Orphan Train

Niamh sews in the Byrnes’ home business all day, just like an adult. She works alongside four other women—Bernice, Joan, Sally, Fanny—and one other young girl, Mary, making clothing. The women are friendly and kind, except for Mary. Mary is angry with Niamh/Dorothy.

When Fanny takes Niamh/Dorothy to the outdoor privy, because none of them are allowed to use the indoor bathroom, Fanny gives her an apple. Dorothy hasn’t eaten all day, and the Byrnes didn’t offer her any food.

Mrs. Byrne lays out the house rules at dinner on the first night: Dorothy is to help with dishes and laundry in addition to her sewing chores, and she sleeps on the hallway floor on a pallet that she must store during the day in the closet under the stairs. After dinner, the couple goes upstairs, leaving her to clean up. They put a padlock on the refrigerator between meals.

Vivian has good intentions about sorting out her attic, but she cannot bear to part with much of her past. Molly finds herself simply organizing and re-boxing most of Vivian’s things, even damaged and worn clothing. About two weeks into the work now, they reach a box containing a copy of the novel Anne of Green Gables, which Vivian says a favorite teacher gave her. She gives the book to Molly; the moment is emotional for Molly, because so few people have given her anything that she actually likes.

As they work, Vivian asks Molly about her past, specifically if she has tried to find her mother. Vivian is clearly interested in getting to know Molly. Molly answers that she doesn’t ever intend to look for her mother. Vivian has observed a lot about Molly: she loves to read, and she is very angry about her mother.

Later, with Jack, Molly complains that Vivian’s questions are intrusive. She just wants to get through the project as quickly as possible with a minimum of stress. Jack encourages Molly to ask Vivian questions, instead, and interjects that Vivian might be lonely and need someone to talk to. Molly scoffs at the time, but she takes Jack’s ideas to heart.

Molly arrives unexpectedly at Vivian’s house on a day she has off from school. Terry, Jack’s mother, isn’t happy to see her, and she lets Molly know that she still doesn’t trust her. Terry cannot see that they are making any progress with the attic, and Molly feels defensive because she cannot get Vivian to let go of much stuff.

She reads Anne of Green Gables while she waits for Vivian to get up and be ready to work. When Vivian comes downstairs, she is happy to see Molly.

On Monday morning, Dorothy gets up early and gets herself ready for school. She asks the Byrnes at breakfast how to get to school and what time it starts. The Byrnes make excuses to not send her to school, and Mrs. Byrne calls her “insolent” (96) when she tries to tell them how much she wants to go. They never send her to school.

Dorothy works hard at her sewing, and she thinks she is improving. She tries hard to do whatever is asked of her. However, Mary complains about her behavior and attitude, and Mrs. Byrne threatens to send her back to the Children’s Aid Society if she doesn’t improve.

Mrs. Byrne reluctantly buys Dorothy some new clothes, including a winter coat. That night at dinner she asks about Dorothy’s necklace—the Claddagh cross. She says that she wants to take it away, because it looks pagan. Dorothy explains that it’s the only thing she has from her grandmother, and she also explains the meaning of the symbols: the clasped hands represent friendship; the heart represents love; and the crown represents loyalty.

When the stock market crashes at the end of October 1929 and the economy worsens, the situation with the Byrne household becomes tenuous. The Byrnes lose all their money in the stock market crash and soon there is little food to eat. For Christmas, Fanny knits Dorothy a warm pair of mittens. The only sense of family Dorothy has is with the women in the sewing room. The Byrnes are forced to let many of their workers go.

Eventually the Byrnes decide that they cannot afford to feed Dorothy. Without any warning, Mr. Sorenson from the Children’s Aid Society arrives to take Dorothy to her new family. It is April. The Grote family, who live on a farm in the country, has four children with one more on the way; they need a mother’s helper.

Gerald and Wilma Grote’s household is unkempt and in a terrible state of repair. The house has no furniture; there is a hole where the doorknob should be on the front door. The children are barefoot and have no winter clothing. Mrs. Grote doesn’t appear to know that Dorothy is to be part of their household, and she doesn’t seem to care.

Mr. Sorenson performs one act of kindness: he forces Mr. and Mrs. Grote to agree to send Dorothy to school. He has arranged a ride for her to and from school, and the school is expecting her.

Dorothy is in a desperate situation. Neither of the adults takes care of the children. Mrs. Grote is ill and sleeps all the time, while Mr. Grote schemes for the family to live off the land. He hunts squirrels and other small game for food; he keeps a goat and some chickens. He has a vegetable garden. Mr. Grote hates the government and sees no use for education.

Regardless of his views, Mr. Grote wakes Dorothy up on Monday morning so she can get ready for school. She cleans herself the best she can to get ready for school. There is no running water or electricity in the house.

Dorothy loves school, her teacher—Miss Larsen—treats her with kindness and gives her Anne of Green Gables to read. The other children in the school are from rural families, and Dorothy fits right in.

Mr. Grote grows wild rice and hunts for game; he teaches Dorothy how to cook a stew made of root vegetables dug out of the garden and squirrel meat. On Dorothy’s birthday, Miss Larsen brings her a cake.