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Orphan Train Riders Letters - 1

                                                                     

Orphan Train: Letter-1

By Robert Noonan

 

Between the years 1854-1929 more than 200,000 homeless children left New York City to find new homes in the West and Southwest. Some children found loving homes; others did not. I am presenting a letter today and one each of the following Tuesdays. Being they are extremely hard to come by, I only have a few.

 

It was difficult for me to decide on which letter to post first; a happy one or one troubling. I decided on the latter to get the attention of you readers. The letters, in part, were without punctuations, proper grammar, capitals, etc. and were difficult to decipher. I did not make all the corrections, just enough so they were legible. I guess the girl who wrote this letter to be between the ages of twelve to fourteen.

 

 

                                                                           April 27, 1865

Dear Friend

            I received your kind letter and was very much pleased to hear from you.  I often think of you Mr. Tracy and would like to see you very much. I went and had my picture taken and will send one to you. They are not as good as I expected they would be. They look like me only the eyes did not take good for they were such a light blue. I cannot remember how you look. I have forgotten you Mr. Tracy.

            You said it would make you feel sad to hear of anything that I had done that was not just right. I hope that I never shall do anything that is not right. There is a great deal said that is not so. Everyone has their faults and I have mine. It is very sad to be alone in this world with no mother or father or any one to look to but strangers but I can look to the Lord Mr. Tracy and he will take care of me. I am not a Christian but I wish I was. I often think how happy I should be sometimes. I wish I were a Christian girl and could die and go to heaven and see my own mother, but the Lord is letting me live for some good purpose.

            It is very pleasant out here, everything is in blossom and smells nice and this is a pleasant world to live in. How does things look in the city, anything as they did when you took me by the hand and led me to …. I should like very much to come to the city and see how things look but I don’t suppose I ever shall.

            Ann lives in Rushville. I have not seen her in quite a while. There is a little girl that came out just before I did that lives a little way from me. Her name is Katie. We have some good talks together about the city. One of the girls that came out with me has gone back. I don’t think she aught to (have) gone back. She has more suffering there than she did here. I never wanted to go back to stay. I would rather live in the country. I guess you will think I have grown some in my picture . I will bring my letter to a close. 

   Write soon

        Yours Truly

             Patty