plaid dress and matching bonnet approached us. She smelled of verbena and powder and appeared to be in her late forties. This woman had no children of her own and spent her time as a volunteer for the library and hospital. Her husband
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