|
Ripley Roots |
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Moschels
Scene Two Act
One
A
Midwinter's Day In Webenheim Margaret wanted to get up early on this particular day. She was not sleeping and had not been for several nights, actually weeks, so she might as well get up early. It had been one month. One month since Christian had died. It seemed like yesterday, and it seemed months ago. How could she feel both ways about one event--the same event, her husband's death. Her husband's death....the words lingered in her mind, swirling around endlessly like they had since his death. In many ways she had little time to think because life had to go on for she and her six children and two step children. Eating, working, sleeping, children going to school, cleaning, tending to animals, closing down Christian's business...all these things had to occur daily. Thud...a huge kick came from inside her belly. Margaret knew the feeling well after six children and wondered if Christian's last child would make it here before spring arrived. She guessed yes, and she knew how to predict these things pretty well by now. About a month Margaret guessed. Christian could not help with this delivery and Louisa was let out as a servant and young Margaret was only 13, but perhaps that was old enough. Ah, there goes the mind again, thought Margaret, wandering, wandering, worrying, worrying. Never stopping. Never calm except when she was head first into a task, which, thankfully, was very often. Today, though, Margaret wanted to get up early and look at Christian's journal. She had not done so since Christian's death and today, one month since he left this earth, seemed like a good time to do so. She got out of bed with great difficulty with her swollen belly and feet and walked around to Christian's side of the bed...she still only slept on her half...and reached underneath the bed and pulled out the bound journal. It was a elegant book with a green cover and superb binding. It had been given to Christian by his father Georg in 1813 when Christian went off to be a cabinetmaker apprentice. There was an inscription on the inside cover, To Christian...may your work life do you well, your father. So far in this early morning hour Margaret was doing everything by feel in this dark day of winter. It was cold, damp, and pitch black. By instinct she lit the candle by the bed and looked at the inscription in the light glow produced by the candle. Margaret knew her husband had highly valued the gift from his father, Georg. His father knew he was a writer and recorder and would find the book a companion in his life's work. And he did. He wrote in the journal from his 13th year until two days before his death recording his life as a worker, father, and husband. Margaret turned the page in the journal...in big letters the year 1813 was imprinted on the first page. It seemed strange to think of her husband starting his work life the same year she started life. Christian was a beginning apprentice and she was the newest child in the Schantz household in Webenheim the same year. She looked down at the first entry. I fear writing the first words in this journal. The pages are so neat, the binding so perfect, how can my thoughts match the elegance of this book. How like Christian, concerned that his thoughts would not match up to some perfection he had in mind, even at the tender age of 13. It was how he felt about all his creations, whether it be a piece of furniture or his children. The work was never good enough. He was never good enough even though he tried with all his might. Skipping over the first few pages of the journal, Margaret knew she was thumbing over the first days of her husband's work life as an apprentice in Webenheim under the Master he called Mr. Schwartz. Master Schwartz had several apprentices in his shop and for these first days of the journal Christian was the newest and youngest man in the shop. One of his earlier entries stated, One month's test necessary work before Master Schwartz will let me be bound to him. I must show him I can do it. Margaret thought of the number of apprentices Christian had employed the last fourteen years of their married life and each time he would say to her, "I will never treat them as Master Schwartz treated me. Mark my words." Margaret never quite knew what that meant, but Christian always went out of his way to be fair and kind to the young workers starting in the craft. Still have to start the fires and sweep the shop in addition to all the rest of my duties. Ah, the trials of the youngest worker. Christian made his youngest workers do the same. Everyone liked a new apprentice to come to the shop because the duties would be rotated and each round up you got a better choice of what you wanted to do. Embarrassed again. When will I learn. Today I was sent to get a dozen keyholes from the ironmonger. Everyone was laughing when I returned. Christian was shy, painfully shy, and jokes like this had always been difficult for him. He did not know how to be a jokester and didn't like to make others the butt of jokes. Margaret thought she had heard every one of the early pranks against him. His plane glued to the bench. The time he was asked to go get a drop of strap-oil (and received a leather strap on his behind instead). The time they exchanged wine for fruit juice during his meal break. They were childish things you could say, but Master Schwartz did not stop them and in fact encouraged them to toughen in his new apprentices. His time there could not go swiftly enough, but he learned his trade. Still in the year of 1813 Margaret noted another entry. The holdfast rang twice today. The first time Hans had to apologize to all of us and provide drink after work, the second Peter had to take over my duties of sweeping up the shop at the end of the day. Justice in the shop. Christian explained it to Margaret many times and in reality she used a version of that with her own children. The rule in the shop was that any time a man had a grievance with another they could immediately hold court in the shop and settle the matter. The person who wanted to state his grievance would simply strike his iron holdfast on the top of his workbench with a hammer. The sound would echo throughout the shop and the men would stop work and go to where the sound came from. Before hearing the grievance the men would choose a judge by show of hands and then the striker would present his case; others would comment; and the judge would judge. Margaret turned many pages and found herself in 1819. A wonderful send off today. I am both frightened and filled with opportunity in going to Blieskastel. This had to be the day Christian had looked forward to for six years in Master Schwartz' shop. His life as an apprentice was over and he was a journeyman. Master Schwartz threw a party for his now not-so-young apprentice. Christian talked about the years in Blieskastel fondly to Margaret. He was young. He had few responsibilities. He was away from his family and Master Schwartz. Life was good. It was hard for Margaret to think of Christian as a young man. She wondered what he was like. The man she married was already well established in his craft and his way of life and carried many responsibilities. He must have been very different in Blieskastel. A carefree Christian...would that have been possible, mused Margaret on this dark, cold morning. No, she thought, maybe not, since a journeyman's life is well regulated by the masters. The molding of this cabinetmaker took place in Blieskastel, of this Margaret was certain. When she first met Christian, he was already a master cabinetmaker in Webenheim, but this did not happen magically. He had worked hard in his journeyman jobs, working under several masters, and then he came "home" to Webenheim and applied to his Guild. Margaret hunted for the entry she was now seeking and found it in July, 1825. I am a Guild member. I thought it would never happen. Life will be different now. Father is proud of me. I know it. Margaret had not known Christian as a nonguild member. The Cabinetmaker Guild had its place she guessed; it protected them and spread out the work, but...she didn't even know how she wanted to end that thought. Petty, perhaps. The Carpenter Guild making it impossible for cabinetmakers to use iron nails was an example of what she thought Guilds came down to in the end. They protected, but at what price. Margaret was accusing the Guild of being petty, but perhaps now she was being petty as well, because she, too, had turned to Guild in the last month and the months building up to Christian's death. The Guild was like family since her marriage to Christian. She both loved and hated that. She valued the protection, but detested that the Guild had separated her from her own family in all matters that were important to her now. Perhaps she could count on the Guild for a while, but for how long. She knew, also, that the Guild would want her oldest son, Louis, in a short time. He was 11, but in less than two years he could be an apprentice. And it starts all over again thought Margaret. Birth. Apprentice. Journeyman. Entry to the Guild. Master. Die. Margaret began skipping more pages in search of the entries that started a new life for Christian and found it in October 1825. My shop, my very own shop! It is a time I thought would never come. My father is pleased and I will pay him back soon. It is a small shop but it will grow and I will grow with it. Reading this entry Margaret could feel how proud Christian was of himself. He had successfully completed his apprenticeship and journeyman days, applied to the Guild and been accepted, and now the fruits of all his labor had ended in achieving his goal of having his own shop. This shop Margaret remembered well. She was 12 at the time. Her family used his shop, even though it was off the main street, and that is how she first met the young cabinetmaker. Her parents had known Christian prior to his journeyman era and were more than willing to try this new cabinetmaker for their furniture needs. My first piece in my shop finished today. It is a oak side table and I charged X amount of money and was paid when I delivered it with my cart. I shall celebrate tonight. Margaret wondered what Christian did on that evening so many years ago. Perhaps he already knew Louisa and celebrated with her. Margaret skipped many pages in the journal. She knew she would read them sometime, but not now. Christian's life with Louisa had always been a fact of her life it seemed. Perhaps she was jealous of the days when Christian was young and energized and hopeful and that those days were shared with someone else, not her. Whatever, now was not the time she was going to think about that. A cry was echoing down the hall and disturbed her reverie. It was Jacob. The winter had been so cold and he had been sick for much of his second winter. Margaret started to put down the journal to tend to her youngest child and then she heard young Margaret already up. She knew Jacob would be cared for well. Margaret had essentially turned Jacob over to her daughter Margaret this winter. Christian's illness, Jacob's illness, the daily chores of the house, Christian's death....it had been an awful winter. She never would have made it without her oldest daughter. Never. Was it time to get up for good and start this day? Just a few moments more Margaret thought. She wanted just a few moments more to live in the past. Not face the present, let alone the future. Margaret did not know what to do with the future. Margaret kept turning the pages until she found the day in 1839 she sought. Today starts a new life. A new wife. I am happy, very happy. I know my children are as happy as they have been for a while. It will be a good life. I will work to make Margaret happy and be worthy of her. There is was, her wedding day. Margaret closed her eyes, breathed a deep breath, and she could see her parents and family traveling together and bringing her to the wedding ceremony. She was 26 and marrying a widower with two children ages 11 and 9. Her life would never be the same again. It was so long ago and she hardly knew the Margaret that came to that wedding feast and became a hausfrau of Christian Moschel on that day, now over fourteen years ago. Fourteen years ago. Unbelievable. She knew if she looked carefully through the journal she would find every page where each of her six children were born. Christian had been in attendance for each birth and marked them not only in the family bible but in this journal as well. Six children and the seventh on the way. She had been a good hausfrau for her children and stepchildren. Christian had been a good father; provided well; and left them as well as he could. But now that is all over. The children are here and there is no Christian. Margaret knew she must do on her own. Panic began to set in as it had on other mornings when she took the liberty to think before she got up. Usually some child was up, depending on whose duty it was to start the fire, and she could stop her thoughts of wondering what would happen tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and the many tomorrows that were to come with so many mouths to feed and bodies to clothe and minds to teach. Margaret knew she had to start thinking about this. She had successfully put it out of her mind for over a month. She told herself she had to get up and face THIS day. Margaret lingered on two more pages. The first page was in written in late 1853. Received the first letter from John today. They have arrived in Illinois and are doing well. He advises me to come. Margaret remembered this day well. Christian was still feeling well and was overjoyed at hearing from his brother in America and Margaret could tell he wanted to join his brother in this new land. Margaret then forced herself to look at the last page written on January 1, 1854. I am very weak. The new year starts and I wonder if I will see it through. Margaret closed the journal and put it back underneath the bed. She got up. There was a new day to face. Young Margaret had Jacob in her arms consoling him. She could hear Louis stirring and she knew Frederick would follow his older brother and Charles would dawdle a bit behind his older brothers. Margaret would start her day by helping Catherine dress. Yes, that would start this day and then it will flow from there. o o o As the reader can gather from this short vignette, Margaret Schantz Moschel's life was in great turmoil. She was a woman of 41 years of age, just widowed, who had six children ages 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and was in the latter stages of pregnancy with a seventh child. She was also the step mother of two older children from her husband's first marriage. Her current prospects ranged from dismal to dim. As contrasted to when her husband became a widower and took a younger wife to care for his two children, there would be no man who would want to take on the responsibility of she and her seven children. So personally, these were crisis times for this Moschel family.
In addition, the larger scene around this family was also filled with change, drama, and rapid evolution. Christian Moschel lived from 1800-1854, most of the time in Webenheim with apprenticeship experiences in nearby Bavarian areas. We shall never know how much Christian felt the tides of change, but the land where he lived went through as many changes as Margaret was destined to make after Christian's death. Christian's early youth dovetailed with the era of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars. In Napoleon's quest to carry the ideals of the French Revolution throughout Europe, he conquered many lands. The area nearest France, where the Moschels lived, caught the revolutionary spirit early on. The military occupation came, and where Christian lived was under French rule from 1792-1814. Some good came from this, such as the Napoleon Code and buying church lands very cheap. For the Moschel family the biggest impact might have been the lost privileges of the Guilds as well as losing potential markets and also hating the occupying French troops on their land. As young Christian started his apprenticeship years, The Congress of Vienna convened (1815-16) after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo and essentially the Congress gave back all the lands to the original countries and reinstated privileges taken away by Napoleon. The result was probably two-fold for Christian: he was not needed as a war machine, and peace generally reigned in his geographical area and throughout Europe for the next 30 years making it easier to establish a family and means of living. The so-called German lands made a similar transition in these times from the 240 states of the Holy Roman Empire (prior to Napoleon) to the Germanic confederation of 39 states in 1819. Webenheim was in the state of Bavaria. Because of the changes in politics on the big stage, it is likely that the Moschels felt first allegiance to family, then Webenheim, then Bavaria, and a VERY distant fourth to the Germanic Confederation of 39 states. And, as seems to be the case in modern European history, it is surely true the Moschels felt no allegiance to France. The 30-plus years of peace in Europe after The Congress of Vienna was shattered in 1848 when economic and social unrest turned to revolt in most of central Europe. The unrest was mainly urban and peopled by peasant workers who were fighting the repressive bureaucracies. There were several causes of the revolts, but, in short, too many workers (overpopulation) could not be a part of the industrial growth and destitution was the result for many. Could it have been this year or the year after (1849) when the revolution was thwarted that John and Christian Moschel, middle-age brothers with many family responsibilities, decided that emigration to America sounded better than what they had in Bavaria? Perhaps America was sought "less to build something new than to regain and conserve something old." For whatever combination of reasons John Moschel, brother of Christian, did go to America in 1853 with his wife and five children and lived in or near Washington, Illinois, near Peoria. The means for emigrating were enhanced by the building of railroads. In many ways the expansion of the railroads represented the changes in Europe in the 19th century. The continent went from wall fortifications around cities to protect the citizens and keep others out; to the time when train stations were in the center of the cities connecting people from one place to another. An astounding change. The first railroad in Germany was 1836, albeit a short one, but by 1852 a railroad went from Saarbrucken (near Webenheim) to Paris where there were connections to LeHavre at the coast to obtain a ship crossing to America. In all likelihood it is this route that John Moschel and is family used to leave Webenheim to eventually reach Illinois in the 1850s. None of the Moschels from this branch of the family stayed in Webenheim, Bavaria, long enough to see a united Germany which occurred in 1871 under Bismarck after more confederations, more wars, and in the words of Bismarck "blood and iron," showing his contempt for the policy route of settling questions. Our Moschels were not going to stay in Bavaria. They were going to America. Margaret, widow of Christian the cabinetmaker, with her two step children and seven sons and daughters of Christian were to leave the old world for the new. Not in 1854, but the winds of change were in the air for Margaret and her stepchildren and her oldest daughter Margaret and Louis and Frederick and Charles and Catherine and Jacob and Daniel, who was born March 17, 1854, just 2 1/2 months after his father, Christian, died.
|
||||||
|
© 2014 Theresa Ripley All rights reserved |
|||||||
