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Orphan Trains: Letter-3

By Robert Noonan

This third letter is by a girl who seemed to have a difficult time fitting in. Was she incompetent, or did she feel inferior because of constant browbeating? No homeless child knew what kind of life they would find out West. Most children found permanent homes, while others were bounced about to different homes doing menial work. A child could be on their own when they reached the age of eighteen. Some were forced out and others could remain.

Again, these letters are as the children wrote them.

                                                                                        April 3, 1878

Mr. Tracy

            I received your kind letter almost a week ago but have neglected to answer it until now.  I have not lived at Mollars for two years.  I was not satisfied and they were not satisfied with me.  I have live(ed) only three places since I left.  Where I am living now I have been a year and went to school last winter and worked for my board and home. 

            Started this Spring on the same condition.  I am living with a couple of old people.  The woman is partially blind and most of the work is dependant on me.  But I can’t suit her.  I have tried my best.  I will never suit anyone.  I am eighteen and when any one eighteen is told they are so careless they worry them to death I think they are almost worthless and that is just what I am.  I am entirely discouraged and only wish I had parents as relations where I had some rights to stay bother or no bother.  I wish you would tell me where I was found when I was taken to the home.  I do want to know my history so bad.  I have no one here who cares whether I live or die.

            I feel so bad I can’t write, so please excuse this nonsense.  I have written very poor.  Your writing is commented on a great deal by everyone who has seen it.  It is so pretty.  Please answer soon and oblige one in trouble.

                Ellen

 Next Saturday will be my final posting of Orphan Train Letters. Of the 200,000 plus children who rode those trains between 1854 and 1929, each is another story. In my trilogy; Wildflowers, Bridie’s Daughter and Secrets, I did not dwell on the cruel aspects of this history, though there is some. I concentrated on how the lives of the children and the adults were changed by the adoption. It is an emotional story about family love and friendship, tragedy, romance, murder and intrigue and an abundance of humor. It is a portion of our history that should not be forgotten

Robert Noonan