Wildflower Girl (Children of the Famine)

by Marita Conlon-McKenna

  A vision of her great-aunt beating the parlour carpet as it hung over the washing line fell like a shadow over her. Blow the cobwebs away – that’s what Nano would say.

  ‘Hurry up, lass, it’s time to get back down again.’

  Peggy slowly emptied the bucket and stood looking around the ship. Her ears picked up the cackling of the captain’s hens in their large wicker case.

  ‘Those old hens are better treated than ourselves,’ she muttered.

  The sailor who was leading her back to the hatch snapped, ‘That may be, my dear, but one of those feathered chickens will have its neck wrung by midday.’

  ‘Birds cooped up in a cage, just like us,’ said Peggy.

  The sailor pushed the man behind her who stumbled towards the steps. The crew had strict instructions not to let anyone dally up on top, as the captain lived in fear of the passengers protesting at their treatment.

  It took a few minutes for Peggy to get used to the gloom down below in steerage after the bright sunlight. There was a dreadful stench. Then she blinked and took a deep breath. She went over and bent down close to Nell Molloy.

  ‘Are you all right, Nell?’

  ‘Any land yet, pet?’ croaked the woman.

  Peggy shook her head. She went down to the water barrel and brought a tin mugful back to the patient.

  ‘Come up here and give your mother a rest,’ she said to the children and patted the bunk.

  All the children were getting fractious. Down at the other end of the deck ten or more spindly little tots were playing hide-and-seek.

  ‘Think of your mother,’ whispered Peggy.

  She got her Bible out from under her shawl and opened it. The favourite story was from the Book of Genesis. Peggy smiled as she began to read about Noah’s Ark. Some of the words were too difficult for her, but she skipped over them. She knew the story so well. The children’s mouths opened in awe at the bravery of Noah and his family, and they tried to imagine all those animals too. Little Nellie wondered if it was as crowded or smelly on the ark as it was on The Fortunata. They all loved the part when the dove brought back an olive branch.

  ‘Will the captain send out a dove to see if we’re in America?’ asked Nellie, enchanted with the idea.

  An hour later the smell of cooking wafted down from above. At least the captain would provide some rations today. Peggy was down to her last few pieces of oatcake which were now hardened and dirty. Some of the men and women brightened up, stretched and began to walk up and down for exercise before their only meal of the day was served.

  Peggy left the children and crossed to the row of bunks on the other side. Sarah Connolly was still fast asleep. Her black curls clung damply to her cheeks and Peggy noticed how long her black eyelashes were.

  ‘Sarah, it’s me,’ whispered Peggy, hoping that Sarah wasn’t beginning to get cabin fever like so many of the others. Sarah yawned, grinned at Peggy and got up. Then they too walked back and forth, making all kinds of plans for when they got to America.

  CHAPTER 9

  America

  ‘LAND AHEAD!’ THE SHOUT went up. Seagull cries filled the air. The sailors, who had been sullen and hostile, now began to whistle and seemed more relaxed. No matter how wretched and worn out they were, journey’s end was in sight. An extra meaty stew was served and a full water barrel brought down below.

  Peggy was nervous with excitement, but she couldn’t help but worry about Nell. Nell continued to refuse food and when Peggy dampened a cloth to wipe her hands and face she could feel how high her temperature was. Little Tim was whingey and cranky and wouldn’t let Peggy coax him to play. He lay near his mother, content to be still and quiet.

  The next morning, much to everyone’s surprise, the captain came half-way down the steps of steerage. A bell clanged for attention, and a hush descended, broken only by a baby squalling. Eager eyes turned towards the captain.

  ‘As you may have guessed, we are in American waters at the moment and later today will arrive at the east coast of America and our destination, the port of Boston. We have had a good passage.’ A mumble of dissent floated in the air. He continued: ‘Before our arrival there are certain things to be done. It is likely that a doctor or medical committee may come on board to inspect all passengers and judge if they are fit for entry. Bedding and so on must be cleaned up and everything must be in order and ship-shape.’ As quick as a wink he turned and disappeared up on deck before a hundred questions could be asked.

  Once the hatch shut a strange silence fell on all below. Peggy’s eyes welled up with tears, she felt so happy and yet so anxious. Sarah was just the same. What would happen to Nell and little Tim, Peggy wondered. No one could look at the sick and ailing who lay in their bunks and face the questions in their eyes. Would they be sent all the way back?

  An hour later the hatch opened and six sailors came down. They dragged the old straw off the bunks, scattered the deck with dry sand, then one of them swept the filthy floor with a large brush. The festering straw and dirt were shovelled into old sacks and lugged up on deck. Two more sailors came down and began to pull the mouldy dirt-covered blankets from the bunks. Two or three old women tried vainly to grab their blankets and wrap them around themselves.

  ‘You won’t get this, you thief,’ screamed one as the sailor none-too-gently unrolled her from it.

  The blankets were tied with hanks of rope and brought up on top too. Peggy managed to run quickly up the steps just in time to see the sailors catch the sacks and fling them out to sea. Then they kicked the bundles of blankets over. The dirt from the blankets began to spread in the water and then, as they filled up and got heavier, they began to sink under the foam like giant purple jellyfish.

  Later, buckets and scrubbing brushes and large tablets of soap were sent below and the women began to scrub the tables and floor. The hatch was left open and the breeze did its best to blow the smell of sickness and staleness away. The women’s eyes were red with shame and anger. They scrubbed with ferocity and temper and let the crude heavy soap wash their dirty hands and arms. A few of them threw the harsh soapy water on their faces and quickly dried themselves on their shawls. They felt hurt and resentful, thinking of all the times they had begged for soap and water for washing, especially after the storm and sickness, and had been refused.

  Peggy felt a burning rage within her. Although busy, she cursed the captain and his crew for this outrage committed against her people. She filled two tin mugs with the scalding water and called the young Molloys over to her. Sarah laughed at her as with a bit of torn rag she tried furiously to scrub the grime and dirt off their young faces and hands.

  ‘Stay still,’ she shouted as they squirmed and squealed like young piglets. She felt it was the least she could do for Nell and her family.

  Up on top you could definitely see the coastline with its sweeping curves and bays bathed in a beautiful golden sunshine. Whether down below or up above, everyone sat quiet and still as they sailed nearer and nearer. They had actually managed to make it all the way from Ireland to America! And then came a sudden jolt after the captain had ordered, ‘Drop anchor.’

  Why had they stopped? No one seemed to know. They noticed a large boat rowing out to them. It kept coming until it reached the side of The Fortunata. Three people climbed up the ladder and boarded the ship. Down below in her bunk Peggy could hear the hum of conversation as they walked all around the upper deck. Then Bill Harvey came down the steps.

  ‘Now, a bit of hush, please. We have visitors – a doctor, a nursing sister and an official from Boston Port Authority, so the captain asks you to co-operate with them as we all want to get landed as soon as possible.’

  Peggy felt scared. Sometimes in the last few weeks she had been dizzy and light-headed and she felt her heart thumping in her chest and a shortness of breath. What if they detected it too?

  Some of the men looked nonchalant while the women looked scared. They whispered to the children and pinched their cheeks to give them a bit
of colour.

  They formed lines and made their way to the tables where they took it in turn to sit down opposite the nurse. The doctor sat at the far end of the table and examined those the nurse passed on to him.

  The official walked around the bunks with Bill Harvey, looking at anyone who was bedridden. Peggy stood nervously beside Nell and her family at their bunk. Tim had fallen into a heavy sleep, but nothing could hide how white and listless he was. Peggy and Mary had done their best to brush and plait Nell’s hair and tidy her up. She was pale and clammy to touch. The official noted the invalid and child in the bunk awaiting the doctor’s attention. Bill motioned to Peggy to get in line with the rest.

  ‘Name?’ asked the nurse.

  ‘Peggy O’Driscoll,’ gulped Peggy.

  ‘Age, and alone or accompanied?’

  What should she say? Sarah reckoned that the families of those who were sick would not be let land. If she said she was with Nell, would they send her back to Ireland? But if she was too young would she be let in?

  ‘I … I’m thirteen years of age and I am, I suppose, on my own,’ answered Peggy, hoping she’d said the right thing.

  The nurse began to prod her all over. ‘Any cough, any sweating or fever?’

  Peggy shook her head and prayed to God the nurse wouldn’t feel her heart jumping wildly. The nurse seemed satisfied. However the doctor called her towards him. He looked at her eyes and her throat and felt her neck and then he listened to her heart. Peggy tried to slow down her breathing. She looked at his eyes, waiting for the worst.

  ‘Well, young lady, nothing the matter that fresh air and a bit of good food won’t put to rights. Good luck and find your fortune.’

  Peggy ran over and climbed up on Sarah’s bunk. They hugged each other.

  ‘I’m fine, Sarah,’ laughed Peggy.

  ‘Me too,’ smiled Sarah, ‘but he said I’m not to do much heavy work.’

  ‘What about the Molloys?’ murmured Peggy. She felt guilty about denying that she was with them. She and Sarah glanced over to the other side of the ship. The doctor and official were busy discussing the patient and her child. As soon as they moved off, Peggy ran over. Nell’s eyes were closed and she was totally worn out with the effort of trying to appear well.

  ‘Peggy, we have to go to an island with a special hospital place for a few weeks till Mammy’s better. All of us together. I think it’s like a workhouse.’ Mary’s eyes were round with alarm.

  Peggy bent down and sat on the wooden edge beside her.

  ‘Did they say it’s a workhouse, Mary?’

  ‘No, not for sure.’

  ‘Well, then, it’s not the workhouse. It’s a place to make your Mam and brother better and help look after you all. Isn’t it a lot better than being sent straight back home on the boat like some we’ve heard of,’ said Peggy comfortingly. ‘You’ll still be in America.’ Peggy tried to hide her own dismay at the thought of being separated from such a good, kind family. She would miss them so much.

  The next few hours passed in a frenzy of excitement and nerves. The hatch remained firmly closed. They felt like animals on the way to the market to be sold. Then suddenly the daylight flooded in and the sick began to walk or be lifted up on deck to leave for the hospital on Deer Island.

  ‘Oh, Nell, will you be all right?’

  ‘Peggy, don’t be fretting. There’s life in the old dog yet! The only thing I’m worried about is himself. Will you find him and tell him what’s happened and where we are?’ begged Nell.

  ‘I’ll find him. Don’t worry, Nell.’

  Peggy hugged her and then she kissed Mary, Tom, Tim and little Nell in turn.

  A silence descended on the whole of steerage as the sick were taken off. Then the ship began to move again. Peggy sat listlessly over the empty bunk. In an hour she would be gone from this ship. It was hard to believe that in another two months another girl might sit here, setting sail too for America.

  ‘Boston! America!’ a shout went up.

  Peggy joined the mad scramble and pushed her way up on deck to get a good view of their new home. They sailed slowly into the East Bay. All around them ships shoved their way in and out of the busy crowded harbour. The magnificent city of Boston lay spread out in front of them.

  ‘We made it,’ laughed Sarah. ‘Peggy, can you believe it! Isn’t it beautiful? Look at those buildings and all the ships.’

  Compared to Queenstown it was enormous. All the harbours and bays jutted out into the ocean, and they could see huge long streets flanked by tall stone buildings. There were fine houses in every direction. The dots in the distance got nearer and nearer – soon Peggy could read the names on the buildings and see the bonnets and shawls the women wore.

  She took out her counting straws. Slowly she unclenched her fist – and forty pieces of broken straw caught the wind and blew out over the water. In a few seconds they had disappeared.

  The Fortunata was getting ready to dock. On one side were large warehouses. Crates and boxes were stacked neatly outside them and gangs of dockers moved these from place to place. Two or three other large ships which were being boarded lay nearby. The Fortunata finally managed to find a space, and Peggy and the others tried to keep out of the sailors’ way as they cast ropes to the waiting hands on the wharf.

  In next to no time the gangplank had been set across and one by one the passengers began to leave the ship. Peggy hoped that she would never put a foot on The Fortunata or any ship like it for the rest of her life.

  CHAPTER 10

  First Foot Forward

  CARRYING THEIR BUNDLES, Peggy and Sarah took a few wobbly steps away from the ship. A small cheer went up for everyone who disembarked as they put their feet on solid American soil for the first time. A crowd of people stood on the wharf waiting to welcome the arrivals. Such hugging and crying and joking! Peggy envied those who had someone to meet them and welcome them.

  Young fellows of nine or ten ran in and out among the crowd pretending to give a hand with luggage, but trying in the process to lead people towards a particular boarding house. These were the runners, sent out to get new customers whenever a ship landed. Peggy had been well warned about them and kept a tight grip on her bag and bundle. The whole quayside was covered with trunks and boxes, all being guarded by the new arrivals. Peggy’s eyes were blinded by all that was going on and kept being lured by the large buildings in the distance and the busy streets. She had to force herself to scan the crowds to try and spot Daniel Molloy.

  The ship had emptied and now the sailors were going ashore. She noticed a man who made his way to the gangplank. He looked so worried. He was smaller than Nell had described. His cheeks were ruddy and he wore a shabby-looking tweed suit with a clean white shirt. He paced up and down, searching for someone. Peggy left Sarah and made her way towards him. She pulled at his jacket and he turned to her.

  ‘Mr Molloy, is it?’

  ‘Yes, lassie. Can I help you?’ he asked, looking totally puzzled.

  ‘No, Mr Molloy. But I’ve a message for you from Mrs Molloy.’

  ‘The Mrs! You’ve a message from herself! Where in heaven’s name is she and all my dotes?’

  ‘She’s safe, but herself and Tim were sick so they all had to get off a few hours before us and go to the hospital on Deer Island instead. Lots of passengers went.’ Peggy’s eyes took in the fear and anxiety in his face. ‘Honest, Mr Molloy, she’s been sick with fever, but they’ve doctors there to look after them.’

  Dan Molloy’s cheerful smile had crumpled in dismay and he took a dirty-looking hanky from his pocket and blew his nose.

  ‘You’re the grand girl to seek me out, lassie, and I’m grateful for it as the last half hour I’ve been near mad with worrying about them all.’

  Peggy nodded, understanding his disappointment.

  ‘I’m Peggy O’Driscoll from Castletaggart and Mary and I went to the same school and I’ve shared the whole journey with Mrs Molloy and all of them. She took good care of me and I
’m lucky to have such friends.’

  There and then Dan Molloy hugged her.

  ‘Isn’t it lovely after two years to meet a friend from the old home! I’m settled the far side of Boston and work in a big timberyard and have lodgings in a street nearby.’ He stopped. ‘Have you a place to stay or anyone to stay with?’

  Peggy made a quick decision. Dan Molloy was a good man, but he had enough to worry about with Nell and the children. She had a little money and anyway Sarah was waiting for her.

  ‘It’s all right, Mr Molloy, but thanks for asking anyway. My friend Sarah and I are going to get somewhere together.’

  He clasped her hand warmly and told her his address quickly before he moved off to find someone who could tell him how to get to Deer Island.

  Peggy ran back to Sarah who was busy trying to wrench a battered suitcase from a snotty-nosed brat. Once her brother John came into view the kid ran off.

  Peggy suddenly felt lonely and tired and a lot like crying. She sat on her bundle. John and James were going to lodge in a place for working men and were trying to sort out something for their younger sister and for Peggy. John picked up the case and Peggy’s bundle and led them towards a crowd clustering around a large woman who had positioned herself in front of a small ‘baccy’ shop. She was sitting on some kind of fold-up chair and a placard lay resting under the window sill announcing her identity: Mrs Margaret Halligan, landlady and proprietor of the Shamrock Agency for the Employment of Young Ladies. In brackets underneath ‘Just like a mother’ was proclaimed in green writing. Four girls from the ship stood to one side of her. James led Sarah and Peggy over. He took one of the woman’s cards, read it and put it in his pocket.

  ‘What do you think, Peggy?’ asked Sarah.