Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor
A Short Story
By CJ Puccia
Copyright 2013 by CJ Puccia
One
It was 1891, and Matheus left his family in Europe to go to America. He hoped to find work in the coalmines of Illinois as his cousins had. When he made enough money, he would send for his wife and daughters and they would be together forever. If work was abundant, maybe his parents could come, too.
Matheus traveled through Europe by train to reach the steamship in Hamburg that would take him across the sea. He brought a small satchel that held a single change of clothes and a light blanket. He spoke no German, but found his way when he arrived at the port. He had never been on a boat, and dreaded the journey.
His ticket was third class, and before he could board, he was examined and deloused. The spray was strong smelling and irritated his eyes and lungs. Matheus worried that if he coughed or his eyes and nose watered he would be turned away. He had been warned that anyone that appeared sick would not be allowed on the ship.
Fare for the ticket took months to earn. He had needed to leave some money for his family before he left. They had moved in with his parents long ago when his daughters were born, but work was scarce in Lithuania, and poverty was spreading quickly across most of the continent. People were sick and starving. There was unrest among the people because of it, and talk of revolt. He needed to find a safe place for his family to live away from the escalating turmoil.
Matheus labored long hours on the local farms when there was planting or harvest, but was often paid in food. In between, and in the winter, he would try to get work in the factories. It was hard work making brushes from stiff pig bristles, with long hours for little pay. For a short time he worked in a cigar factory, cutting tobacco.
America had to have more to offer. They said it was a land of opportunity and freedom. His cousins sent him letters with crude hand drawn maps and travel information, urging him to join them. They boasted of good jobs in the mines that included housing. They said that food and liquor was plentiful. Matheus could not even imagine such a place.
Two
The S.S. Moravia departed with over twelve hundred passengers. There were few luxuries on board, and none for the thousand or so in third class - commonly called steerage.
Matheus, with a long line of other passengers, was led down to a large open room where beds were stacked three high along each side, with rows of long tables and chairs arranged down the middle.
Married couples were separated from the single people, and single men were separated from the women and children. All were assigned bunks. They were shown the meager communal bathrooms, and Matheus immediately felt the lack of fresh air as the room became congested with people.
There were no portholes, as they were below the water line, and the passengers quickly learned there was little privacy. Matheus never left his satchel unattended, and took it wherever he went. He could not lose the only belongings he brought to America.
At mealtime a large tureen was brought down, and they were seated according to bunk section. At the crowded tables each person ladled their own stew and ate quickly, as another group of people would need to take their place. There was barely enough food to go around, never any additional. Several days later, after many soup and stew meals, Matheus learned that for a price you could get additional rations - leftovers from the first class diners. It was a luxury he could not afford.
Matheus often went up to the deck for fresh air. The steerage compartment was beginning to reek from the poor washroom facilities and close quarters of so many people that could not bathe.
There were those that gambled with cards or dice on deck, but Matheus only watched. He could not chance losing what little he was able to bring with him. He would need to pay for the train from New York to Illinois, then from Chicago to Princeton in Illinois. He would also need to eat, and didn't know what else he might need to pay for when he arrived in America.
Three
Days went by slowly until Matheus met a few other Lithuanians on board. He heard them speaking while he was waiting his turn for the washroom facilities. It was exciting to hear his language instead of the noise of the many others that he heard all day long. Matheus immediately greeted them and asked if they had been to America. None had.
The group of men met on deck each morning. They shared stories of home, and discussed the things they anticipated in America. Each told of where they were headed and the jobs they hoped to have. Several of the men were also going to work in coalmines, but in Pennsylvania. One man had his wife and a small child with him and planned to farm if he found the opportunity.
Late one night as the passengers slept, the S.S. Moravia encountered rough waters. Winds gusted to sixty miles per hour, creating waves that rocked the ship mercilessly. People woke up screaming and crying, clutching one another in confusion and fear. The furniture shook and loose belongings skittered around the floor. The hull of the ship groaned in protest of the strong waves. Matheus prayed that this would not be the end of his journey, as he held tight to his bunk. The bedlam and noise continued for hours.
By dawn, the storm had passed. The passengers were exhausted from the long night of worry, and many stayed in their bunks past the noon meal. Matheus met his friends on deck as usual. They discussed the storm, and considered the chances of coming upon another before they reached America.
The final leg of the journey was uneventful, as the steamship entered Hudson Bay, then New York Harbor. The immigrants on deck cheered as they spied the Statue of Liberty on the distant shore.
It had been a tiresome journey, but the passengers descended the ship with high hopes in their new homeland. Again they waited in long lines to be examined. Matheus watched as several were taken away to an infirmary for further evaluation.
He looked around the port, which looked no different than the one from the previous week. When got to the front of the line, he found he could not respond, as he did not speak English. He suddenly found himself alone, and had no idea where to find the train to Chicago.
Four
He began to walk through the city. There were people everywhere. He had never seen so many people moving about. He had never seen so many buildings. He smelled the different food smells, his stomach growling as he walked along. He wondered how he would figure out everything on his own in this big city.
He pulled out the crude maps his cousins had drawn for him, and he tried to get his bearings. He hoped he was headed in the right direction, when he saw a big building ahead. Grand Central Depot. The sign matched his map. Now he had only to find the Chicago Burlington and Quincy train to Princeton, Illinois.
The depot was large with many train platforms in a row. Several had trains waiting on the tracks, while others were empty. Matheus looked at the signs hanging above the platforms. Finally he found Chicago Burlington and Quincy. There was no train, but he would wait.
He found a bench to rest not far from the train platform. He watched travelers boarding trains. A few trains arrived, and he watched as the passengers flooded off. So many people!
Matheus was very hungry by now. He saw a man with a vending cart walking amongst the crowd. He approached the cart, eyeing the thick ham sandwiches and the sign that said five cents. The vendor said something to him in English. When Matheus didn't respond, the man picked up a sandwich, holding it out to Matheus while pointing to the sign. Matheus nodded, reaching into his pocket for his coins. He held them out in his open palm for the man to see. The vendor took the coin worth five kopecks and handed over the sandwich. Matheus had no idea if this was correct, or if he h
ad been duped.
He went back to the bench and ate his sandwich slowly, making it last. He watched for the Chicago Burlington and Quincy train. Many hours passed, and Matheus was becoming tired. He could not fall asleep. What if the train arrived and he missed it? He watched as trains pulled in and out again, when finally he saw his train approaching.
After the passengers disembarked, Matheus boarded with a small group of others. He took the first empty seat. He felt the train lurch as it left the depot and settled back in his seat. The conductor soon came around to issue tickets. Matheus again offered his palmful of coins. The conductor took several coins, leaving Matheus with very little money. He would still need fare from Princeton to the small mining town of Seatonville. He hoped there was enough money left.
Five
Matheus slept most of the journey. He held his satchel tightly on his lap. The train traveled through miles of prairie, sprinkled with an occasional small town. Matheus awakened when he heard Princeton announced by the conductor. He moved carefully down the aisle reaching the door as the train came to a stop.
He stepped down quickly, and looked around as the train pulled away. He had to find a ride to Seatonville. He would then be with his people. He would speak the same language and not feel so alone