Description: A Self-Reliant Little Woman. Annie KOPPEL, the Immigrant, and Her Young Charges. Date: April 6 1885 Newspaper published in: St. Louis, MO New York, April 6. A little blue eyed, flaxen-haired girl formed the head of a very juvenile procession that filed into Castle Garden from an emigrant barge yesterday morning. The little girl was Annie KOPPEL, 11 years old. She turned around every now and then and gazed solicitously at the rest of the procession, made up of Martha KOPPEL, aged 7, Hans KOPPEL, aged 5, and 2 year old Katie KOPPEL. A big bewhiskered German picked up Katie and set her on one of his mighty shoulders. Katie was delighted, but Annie looked up in alarm and cried to the big German, "Be careful! You will let the child fall." "Never fear, little mother," said the big German, stooping down and stroking Annie's hair with his disengaged hand. The broad, fatherly smile that shone through the big German's whiskers reassured Annie, and she returned to her place at the head of the line. Annie stepped in front of the recording clerk, and told him her name and the names of the rest of the procession. She showed tickets to St. Louis, and said she was going there to meet her mother. "How much money have you got?" asked the clerk. "None." replied Annie. "What are you and the babies going to live on before you get to St. Louis?" Annie said she thought St. Louis was only a little way from Castle Garden, and that she wouldn't need anything until she got there. Then she calmly asked: "How much would be required to feed the children and me?" until they reach St. Louis. Somebody said: "About $2." Annie corrugated her white brow, thought a moment and asked the clerk if he would lend her $2, saying she would give him a receipt for it, and send the money back when she got to her mother. The clerk gave her the money, she made out a receipt, to which she attached her signature in a clear, business-like hand. She put the money in her pocket, turned around and smiled on her smaller companions, and said: "Come on, children," and the procession moved on.