Orphan Trains

this was on the gen mass list tought it might be of interest and show what we are dealing with

Subj: Re: [GM-L] "British Convicts" to "America" - 50,000 in 1700's
Date: 9/4/2004 12:29:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

To: [email protected]

This posting regarding Orphan Trains reminded me of what my mother once
related to me. An uncle of hers, in Northern Maine, "adopted" such a child.
This is how she described the event: A group of orphans from the Boston
area came by train and were deposited with the parish priest. Sunday
morning, after mass, they were lined up in front of the communion rail and
anyone who wished to provide a home for them could come up and take their
pick. My Mom's uncle and aunt, who were childless, selected a boy of about
8 or 9 by the name of Jim Foley. My mom could not recall the circumstances
which led him to be orphaned, but did recall how lonely he was. The trauma
was further magnified as this was a French speaking community, a language
poor Jim had never heard. On one occasion, my grandfather (Mom's Dad) came
upon Jim by the side of a brook, intently listening to ducks quacking.
Grandpa, who could speak English, asked Jim what he was doing and his
response was that he was hoping, by listening to the ducks, he could learn
how to speak French! He eventually learned the language and stayed with the
family until grown and in spite of his early childhood experiences, went on
to become a well adjusted adult with a family of his own.....

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