Growing Up at Sea

A frigid north wind was howling through the ship’s rigging and driving the vessel through the water at astounding speed.  The lee rail was submerged and the ship’s stays were taut as piano wire. “Into the tops, reef the sails,” screamed the mate. Young Charlie Mueller, cabin boy, clambered up the shrouds with the rest of the crew and began the difficult and dangerous task of gathering canvas and reefing sail. As the sails were stowed, the ship slowed and came to an even keel and the men in the tops slid back to the deck. The ship was still cleaving the water like a projectile when suddenly there was a grinding screech, the ship braked to a stop and began spinning like a huge top. The mizzenmast and then the foremast crashed to the deck and the ship began listing heavily to starboard. The vessel capsized. Officers and men were struggling in the water and Charlie Mueller, late of Lindenberg, Bavaria, who was in his fifteenth year, wondered if he would live to see sixteen.

There is a myth that, in times of stress, a person’s life flashes through the mind. I recalled the small cottage where I first breathed the cold pure air of Bavaria. I was the tenth child born to Ana and Gustave Mueller and I learned early in life that Father thought that I was one child too many.

“Ana,” said Gustave,”You must stop having children. There are already too many places at the table.  I can’t support any more.”

“You are right, Gustave, and we won’t have any more. I will do my part and you must do yours.”

“I’ll not give up my bed rights, woman,“ exploded Gustave. “You will have to take the necessary measures.” Gustave looked like an oversized fireplug when angry - a stocky body clothed in a somber gray suit topped with a balding head flushed to the classic red of a fire truck.

“I know, husband, and I know what those measures will be.”

“You must go to work, woman. You are good at sewing so we will start a clothing business.  We will make hats.”

“Make hats!!!  What do you know about hats?  I think you are talking crazy, husband.”

“Don’t you call me crazy, woman,” yelled Gustave as he raised his hand as if to strike her. “If I say we make hats we will make hats. If I say you will sew to make hats, you will sew to make hats. You are my woman and you will obey. Do you understand?”

“Yes, husband,” murmured Ana.

Ana was a small woman, still attractive, even after birthing ten children. She worked hard to keep her large brood clean and well fed.  She was proud of her sturdy handsome boys and of her beautiful healthy blonde girls. Gustave had been a stern husband but this was the first time he had raised his hand to her and she was devastated.

“ Now, woman, the hat factory idea was not a figment of my imagination, it is not crazy.  Chancellor Bismarck has adopted an expansion policy for Prussia.  Prussia will be founding colonies in East Africa and in Central and South America.  Bavarians and Prussians traveling to these tropical lands will require protective clothing including broad brimmed hats for protection from the hot tropical sun. We can and we will supply this need.”

“Why would Prussia buy hats in Bavaria?”

“Ach woman, since Bismarck; Bavaria, Prussia, and other states are all the same. It is all Germany. Why do you not know this, dumkoff?”

The farm was a ten-hectare property on the outskirts of the small village of Lindenberg.

Son Peter, thirteen years old, was working on the farm before and after school and younger brother Johann would soon have to join Peter as a farm worker. I think it is time for the boys to quit school and work full time, thought Gustave, the boys already can read and additional education for farm hands would not improve the crops one whit.