May 16th, 1930 I left home today. I told Henry to take good care of Pa. I didn’t say goodbye to Ma or Pa. I just left in the night and hiked 14 miles through the dust to Thomas County, Nebraska. I left a note, though. I said I loved them. I said I was praying for Pa and I said that hopefully my leaving would help make it easier for him to get better. One less mouth to feed. Everyone else but me and Henry had already left. My four brothers and my sister. My oldest brother, Jim, was 18 when he left. That was when it had started getting bad. Pa had just started getting sick and couldn’t work no more. My next oldest brother, Timmy, left when he lost his job and no longer could help support. Then my sister left to go live with our Aunt Annie out in Arizona. I didn’t know we had an Aunt Annie, but Ma said we did. My sister had just turned 14. She made me promise to stay behind until I was older, thinking I wouldn’t be able to survive out on the rails. One day Pa got real sick and my brother Johnny was gone the next morning. More food for Pa, Ma, and me and Henry. There hadn’t been no rain and the crop was really suffering. I tried to not eat as much and save more for Pa and Ma and little Henry. They needed it more than me. Pa was starting to not look as bad, but still not good. I knew it was my time to go. Don’t ask me how I knew. I just knew. I grabbed up an old flour sack and stuffed the few clothes I owned in it. I took thirty cents from the stash I had under my pillow and left the remaining dollar for Ma and Pa. It wouldn’t do much, but it was my way of thanking them for raising me and giving me food and a place to live for so long. I almost forgot… Today, I turned 12.
August 9th, 1930 I’ve been on the rails for almost three months now. I can feel that my clothes are baggier. My arms look much skinnier too. The hobo life ain’t that bad, but I sure do miss home. I met a boy just like me not long ago. We even kinda look alike. Some people think we’re brothers. As a pair they called us JJ. He’s Jay and I’m Joe. We’re about the same height, both with blonde hair and broad shoulders. I just learned that he was 16. Guess I look lots older than I am. Had to grow up at a young age. Before I left, I never thought I’d ever travel this much. Now, I’ve been all over the country. I’d been tryna stay north to avoid the summer heat, but really I just go where the rails take me. I let the rails guide me. I guess they point me in the direction of where I oughta go. Maybe they’re leading me to a better life. Where there’s more to eat than stinkin’ mulligan stew. I wish I could go back home. But I know they’re better off without me. Best be off, here comes the next train! Prayin’ for no nasty bulls and a nice smooth ride right on till California.
A LONG WAY FROM HOME (JULIA)
May 16th, 1930
I left home today. I told Henry to take good care of Pa. I didn’t say goodbye to Ma or Pa. I just left in the night and hiked 14 miles through the dust to Thomas County, Nebraska. I left a note, though. I said I loved them. I said I was praying for Pa and I said that hopefully my leaving would help make it easier for him to get better. One less mouth to feed. Everyone else but me and Henry had already left. My four brothers and my sister. My oldest brother, Jim, was 18 when he left. That was when it had started getting bad. Pa had just started getting sick and couldn’t work no more. My next oldest brother, Timmy, left when he lost his job and no longer could help support. Then my sister left to go live with our Aunt Annie out in Arizona. I didn’t know we had an Aunt Annie, but Ma said we did. My sister had just turned 14. She made me promise to stay behind until I was older, thinking I wouldn’t be able to survive out on the rails. One day Pa got real sick and my brother Johnny was gone the next morning. More food for Pa, Ma, and me and Henry. There hadn’t been no rain and the crop was really suffering. I tried to not eat as much and save more for Pa and Ma and little Henry. They needed it more than me. Pa was starting to not look as bad, but still not good. I knew it was my time to go. Don’t ask me how I knew. I just knew. I grabbed up an old flour sack and stuffed the few clothes I owned in it. I took thirty cents from the stash I had under my pillow and left the remaining dollar for Ma and Pa. It wouldn’t do much, but it was my way of thanking them for raising me and giving me food and a place to live for so long. I almost forgot… Today, I turned 12.
August 9th, 1930
I’ve been on the rails for almost three months now. I can feel that my clothes are baggier. My arms look much skinnier too. The hobo life ain’t that bad, but I sure do miss home. I met a boy just like me not long ago. We even kinda look alike. Some people think we’re brothers. As a pair they called us JJ. He’s Jay and I’m Joe. We’re about the same height, both with blonde hair and broad shoulders. I just learned that he was 16. Guess I look lots older than I am. Had to grow up at a young age. Before I left, I never thought I’d ever travel this much. Now, I’ve been all over the country. I’d been tryna stay north to avoid the summer heat, but really I just go where the rails take me. I let the rails guide me. I guess they point me in the direction of where I oughta go. Maybe they’re leading me to a better life. Where there’s more to eat than stinkin’ mulligan stew. I wish I could go back home. But I know they’re better off without me. Best be off, here comes the next train! Prayin’ for no nasty bulls and a nice smooth ride right on till California.