PEOPLE ON THE MOVE - Department of Geography

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PUSH FACTORS Document #1 I am a woman, born in Varmland and I belonged to the poor class. I had to go out and earn my bread already at the age of eight. Most of what I did was to look after children. Had to get up at four o'clock in the morning with the others. Seldom got anything to eat or drink before eight o'clock, for the coffee mixed with rye was thought dangerous to the health. I got rotten herring and potatoes, served out in small amounts so that I would not have the chance to eat myself sick. That was my usual fare. In particular a corporal of the crown and his wife who I was with for two summers, distinguished themselves by their stinginess and cruelty. From the military on land and sea protect us, dear Lord! Poor conscripts have to serve as slaves under such wretched. I did not have time to go to school very much. I had to leam the catechism, naturally, and that I had to do during the time I was watching the cows or some child. But I was not allowed to neglect Sunday school, for they wanted to drill into us poor people certain biblical passages, such as "Be godly and let us be contented," and so forth. Mean while the rich heard, "If your sins were red as blood, yet would they be white as snow." etc. So passed the days of my childhood and I got far enough along so that I was considered worthy of being admitted to holy communion, which is supposed to be a turning point in a person's life. But whichever way I turned things, the future looked just as dark. Still I had to struggle along five more years before I could be considered a proper hired girl and get any wage. And what a wage! And what work! No hope of saving anything in case if illness, but rather I could see the poorhouse waiting for me in the distance. Then one day, I was then in my seventeenth year, the hour of freedom struck. I got a ticket from my two brothers, who had managed to get to America, after living through a childhood like mine, I was soon ready to travel, my few possessions were packed in a bundle: my New Testament which I had gotten from the pastor, a bad report card from school, money which two kind women gave me. Thus prepared, I set off with a light heart for the great land in the west. And I have never regretted that journey. Certainly I have had to work, but I was considered a human being even when I was poor. Have a good home here. Am not burdened with love for the fatherland so have no wish ever to return. Document #2 This article was printed, in the local newspaper at Bjorgby, Denmark, November, 1870.
The Parish Council would like to draw attention to a machine invented by the bachelor, Christian Jensen, Skeen, Ubbsby, for the manufacturing of straw bands for thatching. Last autumn a machine for the workhouse (poor house) was bought from the inventor, and after one year's use it is a pleasure for us to certify that it answers its purpose completely. It is particularly suited for application in work houses, as it can be used by old people and children. A healthy and capable man is able to make 800 to 1000 fauns (1 faun - 1.9 meters) a day on this machine. We should appredate it if this recommendation might help the inventor, who is an honest and ambitious young man, and who lives under very poor conditions. Bjorgby-Mygdal Sogneraad November 19,1870. Document #3 Mrs. E.C. I was born in 1879. My parents leased a farm. When I was eight years old, my father died, leaving me and another daughter, four years old, as well as my mother. When the auction was over and the debts paid, there was little left. My mother had two sons from an earlier marriage, one fourteen and the other sixteen years old at the time of my father's death, but they were out working for others. So some years passed and we moved down to the village. Mother worked out for farmers, and in between she wove cotton material and sold it. Then my brothers went to America and sent her a little money now and then, and that helped enough so that she did not have to go the commune for help. When I was thirteen years old, I had to go out and work. I was only a child when I came to work for a railway crossing guard and stayed there a year. I got my food and one when I left. Mother had to provide my clothes. Then I stayed at home while I went and read for confirmation, to the great annoyance of the farmers around there. When I was sixteen I took service with a farmer. I had to work like a dog, go out and spread manure and dirt from the ditches during the summer and on the snowiest days of winter I had to carry water to eleven cows. This besides all the other work. Work every minute from six o'clock in the same morning until nine at night. Sundays and weekdays always the same. No wonder that hired girls do not want to work for farmers. Whoever had done it knows all too well what that means. The hired man often had hard work, but he has his room to go to when he has finished his work, and he has his noon break, but when does the hired girl get to rest? While the others take it easy around noon she has to run out into the woods and fields to milk, and then she has to wash dished when she is finished with that. By then the others are ready to go out to work again and naturally she has to go along, so it was for me, so it is for all farmers' hired girls. Never a free moment.
Page 1 and 2: PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Introduction The
Page 3 and 4: actual, although slightly edited le
Page 5 and 6: settlers were the most prominent im
Page 7: WHY PEOPLE MOVE 1. How many houses
Page 11: value, you soon have an idea why Am

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE - Department of Geography

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