Peter
Rosegger and Old Kramer Teresa – Growing up in the mountains of
Austria
People enjoy
looking forward to things that are special. Birthdays, Christmas,
and other meaningful days. And, these moments of joy always involve
other people. People who are special. And, in his book, *As I was
still a Forest Farmer's Son, Peter Rosegger, the Austrian author,
thinks kindly back to old Kramer Teresa. She was a very kind old
lady and her visits to the Rosseger's farm in the mountains of
Austria were moments that were never forgotten.
Old Kramer
Teresa came twice a year. Once in the winter and again in the
spring. Old Kramer Teresa came selling her goods. And, she carried on
her back a kind of chest of drawers in the form of a ruck-sack. And,
this chest of drawers on her back was a pack of surprises. And,
arriving at the Rosseger's farm house, Old Kramer-Thresel would
unpack her wares on the old kitchen table. The children's eyes then
opened wide with delight. It was the same every time. This was a
moment that didn't come often.
There were
sweets to suck and enjoy, mouth-organs to play, brightly painted
wooden spoons, tobacco to smoke, pocket knives for carving, small
wooden horses on wheels, toy soldiers in colourful uniforms, and,
many other things as well. Something for everyone. And, because
each boy and girl had kept their promises to behave and be good, the
rewards were not long in coming. Each child was given a gift of
their very own choice. And, the children were happy and joyful.
And,
everyone else was happy as well. Then, after a fine simple meal of
sausage and bread, Teresa Kramer went on her way. Into the
freshness of green in the spring, and, into the snow and the ice in
the winter. And, as Old Kramer Teresa waved happily goodbye the
waiting began once again.
Peter
Rosegger was born in 1843 and died in 1918. In his book, “As I was
still a Forest Farmer's Son”, Peter Rosegger describes his
childhood in the mountains of Austria, His book is packed full of
interesting stories and is a must for everyone interested in Austrian
history.
Moments of
magic always involve other people. People who are special. And, in
those days, Teresa Kramer was a very special person in the mountains
of Austria. A lady who called twice a year with her bag of
surprises.
Peter
Rosegger - As I was still a Forest Farmer's Son. A book that's well
worth the read.
Peter
Rosegger and Teresa Kramer – Growing up in the mountains of Austria
*German
title – Als ich noch der Waldbauernbub
war – Peter Rosegger.
Vocabulary
mouth-organs
– Mundharmonika -
tobacco
pipes – Tabakpfeife -
pocket
knives , Taschenmesser -
buttons
– Kopfe -
brightly
painted wooden spoons - bunt bemalte Holzlöffel -
small
wooden horses on wheels - kleine Holzpferde auf Rädern -
toy
soldiers in colourful uniforms - Spielzeugsoldaten in bunten
Uniformen
