Emigrants

IT WAS CALLED SHIP-SICKNESS

-------XXI ------IT W AS CALLED SHIP-SICKNESS -1As THE WEEKS WENT BY most of the emigrants accustomed themselves to the rolling of the ship. Kristina recuperated from her seasickness; she was up and about and able to eat almost regularly. But she did not feel as well as she used to on land. A certain weakness remained in her limbs, and a weight, as it were, pressed down her whole body-she moved about sluggishly and unwillingly. Something pressed on her chest too, so that her breath became short. Other passengers-men and women-complained about the same feeling; perhaps it was some ailment caused by their long stay on board. Kristina had also started worrying about her children: they grew pale and their eyes looked yellow. They were no longer lively in their play, and they had lost their appetites; they refused to eat the ship's fare because it was too salty-they complained and wanted fresh milk. And Kristina, too, missed more than anything the sweet milk they used to drink every day. But she understood-they could not bring milch cows with them on the sea. If only she had had a quart a day for her children ! They had not tasted one drop of milk for a whole month. The sugar pouch was long ago emptied, her cakes Were gone, the honey was eaten, the dried pieces of apple finished.' When the children fell and hurt themselves and came to her, crying, or when they wanted to "step off" the ship, then it had been a blessing to have a lump of sugar or a cookie to comfort them with. Now she had nothing to give them when they came and begged. The weaning of Harald had taken care of itself because her milk dried up after a short time at sea. She had hoped it would remain in her breasts, as she had no other milk for the child. He was otherwise fine for his sixteen months; he had entirely quit creeping about, and had 3°7 THE EMIGRANTS begun to walk upright between the bunks in their crowded quarters. But a ship rolling on the waves, seldom still, was hardly a place for a child to learn to walk. Little Harald had to sit down on his rump many more times than had his brother and sisters at home on the firm floor of their house. Johan and Lill-Marta were still babbling about "stepping of!" the ship and going home. They had not forgotten what they used to eat and drink on land-they wanted to go back and eat cakes and drink milk. Kristina promised them sweet milk and wheat cookies, as much as they could manage, as soon as they arrived in America. But she soon regretted this promise; now she was beset constantly by the children: When would they arrive in America? Tonight? Or tomorrow morning ? They would arrive soon. How far away was soon? It wasn't far, if they were good and kept quiet, said the mother. If they kept quiet the whole day and didn't say one word, would they then reach America by tomorrow? Lill-Marta was satisfied at times, and kept silent, but never Johan: "Shall we always live on the ship. Mother?" "No, not after we get there." "Shall we never live in a house any more?" "We shall live in a house in America." "Is it true, Mother?" "It is true." "I want to live in a house soon." "So you shall, if you keep quiet." "In a house like the one we slept in at home?" "In such a one." "Where is that house, Mother?" "We shall see, when we arrive." "Is it sure we are to live there?" "It is sure. Father will build one. Now, keep quiet, boy, otherwise you'll always have to stay on this ship." At times Kristina thought that maybe it wasn't right to silence the children with promises. What did she know about their new home in North America? Exactly as much as the children! What she knew for sure was that they owned not the smallest patch of ground over there, had not the smallest corner of their own, not the poorest earth hut they could call home. Not the most humble shed awaited them, not the most IT WAS CALLED SHIP-SICKNESS 309 wretched shelter could they move...