12-02 Mille Littman Story-Part Two

In the photo our grandma Halter, or Mille Littman, is seen with our grandpa Halter. They are in their 60s. Grandma Halter had been previously married at age 17. Both her first husband and her first child died tragically.
Here our mother is telling the rest of her mother's story in the first person, based on her mother's verbal recollections. Our grandmother did not have a day of schooling but was very bright. Let's continue.
“My older brothers were carefully cutting heavy material. My father was sitting in a corner reading the prayer book and occasionally praying or singing out loud.
As was customary, there might be four or five coverings made for one chair: one beaded, another damask, one of silk and another of velvet, each carefully placed one over the other after being individually fastened. The idea I knew was as one cover became worn, it was removed and the one below would be used. It too was discarded when worn, until all the covers had been used.
One night I was awakened and told to dress quickly. After a hasty dinner, we younger children were told we were going to leave Romania. I knew that our family had originally come from Austria. Our grandparents had settled here hoping for a brighter future without hate or oppression. But this had been denied us and mama had arranged to take us to England. Papa would follow later.
My strongest memory of the trip is all of us hidden under a tarpaulin with mama's hand over my mouth as the guards at various places took money from the seamen who were operating our ship.
I do not know how we made the crossing. I was too confused and too young. England opened her doors to the Jews in the latter 1800s, and the nation prospered from so many energetic immigrants. Without funds, little food or even clothing, somehow the family prospered. We were tenacious and worked hard.
Three children stayed in England, one son built an upholstery business in England which has prospered over the years. The others emigrated to the United States and Canada.
I remarried at age 21 and had three daughters. My children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are scattered over North America. But they are all free, well educated, have full bellies and good shoes.
This is my way of telling them how it all happened.”