The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-16
Hans. the Little Immigrant.


All boys and girls who study geography
know that the Germans now living in our
dear country came from Germany, that the
Irish came from Ireland that the French
came from France and soon. The newspa-
pers within the last few months have been
printing a great deal about the newcomers
from over the ocean, because so many immi-
grants are arriving now that by the end of
this year (say from Christmas, 1879, to Christ
mas, $780, almost enough foreigners will
have landed to found asgreat city as Balti-
more. If all the immigrants who arrived last
month were to keep together they could peo-
pie city as big as Camden, N. j., or Will
mingtOn, Del. And so with the immigrants
who have landed during this month of May
The newspapers have had great deal to say
about the grown people but hardly word
about the immigrant children. Therefore,
in order that the little foreign children should
not be forgotten, the writer of the Children's
Stories in the Times went out to the West
Philadelphia depot of the Pennsylvania
Railroad to talk to some of them.
In the waiting room of the depot were
many immigrants, all bound for the West
The men stood outside talking and smoking
their pipes, while the women sat in the rows
of seats inside. The writer very soon saw
the very little fellow with whom he wanted
to talk. He was boy about twelve years
old, stout and strengthening He sat fat on
the floor, with big bundle by his side, and
in his lap was his little sister, aged about four
years. He wore little black cap, with brass
buttons at the side; his jacket was dark green
in color, and trimmed with yellowish braid
and his trousers were Of dark cotton goods.
"What is your name my boy?" said the
Ill i
up and shook his head. The question was
again asked in German.
"Oh," he said; "now understand. / am
a German, a Lunesurger. Ny name is Hans
Schleiermacher"
Hans was asked if he would mind telling
about his trip over the Atlantic, so that the
children who liked TO read a newspaper called
The Times could enjoy it.
swell, said Hans, 81 don't know much;
it was badsometimes, and next
day it would be good. Where did
come from? | came from the Luneburg
Heath, in Hanover, Germany. Father, there
he stands over there, lived about thirty miles
from the city of Luneburg. He was shoe.
mrker and also had a garden and kept ten
sheep. Our house between two hills, and
there were four trees in row in front of it
and the garden was on the hillside behind it
We left it about month ago. 1 have stone
in my pocket that l picked up just as we
were leaving. I'm going to keep it always.
oh. yes; yes, indeed, we loved our home.
Mother cried fora week, and we had to leave
dear old grandfather, too. l cried coed
deal until we got to Bremen. Father didn't
crv he swore. At Bismarck Yes. Bis
marck said that father must go into the army
and fight. Father said he'd go to America
first. 1 didn't know anything about Amer
lea except that it was on the other side of
the world. We talked about itfor year.
Every night last winter father got down his
his map and showed Us where America was.
1t didn't any better than Luneburg of