Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story (1996) - Plot & Excerpts
A small but interesting memoir of one orphan train rider, Lee Nailing.In the early 1800's prior to the inception of social services and welfare for the poor, children in urban areas whose parents were either unable or uninterested in keeping them were either abandoned or turned out onto the streets to fend for themselves. In an effort to remedy this situation the Rev. Charles Loring Bates founded what would become The Children's Aid Society. Selected children and babies would be sent by train out west where farm labor was needed and food plentiful. Many of these children found loving homes and some did not. Occasionally, siblings were split up in the process. This brief histoy with actual photos is an interesting snapshot of this particular period in American history. I learned about the book Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story from a pastor at the church I attend when he referenced it during his sermon on grace. In this moving story of one orphaned boy, author Andrea Warren describes the role of Charles Loring Brace and the Children's Aid Society in establishing orphan trains. From the 1850's through the 1920's, over 200,000 children boarded these trains searching for families to take care of them. It also portrays the lives of unwanted, abandoned, and homeless children who were supposed to get a second chance at life through the orphan trains.First person accounts describe the often ambivalent feelings of the children as they made their way to other parts of the country. Many did not understand what was happening, others knew that their journey would end their chances of being reunited with parents who had left them.Although orphan trains were established with the best of intentions, these accounts describe how the children felt shamed while being paraded in front of strangers and their anguish when separated from biological siblings. While some of these children found loving homes, others were mistreated by the families who adopted them.Chapters alternate between historical information on the movement and personal details and memories of orphans like Lee Nailling and his brothers.The most touching moment for me was when Lee, who had every reason to be bitter and hate the world, finally found a home. Fully intending to run away again before morning, he fell asleep and was awakened by a call to breakfast. As a part of "grace" said before the meal by his mother-to-be, the boy heard, "Father, thank you for sending our new son to us, for the privilege of allowing us to raise him."Lee commented, "I'm sure my jaw dropped in amazement. Somebody was actually thankful I was there! Orphan Train Rider is a highly recommended read for young readers (as young as 8) to adults.
What do You think about Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story (1996)?
Easty-to-read account of one orphan rider's experience with great photos and a happy ending.
—mads20770
Interesting part of history that I hadn't been aware of.
—Jazzywhaat
A short but interesting book. How things have changed.
—thecouches
