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The Diary
Of Annaliese Arnold
by Nimo
April 30, 1772
It was morning in town, the sky was gray. Delaware looked a lot different than Germany. All you could see were shops opening and children going to school, some stopping to see who was coming off the ship. Felix and I were on the harbor and we were waiting for Mr. Smith. While I was writing, a man come over. He was thin with a mustache. he came off of a coach that was pulled by six horses and it looked expensive. He must be really wealthy because he was wearing a fancy wig and a coat with gold buttons. “Hello children, I am Mr. Smith.” he said with a smile. I said to myself, he looks kind enough, maybe he will let us go see Father.
May 1, 1773
Yesterday when Mr. Smith picked us up, he took us to his house and showed us where we will be sleeping and working. Felix will be working in the field harvesting and growing fruits and vegetables. I will be cooking and sewing. Now I am sewing a tear in Mr. Smith’s jacket. Felix is out tending to the livestock. Mister Smith said we can visit Father next week.He told us father got a job as a blacksmith. I cannot wait to see him. It has been five years since I have laid eyes on him.
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My name is Annaliese Arnold and I live in Berlin, Germany. I am fifteen years old and I live with my mother and brother Felix,who is twelve years old. My father is in America. He went there as an indentured servant for Mr. Thomas Smith. Some day I wish to go to America and live there. My mother is going to America next week to work as an indentured servant herself. Mother and Father said I could go too when I become eighteen years old. An indentured servant is one who goes to America to work for 4-7 years and in return they get a free passage to America from their master, After they work they are free to go. My family’s ambition is to go to America and live a happy life there, but first we must indenture. My father’s time is almost done; only one year until he is free. Here in Germany it is hard, food is scarce, and disease known as Yellow Fever is spreading. It has killed my grandfather and my baby sister Maria. They were sick for days until they died. I miss them so much! The only people I have now are my father, mother , Felix and Aunt Maria.
May 13th 1771
Yesterday was a hard day, because mother left to indenture and I am to take care of Felix. Before Mother left she hugged for ten minuets we all were crying. We will soon be together she said then she left.Now I am here at home eating cornmeal crunchy with bugs for dinner, it is has bugs in it because the bugs found it.We have to eat it because thats the only thing we have.It is hard not to gag. The house is really quiet and Felix is off to bed, I am cleaning the house. I wonder what Mother is doing right now. Oh how I long to see Father and Mother again. I hope I do not cry for I have to be strong for Felix because I know he misses Mother and Father as much, if not more than me. Outside is a rough storm, I pray that mother is all right!
May 15th 1771
Oh how horrible! There just has been news that the ship that was taking my mother to America sank and tore apart during last night’s storm! All the people that were on it are dead! Felix burst into tears when I told him what happened, Now he is crying and calling Mama’s name! I am too sad to write. I cannot believe I will not see her again! I must tell Papa when I write to him.
January 23 1772
Alas it is a New Year! Today I turn sixteen! Felix will turn thirteen next month. Today Aunt Maria came over to see how we were doing and brought us food. Aunt Maria reminds me of my sister. It feels like everyone in my family is dying. I talked to Aunt Maria about my dream to go to America and be reunited with father. I know I will have to indenture to get there, but I am destined to go in Mother’s place. Aunt Maria said that she will write a letter to Mr. Thomas Smith and ask him if I can. If he agrees, Felix and I will indenture and be on our way to America!
January 3O, 1772
I cannot wait for the letter to come. I hope Mr. Thomas Smith will agree. Felix and I cannot live by ourselves. I miss Father so much. He wrote back after I told him about Mother. I could tell he was weeping because the ink is runny on the spots that his tears dried upon.
March 1, 1772
Mr. Smith sent the Letter of Agreement. Felix and I are to indenture for four years. We are to leave on the the first of April. I am so happy I will see Father soon. When I am twenty and Felix is seventeen we will be free. Now I am cooking potato soup for our supper. I am so excited I cannot even cook. I know that it will take hard work and patience.
March 3, 1772.
Felix is ill! I am afraid that it might be the yellow fever. His head is hot and he is getting chills. His back hurts and he is vomiting. I am wetting a washcloth and putting it on his head to cool his head. I feel helpless because that is all I can do.
Berlin, Germany March 24, 1772
Felix is getting better, he has more energy. I am so happy. I thank the Lord for I was afraid of losing him.
March 30, 1772
Today Felix and I will begin our journey to America. Our house will be taken care of by Aunt Maria.The ship is large and it is called the Prince Germany .This voyage will take us a month.We have brought food and supplies we will need on our trip. To think that I will be in America soon!
April 20, 1772
It is just horrible on the ship. Mrs.Brigitte, who we met on the ship is ill and vomiting.
There is very little space and it is cramped. There are also rats scurrying about and the food is going bad. It also smells. I am afraid Felix will get sick again. We hope to get there in ten days.
April 29, 1772
Good news !The captain saw land and we will be in America tomorrow morning. I must gather up all our things. Mr. Thomas Smith will meet us at the harbor. I hope he is a nice man and lets us visit father.
April 30, 1772
It was morning in town, the sky was gray. Delaware looked a lot different than Germany. All you could see were shops opening and children going to school, some stopping to see who was coming off the ship. Felix and I were on the harbor and we were waiting for Mr. Smith. While I was writing, a man come over. He was thin with a mustache. he came off of a coach that was pulled by six horses and it looked expensive. He must be really wealthy because he was wearing a fancy wig and a coat with gold buttons. “Hello children, I am Mr. Smith.” he said with a smile. I said to myself, he looks kind enough, maybe he will let us go see Father.
May 1, 1773
Yesterday when Mr. Smith picked us up, he took us to his house and showed us where we will be sleeping and working. Felix will be working in the field harvesting and growing fruits and vegetables. I will be cooking and sewing. Now I am sewing a tear in Mr. Smith’s jacket. Felix is out tending to the livestock. Mister Smith said we can visit Father next week.He told us father got a job as a blacksmith. I cannot wait to see him. It has been five years since I have laid eyes on him.
May 5,1773
Mister Smith was angry about something today. Felix said he was reading a newspaper about something called the Boston Tea Party. Felix read the newspaper after Mister left it on the floor. He said that colonists were dumping tea in the harbor in Boston, because King George was taxing them for tea. Felix told me that Mister Smith is a loyalist, someone who is in favor of the King. I think King George is cruel to tax another country like he owns it. Mister must be mad to be a loyalist, but he is nice to Felix and I. He gives us delicious food, shelter, lets us have a 20 minuet break everyday which we use this time to play with the animals and explore his property, he will let us go visit papa. But I’m still sad that Mother died, sometimes I cry at night and wonder why she died.
March 10, 1773
Today we will visit Father, Mister Smith gave us the address to find him and that it is not far away from us. When we got there, there were all these men hitting a piece of steel with a hammer. They all had dust on their faces and hands, it was so hot. I asked a man if he knew where father was and he pointed to the back of the room. We walked to the back and then I saw a man that was tall and tired looking. When he glanced at me he shouted “Annaliese, Felix, you finally got here! I can’t believe it. You look older and taller!” He ran to us and hugged us. He had tears in his eyes. what seemed like ten minuet passed before he let us go and told us to sit down. We talked for about an hour about Mama, Mister Smith and what we did at his house. Mr. Smith is a nice man, I know you will like him. I asked Papa about the Boston Tea Party. Papa thinks that King George is cruel. Mama always said Papa and I think alike. When we were leaving Papa embraced us again. “We will soon be together again.” he said. “soon”.
Epilogue
Annaliese and Felix worked for Mr. Smith for four years. When they were free, Annaliese was twenty and Felix was seventeen. Annaliese was married to Mr.Smith’s wealthy son named John Smith, 32. Annaliese became a deathly woman and gave birth to five children. Her father died when she was 28.