“We have to pray about this,” Bert said to his friend. “Matron says that the Bible tells us not to worry about things, but to pray and let the Lord know what we want. Have you been doing that?”
Ethan assured him that he had. “I’m not going to worry until school is out and it’s time to go,” he said. “Then I might worry a little.”
Then a letter arrived that cheered Mr. Lehman and caused great rejoicing among the boys.
Willow Creek, Nebraska
10 April 1908
Dear Sir:
You may recall that my wife and I adopted two children from your home five years ago. My wife has been longing for a son or a daughter to replace the boy we lost last year. We read your announcement of the family of four children available for placement. Our daughter has begged us to contact you about taking them into our home. I would prefer to have only the two youngest, but Frances insists that we must take them all. We decided that if we aren’t too late in speaking for them, we would be obliged if you would send them to us on the Orphan Train.
We await your decision in this matter.
Your servant,
C. S. Rush
“There is no reason to worry about this home,” Mr. Lehman said happily. “I understand that Mr. Rush is a good churchman, and his land is prospering. This is surely an answer to prayer!”
Bert and Ethan didn’t doubt that for an instant. With great excitement they made preparations to leave Briarlane. Each of the twelve children was allowed one small bag for his belongings. One set of clothes, in addition to what the child wore, was included.
“You’ll stay in Chicago for a few days until the train is ready to finish the trip west,” Mr. Lehman told the children. “The good people at Hull-House have made arrangements for you.”
On the day of departure, the little group waited to board the train for the first part of their trip. All of them were a bit frightened, but Riley, the acknowledged leader, spoke bravely.
“You all know how to act,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to disgrace Matron, or he’ll answer to me.”
Final good-byes were said, and the chosen twelve climbed the steps to the big railcar. Looking out the window, Ethan saw a proud and smiling Hugh standing between his new parents, Patterson and Eugenia Quincy. In his first good suit, Hugh looked handsome indeed.
The train began to move, and Ethan waved to the dear friends he had made over the past year. He looked at Will sitting contentedly beside him, and Simon and Alice on the seat facing him, and thought about all that had happened since the trolley ride that brought them to the Briars in the rain.
What adventures would this new life bring?
Ethan didn’t know, but he knew that the Good Shepherd would be with them, and he was content.
When a rockin’ concert comes to an end,
the audience might cheer for an encore.
When a tasty meal comes to an end,
it’s always nice to savor a bit of dessert.
When a great story comes to an end,
we think you may want to linger.
And so we offer …
… just a little something more after
you have finished a David C Cook novel.
We invite you to stay awhile in the story.
Thanks for reading!
Turn the page for …
• Author’s Note
• Write, Talk, Imagine
• About the Author
• Other Books by Arleta Richardson
Author’s Note
In about 1850 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other states on the East Coast were troubled by the number of uncared for and abandoned children in their large cities. Orphanages, county poor farms, and foundling homes were filled to capacity. To the annoyance of some and the distress of others, many homeless children lived on the streets, stealing to feed and clothe themselves and running into trouble with the law. Counties were unable to provide for children when the parents had died or couldn’t care for them.
In New York, Charles Loring Brace, founder of the Children’s Aid Society, began a new system of welfare for orphans and dependent children. His idea was a simple one: Send these abandoned children from the big cities to the western states, which were less populated than the cities, and distribute them to rural families who agreed to take them into their homes.
The children were gathered into groups and placed in railway cars for the trip west. These cars, called Orphan Trains, were life-changing instruments for the thousands of children who rode on them from approximately 1854 to 1929, when the system was abolished. The children were put on display in small towns and villages along the route. Having been notified in advance that the children were coming, families could look them over and choose the ones they wished to take. Children who weren’t chosen at one stop continued to the next train stop.
Among those who benefited—or suffered—under those arrangements were four children from a family in Pennsylvania. Ethan, Alice, Simon, and Will Cooper weren’t their real names, but the children did indeed live, and Briarlane Christian Children’s Home was there to care for them.
In 1992, the real Ethan was ninety-four years of age and remembered some of the details of his early life with clarity. I tried to weave his memories into the story and show how four lives were formed, in part at least, by the circumstances of the days in which they lived.
My thanks and appreciation to Ethan’s children for the information they so graciously shared with me. All of them are a wonderful monument to the man Ethan grew up to be.
Write, Talk, Imagine
Write about It
The Orphan Train offered children a chance for a fresh start. But they would need all their courage to face an unknown future. In what new situation have you had to find courage?
Do you know somebody like Hugh, who tries to control others by threatening them? How do you handle bullies? By understanding Hugh’s story and what he really longs for, how might you deal differently with bullies from now on?
At first Ethan doesn’t know what to think about God being the Good Shepherd, who has His eye on everyone. Does that idea make you nervous or happy? Why? If you believe God really loves and cares about you, how might that change how you handle hard times?
Talk about It
Ethan was constantly responsible for watching over his younger brothers and sister. When have you been responsible for someone—a sibling, a pet, or a classmate? How did that feel?
Matron says two of the most important things you can say are “thank you” and “I’m sorry.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you think Hugh should have said “I’m sorry” to Ethan instead of just calling him “a pretty good kid” to make up for being mean to him? Explain.
Bert believes, “It’s always best to tell the truth. That way you don’t have to keep making up stuff to go with it.” Do you think that’s true? Why or why not?
Imagine It
Imagine you are going on a journey, and you can only take one small bag of belongings with you, like the children in this story did. What would you choose to take, and why?
Imagine you are Ethan. Hugh asks you to steal the box out of Mr. Lehman’s desk drawer. What would you do?
Imagine you are Hugh. Would you apologize to Ethan for being mean to him? Why or why not? And, if so, what would you say?
About the Author
Arleta Richardson grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan, loving the stories her grandmother told about her childhood on a nineteenth-century farm. In the popular Grandma’s Attic series, Arleta retold those memories, capturing the hearts and imaginations of more than two million readers around the world.
Fascinated by the history of the Orphan Trains, Arleta based her Orphans’ Journey series on the true account of a boy, named Ethan Cooper in the story, who rode the Orphan Train to
a new life in 1908. The Orphan Trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children.
The themes of Arleta’s books reveal what was most important to her—family and friends, doing the right thing, overcoming fear during hard times, and working hard to see dreams fulfilled. She believed that God has a plan for each of us, and that His love and care will be revealed in His perfect timing.
Other Books by Arleta Richardson
The Grandma’s Attic Series
In Grandma’s Attic
More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
Still More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
Treasures from Grandma
Grandma’s Attic Novels
Away from Home
A School of Her Own
Wedding Bells Ahead
At Home in North Branch
New Faces, New Friends
Looking for Home Page 11