Fifteen years in a childhood paradise

worked hard, often for long hours, first to get the seeds in, then to cultivate the fields, and finally to harvest the grain. He mentioned also that nothing got wet that year, for which they all had to thank God, but also them for they had worked on the last field till nine before it started raining. As the harvest had been good, they would all get a bonus that year. Then, of course, loud cheers and clapping came from all around the people crowding around the staircase. To finish off he told them that this day was a day of celebration. The coach house had been emptied and decorated. The band was ready to play all night for them. There was food and there was drink for everyone. They could go now and enjoy themselves. Then the band started a song, in which everyone joined in:

'Sto lat, sto lat, niech úzyje, úzyje nam, É Jeszcze du úze, jeszcze du úze, niech úzyje úzyje nam É'

"And what does that mean?" interjected Hans, who couldn't speak Polish.

"It says:

'Hundred years, hundred years, may you live for hundred years.' É and 'Even longer, even longer may you even longer live.'"

"Well, well!" "When Vater went to the vieniec, the harvest festivities, they sang this song again, and in doing so, several strong men grabbed him and threw him up in the air repeatedly, each time catching him, as he came down."

"That must have been a bit scary?" "I don't think so. He is used to that. They always do it when they are happy and want to thank him in a special way."

"Hm, I'm not too sure. But what happened afterwards?" "Well, the whole procession went again around the oval drive way, and then disappeared through the gate, to the coach house."

"Did you go there too?" "Not that year, we were too small then. But from 1938 we were allowed. It was good fun, but we didn't like the dancing. It was all right to watch though. The band sat at one end, seats and tables along the wall, and the rest was dancing floor, all on concrete, of course. Vater and Mutter had to have the first dance. They always opened with the Mazurka, and when everybody joined the dancing floor, we too mingled in, chasing each other between the dancing couples. But then the floor became too crowded, so we just sat and watched."

"How long did you stay there?" "Not much longer than that. As the evening progressed the Stimmung or atmosphere, became more rowdy, and we were advised to go home. You know, sometimes we heard next morning, that some gate-crashers from

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