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It's really happening
Time seemed to fly for Seamus in the days after Father Kennedy had blessed his father's new gravestone in Old Dromod Cemetery. He was often gone for large parts of the day. But Margaret was not worried about him. She knew that he was taking this time to have one last look at the places that had meant so much to Seamus during the sixteen years of his young life. She knew the most every day he first went to Old Dromod Cemetery to tend to his father's grave. He told her that he needed to talk to his father and to pray for the strength that he needed, not only get through these days, but to truly prepare to build a new life for himself in America. Seamus was glad that he had this time for himself before March 28th, the day that would mean leaving his home in the Valley of Cummeragh forever.
Three weeks before Easter, the reality of it all seemed to punch Seamus in his stomach as his mother announced to him one morning as he came down for breakfast.
"Seamus, today we must go to Queenstown and make arrangements for your journey. After the rest of them are off to school, Constable Ryan has offered to take us to the Customs House and the While Star Office."
"Ok, Ma, ok. But, Martin and Yvonne and the rest of them have to come too. I feel bad that I am leaving them behind."
"Now, Seamus, do you think that your mother is not going to take care of them? You have been a blessing to me and to your brothers and sisters, but you cannot worry about t hem now. I know that you've put yourself in God's merciful hands and so you must put them in God's merciful hands too. You know that He loves them just like He loves you."
"Ma, please! I know all of that, but I love them too and I just think that maybe they would not feel so bad if they saw where I was going and saw the port at Queenstown and the Customs House and all of that. Remember what you said at Pa's grave after Father Kennedy blessed the gravestone?
Margaret frowned. These days she seemed barely to be able to remember what she had said just a moment before and what she needed to do in an hour's time.
"What did I say? I can't seem to remember anything these days!"
"Ma, you said that no matter what, we were a family. Well, Martin and Yvonne and Paul and Breda and Tomas are part of this family, just like me. And pretty soon they are maybe even going to be more of your family than me. Ma, they have to come with us to Queenstown. Please!"
Margaret looked at her son, amazed to hear such words out of his young mouth. Where did he get it? How could he be thinking this way? Amazed at these words that seemed to come from the depths of his heart, she finally said,
"Ok, Seamus, you've convinced me. Maybe you're right. Maybe they will feel better when they see the places where you will be and then they will know that you will be all right. Your dear father missed the chance to say good-bye to them before he died. You're right. You have to say good-bye to them too. Now I just hope that Constable Ryan does not mind the extra passengers in his carriage!"
"Ma. I'm sure he won't mind. Well, maybe, I hope he won't mind. Anyway, it's done. They are coming with us. That's final!"
"Well, then, we have to get them moving. You know that sometimes Tomas is pretty slow getting going in the morning."
"I know, Ma, but he only six you know. He'll be ok. I'll go upstairs now and get them up and ready."
With that Seamus ran upstairs and starting yelling,
"Get up everybody! Get up! We're off to Queenstown in a little bit! You're all coming too. Get up!
Seamus headed back to his mother downstairs and went out to take care of his needs. Soon enough his brothers and sisters came rushing downstairs.
"Mama, Mama," Breda asked, "What did Seamus say?"
"We have to go to Queenstown today so that he can get ready for his trip and you are coming with us. Go get the rest of them downstairs right now. We haven't a moment to waste"
With great excitement Breda almost flew upstairs and cried out, "Queenstown! We're going to Queenstown with Seamus! We have to get ready."
Seamus came in from the outdoor facilities just as they all seemed to rush by him as one giant horde.
"What's with them, Ma?"
"As if you don't know! Really! Wash your hands now."
Seamus rolled his eyes and thankfully his mother did not see his mock her in this way. He silently went over to the sink and washed his hands. When his brothers and sisters came in he helped them wash their hands and then they sat down to a meal of fresh McCann's Oatmeal Mush. Just as they were finishing the meal, the could hear a horse coming down the road and Paul ran to the door and looked out and saw Constable Ryan coming towards their house. He watched as the constable hitched his horse to the fence and almost slammed the door in the constable's face as he turned to yell at his family,
"The constable is here!"
Margaret, worried that Constable Ryan might be offended by having the door slammed in his face chastised him for closing the door so quickly and with a smile on her face, said,
"Well then, be polite now. Open the door for the constable! Let him in!"
Paul opened the door just as Constable Ryan was ready to knock on the door.
Like a little gentleman, Paul said.
"Come in sir! We're going with you to Queenstown with my new 'merican brother Seamus!"
"Ah, you are now, are you?"
He looked over at Margaret would said,
"Well, Constable, my son Seamus here said that he wanted his brothers and sisters to see where he was going to be going on the 28th. He thought that they might enjoy the trip and not be so sad. I hope that this is all right. Do you mind? They can still go to school if you prefer.
As if given a signal, they call cried out at once,
"Ma, we want to go to Queenstown with Seamus!"
Seamus blushes and the constable smiled as he gently said,
"I think it is a grand idea! But we have to get going in just ten minutes. Get ready!"
Margaret asked him,
"Constable, would you be liking a cup of tea while they get their coats and hats?"
"No, Margaret, I'll be fine. Thanks much, though. You're very kind."
With Seamus' help, Margaret cleared the table and rinsed the dishes, but instead of trying to wash them, she just set them aside in a neat stack on the counter. She took off her apron and as she went outside she said,
"Just a moment, please. I'll be right back."
With a speed that amazed Margaret, her family was back downstairs and ready to go in record time.
"I just wish that the lot of you would be this fast getting for school! Wash your hands all of you!"
Seamus smiled at his mother's recurring admonition about washing hands. He dared to think that pretty soon he would not have to hear this again, but instead of being relieved, a sorrow welled up and he began to cry. Not wanting anyone to see him, he rushed out the door and headed towards the constable's carriage. Even though he heard his mother call out to him, he ignored her and just fussed, hoping that nobody would notice his reddened eyes when they came outside.
Before long Seamus' family all come out and he tried to put on a brave front and say,
"Ok! Let's get going! Queenstown is a ways away! Times a wasting! Come on!"
Seamus helped his brothers and sisters into the back of the carriage and then came over to help his mother into the front seat where she would sit with Constable Ryan. His mother thought she saw tears in his eyes, but she said nothing. This day was going to be hard for Seamus and for all of them. Why make it any worse for them, she wondered.
When Seamus climbed into the back of the carriage the constable hooked the rear shut, unhitched the horse, and jumped onto the driver's seat. And so began the journey that would mean Seamus was really leaving them. Once he had passage on the Olympic, Seamus' brothers and sisters knew that there was nothing more to be done except try to make their mother happy. More than once they seen her set her knives and ladles down in the kitchen and begin to cry. They knew that in some ways she wanted to keep Seamus with her, but they also had heard say over and over again that this was the only thing that could be done. Seamus was going to have a good life in America and they would have a good life too in the Valley of Cummeragh, even if their father was gone and even if now Seamus was going.
Some a few minutes the carriage was as quiet as if they were in Mastergeehy Church. Finally, Seamus spoke up,
"You know, we're not in church right now. I think we can talk. I don't think that would be a bad thing."
Martin spoke up and said,
"Well, tell us what you are going to do in America."
Seamus shrugged his shoulders and said,
"I don't know! All I know is that the week after Easter I will get on this bog boat called the Olympic and I will be at sea for about three weeks. I will go to California and then I will go to a place called Port Costa. That's where Paul Walsh lives and I will stay with him and then I will have to find a job."
Yvonne said,
"What about school? Are you going to go to school? You have to go to school."
Yvonne was the smartest of his family and so Seamus was not surprised that she was worried about his education. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go to school. But he also knew that if he didn't be very careful about what he said, Yvonne was going get upset. Finally, he tried to be as careful as possible and said,
"Yvonne, right now I do not know about school. I don't know if Port Costa has a school like we have here in the Valley of Cummeragh. But I promise that I will find out if there is a school near by where I will be living. Ok?
Yvonne did not seem to notice that Seamus did not promise to go to school, but only to see if there was a school in his new home. Seamus knew that he had to change the subject right away so that Yvonne would be distracted. Looking ahead he saw Mastergeehy Church on the top of the small hill. First he asked his mother,
"Ma, did you get my Baptism Certificate from Father Kennedy. The constable said that I would need that to prove who I am and all that."
"Yes, dear, I have it right here in my purse."
As they came neared to the road that led up to Mastergeehy Church, Seamus then pointed to the roof of the Church. He proudly reminded his family that their father had repaired that roof so well that Father Kennedy often said that the rook on Saint Peter's in Rome itself was not better! A few miles further on, they saw Saint Finnian's Church and instead of turning right like they were used to, Constable Ryan turned to the left and headed towards County Cork.
With a deep sigh, Seamus thought, "Then this is really happening. I can't believe it. I can't believe it!"
As the horse took them down country roads that they had never seen before, the Gilchrist family was excitedly noticing every detail of the countryside. They saw the cows being led to the milking barns. Margaret told them that not only was this where their milk came from, but also the butter. They passed mothers out working in their gardens and digging up that night's potatoes for dinner. As they went around one bend in the road, they had to wait five minutes while one farmer led his sheep across the road.
Baaa!!! Baaa!!! Baaa!!!
Tomas, with all of the charm of a little child piped up,
"They smell bad. Yuck!"
This caused everyone in the carriage to laugh. However, Tomas did not see what was funny about it. As far as he could see, all that he had done was to tell what was going on. He had not told a joke and so he did not understand why theyw ere laughing at what he had said.
Seamus rustled his hair, and said,
"You're right, Tomas, they do stink like ..."
He almost said that the sheep stunk like his Pa did in the casket, but he realized that this would upset his mother and so he knew that he had to say nothing about that. He did not know what to say and so finally he said,
"They stink sometimes like the outhouse sometimes does!"
At this Seamus' brothers and sisters roared with laughter. Margaret, however, did not like this being talked about so she firmly said,
"Enough of this now! We can talk about something more pleasant, I think.
With that she glared at Seamus and instantly he knew that his mother was annoyed and that he had better be watching what he was saying.
For a couple of miles they were all quiet and everyone was thinking the same thing. What was Seamus going to be doing when he left them? Would he remember them? Would he write them a letter? Would he ever come home to Ireland. Or, better yet, would they ever be able to visit him in America? Would he become rich?
Finally Breda broke the silence and asked him,
"Seamus, are you going to have to learn some other language in America?"
Martin began to laugh, but Seamus gently slapped on the side of his head and frowned at Martin.
"Breda, that is a good question. I guess they talk like we do here. At least Mr. Walsh hasn't said that I have to learn another language. Constable Ryan, they speak our language in America, don't they?"
"Of course, they do, and you will not have any trouble if you go to school over there. You can be the finest scholar ever in that place Port Costa!"
Yvonne nodded her approval of this bit of news while Seamus tried to change the topic of conversation by asking his brothers and sisters if they would come with him on March 28th when he finally left for America. They all started laughing and made sure he knew that they were not going to miss that event, even if the Queen herself came over.
"Of course," Martin said, "who'd be caring about Queen anyway? She doesn't care about us. I heard Pa say one time that Ireland would be better off if the Queen would stay where she was and allowed Ireland to be for the Irish. He said that we could take care of ourselves. He said that Ireland didn't need England's help to be free."
"And," said Seamus, "that is why I asked Mr. O'Connell to put on Pa's gravestone that he was "a son of free Ireland." Pa always believed in that and some day for sure, it will be the truth!"
Constable Ryan looked at Margaret, tossed his head towards the children and mouthed, "They're a good bunch." Margaret smiled and mouthed back, "Thank you."
Just then they saw the buildings of Queenstown rise in the distance. Constable Ryan called out,
"We're almost there! Look!"
None of the Gilchrist children had ever been to Queenstown before and so all they could do was be quiet and look at everything there was to see. The houses and shops looked like ones they knew back in their home, but they saw a small church in Queenstown that was made from stones, while Mastergeehy Church was wood. Margaret, too, was awed by the sight of Queenstown, even though she had been here once before, many years ago. Pretty soon the constable turned down a road and headed directly towards the port area. As he made a left turn, Seamus looked excitedly around and was the first to see the sign for the White Star Lines office.
"Look," he said as he pointed to his left, "Look, White Star!"
Margaret thought, "Ah, there it is then. This is where Seamus becomes a man. Now he is going to be an American." Thoughts like these caused Margaret to sniffle, but thankfully the children were too excited to notice that she was crying. Constable Ryan did notice it, however, and so he put his hand on her leg and whispered, "Everything is going to be all right. Believe me, Margaret."
"I know, I know. Thanks, but I am, I..."
Margaret just could not find the words to say what was in her heart. She loved Seamus and nothing could be better than to have him with her forever. Still, she knew that he had to go to America and have a better life over there.
The constable saw a hitching post over on the right side of the road and so he guided his horse that way. As he hopped off the driver's seat, he told the children,
"Stay put for a moment while I tied up the horse."
Seamus and his brothers and sisters were so excited that they could barely sit still the constable tied the horse up. Finally, he helped Margaret down from her seat and then went back to help the children out of the back of the carriage. They could barely contain themselves as they tried to take in all of the sights of Queenstown port area. Margaret called them together and admonished them,
"Now, listen to me, all of you! You are to be on your best behavior, each and every one of you. I don't what these people to think anything but that the Gilchrist Family is a good family. Do you understand me?"
They all shook their heads in agreement as Seamus spoke for them all,
"Ma, don't be worrying. We're all good!"
"Ok, off we go then!" With that Margaret led her family across the road, towards the White Star office. She opened the door and the young man inside looked up at her and smiled at her saying,
"Can I help you?"
"Well, sir, my boy here, Seamus Gilchrist, is going to America and he needs to get the papers."
"Well, that is nice, but have you already seen the American Agent?"
"American Agent?"
"Yes, first you have to see the American Agent to get his papers signed and then you come back here and we will arrange his booking to America."
"Where is the American Agent, sir?"
All the while Seamus, his brothers and sisters, and Constable Ryan were quietly listening to their mother talk. Seamus broke in,
"Is he near by, sir?"
Having a feeling he knew the answer, he asked Seamus,
"And who would you be?"
"Seamus Gilchrist, sir. I am going to California, I am!"
The White Star agent smiled and said,
"Well, Seamus Gilchrist, then you have to go out and over to the big stone gate over this way to the left. Just a moment, come out here and I'll show you where to go."
The White Star agent then led Seamus and his family outside and pointed to his left.
"There, you see that gate?" Seeing Seamus nod his head, he continued, "Well do you see the American flag flying just outside of the gate?"
Seamus had never seen an American flag before, but he guessed that the flag with the red and white stripes must be the American flag, though he really wasn't sure. Still, he answered,
"Yes, sir, I see that flag. I've never seen that flag before, but it is certainly beautiful.
"Well, young man, if you go to California you will see that flag many, many times! So, you go over there right now and talk to the American Agent and when he gives you the papers you come right back here and see me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir, I understand."
Margaret asked,
"Is the agent there right now?"
"Indeed. You see, if the flag is there then that means he is there. Just go there now and take care of his papers and come right back here and we'll this fella booked to California."
Margaret was getting nervous. She did not know about this extra step and that made her feel uncomfortable. The White Star man did not seemed too worried about having to go see the American Agent so she simply said,
"Well, then, off we go! Thank you for your help. We'll be back here soon enough then."
With that Margaret turned and led her family towards American Agent's office. It was only a few steps away, but to Seamus they seemed like and very long distance. He could hardly believe that it was really happening. He was going to America!
In a minute they were in front of the American Agent's office. Seamus wanted to go right in, but somehow he did not seem to have the energy to make the first move. Margaret could only breath in and out as if she was gasping for air, while the rest of them were so awestruck that they were speechless. Just as Seamus reached for the door knob, the American Agent opened the door and in a very friendly manner asked,
"Can I help you fine people?"
At this, Seamus stepped forward and said,
"My name is Seamus Gilchrist and this is my ma and these are my brothers and sisters. And this is Constable Ryan for Cahirciveen."
"Ah, yes, I've been there. That is in County Kerry, isn't it? But I suspect that you are not here to talk about Cahirciveen, are you?"
Seamus shook his head and said,
"No, sir. I am going, I mean I want to go to California and the White Star man said that I had to come and see you first to get some papers. Is that right? I mean, I have never been to California and I want to go there and so here I am!"
"Come. Young man. What did you say your name was?"
"Seamus, sir, Seamus Gilchrist."
"Was your father the carpenter that drowned last November? Colm Gilchrist, I think?"
"Did you know my Pa?" Seamus and his entire family could not believe what they were hearing. The American Agent knew their father! This was truly amazing!
"I never met your father, but I knew of his work. He was a good carpenter, one of the best I am told. When I read in the newspapers that he drowned while out fishing I wondered if he had a family. And here you are! Well, let's get to work."
Seamus proudly informed the American Agent,
"Sir, I think he was the best carpenter."
"I am sure he was, I don't doubt that. But that is not why we are here, is it?"
Margaret Gilchrist interjected,
"No, sir, we are here to arrange for Seamus here to go to America. What do we need to do?"
"We need to complete some papers so that your Seamus, I presume you are his other?"
"I am indeed his mother!"
"Well, we need to complete for papers so that the American government will let your son here off the boat when it docks. Now, let's get this together. Please, Seamus, you and your mother side here and the rest of you can sit over by the window. This will not take too long, I think!"
As the constable led the younger Gilchrists over towards the window, Margaret and Seamus sat in front of the American Agent's desk. The agent asked many questions and wrote down the answers on papers that we on his desk. He wanted Seamus' full name...Seamus Liam Gilchrist. He wanted to know when Seamus would be going to America and was satisfied when Margaret told him that Seamus would travel on the Olympic on March 28th this very year. He was satisfied with the Certificate of Baptism that Father Kennedy had given Margaret as proof that Seamus was truly who he said that he was and that he was sixteen years old.
"Young man, did you go to school?"
"Yes, I was not able to finish after my father died. I had to help my Ma here. You see, we have a big family and she needed help."
"I see. Do you have a trade? Do you have a job?"
"My father taught me a lot about being a carpenter and sometimes I used to help him when he had something to build."
"All right, then I am going to list you as a carpenter. And where are you going? California did you say? Is something there someone helping you?"
"Yes, sir, a man named Paul Walsh lives in a place called Port Costa. Ma, do you have that letter he wrote?"
Seamus' mother took a letter she had received from Paul Walsh and handed it over to the American Agent. The letter simply stated that he knew Seamus Gilchrist and that Seamus would live with him once he arrived in America.
This seemed to satisfy the American Agent because he said,
"Seamus, generally you are too young to be making a trip like this. However, your Mister Walsh speaks very highly of you and your father. He says that you helped your father build a barn at his house our in the Valley of Cummeragh, near your home. He says that he always liked to tell people that you built the barn and that your father just helped you. He says that he wants to help you when you are in America. Well, Seamus, this is a very good recommendation. I have no reason to doubt what Mr. Walsh says, do you?"
Seamus blushed as a weak "No, sir" squeaked out.
"All right, then, let me finish these forms and you'll be all set."
For several more minutes the American Agent completed several forms and finally said,
"There we are. I am done and the fee is ₤2.00, please."
Margaret dug into her purse and pulled out a small cloth sack she had and counted out ₤2.00 exactly. The American Agent issued her a receipt for the fee. He then handed the Certificate of Baptism and Paul Walsh's letter back to Margaret and said,
"We're done. Now you have to go back to the White Star office and they will complete their papers so that you can get on the boat and come to America. Is that all right with you? Do you have any questions?"
Seamus hardly knew what to say or think, except to say,
"Thank you very much. Thank you very much!"
The American Agent stood, smiled and held out his hand to shake Seamus' hand.
"Young man, you will do well in America. Congratulations!"
"Thank you, sir. Thanks again!"
The American Agent led towards the door of his office and held it open as the Gilchrist family filed out. As Seamus passed him, he again shook his hand and said,
"Good luck, Seamus Gilchrist!"
Seamus was so excited that he almost went directly to Constable Ryan's carriage to return to County Kerry. It was his mother who pulled on his sweater and said,
"Seamus, now we have to go to the White Star office. Remember?"
"Oh, yea, Ma. It's just that this is so much more than I can think about that I am thinking, I am thinking, oh I do not know what I am thinking."
Margaret smiled at her eldest son and together they went back to the White Star office. The same young man saw them approaching and opened the door and inquired,
"Are we all ready? Did the American sign the papers for you? Let me see."
Seamus handed the papers over to him and the White Star agent smiled and beckoned them inside. He had Seamus and his mother sit at his desk, while Constable Ryan took the younger Gilchrists to the other side of the room. He took some papers out of a drawer and began completing what seemed like even many papers than the American Agent had completed. He explained to Seamus that his trip to California would take about three weeks and that he would be in a room with five other young men.
"What are their names?"
"Right now, Seamus, I do not know. When you come on March 28th the agent that will meet you on the boat will tell you what room you are to go and then you will meet your roommates."
The White Star agent told him about the meals that he would have on the boat and the room where he could relax when he was not in his room or walking on the deck.
Margaret asked if a priest would be on the boat since they would be on the sea for such along time. The agent told her that right now he did not know if there would be a priest, but he said that often enough there was a priest who would say Mass for the people. He told Seamus that there was a special board where notices like that would be posted and so he could check that once the trip had begun.
The agent told Seamus what kind of things he should bring with him. As the agent continued to explain what the trip would be like, Margaret finally asked him,
"How much will this trip cost? What is the fee?"
"For your son to travel Third Class the fee is, let's see, ₤125.00. Margaret took the cloth sack out of her purse, counted out the complete amount, and handed it over. The White Star agent counted it again and indicated that the complete amount was there and so he wrote out a receipt and handed it to Margaret.
Finally he began to tell Seamus what would happen on March 28th. He would have to be in Queenstown by 8:00 O'clock in the morning. First, he would go to the Customs House just inside the bog gate near the American Agent's office. There he would register for the trip. Then he would be taken to another building where a doctor would look at him to make sure he wasn't sick. Seamus had never been to a doctor before and so this sounded very strange to him. He told the White Star agent,
"But I'm not sick. I'm, thanks be to God, healthy."
"I am sure you are healthy, but this is the procedure that must be followed. After the doctor looks at you they will take you to another room where you have to take a bath before you get on the boat. After you get dressed, then they will take you on a small train the runs along the docks and over by those trees, you will walk out to the dock where you will get in a small boat and be taken out to the Olympic. Since the harbor here is not too deep, they have to drop anchor off shore. I think that the whole road boat ride will take about ten minutes. Once you are on the boat, they will direct you to your room and then you are off to America! Do you have any questions?"
Seamus had a million questions all racing around his mind at the same time. Now knowing what to say, he just mumbled,
"No, I have no questions."
"Mrs. Gilchrist, do you have any questions?"
"No, sir, I don't. You have been very kind. Thank you."
With that she jabbed Seamus with her elbow and he said,
"Thank you very much!
The White Star agent stood and shook their hands saying,
"You're welcome and good luck, Seamus. Good luck in America"
With that he handed Seamus his papers and said,
"Remember, he here at 8 o'clock in the morning on March 28th. It takes a long time to do all these things. You don't want to be late!"
"No, sir, no, I'll be ready to go. Thanks again!"
His passage to America now arranged, Margaret led Seamus and the rest of her family out of the White Star office. All Seamus could keep repeating,
"It's really happening, Ma! It really happening!"
"Yes, Seamus, it's really happening. May the angels watch over you and keep you safe on your journey to America! It's really happening!"
And now they had to return to the Valley of Cummeragh. After finding something to eat, they began their trip back. By this time, Seamus' brothers and sisters were so tired that they quickly fell asleep. Seamus, however, could only keep repeating,
"It's really happening! It's really happening!"