Threads of Life


30 June 2013 Wewriwa submission, 8 sentences for review

I am writing much of this from memory so I may need to tweak it after I find my notes in a box from moving. I am going to write about the children's uncle, who will receive them in Canada.

"Friedrich Freimann was the first of the family, that I know of, to immigrate to Canada. He was sponsored by the Selkirk Settlement Group (5th Earl of Selkirk), who had been granted blocks of land by the Hudson Bay Company. Thus, Friedrich came to Canada in 1895 and his brother, Carl closer to 1890. Friedrich brought his oxen along with him as well as some farm implements. The first winter, he lived with another settler from the same area in Volhynia as he had come from. When spring came, he built a log cabin for his family.  Friedrich was very clever in putting together the tools that he needed for farming. I would guess that he was the source of payment for his mother, and his sister's children to come to Canada."


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Threads of Life

A posting for wewriwa.com
June 15, 2013

I continue with the story of the children, traveling with their grandmother from Poland or Russia to Canada after their last parent had died. They hope to find a home in Alberta, Canada with two uncles who had come there with their families previously. Minna, My grandmother, speaks although I fear a few of my words may be unknown by some 9 year olds.

“My cold did not go away the whole time on that despicable ship, nor did Gustav’s. From the cold wind of the ocean on deck, to the sweaty, stinking steerage section where they have packed too many of us in, to having no food, it was not a pleasant trip.  When we left the ship, I was afraid that Grandma would never find the train that we were to go on with so few people speaking German. She had a name written on a paper, but when she showed it to people they would often shake their heads. We lugged our heavy bags and finally found the right train. On it, we found a couple of seats. I fell asleep right away with my head on Grandma’s shoulder. We stopped at a relative on the way to Alberta where we had food at last and our clothes were washed, but I am afraid that I do not remember who they were or where they lived.. Boarding the train again, we finally came to Edmonton, Alberta and Uncle Friedrich was there to meet us.”

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Threads of LifeThreads of Life

June 1, 2013
Weekend Writing Warrior entry of 8 sentences

This week will be a very calm, boring entry. I don't know if German people sang Happy Birthday at that time. I'm guessing that poor, shy people did not want to draw attention to themselves.

"Minna had her 9th birthday on the ship October 30th but there was nothing with which to celebrate. The four children, Emma, Ida, Gustav and Minna, together with their grandmother, Caroline Weinert Freimann reached Quebec 7 November 1902. Somehow they found the train to take them across Canada to Edmonton. Minna remembered stopping somewhere along the way to visit relatives, but she did not remember where this had been or who they had visited. Here they had their first real meal since leaving their previous home. They may have stayed a few days and had several meals to help build them up for the rest of their trip.  Embarking the train once again, they traveled to Edmonton, Alberta. Here uncle and son, Friedrich Freimann met them with  a wagon and horses."

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