My mother, Justine, was only 17 when she emigrated from Austria-Hungary to America. Her mother died when she was 12 years old, and her father re-married quickly. He needed a strong, young woman to help him work the farm. The chores of housework and caring for three younger siblings became Mama’s responsibility. He dreams of following her older brother, Frank, who left home at 18 for America, slowly faded.
As her 17th birthday neared, she despaired of ever realizing her dream. A local farmer had already approached her father with a proposal of marriage. She did not love this man and dreaded her future with him. She prayed constantly that something would happen to change the course of her life. Her prayers were answered!! One day a letter arrived from her brother, Frank. He was able to save enough money for her fare to come to America. He had been able to secure a position for her as assistant cook to a wealthy Jewish family.
At first, her father did not want her to leave home. However, he was a kindly man, and loved his oldest daughter. To her great joy he gave permission for her to leave. However, her joy did not last too long. She was very lonely and frightened by this huge city and wondered why she ever left her safe, mral home. She was a quiet, shy, softspoken, but hard-working person, and instantly was liked by everyone.
The Braunstein household was quite large and had several servants. One young girl was the personal maid to Mrs. Braunstein and her two girls. Her name was Elsie and she was the most vivacious person Mama had ever met. She was always laughing and singing, tossing her short, blonde curls. It soon became apparent that these two completely different personalities would form a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
The Braunsteins were kind employers and treated their servants well. However, as was the custom in the early 1900’s, the girls worked long, tedious hours and they were permitted only one Sunday a month time off.
Eventually, as the girls became more friendly, Elsie kept telling Mama about her wonderful brother, Richard, and his friend, John, who worked as bakers. She, Elsie, had already decided that John was the man she would marry. Of course the fact that he had not, as yet, asked her to be his wife, did not deter her decision!! She kept urging Mama to come with her to meet wonderful Richard and the four of them could explore Manhattan on their day off. Mama told me that she was terrified of meeting men on a friendly basis, never having been at social gathers with them.
After spending a lonely Sunday by herself, she finally succumbed to Elsie’s pleadings and agreed to meet wonderful Richard. Mama admitted to me that at their first encounter she was so disappointed and almost cried. What was so wonderful about this short, plump, and beginning to go bald, young man?? Oh well; she was committed to this date and would try to enjoy it. However, it soon became apparent that he had the same joyous personality as Elsie’s. He also had a lovely singing voice and, with Elsie, would charm the blues away.
As you must have surmised by now, these two young couples married and were best man and maid of honor for each other. All their lives they remained friends, loving and helping each other. I can remember many joyous and sad occasions shared by our two families. Their love for each other did not die, because today they lay side by side in St. John’s cemetery to continue to share it for all eternity.
This love story continues into the next generation. My cousin Willy and I were born only two days apart in March of 1918. The strong tie between us was very soon apparent. During our childhood there wasn’t anything we could not discuss. We told each other our secrets, hopes, and dreams. He taught me how to play poker and I taught him how to crochet! At age 13 I told him I was in love with his best friend, Harold, and would marry him. 1 made him swear not to tell a soul and he promised to keep my secret, and he did—until as best man at our wedding, during his toast to us, ha gave my secret away, to the astonishment of my new husband and delighted guests!
Willy married my friend Nettie, and Harold and I were their best man and maid of honor at their ceremony. Needless to say, we, too, had a very loving and happy relationship which lasted until I am now the lone survivor.
Whenever I think of them I remember two lines of a poem I once read:
“How happy they are. I cannot know
But happy am I who love them so”
Copyright © 2002-2010 Anne Humbach