Louise’s Diary

 “Virginia! I think I have found it!” Vanessa was shouting breathless. Her voice echoed in the huge empty house.

“But these are just dirty socks. It couldn’t be the present for our 10^th birthday. It must be something unforgettable, big and beautiful.” said in an authoritative way the elder by 10 minutes sister.

After two hours of effervescent scouring about the presents, Virginia was to give up the whole idea and get some book to read. Then it dawned on her that it might be on the top of the bookcase. While her twin Vanessa was yawning, Virginia quickly climbed up the bookcase and began to run her fingers along the top. Suddenly, she felt a cool steel key. While she was trying to reach it, she pushed it and the key dropped behind the bookcase.

“Come here and help me move the bookcase a little bit.” Vanessa woke up from her drowsiness. The two sisters, however, had no idea that besides the key, they would find something even more interesting and impressive. Behind the fixture, there was an old wooden box with initials – LvG.

“Try to unlock it with the key. It may work out.” said Virginia with eagerness.

What a surprise it was when the girls realized that there was a diary in the box. Nothing like their presents. A strange scent wafted from the ancient book. 133 years ago…almost a century and a half. It must have belonged to their great-great-grandmother Louise van Geldern.

Virginia began to read. Her heart was pounding. Vanessa couldn’t believe this was happening. Their mother had told them the story many times, but they were now reading from the original source. It went like this:

October 15, 1889

I left my parents in Russia. While trying desperately to retain hold of my tears, I felt my heart burning from inside. Forcing a smile on their faces, they waved goodbye at the railway station in Odessa. Something in their eyes, however, showed me that they had no inclination to leave Russia. At least they didn’t intend to do it soon.

October 25, 1889

I am so happy I didn’t take much luggage with me. Some days ago, I arrived at Bremen by rail. I could hardly make my way through the crowds of passengers and welcoming parties. I boarded a ship, called "Herman”, for my long journey to America. I had left my childhood house and memories in Odessa. All my life I will remember where I came from. I am proud of my parents because they managed to raise a striving for knowledge girl, who has never been daunted by the challenges. I hope that I will have the chance to enrich my knowledge of the world and make my dream come true – to become a teacher. I am seventeen and I know that life is in front of me. I am constantly trying to convince myself that this trip is not an escape from the rural life which I had in Russia. However, I always end up with the same conclusion -I just want the best for myself. I want to be an educated young woman some day.

November 5, 1889

I am in love with the Atlantic Ocean! How could it be so beautiful and addictive? I met several German-Russians yesterday. We spent some time telling our stories and enjoying the fast pace of our ship cleaving the Atlantic. Then a strange man appeared. He had overheard our conversation and insisted on knowing more about our history - why we had left Germany and consequently Russia, what had led us to our decision to settle in America. Although the young man was speaking German, I noticed that he had an American accent. My assumption turned out to be right. Harry had visited his grandfather (father of his mother) in Russia and was now returning to America.

November 7, 1889

I am getting closer and closer with Harry. I learned that his father is on bad terms with his Russian grandfather and every visit costs him numerous squabbles. It was partially because of his genealogy, but I didn’t understand why exactly.

Harry and I are getting on very well. He is always kind to me and teaches me English two hours a day. I think we are already more than friends…

November 10, 1889

I have found my soul-mate. Even our dreams are close. Harry aspires to open a school in McIntosh county, I aspire to gain knowledge in foreign languages and teach. Tomorrow we arrive at New York. I have the hunch that we are not going to say goodbye for long.

November 12, 1889

I left Harry with a big kiss for goodbye and got on the train to Eureka, where we plan to meet soon. I am so happy now although I don’t know what exactly to expect from him. I will be waiting for him in Eureka… That is certain.

December 31, 1899

I forgot to write about my experiences. For ten years I was engulfed in my work, trying to eschew the thought of Harry and kill my feelings. It was in vain. When I arrived at Eureka I could hardly find a job to make ends meet. Eureka was popular for its wheat market and it was difficult to attract attention to education. The small prairie town was a gathering point for many German-Russian immigrants who had headed for the north parts of McIntosh County. I was considering the same but I didn’t do it then. It was time for a change.

August 8, 1917

Four months have passed since the US entered the World War One. I lost my job as a teacher because many organizations, among which the State Councils of Defense, attempted to ban the teaching of German language. They reaped success. I graduated the University of North Dakota excelling in languages – German, Russian, English and French but it didn’t matter. If I knew German or as some called it “the Kaiser’s tongue”, then I was one of the bad guys. Nothing could be worse until my husband was recruited in the naval force to fight for his country America. I was alone with my three sons and had to manage on my own. Because I was fired, the only escape was to work in the wheat industry. A period, which I’d rather not talk about much. Then came the bad news that Williams was killed in a fight. I was completely devastated, yet, still there was a ray of hope that everything would be all right.

February 3, 1918

Yesterday my seve-year-old son returned from school crying. Other children had insulted him that he was homeless and didn’t know where he belonged. I knew it was only part of all indignities, which German-Russians had to put up with. Fortunately, besides German my son speaks English. A fact, which saved him much more trouble.Even the German newspapers were compelled to obey the rules of the Trading-with-the-Enemy-Act. To preserve our language I keep speaking in German to my children. I am adamant to keep the German books which I have. I have heard of awful things happening such as withdrawing German books from the libraries, throwing them into the Missouri River or burning them as part of the celebrations for July 4^th. Nothing could make me reject and forget my origins. Nothing!

March 25, 1925 

I met Harry. What an unexpected meeting it was! I was shopping when I heard a soft voice: “Louise! Is this you?” Although I hadn’t seen him for nearly 36 years I momentarily recognized in him the boy with whom I had fallen in love on my way to America. His father had imposed a condition for him to marry a young and rich lady from South Dakota or to forget about the legacy amounting to  whole fortune. Harry had accepted because he realized that without money he couldn’t possibly dare to open a school. Then a month ago his wife died, soon his father too. Harry began to listen to his heart, which hadn’t forgotten his love… (Me). We talked for three hours, telling our misfortunes and indulging in our memories. I shared with him my happiness about my new job at Hopkins High School…It turned out that he was the founder of the school. Dreams have begun to come true.

April 2, 1925

Tomorrow is my wedding with Harry. I am so excited and happy. I have faced so many difficulties just because of my genealogy. I have lost a husband in the war, tried to keep ends meet working in the field, educated my three sons and meanwhile pursued my dream to work as a teacher. I am happier than ever. I often encourage myself: Louise you have coped with the challenges and have been a lifelong exemplification of the striving and ambitious woman, ready to set example and never to forget her origins.

I could only wish myself to successfully pass these qualities to my posterity.

“Wow! What an exciting life!” exclaimed the two girls in one voice...

“Let’s hide the diary. Mom and Dad are coming!” Vanessa opened the box and carefully put the valuable belonging in it.

“It was much more exciting than finding the presents. It was a whole life put into words! So we are great-great-children of a woman with German blood. Nobody will believe the story when we tell it at school”, said Virginia

“It depends on how we retell it”, smiled Vanessa.  

Sources of information:

“All things decently and in order and other writing on a German from Russia heritage” by Edna Boardman

“Russian-German settlements in the United States” by Richard Sallet

“Four generations” by Karen Herzog – article