Still reading in Samuel. David was a horrible father, his sons were mostly fools, and his wives weren't much better. How did he get to be king? If I tried to write a story like that, would anyone believe it? Maybe, maybe not. From all accounts the Romans were just as bad, if not worse. Dear God, how can You put up with us?
Recited evening prayers. Twice. Once for me, once for the emperor. If Gustavus Adolphus is no better served than David was, he's in trouble.
And now for bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
2 February 1635
Friday
Breakfast–
1 cup sauerkraut 2 quartered pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Dreamt last night. Woke up sweating, so must have been a good one. But don't remember it.
Finally finished the last of the file cleanup today right before end of day. Hurrah! Herr Schiller gave me five extra dollars with today's pay, and thanked me for the hard work. That will pay for the next issue of Der Schwarze Kater, and then some.
Was on the fourth bottle of Genever. Herr S took that. Fine with me. I never want to see or smell that again.
"Portia's Lament" is crawling out from under the tip of my quill. Slow, slow, slow. Think it is taking shape, though. Very different from "The Perils of Portia." Having trouble believing what I wrote before, and thinking it was good. Eeeough.
Ash Wednesday before too long. Lent is coming.
February. New issue of Der Schwarze Kater should be out soon soon soon. Syborg's Books is going to see me every day from now until it does appear. I'm ready.
Excited. Anxious. Hard to calm down. But must calm down.
Three pages of The City of God. That weighted me enough for tonight.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
4 February 1635
Sunday
Breakfast–
Fasted
Lunch-
2 sausage 4 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
2 mugs beer 2 pfennigs
Supper–
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
2 wurst 4 pfennigs
2 mugs beer 2 pfennigs
o dreams last night.
Attended church today. Attendance was light due to the blowing snow. Music was about as good as usual. Sang with feeling. Reading was good and clear. Pastor Gruber did the homily, and talked about how the saints of old persevered in doing good, even when those around them persecuted them. Didn't like that one as much as some of his others, because it was so general. Like it better when he tells a story that has a point.
Pastor Gruber talked to me afterward. Everyone else left so quickly that it was only a moment before it was just him and me. He asked me what I thought of the day. Told him the truth about the homily. He sighed, and said sometimes he had to preach what the Dom magister or the seasonal liturgy required, even if it didn't make for an engaging homily.
We ended up talking about St. Augustine, and Pastor Gruber invited me to eat with him. We ended up in a better tavern than I usually eat at. Food was good. Discussed The City of God almost all afternoon. He helped me understand some pieces that Johann hadn't been much help with. Enjoyed it.
Went home, spent more time with "Portia's Lament." Another page done.
Reread The Cask of Amontillado. Almost didn't need to bother. Almost have it memorized, I think.
Ready for issue three. Now.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
7 February 1635
Wednesday
Breakfast–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Dreamt last night. Woke up once for sure, maybe twice. Don't remember dreams, though.
Work was regular. More time spent getting agreements and contracts sorted, filed, and labeled. Maybe three-fourths done. Herr Schiller likes what's happening. Says the office looks like a master's office should look, and he likes that I can find every contract in just a few minutes. Haven't seen any extra pay yet, but might. Regardless, will make my job easier, too, so good from that side of the table as well.
Martin still looks fragile from when he was sick, but puts in his full day and doesn't try to duck the work. Even when he is down he is better than Thomas was on his best days. Told Herr S that. He agreed.
Stopped by Syborg's Books tonight, just like I did Monday and Tuesday. Wasn't really expecting anything when I went in, but Herr Matthias waved me over as soon as I came through the door. Moments later, I was holding issue three! Swear my heart skipped beats. Dug out my two dollars and gave it to him, then left and ran back to my room.
Lit my candles, and settled in to read. Read Herr Lovecraft's story first, The Statement of Randolph Carter. Felt the hair on my neck rising. Swallowed often. Found myself looking at shadows in the corners.
Then read Herr Poe's story, The Pit and the Pendulum. Heart was racing when done. Could have sworn I heard a swoosh sound in the room.
Read both of them again. Just as good the second time.
Want to read again, but so tired. Can't keep eyes open.
Recited evening prayers. Twice.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
8 February 1635
Thursday
Breakfast–
1 cup sauerkraut 2 quartered pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Dreamt last night. Really dreamt last night. Woke up four times, and was sweating from the first.
So tired this morning, but was worth it!
Thought of new stories all day. Not a good idea. Hard to focus on work. Don't think I made mistakes, but need to make sure tomorrow.
Read both of the new stories again, plus another of the other stories in the issue. It was good, if not equal of Herren Poe and Lovecraft.
Made myself set issue three aside and work on "Portia's Lament." Hard. Mind felt like a bee was buzzing around in it. Got maybe half a page done. Probably not any good . . . will look at it tomorrow, suspect will have to do over.
Looked at the page about how to submit stories. Requirements list is longer. Looks like I am contributing to the magazine. Just not the way I want to do it.
Enough for tonight.
Recited evening prayers. Now for bed.
****
From Der Schwarze Kater, Volume 3
Black Tomcat Magazine Submissions
Legibility is paramount. If we can't read your story, we won't buy it. To that end, we strongly recommend that your work be prepared with the new Goldfarb und Meier typewriting machine or something similar. If a true manuscript is presented, please use practiced penmanship and calligraphy. Standard Magdeburg and Thuringia secretary hands are acceptable.
Please use octavo-sized paper no larger than eight inches wide by ten inches high. All pages of a story submission should be approximately the same size.
If the story is typed, please insert a blank line between each line of lettering. If the story is written out, please space the lines about 3/8 of an inch apart. Either way, leave a blank margin of approximately one inch on all sides of each page. This facilitates both ease of reading and making comments or instructions on the page. Keep in mind that the easier it is for the publisher to read your work, the more likely it is to be published.
Our manual of writing style is Martin Luther's translation of Holy
Scripture. All issues of grammar and word spellings will be decided in accordance with his practice. Note that familiarity with and practice of those guidelines improve your chances of having your story published. All things being equal, the story requiring the least amount of work on our part has the advantage.
Format the first page such that your name, contact address, and word count of your story are in the upper left hand corner, the story title should be in the upper edge center, and page number in the upper right corner. Subsequent pages should contain your surname and abbreviated title in the upper left corner and page number in upper right corner. Page numbers are important. If your work gets dropped, we need to be able to put the pages back in the right order.
We recommend you keep a personal copy of your story. All manuscripts become the personal property of the publisher upon receipt, and will not be returned, regardless of ultimate decision about publication. Allow for six months of mail and processing time before querying as to the publication decision.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
10 February 1635
Saturday
Breakfast–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
2 barley rolls 1 pfennig
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Dreamt last night. Really dreamt. Woke three times, last time confused as to where I was. Took a little while to realize there was no pendulum in my room.
Quiet day at work today. Got most of the remaining contracts reviewed and filed and labeled. Maybe one more day to be done. Not sure what I'll do after that, but Herr Schiller will certainly think of something.
Stopped by Syborg's books on the way back to my room, told Herr Johann how much I liked issue three of Der Schwarze Kater. He smiled, said that was good, and that he would tell the publisher.
Wrote more on "Portia's Lament." Got several pages done, actually. Surprisingly. Think I'm over halfway done. Will keep working on it. Not sure, but I'm beginning to think this is going to be longer than "The Perils of Portia" was. Think I have an idea that will make it better for Herr Gronow. Need to look into it.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
11 February 1635
Sunday
Breakfast–
Fasted
Lunch-
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 winter apple 1 pfennig
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
No dreams last night that I remembered after I woke up.
Attended church today. Attendance thin. Probably due to the weather. Music was not very good. Sang anyway. Reading was good and clear. Homily was dull. Two or three men around me were snoring. Haven't figured out how they can do that while they're standing, but they do.
Read more from The City of God during the afternoon. Five pages, I think. Either it's starting to make sense, or my mind is fading, because I think I followed the argument. Johann is supposed to be back next week. Will ask him or Pastor Gruber.
More pages written for "Portia's Lament." This will be my copy. Cheap paper, and I have corrected a few mistakes on it. When I am done, then I will prepare the very nice copy for Herr Gronow. Very nice.
Ended the day by reading one of the new stories from Der Schwarze Kater. Good story. Almost as good as Herr Lovecraft. Almost. Only reading one new one per night. Lasts longer that way.
Recited evening prayers, and now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
13 February 1635
Tuesday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 2 quartered pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 winter apple 1 pfennig
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Finally found someone who makes broth like Mama's. Little place between The Chain and St. Jacob's Church. Old woman runs it. Scrawny. No teeth. Mean cast to her eye. Someone called her Mama Schultz. Held a long meat fork in her hand, and looked like she wasn't afraid to use it. But her broth tastes like Mama's. I'll go back.
Dreamt last night. Only one I remember was Max, holding his gun and saying over and over that he was almost as good a shot as Julie Sims now, and no demons better be coming around me. Laughed. Think I told him that any angel worth his wings would be at least as good as Julie Sims, and he should keep practicing. Wings are still blue.
Finished organizing the last of the contracts today. All have been found, put in the same kind of folder, labeled, and stored on the shelves behind my desk. Good. Glad that's done.
Now I have to make the searching charts, so I can find them easily without having to look at every folder. I think I'll have one chart that lists all the contracts by the names of the people involved, and one that lists by the kind of contract it is, and maybe one that lists them by date. This may take a while. Just when I thought I was done with it.
But Herr Schiller was really happy when I got done, and gave me an extra ten dollars when he handed me today's pay.
Stopped by Syborg's Books on the way back to my rooms. Georg grinned at me and told me that it would be over two months before the next issue of Der Schwarze Kater comes out. He was making fun of me, but I just laughed. It is kind of funny how attached I have become to the magazine.
Asked Georg if there are any other books or magazines like Der Schwarze Kater. He told me not yet, but that there are some rumors floating around of a couple of new ones that might come out before too long. Told him to let me know when they do. Also, if they get any English or American books or magazines like these, I want to know. He asked me if I could read English. I said I would learn.
And I would.
Wrote two pages on "Portia's Lament." Story is approaching its . . . I'm sure there's a word for it, but Herr Gronow hasn't told it to me yet. High point? Peak? Where things happen and make the story conclude. Feel like I've been climbing a big hill, and about to reach the top.
So. Done for the night.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
16 February 1635
Friday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 2 quartered pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Stopped at Mama Schultz's for breakfast. Mean as ever, but broth still good. If I ran a tavern, I'd hire her to cook and to keep peace in the common room. One jab from her meat fork, and everyone would settle down.
Dreamt last night. Max showed up again. Told me he was worried. He'd been talking to Herr Poe's guardian angel, and he says this business of being a writer may cause the demons to come flocking. He's not sure he can handle all that. I asked him was he my guardian angel or not. He said yes. I said God assigned him. He said yes. So God thinks you can do it, I said. And you can shoot as good as Julie Sims. He got this big smile, and then I woke up. Weird, as the up-timers say.. Wonder if that's a portent?
Finished my searching charts today. Done. Showed Herr Schiller. He liked it, and that it would make it easier to find contracts. Gave me a couple of extra dollars with today's pay.
Finished retelling "Portia's Lament" tonight. Think it's good. Better than it was, anyway. Tomorrow will start working on the nice copy to give Herr Gronow. Very nice.
Read last new story from third issue of Der Schwarze Kater. Think
the third issue was better than the second, by a little bit, but not as good as the first issue. And Herren Poe and Lovecraft are still the best.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
26 February 1635
Monday
Breakfast–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
No dreams that I remember last night. Didn't wake up, either. Dull evening, I guess.
Herr Schiller had me reviewing entries from last week, since my contract work was done. Didn't find any errors, but a couple of pages were kind of hard to read. Showed him, and he had Martin recopy one and me recopy the other. Was okay with that. Kind of good to do some numbers again.
Spent all Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings copying the new tale of "Portia's Lament." Wrote some tonight, too. So far it looks really good. Herr Gronow should be pleased with it. I think. I hope. Please.
Did some reading tonight in Kings. Found the stories of King Ahab. Not a good man. Not even a nice man. Makes King David look like a saint. And his wife is worse. Wonder how many bad kings and evil men in history were driven by their wives? Story there? Think about it. Same could be true of good kings and good men, but bad kings and men would probably make more enthralling stories. Think about that, too.
Started rereading third issue of Der Schwarze Kater again. Good stories.
Grantville Gazette, Volume 72 Page 7