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Birth
I was born on May 22nd, 1897. My mother gave birth to me in her own home, but seeing as her and her sister worked in hospitals as nurses, they knew what to do. I lived in Cheshire, England for all my life. England was a dirty place, it seemed like it always needed to be cleaned. I had hoped America would be different, although i didn't leave until I was 19. I wish to follow my mother's footsteps and become a nurse in America, and that's why I left the UK. I hoped to find my father when I arrived -
Father leaves for Ellis Island
On July 16th, 1907, my father left my mother, aunt and I to go to Ellis Island in America. We needed the money. It was worth it, even though we wouldn't see him for years at a time. I was very against him leaving us. I was too young at the time to understand what he had to do to help us. He helped keep us alive, until it was time for me to join him. I wished to support my family as he did. My mother was my biggest priority, and I needed to do whatever I could to provide for her. -
Arrival
The end of the journe to America was terrible. My aunt passed away from illness, and now my mother would have to take care of our grandparents alone. I was lucky that I didn't get sick, many passangers died through disease on the ship. When we got to Ellis Island, it was packed. The lines were horribly long, and took many hours to get through. Some immigrants had to stay overnight to get through. Luckily I go there just in time. -
My Desicion
My desicion to leave for America and find my father was finalized on March 20, 1916. It was the day the ship was leaving England. My aunt went along to travel with me. She was to return to my mother in a few months time. I knew my father was somewhere in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and that's where I needed to go. Also, the horrible conditions here in the UK were dissatisfying enough to give me no reason to stay, other than my mother. The boat journey there was horrible, and diseases killed many -
Doctor Check
As I got closer to the front of the line, I saw that I needed to be checked by doctors in order to pass. I hoped that everything was alright with me. Nothing felt wrong.
They checked under my eyelids, which wasn't a very pleasant feeling. They were looking for a disease in them. IT hurt when they did it, but it only took a few seconds. -
Searching for Work
I ran into a very kind man today. He said his name was, Tweed? Yes, I think that's what it was. He offered me a place to stay, and is helping me search for a job. I would really like to become a nurse, and hopefully he can get me something in that field. I am staying with a few other girls, very kind people. They're mainly from Ireland and England, although I believe there was one from Germany. -
Finds Father
I had been working as a nurse in a hospital for the past few months. It was a steady job, and I got paid enough to get by with the other girls in the house. A patient came in, he was coughing badly and had pain in his chest. I thought he looked eerily familiar, and when he gave me his name I knew. I finally found my father. He is currently recovering right now, and should be better soon.
