Orphan Train Tragedy

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Orphan Train Tragedy Page 15

by Rachel Wesson

“William, you must go, or you will be late. Meet us at the pier later. Ja?”

  “Yes. I’ll be there.” William moved toward Frieda and said in a lower voice. “I wish I was going today. I would have offered to carry your blanket.”

  It was Frieda’s turn for her cheeks to turn hot. “Thank you, I would have liked that.”

  “Maybe I can see you later. After I help Mutti home. We could meet on the roof and you could tell me all about it.”

  Frieda nodded. “I’d like that.”

  William beamed. “Have a great time.” He kissed his mother on the cheek and strode off down the street whistling. Frieda watched until he disappeared from sight, noting his wide shoulders and tall frame. Then she caught his mother looking at her, a smile on her face.

  “He is turning into a fine man, my William.”

  Frieda didn’t know what to say in reply. Thankfully, William's mother turned back to her brood and issued orders like the best sergeant major in the US army.

  Frieda hurried to catch up with her own family, all previous plans forgotten. All she could think of was William and how she was looking forward to meeting him later.

  Chapter 58

  Teddy got dressed and climbed out his bedroom window. He hated slipping out, but his parents had told him to stay in his room. Trust Grace to tell them about the picnic and his plans to go with Kevin. His mother had been so angry, her face went bright red. But it was his father who scared him more. He said he would use his belt the next time Teddy disobeyed him. He meant it too.

  He had to take the risk and go. Picnics like this didn’t happen every day. The sun was shining, and there was going to be a band and ice-cream. Someone said they might even go swimming in the river. Teddy hoped they didn’t. He’d told Kevin he could swim but he couldn’t. Not really. Laurie was a better swimmer than he was.

  Torn between not getting into trouble and missing the fun, Teddy made his decision. He opened the window and climbed onto the roof making his way carefully to the point where the tree branch almost reached. Dad was supposed to have cut this back, but he’d forgotten. Teddy took a jump, grabbed the tree branch and climbed down to the ground. With a last look at his house, he grabbed his bicycle and off he went. If he hurried, he would meet Kevin at the pier as arranged.

  Kathleen called at to Lily’s house to collect Grace and Evie. She had promised them a couple of hours shopping at Macy’s followed by ice-cream.

  “Morning,” she said as the door opened. “Are Grace and Evie ready to come shopping with me?”

  “The girls are so excited, thanks Kathleen. We had a big argument last night with Teddy. He is confined to his room today. He blames Grace and called her lots of horrible names. Honestly, siblings can be truly awful to each other, can’t they?”

  Kathleen couldn’t argue with that. Although they had been close as kids, her and Shane had argued a lot.

  “Are you really going to keep Teddy in his bedroom all day? It is such a lovely summer’s day. Blue skies and everything. What? Why are you laughing at me?” Kathleen asked.

  “Teddy has you wrapped around his little finger, Kathleen. If it was up to you, he would never be punished.”

  “Lily, I didn’t mean to criticize. I’m sure you are doing what’s best. But he is such an active soul. He is a mini Lily.”

  “Me? I wasn’t as badly behaved as he was.”

  “Weren’t you?” Kathleen smiled at her friend. “Some would say you aren’t good now. Do you remember what you said to that horrible lady with the purple feathers in her hat?”

  Lily put her hand to her mouth. “I guess I did go a little over the top, but she deserved it. Imagine calling my sanctuary a house of ill repute. Just because her husband would prefer to be in one of those places than at home with her and her silly hats.”

  “Lily Doherty. And you can’t see where Teddy gets it from?”

  “Oh, I suppose you are right. We were a little harsh on him. It wasn’t his fault Kevin’s father invited him to the Haas picnic. We should have sat Teddy down and explained why we didn’t want him to go.”

  “Not sure telling Teddy you thought it would be dangerous would help your case much.”

  Lily grinned. “Guess you are right about that too. Since when did you get so wise, Mrs. Green?”

  “Since I followed your example at the sanctuary, Mrs. Doherty. Now, where are the girls? We best get going and you can make it up to your son.”

  Chapter 59

  Lily walked to the bottom of the stairs and called up to her children. “Teddy come down here and thank your aunt for getting you out of trouble again. Grace, Evie get your things, Auntie Kathleen is here to take you shopping.”

  Lily turned back to Kathleen. “I guess myself and Coleen will have a nice relaxing day…”

  “Mom…MOM!”

  Lily rolled her eyes in response to Laurie’s shout.

  “Laurie don’t shout. Come down and tell me what’s wrong,” Lily answered her son before turning to Kathleen. “He probably lost his Wright brothers newspaper. I swear I don’t know how it hasn’t fallen to pieces. I should have told Richard to frame it when he gave to him for his birthday.” Lily turned to her son, her face turning pale. “Laurie, what’s wrong. Why are you upset?”

  “Teddy isn’t in his room. The window is open. His satchel is gone too.”

  Evie and Grace had come down the stairs behind Laurie.

  “Teddy? But where would he go?” Lily mused.

  Kathleen guessed immediately where Teddy had gone.

  “Is Charlie here?” she asked.

  “Yes, in the office.”

  “Laurie go get your dad and tell him to start the car. Girls, stay with Cook and we will be back shortly. Ask Cook to look after Coleen.” Kathleen grabbed Lily’s jacket from the hook at the back of the door. “Come on Lily.”

  Lily obviously wasn’t thinking straight.

  “But we don’t know where he’s gone.”

  “Don’t we?” Kathleen asked. It took a few seconds for Lily to catch up.

  “I will murder him when I get my hands on him. We told him not to go to that picnic.”

  Kathleen called Cook, told her quickly what happened and then bundled Lily out the door. Charlie was already waiting with the car cranked.

  Lily jumped into the car, telling Charlie, “He’s gone to the picnic. You will have to drive us to the pier and hope the boat hasn’t gone already.”

  “But darling, shouldn’t we just let him go? It will cause a big scene if we drive up to take him off. Teddy will be so embarrassed, and so will Kevin and his family.”

  Kathleen thought Charlie was right, but it wasn’t her place to comment. She waited for Lily’s reaction.

  “I suppose you are right, but I can’t help feeling he shouldn’t be on that boat. Can we go to where they are having their picnic?”

  “We won’t be able to get to the grounds without taking a boat, Lily.”

  “Yes of course, how stupid of me. I just want to make sure he is there. What if he ran off and hasn’t gone to the picnic? He was pretty angry with us.”

  “Lily darling, Teddy isn’t going to run away. He has gone to the picnic. If it makes you feel better, we can check at the pier to see if the General Slocum has left and what time they expect it back. Will you come with us, Kathleen?”

  Kathleen was about to suggest she would look after the children, but something told her it was better to stay with Lily. She climbed into the car and they were off.

  Chapter 60

  When they arrived at the pier, Frieda picked up a copy of the program. It was written in both German and English and gave her all the information she needed about the trip. Hans was only interested in the ice cream, which cost 5 cents, and Papi would enjoy a beer. She might treat them to a bowl of clam chowder at 20 cents, but first she would see what her friends and neighbors thought of the dish. She wasn’t going to waste good money on bad food. Papi congratulated Mary Abendschein on her work, making her blush. She
looked young and pretty in the early morning sun with everyone so happy around her.

  Papi also greeted Rev Haas, as well as his wife and sister as they waited to climb aboard. Reverend Haas was congratulating everyone for taking the time to come to the outing as it was an important part of their parish.

  Frieda glanced around her, noting that their little procession had attracted envious looks from spectators who appeared to be on their way to work or other business in the city. She hugged herself trying not to let the excitement make her squeamish. Soon they would be off.

  She stared at the approaching steamer, thinking it looked like something out of a book. Smoke bellowed from the tall smokestacks, but the fresh white painted exterior dominated the horizon. The captain gave a signal and then the gangplank was lowered. First aboard were the policemen accompanying them, closely followed by Rev Haas and his family. Frieda knew most of the people climbing aboard ahead of her. Everyone was laughing and talking at the same time, the children racing ahead to see what delights were on board. The adults didn’t seem to mind. They knew someone from the neighborhood would correct the children if they misbehaved. It was like one big extended family.

  They took their turn waiting until it was time to board the boat and then each took their seats. Papi managed to secure seats together for him and Frieda, but Hans wanted to stay with his friends. Papi let him.

  “It is nice to see him as a child for once. He has become too old for his years in recent months.”

  Frieda didn’t argue. She rarely got her father’s full attention and she was going to enjoy every minute. They were due to depart at 8:45am, but it soon became clear they wouldn’t meet that deadline.

  “Look Papi,” Frieda said. “Still they come. How is everyone going to fit?’

  “Don't worry. Reverend Haas and the others know what they are doing. Nobody wants to miss today. So, what if we wait another thirty minutes? You would like us to wait for you if you were running late, yes?”

  “Yes Papi.” Frieda spoke softly as shame engulfed her. Of course, she would expect them to wait. Maybe some people had got caught in the traffic. It took about an hour before Reverend Haas was ready to go.

  “Papi, we are going.”

  “Wait!” A woman stood up and gathered her children to her. “I want to get off. I have to get off.”

  “But, Mrs. Straub, you have paid for your tickets. The children will be so disappointed.”

  Frieda watched her father try to speak sense to the woman but there was no arguing with her.

  “Why do you want to get off?” another man asked.

  “I had nightmares about this journey last night and now my stomach won’t settle. Something is wrong, I can feel it. I want to get off. Reverend Haas, let me off the boat.”

  Frieda watched in astonishment as the woman and her children disembarked, closely followed by the man who had questioned her. He also took his wife and children despite their tears and pleas to stay on board.

  “Papi, do you think we should go too?”

  “No Frieda. You cannot live your life on whims and feelings. I don’t blame the poor woman, she is obviously exhausted looking after her children, but that man, he should have more sense. Maybe he will change his mind.”

  But as Frieda watched the eight disappointed children left at the pier with the three adults, she saw the decision had been made for them. The gangplank was taken up. The crew cast off. Any chance of them changing their mind and rejoining the ship had gone.

  “I can’t believe that woman left the boat,” her father said. “Look around you. Don’t you see the life preservers and the lifeboats? I don’t believe anything will happen, but if her dreams did come true, they are there to stop anyone being hurt.”

  Frieda glanced at the life boats but didn’t look closely. She didn’t want to think of anything happening that could necessitate climbing into a small boat like that. She was fine in a big boat like the Slocum but anything smaller and she would get nervous. She shook her head. Papi always said it was senseless to anticipate trouble. What could go wrong on such a beautiful day?

  Chapter 61

  Frieda observed Reverend Haas as he made his way around the boat, chatting to children and parents alike. Then her father called her attention.

  “Frieda, look at the twin paddles wheels. Those are what make the boat move. Aren’t they magnificent?”

  Frieda tried to feign interest, but she didn’t really care how the boat moved. She watched as their friends hung over the rails of the steamboat waving to family members on the shore. It was as if they were famous or royalty or something. She waved at a man she didn’t know and, to her astonishment, he waved back.

  Sitting back in her seat, she put her arm though her father’s and cuddled into his chest. Vibrations from deep inside the ship made it shake a little.

  “Don’t be alarmed, that is just the ship’s engines responding to orders from the captain. When your mother and I came over by boat from the old country, you should have seen how the deck moved. We were swung from one side to the other by the large waves. But that won’t happen today,” he hastened to add.

  Hans arrived breathless. “Papi, I have been playing jacks and bean ball. I’m hungry. Can I have an ice-cream?”

  “Don’t you have your own money, my little working boy?” Papi teased him as he gave Hans a few coins. The existing trace of cream around his mouth was testament to where his own money had gone. The boy disappeared. Frieda tapped her feet to the music, watching some couples dancing to the sound of the band. If William were here, maybe he would have asked her to dance.

  “Frieda, you are miles away.”

  “Sorry Papi, what did you say?”

  “Hans moves so quickly, it’s hard to keep up with him. I need to sit him down and speak about his future.”

  “He is only ten.” She wanted to know what he thought about her future, but she held back, not wanting to ruin the day.

  “Ten is a difficult age. He could make decisions that ruin his life. By ten I was already learning the trade of my father and his father before him. It is time Hans learned how to mend shoes.”

  “He wants to be a news reporter,” Frieda said.

  “That’s no career for a good German boy. Spending all your day looking for the big story. No, he must learn his trade.”

  Frieda decided not to argue further. It would only upset her father and after all, Hans had a big enough mouth to use to defend himself.

  Chapter 62

  As if by magic, Hans reappeared. “Papi there is smoke coming from a door down below.”

  “Yes son, it is from the engines. You will find men working down there feeding fires with coal. Of course, it will produce some smoke.”

  Frieda searched her father’s face as he spoke. He seemed to be genuine, not just telling Hans something to stop him from panicking. Hans practically danced up and down with excitement.

  “Can I see them working?” Hans asked.

  “I don’t know if it is allowed,” Papi said. “You might be in their way.”

  “Aw please, Papi. I will be good and do what I am told. They won’t even know I am there.”

  Amazed by what she saw, Frieda watched as her father ruffled her younger brother’s hair. “You have a wish to find excitement in all you do. I hope your spirit soon quietens, but for today go be a child. Make sure you ask permission from the crew though.”

  “Yes Papi.” Hans was off again.

  “What?” Papi turned to find her staring at him.

  “You are different today Papi. I like it.”

  He pulled her into a rare cuddle. “It is easy to relax, sitting in the sunshine on a beautiful day with my family beside me. You are a credit to your mother and becoming almost as beautiful. I think in no time, I will have long line of suitors coming to my door. I will have to get a shotgun.”

  Frieda tried to smile back but her heart hammered. What would he make of her meeting William on the roof later? Should she tell him? Ask
permission? But what if he said no.

  “So, Frieda, tell me about your plans. Mrs. Sauer says you still wish to pursue nursing?”

  “Yes, Papi with all my heart.”

  “But why nursing? Why not teaching? It is a more honorable profession.”

  Frieda knew she had to be careful. Her father was old fashioned and stubborn. It would be pointless telling him about Dorothea Dix, the famous Civil War nurse or Florence Nightingale, the English heroine. But he was her father and would want her to be successful and happy, wouldn’t he?

  “I’d like to be a doctor,” Frieda whispered her most secret dream. To her horror, her father burst out laughing.

  “A doctor. Are you suffering from the heat? No decent woman becomes a doctor. That is a man’s job and a rich man’s job at that.”

  “But Papi, in America women become doctors. They have done for about fifty years.”

  Papi pulled away from her and not just physically. She saw the light in his eyes shutter off.

  “Papi, please just listen to me. I don’t want to be a teacher or to be married young and have a houseful of children. I don’t want to live in the tenements forever. I want a life.”

  Immediately regretting her words, she tried to apologize but didn’t get a chance.

  “A Life? You think we haven’t given you a life? Your mother, God rest her, worked her fingers to the bone to give you a good home, nice food. She ruined her health sewing for others and for what? A child who says she wants a life. Your mother would be ashamed to have such an ungrateful daughter.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. “Papi, that’s not fair. I am grateful to you for everything, but I want something more. You and Mutti left Germany to come here. I remember Mutti saying your parents weren’t happy. But you still came.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have,” her father said. “If I had stayed in Germany, your mother would still be alive. I wouldn’t be living with a daughter and son who are out of hand. I never want to hear anything about this doctor thing again. You are to put it out of your mind. Nursing too.”

 

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