Probably best to start with a photograph of the young ladies and their names and accomplishments, to ensure they would be accepted. Then she would have to make arrangements to acquire train tickets—and travel clothing and valises. Most of the girls just had two dresses, one for work and one for church, so didn’t need much in the way of luggage. Perhaps a carpet bag for each?
She would suggest new items be contributed so a good impression of the parishioners of St. Francis would be made on the fine citizens of Green River. She was picturing the faces of her girls if each received a new item of any sort. They’d all made do with donations most of their lives and certainly while they were here.
Thanks to Barbara’s skill with a needle, most of the clothing for the older girls had been recreated into simple, custom-fitted gowns, which the previous owners would not have recognized. The orphanage would sorely miss her talents—if she could be convinced to go—as well as those of several of the other young ladies Mother Evangeline had in mind as likely candidates for this experiment.
She had to admit she was somewhat impatient to learn what each girl had chosen to do.
~~~
Sister Benedicta sat down with Mother Evangeline and went over the list of girls.
“Samantha, of course, will be moving in with her brother shortly, and Gracie plans to marry Jack. So they’ll definitely be staying.
“But, surprisingly, every other eligible orphan has decided to travel West,” she summed up.
Whether it was the lure of adventure, or perhaps the idea of something different, or even just group pressure, they weren't sure, but individual discussions had revealed a passion in each one to take this track and take a chance on life. While each might do very well staying in town, the options were limited. Moving west offered horizons they had never even dreamed of.
And, frankly, for most, the idea of getting married and having their own families meant a great deal.
“But Anna is the major surprise,” added Mother Evangeline. “I thought she was perfectly happy in her position and settled permanently.”
Anna had seemed quite happy when, at fourteen, she had been offered a very respectable position as an under-housemaid. She was exceptionally adept at household management, and had moved swiftly to Assistant Housekeeper, with the understanding she’d be elevated to Head Housekeeper when Mrs. Rogers retired.
But when she heard from friends still at the orphanage of the possibility of becoming mail-order brides, she had sought out Mother Evangeline and begged to come with them. It seemed she too dreamt of having her own family rather than rearing someone else's.
Sister Benedicta nodded as Mother Evangeline continued.
“That means a total of ten young women will be traveling, requiring ten travel outfits, ten valises, and sufficient other garments to get them each started.”
“Barbara will certainly have her work cut out for her, won't she?” commented Sister Benedicta.
Smiling wryly at the pun, since cutting dresses out would be a large part of what Barbara was doing once she had the fabric, Mother agreed.
“We will sorely miss her when she is not here!”
~~~
As feared, Barbara had, indeed, been the lone holdout, not wanting to leave her sister behind.
“I used to envy the children in the orphanage, you know,” Barbara had confided to Sister one day. “It was evident that someone cared for them, and they had clean clothes and plenty to eat. Plus they were being taught to read and write. We pretty much had to stop going to school when our father died. That was not a good time for us. But Mother was right. When Owen came along things were good for a while and we were back in school. I really enjoyed that. But when he lost his job . . .”
She had come a long way in the two years since she and Emily had arrived at Our Lady of Mercy, mused Mother Evangeline.
~~~
Barbara was the last to make up her mind. She didn’t want to leave her sister. In Emily’s current mental state, although she seemed finally to be improving and rejoining life, she was still too fragile to be thrust out into the world.
It had taken some convincing, but Barbara had finally realized that the move west would, in fact, be her best option. If she stayed and found work, it would be several years before she’d be earning enough to cover more than food and lodging for herself. Looking at Judith, who returned from her job each day looking haggard and exhausted, she feared she wouldn’t have the energy to make a special trip daily to check on Emily and Emilene.
But it was Emily who’d finally convinced her.
“I think you need to find us a new home, Barbara. The sisters aren’t going to be able to keep us here and I’m growing up, too. Emilene and I can join you as soon as you are established.” A twinkle appeared in her eye.
“You can finally start your own dressmaking shop,” she smiled.
After hours of discussion with all of the others, but most especially Emily and Judith, Barbara had finally concurred. She would go to Green River, Kansas, with the group.
~~~
So instead of the lack of interest Mother Evangeline had feared, nine of her original eleven eligible orphans were planning for the train trip to Kansas, plus Anna, and Tony. How had this escalated so?
The first thing she did was sit down and write a letter to her brother to make sure the town would be able to accommodate this large an influx of newcomers. And while she had no doubt that Anthony, who was a personable young man and quite capable with
