Ballybowhill, County Wicklow, Ireland
April 12, 1882
7:30 p.m.
Martin William McFly sat on the rock wall bordering his family's farm. He held a letter in his hands. The letter was from Sorcha O?Connor, a girl that he had been courting for a while against her father's wishes. The previous year, Sorcha's family left Ireland for America and this was just the latest of letters persuading Martin to join her there.
March 9, 1882
Dearest Martin,
'Tis a cold winter here in Virginia City. The days are chilled and occasionally it will chill enough to snow a little. Sure'n not like the rain and damp back home.
Have you talked some more to your Da about the prospect of coming here? Ah, I know you said before that he was wary of leavin' home, but he should not worry. There is plenty of opportunity here. My Da is finally makin' a decent living minin' silver ore. Perhaps, if you were able to get decent work here, my Da would not be so opposed to us being together.
Well, I must go now and help Momma with supper. Please write me soon, love.
Your Sorcha
Martin sighed. He was torn between being with Sorcha and the thought of leaving his family behind. Seamus was open to the idea of leaving Ireland to search for better opportunity, but their father, Douglas, was dead set against leaving his homeland for a "wild goose chase" as he called it. No amount of persuasion seemed to sway the man. Seamus refused to leave their father behind and Martin couldn't leave them. Martin sighed again at the prospect of telling Sorcha that he wouldn't be in America anytime soon.
"Martin, where you be?" Seamus' voice bellowed. Martin noticed the tinge of panic in his brother's voice and ran across the field back to the cottage.
"Seamus what is it?" Martin asked.
"'Tis, Da. You had best fetch a doctor!" Seamus replied.
Martin mounted a horse and rode as fast as he could to the village. Any attempts to save their father came too late, however. Douglas was pronounced dead.
Martin and his twin brother Seamus hosted a wake and burial for their dearly departed father. It had been a solemn day, indeed, with friends and other folks dropping in to pay their condolences. Martin couldn't help but wonder what would happen to him and Seamus now that their father was gone. All that was left for them here was a failing farm saddled in debt. He knew it would only be a matter of time before they were evicted from their land. He realized that there was nothing standing in the way of them leaving for America.
"Da is not even cold in the grave and already you bring this up!" Seamus said in disgust.
"I don?t mean any disrespect to Da, God rest his soul," Martin replied. "Seamus, there is nothin' holdin? us here now. You said yourself that you wanted to get away from this stinking farm and all its debt. Now's our chance! Now's your chance to show Maggie that you're able to give her a decent life."
Seamus was thoughtful for a moment. Though his brother's timing may have been bad, he did bring up some good points. The farm was a liability to both of them. They hadn't raked in a decent profit since their mother had been alive. Seamus knew that he couldn't support Margaret on that and their wasn't exactly a plethora of jobs to chose from in County Mayo. It was this reason that kept Seamus from asking Maggie's father for her hand.
"You?re right, boyo," Seamus said. "Sure'n I'll never be able to ask for Maggie's hand if I stay here."
