Hi! My name is Farin over Easter I was cleaning out my attic and I came across a box of things. Inside the box there is a chest full of journal entrees, and other things. You have to read my blog to find out. In my blog I will be sharing everything I found in the attic. You might wonder who did all this stuff. It is a girl named Marya F.Levine and her Great-Great Granddaughter. Marya is writing the journal entries between 1905-1911.  When I found this writing and art I almost blew up. I am so happy I found everything, I am learning so much. I think this is really important because learning about the past can really change the future. Have you ever heard the saying “To learn about the future you first must go to the past.” Isn’t that interesting.  Finally I will tell you how I found everything… Over Easter I was cleaning the attic and I came across a mysterious box I looked inside and found everything, I took a journal entry and I couldn’t understand it, so I took it to my Mom. We read everything and I learned it was in the past. I hope you really like the blog.

February 12, 1906

Hey journal,

Today after school I was walking home (alone) and I saw a girl. She was muttering something about a sign that said”If you do not come in on Sunday, don’t come in on Monday.” I was only in America for two months , and I never worked. I didn’t know much about work. Also I didn’t have a friend yet and she looked like my age. In fact she was ten, I learned later today! So I went over to ask her what she was muttering about and she yelled…

“Who are you!?!”

“ Ah! I am Marya F. Levine.  I was on my way back from school and I heard you say, “If you don’t come in on Sunday, don’t come in on Monday, and I wondered what that was”, I replied hastily.

“Sorry. I am Abe Goldberg. And I immigrated from Poland. What about you?”, Abe asked.

“Poland too? HAHAHA” I reply.

“Well let me tell you about that sign. I work in a sweatshop. And there is a sign in there that says, “ If you do not come in on Sunday, do not come in on Monday.” Oh! You might want to know what a sweatshop is. A sweatshop is a tenement converted into a small factory that makes products. For example I do shirtwaists. My bad boss put up that sign and added a workday. So that is my story. Wait a minute you might want to know what the sign means. It  means that if you do not come in one work day, you are fired. The person that hates the sign most is a girl named Leah. She used to work for the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. She hates the way people treat us workers. Her sister Rachel not as much but still supports it. They are both from Russia. You know what happens in Russia anyway. We are planning to strike. Do you want to help?”

“Yes! Of course I want to help. Do you know me?”, I say excitedly.

“Uh no.”

“ Well… I love to stick up for what is right! And this a situation is where you might need me.”

“Yeah… kind of. We only have two people. Me and Leah.”

“Well do not forget about me.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.”

“It is ok.”

“We are meeting tomorrow. Do you want to come?”

“Yeah! Can I work on a pamphlet tonight?”

“Just wait till tomorrow. Your time will come.”

“Yep.”, I said a little deflated.

“In front of Cooper Union tomorrow at 12:00 am. Lunch. I will tell you the rest then.”

“Ok. Well… I live in 91 Orchard if you need me.”

“11 Mulberry.”

“Bye!”

“Bye!”

We both walk in opposite directions. I think ,“StepMom is going to be worried. Also I have to meet Anelia for peddling in an hour, and Cook dinner. Dad and Mom are going to be worried. Ahhhhh! Well Dad will be happy I made a friend. My only friends are Celia, Anelia, Myers, Minna, and Mom and Dad.” Then I reach the door. But then I see Abe.

“Hey! Abe! Do you want to be friends!?!”

“Yeah!”

“AWESOME!!!”

“Bye!”

“Bye!”

I walk in my house. And when I get to Celia, Minna, and My room I peek through the window. I see Abe running towards Mulberry pumping her fist in the air and saying this.

“Yes! I got a friend! Yes!”

I turn around and I say.

“Yes! I got a friend! Yes!”

Pumping my fist in the air.

“Yes!”

This is from a tape I found in the attic. It must be a Oral History from a family member.