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The Potato Famine
My mother, older brother, and I are blamed for causing the potato famine. Our farm is vandalized, our crops are ruined, and we are outcasts in the town we once called our home. Potatoes were a large part of our diet, so now we are starving. Being part of the middle class, we are not poor, but life will be hard for us now. My brother and I are staying in a loft on the outskirts of town, but it gets so cold at night, I fear one of us will not make it. My older sister has invited us to America. -
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Immigration Timeline
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Ellis Island
We did it! My brother and I have made it to America! After a month on an old sailboat, I am ready to put my feet on solid ground again. We debark from the ship to go to Ellis Island to be inspected both medically and legally. My brother passed the medical inspection, but barely. The authorities at Ellis Island were not able to reach my sister for 3 days, so we to spend those miserable 72 hours sitting in a holding cell. On Day 2 a moldy piece of bread hurts my teeth and intensifies my bad mood. -
The Tenement
My sister finally answers the phone when the officials at Ellis Island call, and proves to them that she has enough money to pay for our tickets. However, she isn’t able to pick us up until June 7. The authorities inform my brother and me that we can stay at a nearby tenement for the next week. -
The Tenement (continued)
The tenement is in a poor neighborhood, which means the building is run-down, and it smells of sewage and other waste. My brother and I sleep in one room, and share a bathroom with the rest of the people living in the tenement. Because there are no showers and it smells awful throughout the whole building, soon I smell just as bad as the sewage outside. It is unpleasant, and I can't wait to get to my sister's house. -
My Brother is Shot
This will be my first time in America besides when we got off the ship. The streets are crowded with shouting masses, crying children, and people eager to get somewhere. I am surer than ever that we are going to get lost. That should have been the least of my worries. I should have been keeping a closer eye on my brother. He is shot in the arm by a man shouting that Irish immigrants should not be allowed in America. At the tenement, a kind lady takes care of him while I sell the ring. -
The Miners
We got to my sister’s tiny farmhouse and stayed with her for 2 weeks. On June 21, several miners passed by, and stopped to chat with me for a while. I was out tending the garden when they approached. They told me they were heading west, to find a higher-paying job and to find gold. They invited me to go with them. I wanted to accept, but first I had to confer with my siblings. I had a long talk with them while the miners sat outside, and we all agreed that I would be allowed to move west. -
Traveling to the West
Traveling to the West was not what I expected. It is often below freezing at night in the mountains, and there is little food to go around. We are about halfway to our journey, but I don't think I can go any further. We have seen Native Americans a few times, but always hide because they have no love for settlers. They say we take all their trees and animals. I am afraid of these savage people. Would they hurt me if they had the chance? -
Arrival in the West
We arrive in the West after 6 long months of traveling. One of the miners perished by the hand of a Native American, but other than that we are all safe. I split up with the miners after we travel further into Washington. I take the horse they have given me and start looking for work and a place to stay. I wander around, not knowing where to go, until I find a farm. The owner, an old lady, hires me after asking a few questions. She showed me a room behind the farm where I can stay. I am home. -
The Will
The old woman, Maggie, unexpectedly dies. I am deeply saddened because she has become part of my family. When her lawyer reads her will, I am astonished to learn that she has left everything in her farm to me! I now have a permanent place to stay and work. Lots of work must be done on the farm if it is to become my primary source of income. I hire a French immigrant and an American man to work for me. Since I am now the boss of this farm, I have a lot more responsibility than I did before. -
My Farm is Successful
My farm is doing well. I have added chickens to my farm, and have sold their first eggs at the local market. Another immigrant came last week to apply for a job at my farm, and a week after came another. Then the happiness ends. A part of the barn is burned down and the other part is vandalized with crude sayings that order immigrants to go back to their home country. One of my cows perishes in the fire. It will take some time rebuilding the barn. I am going to ignore this discrimation!!
