Ghosts Were Hovering All Around The Railroad Car

Nobody now had a name! Her new name was going to be Whitlee! It meant a clearing of a beautiful field. The field they saw was beautiful and green and had a pond with water that was so clear that she could see her face in it. She had never seen her face before. Tippy stood and watched her new friend as she played with her hair and smiled into the water mirror. Then she frowned and walked a little bit away from Tippy.

"Come on, Whittlee, let's go for a little walk. Let's go to the place where the railroad car is. The place is beautiful also, but I want you to tell me all about why it makes you so sad. It really does help when you are sad about something to tell someone about it. It's called sharing sadness. When you share sadness it's not quite so sad. Tell me about this railroad car. Why did they call it an orphan train.?"

"I was one of the last children to ride on that train. It was a long time ago. I was supposed to be adopted by a family, but when I got here nobody wanted me. They said I was too young, too little, too this and too that. I didn't know what to do because I didn't speak English very well. I wasn't born in this big country of yours. I rode on a big ship with my parents for a long time to get to America. 

When we got to America my parents couldn't find work. We had nowhere to live so we slept on the sidewalks. Storekeepers got mad at us and shooed us away. It seemed like we were always hungry and so very tired. One day a nice man came from a church and talked to my parents. He said that he could find them work if they didn't have any children. They said no. They said they loved me and would not send me away. He told them that there were lots of people in the middle of the country that wanted to adopt children. I would have a bed to sleep in and lots of food and clean clothes. So finally my parents agreed to let me go. I miss them so very much. I am all alone now and still have nothing to eat and no home."

"I rode on this car for days. Some days some of the children got off the car and people would pay money for them. It was like they were sold like an apple or a cow. They called it and auction They cried too. Some of the big boys ran away and some of the little ones died. It was terrible."

"See how the railroad car is across this creek? The train had a wreck and this is all that is left; this and the terrible memories. I want to go now. Can you find someone that will love me and take care of me?"

Tippy put her arm around Whitlee and said, "I am so very sorry for what has happened to you. This place makes me sad. Oh my, It is very cold here. The wind is howling and the horses are running away. There are ghosts all around us. They are hovering all around the railroad car.  Whitlee! What is happening to you? What are you carrying? Is that a book? I can't feel your arm. Whitlee! Come back! 

"Fairy Godmother, help me! Something really bad is happening! Help!"

All Tippy could hear was a faint voice saying, "Tippy, tell my story. Please tell my story. Never let this happen again!"