Poland was under Russian Rule at the time of my parents' lives. The Polish language, traditions and all Polish customs were prohibited.People of Poland had to smuggle their children into root cellars to teach them to read and write. (I believe that's what they were. We were told that it was a big hole dug out to store vegetables for winter use. Also to keep their dairy products from spoiling.)
My mother, at the age of eleven, was taken into service at the home of a noblewoman. There she was taught to sew, needlepoint, crochet, etc. (anything that had to do with sewing). She was in service until her teens. (Fortunately they were kind people.)
My father and his brothers were musicians. They performed at the dances and balls of the nobility. There, my parents met. (In the servants quarters, I imagine.) I don't know how much of a courtship followed, but, eventually, they married. My Grandparents were opposed to the marriage, because my father was much older than my mother. (In the present it doesn't matter, but at that time; a "No, No".) Another reason was they didn't consider him a worker because he was a "traveling" musician.
The Grouss family were millers. They had a mill, where people brought wheat, oat, rye and had it ground into different stages. (I don't know too much about "milling".)After my parents were married, my father was put to work in the mill. This, he didn't care for, very much.
My mother, on the other hand, continued sewing and most of all bearing children. She was very good in her craft of sewing, needlepoint, etc. She could sew anything! Never needed a pattern. One could show her a picture of something they wanted, and bring her the material. She would drop it, cut and sew. By today's standards she was a Designer. She made gowns for brides, dresses for girls Communions and Confirmations. I still remember the beautiful clothes she made for me! Suits, dresses, skirts, coats and also underwear (bloomers, etc.). We had to wear gym suits in school, for physical fitness classes. I remember, my mother staying up until midnight, on the treadle sewing machine sewing for people. She had so many children to take care of, during the day, she had to work at sewing by lamp light. What a "Career" Woman!
She never went anywhere, because she was always pregnant. She had 14 children, 6 died when they were between 9 months and 2 years old. She never complained about her "Lot". She loved my father till the day she died, in spite of many sorrows and hardships that she had in her lifetime. She taught me patience, kindness, love and caring to remember the good and forget the bad. She was a wonderful teacher and mentor, My Mama!
My father and his brothers were musicians, who played at the "Balls" of the Gentry. My father was a second violinist to his brother Victor and also Antoni who was a clarinetist, Teofil played accordian (What an orchestra!) but they made music to dance by. My father could pick up any instument find "A" and take it from there. He was very gifted. He could do carpentry, plumbing, papering, painting, anything in building. Even stonework. But he didn't like to work in the factory. Although he was a molder in an Iron factory and that was the most difficult job anyone could do. The heat (molten iron) was unbearable. Now I can understand why he didn't like factory work.
He liked to garden. To plant and watch plants grow, he tried many different vegetables and flowers. He had beautiful house plants and neat rows of veggies in the garden. I remember a big hole dug in part of the yard for compost, many many years ago since I am 80 years old now (1992). Spaghetti squash was something new when I was about 16 years old.
My father was better educated than my mother. His writing and reading were much more advance than my mothers. He served in the Prussian Army and was a medic. I don't know what year or how many but many Polish men were taken to the battlefields at this time.
I remember my cousin Helen (Teofil's daughter) had a very ugly infected finger. The Doctor wanted to amputate, but my father said he would take care of it. He saved her finger and she would show her finger that "Stryjck" (Uncle Walter to her) saved. Another one that I remember was a neighbor, Rostowski. He had his appendix removed and after the operation he had a very bad infection. People at that time were so afraid of hospitals. His parents would not take him back for treatment, even to a doctor. Well, my father took care of that and saved the boy's life. I know he grew up and is in the school system (or maybe retired by now). There must have been more stories about my Papa that I haven't heard.
He loved all the "Good Music". When we were growing up the radio was our entertainment. He would listen to the symphonies, philharmonic and all classical music. Of course Strauss Waltzes, Muzarkas and all were his favorites. They became mine too. Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and all wrote so many beautiful compositions that bring tears to my eyes and a feeling inside that I can't explain. Just beautiful, beautiful music. If only some of our younger generations would listen and benefit from the beauty.
We were a musical family. I remember when growing up my father's sisters and brothers would visit us. Uncle Victor and Papa on the violins. There was much singing. Sometimes just harmonizing, what a treat for us kids. We would sit on the stairs and listen, sometimes, join in the merriment, especially around Christmas time. So many happy memories, now our children are experiencing theirs. I hope and pray they remember us as we remembered our parents.
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