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Hello, my name is Arnold Kharacterax. I am a poor, 22 year-old Irishman. I have been working as a petty landlord servent all my life, and just today I heard about the riches of America. A new life, better jobs, and above all, freedom. I have saved all my life for a time like this. I plan to depart by no later than the 29th of June; 14 days from now. All I have to do is stage my disappearance...
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It was a difficult endeavor, but I was able to stage my disappearance. Nothing says gone like an empty slave quarter. I boarded the ship on this day. Steerage class is a horrid mess, but it is something. I hope the journey isn't too bad...
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I arrive in the wonderous land of America in a strange city called "New York". After I stumble off the boat, I go through a strange series of examinations. I thank god above for allowing me to understand what the examiners were saying. I saw people being forced into rooms, and very few out into an open hall. I was lucky to follow the hall out to enter the nation known as America. I immediatly went looking for a place to live.
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It's been exactly one year since I moved to America, and life has been better than Ireland already. At first, I shared a room with a lady named Melinda Burlington, but was soon able to move out. I began working as a feather-plucker with a wage of $1.00 a day. The other employees hated my willingness to accept a lower pay, but my bosses loved it. I just heard about the Homestead Act and the free land. I have begun packing for the end of the month.
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After I packed my things, I bought a small wagon and a horse for my travels. As I said my final goodbyes, I stepped into my wagon. I was astonished to find Melinda hiding with the items in the back. She begged to come along, and after some arguing, I agreed. Together, we began our journey to the west.
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It was a long journey with many perils, but we made it. As we arrived, we learned that our land had to be earned in a race. I immediatly asked Melinda to set up a shelter for us, and I ran in search of a horse. In the stables, I found only one left. Slow and unresponsive. I took it, since it was the last one left and my other horse was too weak. I tied it up, and drifted to sleep.
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Today was the day of the race. As soon as the gun was shot, everyone was madly running for a piece of land. I kicked my horse and almost went flying off. It was mad! It turns out, it was never allowed to run, and the sudden urge of freedom lifted its emotions. I was the first person to claim a piece of land, and the happiest person alive that day. I forgot to mention this, but Melinda is someone who touched my heart. So on that very day I asked for her hand in marriage. She agreed.
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It has been four months since me and Melinda have been married, and life is going well. We have settled down on our land, and we are very content with ourselves. I work as a race-master and horse stabler, and Melinda does day-care for children. I have tried to sell my horses, but alas, nobody wants them. All we have to do, now, is live the rest of our lives.
