A Scrap of Tartan

By Dee Olerich

The Doles family immigrates from Scotland to the United States in 1863. Thet arrive during the riots of New York City about the draft for the Civil War. The father is sold into the Army leaving the extremely pregnant wife and two children in hardship and culture shock. The love of the familty members helps. It does not however, keep the family members together in this new land. Each member of the family lives in the hope of being reunited and allowed to become an American, whatever that truely means.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665515757

Dee Olerich

Dee showed an early desire to write in Grade School when she wrote a “play” for her best friends. Literature was always her passion. She said she would never be alone as long as she had a book to read. History bored her until she realized that these were real people with stories to tell. She wanted to give them a voice to show others that history is more than names and dates. It is the struggle that we all face in our lives including the hardship and joys. Your physical location is rich and ripe with these stories waiting to be told. Dee lives in Waukee, Iowa with her husband and two dogs.

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© 2021 Dee Olerich. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  02/02/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-1574-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-1575-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021902086

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

I would like to thank Jerrie for her encouragement of every step

of this book. I also would like to thank Dean, Barry Imhoff

and Steve Booth for answering my multitude of questions.

T HE WIND WAS HOWLING, BLOWING snow into piles in the yard. Everything was covered in a thick blanket and more snow kept falling. The evergreen trees were so heavy that some limbs had broken off. There was no electricity so Seth couldn’t even listen to the radio. Only two rooms in the house were warm, the kitchen due to the gas oven with supper cooking and the living room had a fireplace. Last night was fun Seth thought. We brought our blankets and pillows down from the upstairs bedrooms and slept on the living room floor. Grandma slept between Holly and me on one side of the fireplace while Mother and Father slept on the other side.

Seth laughed, his breath frosting over the window. He was staring out at the swirling snow. He didn’t know who was loudest, his father or grandma but both snored through the night. He turned around and saw Holly sitting with her nose in a book as usual. Grandma was knitting next to the fireplace in her rocking chair. If I say I am bored Dad will send me out to get more wood for the fireplace. He could hear his parents in the kitchen. Mom was making supper, beef stew by the smell and Dad was probably reading yesterday’s paper again and drinking coffee.

The blizzard had caused school to be called off due to most of Iowa’s loss of power. Yesterday was great, he thought, I spent the day outside with my sled. The wind became worse late in the afternoon and I had to come inside. Now I feel trapped and bored.

Seth, Grandma said looking up from her knitting, I see you are restless, why don’t you read a book?

Tell us a story, he asked. Grandma, please tell us about coming to America.

Holly put her book down and looked over at her grandmother. The rocker stopped and slowly Grandma sat her knitting down. You have heard that story many times, she said.

When you tell it, Grandma, I feel like I am right there with you. Your stories are better that any book I have read, Holly stated. Please tell us a story. It doesn’t have to be about coming to America.

A story is best started at the beginning, Grandma replied. The chair started to rock again. The comforting creak it made helped drown out the sound of the wind. Grandma smiled, All right, this is a perfect day for telling my story. Holly, please go out and see if there is any coffee left and bring me a cup. If you father has drunk it all then see if your mother will make us some tea or cocoa. Holly scurried off to the kitchen while Seth pulled some pillows off the couch and spread them in front of the fireplace and his grandmother’s chair.

Grandma is going to tell us a story, may we have some cocoa," Holly’s voice carried into the living room.

Sounds like a great idea for a snow bound day, her mother replied. Give me a few minutes and I will make enough for everyone. I just checked the stew and it will be a few hours until it is done cooking. I will bring out the cocoa and join you.

The family all gathered and settled down. Staring into the flames Mary began her story. They had heard this before, still their faces were full of rapt attention.

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CHAPTER 1

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I T WAS EARLY IN THE morning, even before the sun was up when my father woke me and told me to get dressed. I did not want to leave my warm bed and snuggled down farther into the blanket. Atair pulled my blanket off.

Get up. We are leaving today. Atair was my brother and was ten years old. He thought that made him important so he always bossed me around. I was seven and did not understand what all the excitement was about. Going to America did not mean anything to me other than I had to leave my nice warm bed.

Mother helped me dress and combed my hair. She handed me a piece of bread. Hurry now, eat this. We must be on our way. I looked around our home. It was so empty. The furniture had been sold and taken from the house. All that was left were our blankets and clothes. While I ate my bread, Mother put my clothes in my blanket and tied it into a bundle. Each of us had a bundle that looked the same.

Father came to the door, Time to go or we will miss the ship, He grabbed my bundle and his, I will carry yours but you must keep up with us. It was just turning dawn. You could see a small sliver of brightness trying to break through the fog. I shivered as the damp air touched my skin when I walked out into the day.

We had just arrived at the docks when Father turned to me, Hang on to the back of my coat, Brighde, don’t let go or you will be lost in this crowd. People were everywhere pushing and shoving. Atair was behind me and Mother was bringing up the rear. Stay together," Father said as we walked up a long ramp to the ship. Men were shouting, people were talking and I even heard a baby cry. Seagulls were flying over our heads screeching and flapping their wings. I was afraid.

Atair pushed me in the back, Get going. Quit looking around, you are holding us up. I couldn’t go any faster. Father was right in front of me and he wasn’t moving. Atair pushed me again and this time I stumbled into Father. He turned and looked at me with a frown. I heard a smack and looked back. Mother had slapped Atair in the back of the head.

You will behave, she said to Atair. I stuck my tongue out at Atair and I got smacked in the head. How did Father know that I stuck my tongue out, I had my back to him?

That goes for you too, Brighde. The line began to move and my feet were on the deck. A man pointed and told my father where we were to go. We went down a lot of stairs to get to our cabin. The stairs were hard because they were almost straight up and down. At the bottom was a man that checked our tickets again and read from a paper. Conn Doles, farmer, 28; Elspeth Doles, 24, wife; Atair Doles 10, son, Brighde Doles 7, daughter, your berth is four doors down on the left. Our room was small and cramped. Only two of us could stand and move around at a time. The others had to be on their beds or out of the room. Mother and Father shared the lower and Atair and I were on the upper berth.

During the day Mother taught Atair and me to read from the Bible. This was the only thing other than our clothes that we brought with us. The first few days I stayed in our room. The floor kept moving all the time and I was sick. Atair was sick most of the time we were at sea and stayed in bed. I went with Father up on the deck twice a day sometimes Mother joined us. The air was so clean and fresh on deck. Down below it started to stink from people being so close together and being sick. Water was all around us, sometimes looking like the sky turned into water or the water turned into sky. They matched and blended together until you could not tell one from the other. We were told that water was for drinking only and not for bathing. We only had enough drinking water to get to the United States of America.

A sailor told me one day, You can tell if the ocean is happy by the color she is wearing. If she is happy she wears a calm blue-gray dress; grumpy she wears a gray dress with white cap sleeves; upset she wears a dark gray dress with large folds; angry days are when the ocean and sky are fighting. Sky throws lightning bolts at ocean and ocean throws water back up at sky to block the lightning.

Who wins?

He laughed and tousled my hair, Neither, rain and wind come to join the fight and it only ends when they are all exhausted. He looked out to the horizon, It looks like they are getting ready for another fight. You better go below and stay there until the Captain says it is safe for you to come up again.

He was right, in less than an hour lightning streaked across the sky and the ocean waves increased. We had to stay below for two days. The ship rocked and rolled making walking impossible for me. Just to stand without getting knocked off balance was a challenge. We could hear the wind blowing and the thunder echoed in the hull of the ship.

I wanted to go out on deck. Not just because I wanted to watch ocean, sky, wind and rain fight but the smell of unwashed bodies and people being seasick from the storm was awful. It seemed silly to be surrounded by water yet unable to use it to bathe. Standing in the rain would wash all of us properly.

Atair was getting worse. He could barely keep any food down during the storm. Father would tell us stories of growing up and the history of Scotland. He made me feel like he personally knew Robert the Bruce and was with him during the battles. His story was punctuated by the thunder and crashing waves. I was scared so Mother made him stop.

Mother then told us stories about St. Columcille and sang us a song about how he converted Bride, the king, to Christianity. Father’s stories were more exciting and Mother grew angry with us for wanting to hear more of his stories. You are turning these children into Picts, she would say to him. Father would laugh at her and wink at us.

One time, Atair used a piece of charcoal and drew on his face and arms. It was before we were to go to Mass and Mother was very angry. Atair, what do you think you are doing?

I am a Pict, he answered. Father started to laugh but Mother whirled on him. She was furious.

See what your silly stories have caused. She took water and a rag and scrubbed Atair until his skin was bright pink. I thought better than to tell her that water was for drinking and not washing. Atair howled the entire time but never again drew on himself.

Elspeth stop, you will scrub the hide clear off that child.

Better for me to do this than the Priest see what a pagan I am raising and bring shame to this family.

Our neighbors in the next berth started to play the fiddle. You could hear others joining in to sing while he played. Father had a fine voice and gathered Mother up from the berth and they did a little dance. Soon bagpipes joined in the song. We were very cramped but that did not stop Father. He had Mother laughing and out of breath in no time. Even Atair joined in the gaiety by drumming his hands on the wall. Mother sat down and Father grabbed my hand. He taught me the Highland Fling. We soon forgot our fears of the storm Father said with the singing and dancing we sang the storm calm.

The next morning we were allowed to go back on deck. Father held me high in his arms so I could see the ship fish swimming next to us. They would jump high in the air and race along side of the ship. I clapped my hands at the show they provided. The sky was clear and the ocean was calmer. We watched the antics for a long time and then they were gone.

Where did they go? I cried.

One of the sailors that was watching with us replied, They went to eat their lunch.

Will they be back?

He shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe you just never know. It is a good omen to see the dolphins when you are on a ship. It means good sailing for us.

Father sat me down on the deck and removed his cap letting the breeze blow his black wavy hair. He scratched his chin that had grown a lot of whiskers. Need to get you back downstairs before your mother has to come looking for us.

Atair was sitting up in the bunk. His dark hair and eyes made his face look even whiter. I didn’t want to tell him about the dolphins. He made fun of me when I told him about water, sky, wind and rain. He would never believe me about the dolphins’ tricks. Father looked at me and raised one eyebrow while cocking his head. I never could figure out how he could move only one eyebrow at a time. Shaking my head no, Father understood that I did not want to talk of our adventure. He told Atair and Mother how the dolphins raced along the side of the ship leaping out of the water. I could tell by the look on Atair’s face that he had a hard time believing Father.

Conn, you tell a fine story but you didn’t need to make up such a tale just because you were late getting back.

It is not a story, Elspeth. We really did watch the dolphins. That is the truth, Father looked at me for confirmation.

Mother they kept up with the ship. They jumped out of the water. It even looked like they could dance on their tails. I said. The sailors told us that seeing dolphins is good luck for our voyage.

The only dancing tales I know of are coming from the two of you. Good luck is given to us by God by our own hard work, not some silly dancing fish. Conn, you should be ashamed. You will have that child believing in the wee folk next.

Mother and Atair never did believe us.

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CHAPTER 2

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T HERE WERE A LOT OF other people in steerage on our trip. The Captain and crew referred to us as assisted passengers. We really did not need any help so I have no idea why they called us that. Most of the people in steerage were from Ireland but some were from Sweden, Germany and England. Most of the English on the trip were traveling first or second class. We did not see much of them unless we were on deck at the same time getting some fresh air.

Miss Agatha Smythe came below decks every day and tried to teach us English. She was going to the United States of America with the Baxter’s as their governess. She was bony with a long face that had not seen a smile in a long time. Strict when it came to learning proper English with a back that was alway ramrod straight. She would use a rod to slam the table when her students did not perform correctly. She did not dare hit the full grown men and women but I did not want to dare being too close so I sat in the back and repeated the words she used. I laughed because my tongue did not seem to want to assist me in learning.

Most of the female passengers only came on Sunday’s when Miss Agatha Smythe would read out of the Bible. It wasn’t Mass but Mother said reading from the Bible was always good for me. I didn’t see how this would help me as I did not understand a word she said the entire time. I did enjoy the singing and some of the songs I knew could be sung in Scottish.

During meals we all sat in groups. The Irish, Swedes and us kept to our own. Only some of the Irish and Scottish would sit together and Mother said that was because they were Protestant. I think it was because the Irish men liked Bessie McDonald. She had thick brownish-red hair and a lot of freckles. Every time one of those men sat beside her, her face would turn bright red. I don’t know what they said but she must not have minded as she never got up and moved to another spot.

After supper we had to stay in our room. Father sometimes went to the common room but Mother never did. We could hear the others laughing and singing just about every night and they would dance. Only on Sundays it was quiet. Fights usually broke out but were quickly quieted by the other passengers. The stewards got really mad at the mess that was left during the night. They set a curfew on the common room and things seemed to be a lot quieter with fewer black eyes at breakfast.

There were three English children on board. They were the Baxter’s. I did not get to see a lot of them. The were all older than I. Andrew was ten the same as Atair. Mark and Mathew were twins and were twelve. Mark and Mathew liked to confuse people about which one was which. I could tell them apart because Mathew chewed his fingernails.

We liked to play sock ball on deck. Mrs. Baxter became upset when she found Mark, Mathew and Andrew on deck playing. They had skipped their lessons with the governess and were down on the lower deck with me. I could not understand what she meant when she told them they were not to associate with those Irish. I was the only one there and I am Scottish. Maybe she did not know the difference. She took the sock ball with her when she left. Mother was so mad at me because I used my socks to make the ball. I asked the boys to return them but never did get them back.

Father was on deck watching us. He put his arms around me and held me close. Don’t worry about the likes of them, he nodded at Mrs. Baxter’s retreating back. The English always think they are better than the rest of the world. America will be different, my wee bairn. Their President Lincoln said that everyone is free and equal. It will be grand to be in the United States of America. In the months to come I would ponder these words and wonder what they really meant.

Before dawn I was awakened by a knock on our door. A frantic voice was asking for my mother. She rose quickly, dressed and was out the door in a hurry. The man at the door kept saying, It’s time, hurry, it’s time.

Go back to sleep. Your mother is going to help Mrs. Kilkelly have her baby, Father informed us.

A baby! I was excited and could not go back to sleep. As the youngest in the family I had never seen a newborn baby. I wondered if it was a boy or a girl. Was it wobbly on its legs when born like the lamb? It was only a few days after lambs were born that they would run and play. I would have someone younger to play with during the day. Atair had not been any fun since we boarded the ship. He was getting weaker every day. Mother tried to get him to eat but if he did it came right back up. He sometimes didn’t make it out of the bunk to go take care of his necessaries. His stools were watery and very smelly. I did not like sharing the bunk so sometimes I slept on the floor.

Mr. Kilkelly was back at our door. Conn, your wife booted me out. My wife is having our baby and she booted me out. She said I would only be in her way…shut the door right in my face.

Aye, she does seem to want her way all the time. Birthing is for the women. Ian what say you and I go to the common room and celebrate your new arrival. Atair, you and Brighde stay in the room. I will come get you for breakfast.

Father, may we see the baby? I asked.

Babies have a way of arriving on their own time. I am sure Mrs. Kilkelly will let you see the baby in a day or so. Try and get some more sleep. Dawn is still a long time away.

Atair nodded and rolled over on his side toward the wall I am sure he went right to sleep. Father and Mr. Kilkelly left, I could hear their footsteps down the passageway.

I bet you wish the baby will be born on your birthday, Atair’s voice came out of the dark startling me. I was almost sure he was asleep.

My birthday is a few days away. It won’t take that long will it?

Sometimes it is really quick and somethings it takes a long time. This is her first so it may be a long time.

How do you know about babies?

I remember when you were born.

Ha! You were only two how could you remember?

Father went for the midwife, when he came back she made both of us leave. We went out to the pasture to check on the new lambs. When we got back you were born. The midwife said it was a fast birth because you were not the first. You were all read and ugly. Father started to cry when he saw you were a girl.

Now I know you made that up, Father doesn’t cry.

He did when he saw what an ugly girl you were at birth, bawling; red faced; wrinkled and angry like a little old man. You did not have any hair.

I sat up and punched him in the shoulder. You are making this up, Mother said I was a beautiful baby girl."

He laughed, Yes, so beautiful you made Father cry.

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that statement so I just punched Atair again. We started to wrestle around but he soon lost. He got tired so easily that I felt bad for him and stopped. I did manage to get some more sleep because the next thing I knew Father came through the door.

Atair joined us that day for breakfast in the common area. He managed to eat a full bowl of oatmeal then went back to the room. I moved over to the ladies side of the room. The men had all gathered on the other side laughing and slapping Mr. Kilkelly on the back. Mr. Kilkelly did not look very good. He had a hard time staying upright. I found out from the other ladies that the men had gotten him good and drunk. Every time he wanted to go see his wife someone would offer another toast.

Miss Agatha Smythe came down to teach her daily lesson. She soon discovered the condition of most of the men and left with her nose in the air.

The English must not celebrate the birth of a child, Duncan Sheridan said. He said something else in a low voice and all the men broke out into gales of laughter. Bessie McDonald started talking to Mrs. Ruddy. I sat very still because they were discussing the birth. Everything I know about babies I learned that day from the other women on board. It wasn’t until Mrs. Campbell saw me move that she realized I was absorbing every word they said and made me leave the room.

Mother came back late that night. She looked exhausted and quickly undressed and crawled into bed. Elspeth, all is well with the baby?

Yes. She has a fine son. It is a shame that Ian won’t know until tomorrow when he sobers up. You didn’t have anything to do with his getting drunk, did you Conn.

We kept him calm and away from you. How we did that is our concern. Just be thankful we didn’t let him barge in and start helping you. Mother made a rude noise then all was quiet. A boy! All the men today kept saying it was going to be a son. Did they know or were they just guessing? I fell asleep pondering the question.

Another storm started before daybreak. This one was not as violent as the first but we had to stay below decks anyway. It only lasted until supper. We ate twice a day. Father said if we ate more we would be fat as pigs by the time we arrived in America. I didn’t see how that would happen as just about every night there was dancing in the common area. They just slid all the tables and chairs to one side and people gathered in a circle to dance or sit about the tables on the edges and talked.

Carl and Jacob Shipman told us they were going to a place in the west and start farming. They were brothers from Sweden and were going to a place called Minnesota to join some people they knew to farm. Ya, they said, It is by a big lake so plenty of water for our livestock. Carl and I want to get a nice herd of milch cows.

Mathew Jansen said that his trip was paid by a farmer and that he signed a paper saying he would work for him for fifteen years as indentured. After the indenture he wanted to find his own place and do something called homestead. That was a word I didn’t understand. Not wanting to interrupt the adults while talking I stayed quiet. Father told me later that Mr. Jansen would be lucky to only have to work fifteen years. It meant the farmer owned him until he had paid off his ticket from Sweden to the farm and any other debts that came along.

The Irish men did not have jobs waiting for them like the others. They kept bragging how they were young and smart and would find work right away. That is what they said when they were all together. Sometimes on deck I would see one staring at the ocean with a very worried look. They mentioned a war in the south but laughed saying that was a long way from where we were going to land. It was America’s war and had nothing to do with them.

What about you Conn? What are you going to do when you reach the United States? one of them asked.

Father pulled a well-worn letter from his pocket, My brother, William and his wife, asked us to join them in a town named Gettysburg. Once we leave the ship we will continue to travel. William said there are so many trees that we can just pick a place and build our house. it will be hard work clearing the land. I will also help him with his farm until ours gets cleared and the house built. William has sheep and raises grain so there will be a lot for us to do. Gently he folded the paper back up and put it in his pocket.

William knows when we are to arrive and is to be waiting for us. He will take us to his farm from New York City. It will be good to see my older brother. We have never met his wife. He told us he has a fine son and a baby on the way. It has probably been born by now. It will be a good life.

Tis a fine tale you weave Conn Doles. Would there be room for a couple more hard working Scots to join you? asked Daniel Campbell.

You can ask him yourself, Daniel, when we get to New York City in the United States. That has a fine ring to it, doesn’t it?

We worked hard for our laird. My father and his father before him worked the same land and gave the best to the laird. Then the failure of the crops came, did the laird lower our tithe? No, he still wanted the same amount if not more. We tried wheat and rye. That didn’t make him as much money so he kicked us off without even a thank you for all our years. Father and Mother died of starvation in the poorhouse. George and I worked two years on the docks to save up enough money for passage. America is our dream, Daniel told us.

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CHAPTER 3

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A FEW DAYS LATER THE WEATHER was clear and bright and I could go up on deck with Father. Mother said that we could visit Mrs. Kilkelly and the baby later in the day. It was my birthday and I was torn between going on deck and seeing the baby. It I stayed on deck just a little while maybe I could do both. The air was fresh and clean like it had just been scrubbed.

The sailor that was on deck the day we saw the dolphins approached Father and me. Am I correct that today is you birthday? he asked me.

I nodded, I am eight years old today.

He looked at my father, "How about a tour of the SS Rose as a birthday present from all of us on the ship?F

I was so excited that I could barely stand still. I looked up at father to ask his permission. Oh, the things that I would be able to tell Atair!

We both would like to accept your offer.

The sailor looked at Father and Father raised an eyebrow. Yes, or course, both of you for a tour of the ship, he said hastily. I am on duty for another hour but would be glad to escort the both of you.

How about it, Brighde, would you like a tour for a birthday present? I could tell he was teasing me by the twinkle in his dark brown eyes.

Oh yes, yes please, I said.

Father gave the sailor a rather curious look. We shall meet you here in an hour and a half.

That will be fine. I look forward to showing the beautiful SS Rose to you. He turned and went on down the deck to resume his duties. We went back down to our cabin and Father explained about the tour to Mother. She said she would like to go except Atair was sick and she should stay with him.

Atair whispered to me, You must tell me all about the working of the ship when you get back. I gave him my promise and went out to the common room to let him get some rest. I was so excited that I could not sit still. Father finally took me up on deck because I was bothering the other people.

My sailor showed up, Mr Doles, thank you for waiting for me. My name is Oliver Breckinham and I am one of the stewards for your deck. He looked down at me, Are you ready?

Off we went on our adventure, Steward Breckinham followed by me and Father in the back. We started by going up to the top where the Captain steered the ship. We could not enter the wheel house but Steward Breckinham opened the door and we could look inside. There was a man standing beside a big wooden wheel. He had one hand on the wheel and the other was holding a cup. If I stretched my arms as wide as I couid I would not be able to touch the outsides of the wheel. He stared straight out the window at the shimmering sea. Just as Steward Breckinham started to shut the door the man turned his head and winked at me. We walked about the side of the wheel house and Father boosted me up to look in the window. I waved at the man that was steering and he smiled and winked at me again.

We then went to the front of the ship that was called the bow. All you could see was water and sky. The breeze that blew in my face had a salt, tangy taste. Steward Breckinham held me up so I could see over the railings. Just a few more days before we make port if this weather holds, he said. I turned from the front of the ship and could see two tall masts and a large chimney with black smoke bellowing out. We can run sail if we have to, he pointed at the masts. Most of the time we are under steam power from coal. That is going to be our next stop on the tour. Down, down and down we went past the first and second class decks and even lower than our deck to the bottom of the ship.

He opened a door and a blast of very hot air came out. I clapped my hands over my ears at the noise from that room. The heat made it hard to breathe and I tried to get out of my coat as quickly as possible. I stepped over the threshold and froze. I could not believe what I was seeing. How would I ever explain all of this to Atair?

Just a few feet from inside the door was a huge wheel with a belt that was wider than I could reach. Steward Breckinham grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me. I could see his mouth moving but could not hear a word he said. He shook his head no, so I knew I should not get close to the machine. He took my hand and Father took hold of the other. We slowly walked along the platform. His arm waved in the air pointing at various gears and wheels, all of the turning and clanking.

I saw huge pistons that were larger than Father, moving up and down. The belt ran the entire length of the room and caused the gears to move and shift. There was a large pile of coal that two men were shoveling into a furnace. The heat and clanging from the machines was almost unbearable. The poor men next to the furnace were bright