Name:

I don't have problems with new people at all, except when they act as if they're better than me. Then I start to harbor dislike towards them. I have a fiery temper, that could flare up and almost anything (because I often misinterpret people) and flares down just as quickly. I'm stubborn, though, and won't admit I'm wrong, even when I and everyone else knows that I am. I can be caring towards those I know very well, but until I do know someone well, I'm inclined to be more apathetic than genuinely caring.

We were a part of uptown society, the rich folks with their noses in the air all the time. My mother always pestered me about what I ate. It was always, "No! Don't eat that! Just think what it will do to your figure! Here, have a piece of bread. No you can't have any butter; you will ruin your figure!" Just the mere thought of that makes me want to scream. There was always some dance, or lesson I had to prepare for. My mother made sure I was very accomplished. She had me Singing and playing the piano by the time I was six. She also taught me how to sew, knit, emroider, and crochet. I decided to leave when there were rich men, usually eight to ten years my elder, showing up every hour of every day to court me. I decided enough was enough, and I took all of my belongings and all of my savings and got on a train to New York. I never quite figured out why, but I always thought there would be so many opportunities; I soon found out that I was wrong. Anyways, after I got there, I found a place to work in a newsgirls lodging house, mending their clothes for them. That's where I got my nickname. After there was nothing left to mend, I was dismissed, and I had to find somewhere else to stay and to work. So I became a newsie. That's where I found my good friend RiffRaff. She found me a lodging house, but it so happened that the one she found me was for boys only. It turned out that she couldn't read. Well, Kloppman gave in and let me stay there, and the boys were all very nice and didn't try anything. Now that I'm back on my feet, Kloppman thought it would be inappropriate for me to continue to stay there, and asked me to find a new place of residence. And, that brings me here.

My closest friend since I came to New York is RiffRaff McCalley. Maybe you've heard of her? The famous Pianist? Jack Kelly is also a good friend of mine, because he has stood up for me since I got here. Other than that, I don't know anyone else very well. I know a lot of the other newsies, but not really well. As for relatives, I lived with my mother, Elizabeth Jane O'Connor and my father, Frederick Roland O'Connor, until I was 17. I also had a younger brother who was six years younger than me, and two younger twin sisters who were nine years younger than me. I let all of them in Philedelphia when I left. I have heard of a Roland around here, but I have yet to see him, and I don't know, but it might be my little brother. I also have family in Portland, Maine, but I have never met, them, only corresponded with them per my aunts wishes and against my mother's. Uncle Jacob was talking of moving to New York after my Aunt Evy died, but I guess they never did.

Wishes McAllen;  Upper East Side Lodging House