London
fascinated Droozy, with its many gas filled balloons hovering under the sky, as
if to protect
it from harm. England looked even more grey than had been described under the
wartime danger. People were rushing back and forth, speaking in half whispers,
and gas masks hung from the necks of most of the population. Although Droozy,
her sister, mother, and little brother were only passing through, they too were
fitted with these masks to protect them from “deadly poison” which might be
emanated by the enemy. After a few days in the big city, the four Abners left
for Southampton to board a ship for America. America, the faraway land which
would bring them to their father and husband, whom they had not seen for
eighteen months. It was all so very exciting, especially for ten-year-old Droozy.
There was a very gracious lady who agreed to vacate her apartment and permit the
“foreign family” to move in until a boat would be available to transport
them to their new land. The lady, Miss Johnson, was an angel, and Droozy
immediately loved her. She took Fanny and Droozy to a clothing store and told
the girls to choose any dress at all. Droozy chose a pretty cotton print with
small flowers on it. This was a relief after wearing the same velvet garb for
many weeks without having even one change. It was a pleasure to walk over the
soft white cuddly bear rug which was gracing the floor of Miss Johnson’s
bedroom. On
the day that the Steamship Washington was to sail for America, Mr. Cartwright, a
social worker, accompanied Droozy’s family to the harbor. It was crowded with
waiting travelers, who all seemed to be waiting to get on the huge ship. An announcement
was made that due to the war and the torpedoes this would be the last passenger
ship out of the Southampton harbor for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, only
a limited number of passengers could be included in this trip since the boat had
no space for all the people that wanted to leave immediately to get out of the
war zone. The Abners had purchased passage on another ocean liner but that was
no longer available Everyone
appeared to be pleading with the ship’s captain for admission to the boat.
American citizens were given first preference, next came those who had tickets
for the S. S. Washington; then came people whose relatives were gravely ill in
the United States. After that an announcement was made that the the boat’s
capacity had been reached, in fact it was dangerously overfilled. Mr. Cartwright
pleaded with the Captain for hours. At four o’clock in the afternoon the
ship’s captain agreed to allow Droozy and her family on board ship, if they
were willing to sleep on the floor of the ship’s post office. A deliriously
happy shout came from Droozy’s lips when she heard the wonderful news! Droozy
and her family were the last passengers to board that messenger of freedom, the
S.S. Washington! |
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