One cold wet morning in January a steamer anchored offshore. Mina watched from the
tent as a smaller boat rowed toward the beach.
"Papa, look, the men are bringing lumber."
Papa looked out the door. "I hope they bring no more immigrants. Lumber we can
use, but not more mouths to feed."
The little boat made several trips carrying lumber and some wooden crates. Then two
men were left on shore, and the steamer weighed anchor.
People had gathered on the beach to talk to the men. Papa started out the tent, and
Mina followed close behind.
"I will be back soon, Minchen."
Mama did not feel well, and had a fever. "Very well, Ernst."
When they reached the group, Mina heard one of the men say, "I am Joseph Reuss,
a doctor," and he began shaking hands with those who stood nearby. He was a young, gentle looking man who wore eyeglasses and carried a black bag. "And this is my friend, Henry Huck. We are from New Orleans. We heard of your plight, and decided to come here to help."
Papa stepped up and shook hands with both men. "My name is Ernst Jordan, and
we welcome you." Papa looked around at the group standing there. "Almost
every one of us here has a loved one who is sick."
"So I have heard," said Doctor Reuss. "I will do my best for each
and everyone." Then, holding up his bag for all to see, he added, "Here
I have medicines that will help. And in these boxes we have brought food supplies."
He turned to Huck, "My friend here has a lumber yard. He is donating this lumber
to get some shelters built."
"We appreciate all this, of course," replied Herr Kaufmann. "But
we are anxious to be off from this place to our land. In fact, some have left on
foot."
"The Verein has failed us," Papa added. "There has been no
sign of wagon teams. We have had to go hungry -our children are hungry. Have they
forgotten us here?"
Doctor Reuss shook his head sadly. Looking at Papa he said, "In Galveston I
learned that the creeks and rivers are up and impossible to cross. But Baron von
Meusebach, the Verein's new leader, has promised that as soon as the rivers
are down, he will get wagon teams through to you."
This news brought cheers and shouts from the group gathered around the doctor. "It
is about time. Thank God! "
Doctor Reuss began to unpack the food supplies. There was salt cured ham, ship's
biscuits, potatoes, and dried fruit. People crowded around him, pushing to get a share of the food before it was all gone. Mina felt herself being jostled, but she fought back, using her elbows, to stay by Papa. He took one of her hands in his.
"Stop shoving!" shouted Doctor Reuss. "There will be enough for all
. . . Now, form a line over here, and I will give a portion to the head of each family."
As Doctor Reuss handed out slices of ham and other supplies he warned, "Make
it last as long as possible."
When Papa and Mina returned with the supplies, Mama seemed cheered. Papa made a small
fire with driftwood and bush limbs they had gathered. Mama cut off a piece of the
ham and boiled it with a ship's biscuit to thicken the soup. It was too salty, but
it was warm, and Mina felt nourished.
Day after day the men of the camp worked building a shelter. Doctor Reuss was kept
busy nursing the sick, going from tent to tent in the cold rain.
Mama had begun to cough more and more. Her face had grown pale, and she had little
appetite. Although Mama shivered under the blankets, her forehead felt very hot to
Mina.
"I am afraid it is pneumonia," Mina heard Doctor Reuss say to Papa outside
the tent. "There are many cases."
Mina knew that three people of the camp had died from pneumonia. The very word made
her heart leap. But not Mama. It could not happen to Mama, Mina thought.
When Doctor Reuss had left, Mina asked Papa, "Will Mama get well?"
Papa's eyes were sad as he looked down at her, and patted her shoulders. "We must do everything Doctor Reuss said, and be sure she takes the medicine."
Everyday Mina went over to the little wooden house some distance from the camp. It
was the only house anywhere about. Mrs. White made a pot of broth every morning to
give to the sick.
Mina took a small tin pail with her. She knocked at the door. Mrs. White could not
speak much German, but she had a kind face and smiled at Mina as she poured some
steaming broth into the pail.
Mama was too weak to sit up and eat the broth. Mina had to feed her tiny spoonfuls
at a time.
"You are a good nurse, Mina."
"I want you to get well soon, Mama. Doctor Reuss said this broth would give
you strength."
Mama sighed. "Enough now, Mina."
"But, Mama, try to take a little more."
"I cannot," Mama turned her face away.
Mina let Mama's head gently back down on the pillow. Mama seemed to be slipping away
from her.
"Mina," Mama started and then paused.
"Ja?"
"Mina . . . you are so young. I do not know how to say this."
"What is it, Mama?" Mina felt uneasy about whatever Mama wanted to say.
"If I . . . if I should go . . ."
"No, Mama do not say that."
"I must, Mina . . . no, listen to me and do not interrupt."
Mina's throat felt tight.
"If I go, do not weep long." Mama reached over and held Mina's hand. "Papa will need you to be strong." Then Mama began to cough and cough.
Mina got out the medicine, and gave her a spoonful. The coughing had worn her out.
As soon as the spell was over she fell peacefully to sleep. Mina sat watching her.
The blankets rose and fell as Mama breathed.
Mina closed her eyes and bowed her head. "Dear God, please make Mama well."
But Mama did not get well. She grew weaker and weaker. No longer did she take the
broth Mina brought.
So many people in the camp were sick that Doctor Reuss hardly had time to sleep.
Even with his treatment many died. Mina knew this. Papa and the other men had used
lumber to build caskets instead of shelter. And Mina had heard the crying. Had God
forsaken them on this lonely beach?
One night when Papa and Mina were preparing for bed, Mama said, "Ernst, call
Doctor Reuss."
Papa looked at Mina, and without a word she ran over to the doctor's tent.
"Doctor Reuss, you must come right away."
"Ja, I am coming."
When they entered the tent, Papa was leaning over Mama. She was saying something
to him so softly.
"Ernst, you must take Mina away from here," Mama whispered.
"I will, Minchen, and you also as soon as you are well."
The doctor knelt beside Mama to examine her. He took her pulse. Then he took a bottle
from his bag, and gave Mama a spoonful. He looked at Papa in such a way that Mina
knew there was no hope. Papa and Doctor Reuss went outside while Mina stayed by Mama holding her hand.
When Papa came back into the tent his eyes were wet. "Minchen, do not worry.
I promise to find a wagon for us to leave this place."
Mama seemed to relax and smiled weakly at Papa and then at Mina. Papa leaned down
and kissed Mama's cheek. She closed her eyes, and just stopped breathing.
Mina saw that Mama was not breathing. "Papa, Papa! Do not let her die. Do something!" Mina shook her hands helplessly.
Papa was looking at Mama's face, so pale in the candlelight. He reached over and
held her face with his hand. "Oh, Minchen, why did I bring you to this dreadful
place?" He laid his head on Mama's breast, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh, Minchen, Minchen."
Mina put her head down on Papa's back, and held on for dear life. "Mama is gone,
Mama is gone," she sobbed, over and over.
Mina thought back to that night in Wehrstedt when she lay awake dreaming of Texas.
But instead of a dream, it was a nightmare; If only she could awaken and find that
she was safe again in Opa's house.
Papa and Mina worked at building a casket for Mama. It was a sad job, but having
work to do helped Mina. She held the lumber while Papa sawed. Then she helped him
fit each piece into place. Papa did not talk much, and they worked silently.
Mina could not believe that Mama was really gone. Maybe she would wake up and call
her. But Mama did not awaken. Mina tried not to think about putting Mama in this
box and then underground. "Papa, where is Mama now?" Mina asked. Papa stopped working and looked at Mina. "Do you think she might fly with the seagulls up to heaven?"
"Perhaps so, my kleine Mina, perhaps so."
"Do you remember what she said once, Papa?"
"What, Mina?"
"She said she wished she could fly like the gulls, right up to the heavens."
"Ja, I remember." Papa nodded his head.
At twilight Herr Kaufmann, Herr Hessler, and four other men carried
Mama's casket along the beach. Papa, Mina, and friends followed along behind. Papa
was holding Mina's hand as they walked. In her other hand Mina clutched the little
wooden seagull Papa had made for her. The wind was blowing from the north as they
walked up from the beach to the burial site.
The men lowered the casket into the ground. Papa held Mina tightly. Then Mina pulled
the seagull out of her pocket, broke away from Papa, and laid it on top of Mama's
casket.
"Fly away, Mama, fly away from here." Then Mina ran back to Papa, and hid
her face against his chest. She did not want to see Mama's casket covered with earth.
In her mind's eye she saw her little gull fly away from the casket.
"Goodbye, Mama," Mina cried. And she clutched Papa around the waist.
Papa led Mina away, back toward the beach.
Mina looked up toward the heavens. "Papa, maybe Mama is watching us right now. And she is saying, 'Take care of Papa, Mina'." Papa tightened his grip on Mina's shoulder. "I will, Mama," Mina said. "And I will take care of our kleine Mina, Minchen." Papa looked upward. "We will survive, with God's help."