Historically fact based novel with a ficticious family interwoven. From Northern Ireland in mid 1900′s to the shores of Canada. One family’s journey.
Excerpt
Chapter 8
Northern Ireland and Liverpool, England (1846)
The Belfast dockside teemed with humanity, the noises and smells exciting and terrifying at the same time. Molly’s practical nature took over as she followed every movement of her excited family, not wanting to let anyone out of her sight. Other than John O’Connor, the family had never ventured far afield from their home in Creggan. The city of Belfast was new and exciting to them all. The smells of the dock were both fascinating and revolting. Rotting fish, the city’s sewage, and unwashed bodies, melded with fresh salt sea air, roasting nuts, and potatoes. Sailors screamed orders from ship decks to workers below them on the docks. Men scurried from dock to ships like rats. Hockers sold their wares to curious passers by, each trying to outdo the other… “Get the best roasted tatties in Ireland. Maybe even better than yer sainted ma’s.”
Others were crying their farewells to family and loved ones as they prepared to board steamers to England.
The crewmembers of the Princess unceremoniously shoved and jabbed as they drove their quarry on board. The ship loomed above its soon-to-be passengers like a monster waiting to devour its victims. Fear showed in the eyes of some, excitement in others, but all seemed to portray the fear that they would never see Ireland again as they looked back at the city and the hills beyond.
Four-year-old Matthew hoisted on his father’s shoulders, clapped and squealed with delight at the sights around him. Never in his young life had he witnessed such absolute gaiety and confusion.
He continually screamed, “Papa, mama see the big boat. Can we go on the boat? Papa, please, can we. Please papa.” Liam laughed at his son’s exuberance. “Settle down lad or you’ll be forgettin where ya be and pissin down me neck.”
“Liam, shame on you. Hush with that talk now,” Molly giggled. She found the festiveness infectious as they combed the docks enjoying the new experiences. The past days had been a mixture of exhilaration, sadness, uncertainty, fear of the unknown, and melancholy as they prepared for the first leg of their journey to Canada.
Copyright 2010 June Packwood. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
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