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My Birth
I, Deidra Blair, am a simple Irish girl with big aspirations. I'm the youngest of three (my sister Aileen and brother Kellen). I love my family, I really do, but ever since Kellen left to go to America, I couldn't ever help but think there was something more in America. I love to make things and one day I'm going to be a great inventor even though I'm a girl. I just know America will give me that chance. Though family comes first. It walways has. But when I grow old enough, I will leave. -
My Parent's Death
In my small town rebellions against the landlords were become all the more common. There was much danger and tax collectors were on edge. After being in poverty for so long my family had nothing left to give. My sister and I went to look for jobs in the village. After a failed search we went back to our tenement to find it burned to the ground along with my parents. -
A Robbery
After sleeping in the woods that night, we knew what we had to do. Our brother had left to go to America some few months ago. His last letter had mentioned something about New York. Aideen decided that in order to get the money we needed we had to steal it. Though we were both reluctant, we snuck into the pub early that morning and found the funds. It was just enough money to get to America. -
America or Bust
We lived in the wilderness for many days after that, although we managed to get steerage tickets on the next boat to America. This Ireland we were in wasn't safe for us anymore. It wasn't modern enough. It wasn't mature enough. At least not for me anyway. Once we meet my brother Kellen, I would become an inventor. I had always been good with tools since I was a child. America would be my big break. -
Ellis Island
You would assume that after traveling on the boat for so long that when you reached America that you would just be home free. That wasn't necessarily the case though. We stepped off into a government facility called Ellis Island. It was quite frightening. You never know what is going to make them turn you away. The lady a few places ahead was balling begging to stay with her child. I tried to hold it together when it came to my turn to talk to the officer. Luckily Aileen and I got through. -
Renunion
The day I finally saw Kellen again was like meeting him for the first time. He was much older, but stronger looking. He was absolutely nothing like the scrawny, day dreaming farmboy I knew only a few years previous. But I was happy all the same. Only now do I realize how naive I was. Seeing all of the con men in the streets as new possible friends. Seeing all of the glaring eyes of native born American as warm welcomes. -
Life in the Slums
Everything in America had been treating us well for the most part. Our housing was small and factory work wasn't necessarily my forte. Frankly I'd rather be making the machines than working on them, but I shouldn't be complaining. I was one of the lucky ones. My brother's new bulky stature started to fade and become meek. When he wouldn't eat dinner we knew he was ill. It's not like we should have been surprised. The area we lived in housed hundreds of people with no hygienic source for miles. W -
Westward Ho!
After months of preparation we started moving west from the east coasts of America. Ultimately we moved forward with a group of miners who allowed us to travel with them. The prospect of gold wasn't a bad one. Not only would we find a better home for Kellen, but we could become rich! It was an odd sight to see two female, Irish immigrants driving a wagon but they got used to it and accepted us. Traveling took much more time than we expected. We were on the road for months on end. -
The Dawes Act is Passed
The Dawes Act was passed by congress to assimilate Native Americans and create good relations with them. Congresses goal was to make the natives more accustomed to the American way of life and help settlers. This act also told Native American leaders where and where they couldn't bring their tribes. Most tribes did not want to change their ways that they had practiced for hundreds of years. Many groups even acted out against settlers. -
A Broken Wagon
We had been traveling through nothing but bare land when we reached the forest. There we saw a group of Native Americans. Their expressions were something I could never unsee. It was the look of despair and hopelessness. The only other time I had seen this look was when my parents died. I was trying not to stare when they attacked. Who wouldn't be upset if their land was taken away? Though this took a huge toll on our group. Most of us had been separated and our wagon was in multiple pieces spra -
Becoming a Railworker
We walked on foot for a few days and thankfully found a group of rail workers. Kellen was still too ill to work and since Aileen was the only one who knew how to take care of him, I decided to work. We knew the workers wouldn’t allow us to travel with them unless one of us worked on the rails in return. But I couldn't do it as me. Before our wagon was destroyed we did save some of Kellen's clothes. I slipped them on and cut my hair. I was officially David Blair, railroad immigrant. We needed the -
Adjusting to California
We actually made it. After all of the waiting and hours of painstaking work we got to California. Kellen miraculously gained health is and trying to find a mining job. After all of my rail work we could afford better housing to make sure he wouldn't get ill again. I still wonder how on earth they couldn’t tell I was a girl. The culture is slightly different over here and many more Chinese. But an immigrant is an immigrant all the same and we have to stick together. Their culture is so different. -
Still Dreaming
Aileen is a seamstress in the local dressmaker shop with along with myself. The only thing I can do well in that place is pin fabric together, but I'm quite handy at fixing broken mannequins and the dinky sewing machines. Though I haven’t had much spare time to invent, I still believe America will give me this opportunity. In fact I’m sure it will. Even after all of the hardship I have faced I still know this country is for dreamers like me.
