Father's Progress [original page 27] [O]n a day before Father's leaving, I thought it important enough not to attend Chader and [stayed home to be] within sight and hearing of our soon-to-depart Father. In our once-active, noisy, all-purpose room where we dined, slept, entertained, and conducted business, all was now at a standstill. Seated at a very long picnic-like table on benches, Mother and Father were facing each other. Their expressions were serious. They spoke softly, slowly, in whispering tones. At one end of the table were two small bundles packed the day before, one of which contained his entire wardrobe. The other contained mostly dried kosher food and his personal religious items, so important to him.
I sat on the opposite side of the room on the wooden cover of a box-like bed that was also used as a table to serve tea and lunch to the peasants. My eyes were focused and my ears intent on hearing. [Father] was about to break away from his young attractive wife, aged twenty-eight, and his five children, with one on the way. [He also would be leaving behind] his own parents, two sisters, and a brother, all of whom he most likely would never see again. To give up his established business and the peaceful life of a small village for a new venture was also no easy task....
The excitement of the day awakened me early the next morning. Father was standing in front of our small side window, reciting his morning prayers. Mother was seated at almost the same place [where] she had been the day before. On the table was a dish of leftover vetchary... from the night before. I did not see Father eat any of it -- nor did I see Mother eat anything all that day...
In due time, the Balegola arrived. Mother and Father held hands. There was an air of tenseness in the room and silent tears in the eyes of both, [even] without caresses, kisses, or any delicate display of love. [There were j]ust one at two of us children, watching in bewilderment. Father climbed onto the hard board seat to sit with the driver, overlooking the comforts of sitting on the straw in the wagon[bed]. We watched them as they crossed the wooden bridge and, little by little, disappeared in the distance ...
Father Arrives in America
Anxious days and weeks passed after Father's departure without a word from him. It took many weeks for, a letter or card to arrive at our village, and when one did arrive we all were jubilant. Our suspense was quieted: He had crossed the ocean safely, as we had prayed he would. He now was in St. Paul... staying with our Uncle Affroyem and Aunt Sora Eta Blehert, who owned a large house.
[original page 28] With that uncle's assistance, Father found employment in a junk shop just a few days after his arrival. Starting salary was $14.00 for a six-day week of eleven hours a day. We regularly received a good portion of his salary and were able to live with all the known comforts of the village.
With the news of his safe arrival, Mother became more relaxed every day, and the adjustment to his departure became a new episode in her life. The rattling of the wool-processing machine and its dirt in our living quarters were now eliminated. That monstrosity was now partially hidden. Mother no longer had to entertain the vulgar peasants with tea and salted herring so they would bring us more business, and for a while she would be relieved of childbearing.
