These immigrants bring drive and ardent desire to improve their lives. Amy Hest captures these longings and aspirations in the beautiful, moving story of a Jewish immigrant girl arriving in the United States. The name of this tender tale is “When Jessie Came Across the Sea” by Amy Hest.
Hard times fill the lives of people in the Old Country. In one poor home lives an aged grandmother with her granddaughter Jessie. They eke out a tenuous life through hard work and frugality. Herself illiterate, the grandmother insists her orphaned granddaughter learn to read and write. So Jessie goes off to class with the young boys and is taught by the rabbi. When she returns home, she teaches the grandmother to read and write. The old woman instructs Jessie in sewing beautiful lace patterns.
One day, the rabbi tells the community his brother has died and left him a ticket to New York. Feeling he can’t leave the town, the rabbi gives the ticket to Jessie. Heartbroken to leave her beloved grandmother, the 13-year-old Jessie gets on the ship for New York. Her cousin is waiting for her at the immigration center in Ellis Island, New York. Frightened and unable to speak English, the young girl finds her cousin in the mass of people welcoming the immigrants.
Soon, she is sewing beautiful lace patterns on bridal gowns in her cousin’s dress shop. But she keeps all the money she earns and thinks of her lonely grandmother eating the thin soup and black bread of her village. After three years of sewing, she makes a decision. Jessie takes all of her money and goes to a steamship traveling agency. The girl knows it is time. What happens?
What does Jessie do with all her savings? Why is she so generous? What has built this great love in her? What does sacrifice mean and why is it so important to make sacrifices? To find out what finally happens to Jessie and her grandmother, go to the library and check out this lovely story, “When Jessie Came Across the Sea” by Amy Hest.
There are currently many vehement discussions and arguments about immigration in the United States. All nations have a right to regulate immigration to their countries. But it is equally important to realize how much immigrants, such as Jessie, have given to this nation. Emma Lazarus’s famous poem The New Colossus, engraved in bronze at the base of the Statue of Liberty reveals the potential benefits of allowing some of the poor, tired, huddled masses yearning to be free to live here. Their hard work, sacrifice and dedication have helped build the United States. This is important to remember at Christmas because Jesus became a refugee and later an immigrant after His birth due King Herod’s hatred.
I hope you get a chance to read this powerful story of Jessie’s love. The illustrations are beautiful and show difficulties and ultimate triumph of this young, vulnerable girl. What a story! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
