DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | ""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Transcribe
Translate

""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Page 27

" Maria, you and Elena cannot go with me. I do not know what kind of work I will find. I do not know where I will stay. It is no place for a young child. You understand, don't you? Your father said you could go live with them while I am away. you will be fine, won't you?" Maria hesitated for a moment as she absorbed her husband's words. 

"No... I mean, yes. Of course, you are right. That is no place for a baby. I just assumed I would go with you. But, Leno, I am afraid. What if something should happen to you? Your child would have no father. I, no husband. I remember when my father was forced to leave us alone. Then, my mother left us alone for a time. We did not know from one day to the next if we would have parents. Now, you are leaving. It will not be easy for you to go but me staying behind will not be easy either." Maria stepped forward to join her husband and together they turned to continue their way home and to what lay ahead. 

In three weeks, Leno resettled Maria and Elena into her parent's home and had gotten together the money to buy the visa. He and Antonio got together what little clothing they had and took the first train to San Antonio, Texas. In San Antonio, a crossroads station was created from where immigrants were able to select jobs. The restrictions that were being enforced on the east coast migration from Europe did not apply to those coming in from the south of the border. For example, if customs were convinced that Europeans could not earn a living in the United States due to mental or physical disabilities, they were refused admittance. 

In San Antonio, an entepreter translated the job opportunities and assisted the people in buying their train tickets to the next town. Leno and Antonio choose a job description that matched them with dock work in Buffalo, New York. 

Neither of them had any idea of the distance from San Antonio to New York and were beginning to become concerned as to the long duration in reaching this place called Buffalo. Upon arrival, Leno was assigned as a worker hauling cement in a foundry. This work proved to be too much for his 140 pound frame and he was quickly transfered to unloading freight. From this work, he was able to cash his monthly check (by thumb print as many did) and send $60.00 U.S. dollars of it back to Maria in Botija. After sixteen paychecks, it was time for him to return to his family. 

The money Leno had sent to Maria was secure in a hidden safe under the floor of her father's home. With it, they were able to rent a place of their own, rent some land, and buy some livestock. Their newly purchased livestock consisted of two cows with calves, two oxen, and a male and female donkey. They were at last ready to leave for their own home. Life on this land was offering them the peace that they and others around them deserved. The labors they put into the land was rewarded in secureness of food, shelter and family unity. 

In September of 1924. Maria learned that she was carrying her second child. On the ninth of May of the following year, Maria Guadalupe joined the three Canos. Her godparents, Pedro Ramirez and Josepha Gaitos fondly held the second Cano daughter while Fray Cayetano performed the baptismal rites at Corazon de Jesus church

27.

Saving...

" Maria, you and Elena cannot go with me. I do not know what kind of work I will find. I do not know where I will stay. It is no place for a young child. You understand, don't you? Your father said you could go live with them while I am away. you will be fine, won't you?" Maria hesitated for a moment as she absorbed her husband's words. "No... I mean, yes. Of course, you are right. That is no place for a baby. I just assumed I would go with you. But, Leno, I am afraid. What if something should happen to you? Your child would have no father. I, no husband. I remember when my father was forced to leave us alone. Then, my mother left us alone for a time. We did not know from one day to the next if we would have parents. Now, you are leaving. It will not be easy for you to go but me staying behind will not be easy either." Maria stepped forward to join her husband and together they turned to continue their way home and to what lay ahead. In three weeks, Leno resettled Maria and Elena into her parent's home and had gotten together the money to buy the visa. He and Antonio got together what little clothing they had and took the first train to San Antonio, Texas. In San Antonio, a crossroads station was created from where immigrants were able to select jobs. The restrictions that were being enforced on the east coast migration from Europe did not apply to those coming in from the south of the border. For example, if customs were convinced that Europeans could not earn a living in the United States due to mental or physical disabilities, they were refused admittance. In San Antonio, an entepreter translated the job opportunities and assisted the people in buying their train tickets to the next town. Leno and Antonio choose a job description that matched them with dock work in Buffalo, New York. Neither of them had any idea of the distance from San Antonio to New York and were beginning to become concerned as to the long duration in reaching this place called Buffalo. Upon arrival, Leno was assigned as a worker hauling cement in a foundry. This work proved to be too much for his 140 pound frame and he was quickly transfered to unloading freight. From this work, he was able to cash his monthly check (by thumb print as many did) and send $60.00 U.S. dollars of it back to Maria in Botija. After sixteen paychecks, it was time for him to return to his family. The money Leno had sent to Maria was secure in a hidden safe under the floor of her father's home. With it, they were able to rent a place of their own, rent some land, and buy some livestock. Their newly purchased livestock consisted of two cows with calves, two oxen, and a male and female donkey. They were at last ready to leave for their own home. Life on this land was offering them the peace that they and others around them deserved. The labors they put into the land was rewarded in secureness of food, shelter and family unity. In September of 1924. Maria learned that she was carrying her second child. On the ninth of May of the following year, Maria Guadalupe joined the three Canos. Her godparents, Pedro Ramirez and Josepha Gaitos fondly held the second Cano daughter while Fray Cayetano performed the baptismal rites at Corazon de Jesus church 27.