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N.H.F.W.P.#1801
Julia M. Sample Subject Living Lore
HERE WE CAN BE GLA
Chapter 3 7/-
t
For almost almost two years Kathrine worked in the mill at the same loom.
For her that loom soon became a personality. Its actions varied almost
as much as the New Hampshire weather. Days on end the threads would
snap, the woof seemed too thick for the warp or the woof would snarl
and then break,the warp too tight and uwilding. Sometimes a nut would
drop and a bolt loosen or a heddle break. Always a little trouble
here and a little trouble there. But there were days when the warp
and the woof and the loom all worked in harmony. Those were the days
when Katherine would bum a little tune under her breath and think.
Think about America,think about the Polish people in Manchester. Every
week someone new arrived. They said the men came to look the girls
over. Well, the girls looked them over too. Altho they no longer
had their parents to advise them nor arrange a marriage, still they
not
felt the step must be taken without some thought. It was difficult
A
to judge these men. They were so courageous, so boastful in their
talk, so virile and pursuant. All had adventures to relatetall talked
of the fortunes they would make. Some planned to go back to Poland,
at least for a visit and thus vindicate their comung to America. They
would show the world.at large and their families in particular what
wonders they were. The majority planned to establish themselves right
here, on farms or in business. Much talk,wild talk went on. 'he 'men
too had adventures to relate hut they were careful not t4 utboast the
men. Their plans took the fora of establishing a home and bringing
little Polish -Americans into the world. Katherine thinks how wonder-
ful it would be to have a place all their own, just two of them! Even
had
if only one room, that would be more than theyAever had in Poland and
it would be theirs. In her mind she checks over the men,until she comes
Chapter 3
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HERE WE CAN BE GLAD
TO Jan. Ah, there was one! Nothing stumped him! On board ship he
had all his belongings stole4rom him. With just the clothing on his
back, he dismisses the loss with a wave of his hand. Immediately he
makes himself a job, he helps the deck hands unload the boats. Over
a glass of beer,some one offers a home. In a short time he has saved
money. One day he hears about the big mills at Lowell, Massachusetts.
Jan knows all the processes of weaving. He would like a job there. Has
he enough money to go to Lowell? No, but he's a jolly good fellow and
the dock hands make up the difference. With a laugh he tells about
being turned down at the mill and then about how he kielped a fellow
get a load on a wagon and through this fellow he learns the ropes and
lands a job. Now he is in Manchester and life is one big adventure.
He has made no secret of the fact that he is looking for a girl to
marry, he wants a woman. Katherine knows he has taken a fancy to her.
Should she marry him? After all it is difficult, She knows nothing
about him nor the others, only what they choose to tell about themselves.
He, Jan comes from the Warsaw district and she comes from Galicia. She
is much less experienced than he.554-Meanwhile she is gathering together
bit by bit,household linens. With infinite care she embroideries
towels,pillow-cases and doilies. She uses the bright peasant colors
and always thinks how glad she will be to use them for her and her man.
Last night she couldn't see as well as usual. Thaddeus' wife said
km•'vrs
"Work all time. Work too much." But Katherine he wasn't as quick to
see a broken thread as formally. Only yesterday the boss had spoken
sharply to her. She answered by brushing her hand across her eyes and
high
looking up at the ceiling,with its light so far away. "Too far, no
A
good. No can see, Window too far." Soon after this episode she was
put near a window. At home they told her."Everyone work in mill have
glasses by and by." So by and by she too had glasses. But now she was
Chapter 3 HERE WE CAN BE GLAD
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working her lovely embroideries and crocheting edges for curtains,
virttC._
some day she laami4r-crochet a bedspread but not MAK just yet. "Too
much money now, save for wedding. By and by make."
She
Katherine was still proud of her job in the mill. XXIMMIFTUM liked
to smile and laugh and sing a little. The girls were rather unfriendly
and the French girl next to her didn't like to see her happy. This
girl would make remarks in French to the others and they would look at
her and laugh. Katherine knew Polish and German and spoke and under-
stood a little English but Freiich she did not know. One dayttacial
her
MKt trippedend to this day her little finger is stiff where it was
broken. Another day she knocked against Katherine while she was eating
her lunch and down it went. "Polander, Polander, eight eigh,eigh, Po-
lander!" Poor Katherine had no lunch that day. With dignity she ab-
stained from doing what they would have done--eatkk from the floor.
She thinks,"It will be good to have man. Will not laugh when have man."
One Sunday Katherine hears her name and Jan's read in church.
That witOin three weeks they intend to marry. The women kiss her
and the men touch WORMXIMMEDGM their cheek to Jan's. Another wed-
ding! How glad everyone 1KK is! They nod their heads, another home
in America!