Hope for Hannah

Question

New York City, 1864
1
Hannah Oglemeyer jumped as the factory bell loudly proclaimed the end of another long work shift. Placing her hand on her back, she cringed as she felt her muscles stretch painfully. It was the end of another 14 hours hunched over a sewing machine, and she closed her eyes and sighed with the knowledge that it would begin all over again tomorrow.

2
"Hannah!"

3
Hearing her friend's cheerful voice, Hannah reluctantly opened her eyes. Muriel stood in front of her, smiling as always as she straightened her kerchief and wiped her oil-stained hands on her apron.

4
"You be sure to wish Alfred a happy birthday for me, Hannah." Muriel's smile broke for a moment as she added, "How I wish I could have gotten the boy something. It's just been so rough this month, what with Henry sick and all."

5
Muriel's husband had been ill for two months now, and Hannah knew that her friend was barely able to buy him soup, let alone purchase a gift for Alfred.

6
"But he's doing better every day. That he is," Muriel continued with conviction as she nodded and smiled. "I just know he'll be back to work soon. You tell Alfred that I'll give him something next month. I'm sure things will be better by then."

7
Hannah placed a hand on her friend's arm and squeezed it reassuringly. She knew all too well that it would not be better next month; in fact, it seemed these days that it would never get better. Ever since her family had moved to New York City two years ago to be a part of this new industrial "revolution," they had suffered terrible living and working conditions and earned hardly any money. Some days, Hannah was amazed at Muriel's ability to continue to find a silver lining in every cloud.

8
But as she collected her meager earnings and descended the factory steps with the other female workers, Hannah felt her spirits begin to lift. Separating herself from the group, she pulled out a pouch that she had hidden in the lining of her skirt and added the day's wages to it.

9
On the crowded, dirty street, she hurried about her errands. First, she stopped at the butcher, for tonight she would surprise Alfred with meat for dinner. Then, she visited the grocer for some bread before finally stopping somewhere she hardly ever entered—the toy-maker's store. Awkwardly, she stepped inside and searched for the item she had been watching in the window for weeks. Bringing the toy to the counter, she pulled out her money pouch with trembling hands. Would she have enough to pay for it?

10
Hannah held her breath as she slowly counted out the coins, one by one. With a soaring heart, she handed the clerk her very last coin, knowing that it was just enough to buy Alfred the little tin soldier in front of her. She smiled at the clerk with a mixture of relief and joy. She had saved for months, but she was able to give her son a birthday gift that he would truly love. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face!

11
As Hannah left the store, she held the wrapped package tightly to her chest. Suddenly, the endless work shifts and miserable living conditions all seemed worth it, just to have the opportunity to hand her son a simple toy. She couldn't help but smile at the idea as she entered the broken-down tenement where they lived and climbed the stairs with anticipation for the evening and renewed hope for tomorrow.

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Multiple Choice Question
Use this photograph of a woman working at a sewing machine from the mid 1800s to answer the question below.

Which caption would be most appropriate if this photograph were to illustrate “Hope for Hannah”?

A.
Terrible working and living conditions

B.
The end of another 14 hours

C.
She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face!

D.
A silver lining in every cloud

Answer 1

The most appropriate caption to illustrate “Hope for Hannah” would be:

C. She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face!

This caption captures Hannah's hope and excitement regarding the gift she purchased for her son, which is a central theme in the story.