Came home, lit a few candle stubs and wrote on Portia in Tauris. Didn't get many words down, but think I have the path for the story clearer. Hope to write more tomorrow.
Recited evening prayers, and now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
17 April 1635
Tuesday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 cup sauerkraut 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Very bad news at the office today. Herr Schiller told us that Thomas is coming back. He didn't look very happy.
I asked why. He said that Thomas is some sort of cousin to a merchant that Master Gröning wants to do business with, but the man won't talk to him or make deals with him unless he hires Thomas back.
Told Herr Schiller that we'll all be sorry if they bring Thomas back. He sighed, and said it was the master's order, and that was that. Got the feeling he'd already argued with Master G about it. Just shook my head, and went back to copying the new agreement that had arrived.
After work, walked with Martin to his rooming house. Told him about Thomas, told him to keep close watch on his things and not to let Thomas bully him. Suggested he mark his things some way. Told him to double check his work and then have me review it.
Nothing good will come of this.
Was so upset tonight couldn't write. Didn't read Der Schwarze Kater issues again. Tried to read The City of God, couldn't focus on that. Finally was able to read in the Bible, Psalms for the most part.
Recited evening prayers twice, then a third time. Tired, but not sure I can sleep.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
18 April 1635
Wednesday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 winter apple 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Dreams. So many dreams last night, shifting from one to another almost like skipping pages in a book. Tossed and turned all night, never rested. Max didn't appear. Not sure what to think about that.
Made sure my clothes were clean and neat this morning. Wasn't going to face Thomas not at my best. Surprised me. He was there waiting on us when we got there this morning. Clean. Sober. More polite than usual. Did what Herr Schiller told him to do. Appeared to do it right. But saw him looking around from time to time with odd little smile on his face. Nothing wrong. Still nervous about this. Really not a good idea. But it's Master Gröning's business, so he makes decisions. Just hope none of us have to regret this one.
Wrote in Portia in Tauris tonight. Got much done. Made breakthrough, I think, in moving story forward. Was still on edge from work, poured that into the writing. Pushed me, I think. Anyway, got more done tonight than in any three nights up until now. Felt good. Story feels good. I'm more relaxed, too.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
20 April 1635
Friday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 bowl fish stew 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Calm night last night. No dreams I remembered upon waking, other than faint feeling Max had been around. Better rested than I have been for a week, I think. Glad.
Thomas was still behaving today. Still seems to be just coming to work and doing his job. Saw a look cross his face after Herr Schiller corrected one of his entries this afternoon and made him do it over. T wasn't happy, and his face showed it for a moment, but he waited until Herr S had turned away before he let it show. When he saw me looking, he turned away.
Still nervous about this.
Lots of writing tonight, just like yesterday and day before. New version of story has started flowing after working through difficult changes. Like the direction it's going. Can't let myself like it too much. Need to keep focused on telling story. Doesn't matter if I like it. Only person who counts is Herr Gronow.
Tired, but good tired.
Recited evening prayers, and now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
22 April 1635
Sunday
Breakfast–
Fasted
Lunch-
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Lord's Day, Lord's work.
Rained hard this morning. Church was miserable. Cold and dank. Not many people there. Music was thin and limp. Sang anyway. Reading was long, reader was dull. Managed to stay awake. Pastor Gruber did homily. Was surprised to see him, but glad. Taught on Elijah's drought, how it didn't rain for over three years, but Elijah remained faithful and prayed, and how when the king finally submitted to God, the rains came. Had to bite lip to keep from laughing as gust of harder rain beat on church roof right then. Pastor related it to how sometimes our lives are dry and seemingly barren, but if we remain faithful and pray and keep doing what we know we're supposed to do, God will send the rains of life to come and bless us and fill our heart cisterns full again. Need to think about that. Think I understand it, but want to make sure.
Johann left Magdeburg with his friend on Wednesday, headed for Hamburg. Not sure when he'll be back. So spent the afternoon reading more of The City of God. Latin is improving. Guess practice is useful. St. Augustine is becoming interesting. Or I'm learning to see more in him. Guess both could be true.
Spent the evening writing. Portia in Tauris is nearing completion, I think. Glad. But then I need to write the good copy for Herr Gronow. Not glad. But necessary. Ready for Herr Gronow to see this. No tricks. No fancies. Just trying to tell the story.
Tired at the end of the day.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
24 April 1635
Tuesday
Breakfast–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 cup sauerkraut 1 pfennig
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Had a dream with Max last night. Really clear. He told me to quit worrying about my dreams. Anything that he lets by isn't going to hurt me. Had a serious look on his face, and was holding his big black rifle like he meant business. I wouldn't argue with him. So, do I listen to a dream tell me about dreams?
Oh, and Max says he's really good with the rifle now.
Herr Schiller says that Herr Wulff is proceeding with filing the lawsuit on the Hamburg contract before a judge.
Today Martin was checking earlier entries and found a mistake in Thomas' work. I saw the look on his face and motioned him over to my desk. He showed me. I checked myself, and yes, the work was wrong, and yes, it was on one of Thomas' pages. So, I sent Martin back to his desk, and I carried the page over to Herr Schiller. He looked at the page, asked me if I was sure. I said yes. He sighed, and sent me back to my desk. In a little while, he called Thomas over to his desk and showed him the error, told him to correct it. Thomas started trying to say that it wasn't wrong, but Herr S showed him step by step why it was wrong. So then he tried to say that one of us had changed it. Herr S told him there was no evidence of that, and told him to correct it. He took it and stomped back to his desk. Spent the re
st of the day fixing it. Really mean look on his face when he looked my way.
Walked with Martin most of the way home, made sure he got home safe. Didn't see Thomas at all, but wasn't happy about it. This is not good.
Still managed to finish Portia in Tauris tonight. Will start working on good copy tomorrow.
Read a little out of Psalms. Read a little out of Issue Three. Sat and stared for a while at the three letters from Herr Gronow pinned to the wall. Will sell a story. Want it to be this one.
Recited evening prayers. Three times. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
26 April 1635
Thursday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 bowl fish stew 3 pfennigs
1 cup sauerkraut 1 pfennig
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Had very different dream last night. Dreamt that Portia—from my story—was talking to me and telling me how I hadn't gotten some things right about her and her story, and I needed to fix that right now. She said it was no wonder Herr Gronow was rejecting the stories, if I couldn't do any better than that. Talked loud and fast, and her voice was high and screechy in the dream, although it's supposed to be low and furry sounding. I couldn't interrupt, but over her shoulder I could see Max standing and laughing. Think that's where I woke up. Pretty bad when your dreams laugh at you.
But wish I could remember what she told me. It might have helped.
Thomas quiet today, although he trod on my foot once. Didn't push or hit him, although was tempted. Still don't like it, but if he does nothing more than that, we—Martin and I—can put up with it. Sooner or later he had to do something stupid like before and get thrown out. I hope.
Spending more time in the contracts again. Thomas started looking at them, and at me. Think he was trying to figure out what had changed. A lot.
Did two whole pages of the clean copy of Portia in Tauris tonight. Looks good so far, but still have a lot to do. Not unusual, you could say.
Recited evening prayers, ready for bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
29 April 1635
Sunday
Breakfast–
Fasted
Lunch-
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 winter apple 1 pfennig
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
2 mugs beer 2 pfennigs
Supper–
1 wurst 2 pfennigs
1 cup sauerkraut 1 pfennig
1 barley roll 2 quartered pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Lord's Day, Lord's work.
Sunny day this morning. Church still seemed cold and damp after all the rain the last week or so. A few more people. Music was as good or as bad as usual, however you want to think of it. Sang anyway. Pastor Gruber did the homily today. Surprised but glad. Spoke today on the Syrian woman who asked for her daughter to be healed, and how Jesus instructed her that she wasn't one of the chosen children, but she had the courage to persist and to finally say that even an unclean dog could feast on the crumbs from the children's table. And Jesus healed the daughter. The pastor spoke on the virtues of longsuffering and of persistence, and on how through them we attain both maturity and reward. Not sure that Pastor G would agree, but feel like I've been dealing with longsuffering for sure in getting my stories written. Probably not what he means at all, but still . . .
After the benediction, Pastor Gruber called to me and waved me over. Invited me to lunch with him. With Johann still traveling, no reason not to, so went with him. Think he may be a bit lonely. Smiled really big when I said I'd come. Spent a few hours talking with him, mostly about St. Augustine again. Nice time. Learned a lot. Pastor has a surprising appetite for bad jokes, like "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Uggh.
Got back to rooms early, put the time to good use. Copied three more pages of Portia in Tauris. Over a third of the way done. Hope to submit to Herr Gronow soon.
Good tired when done. Fingers cramping from holding and guiding the pen. Can't press too hard, or will break the nib of the quill.
Made note, need to get more candle stubs and left-wing quills from work this week. Herr Schiller lets me take some instead of my pay.
Recited evening prayers. Now to bed.
****
From the Journal of Philip Fröhlich
2 May 1635
Wednesday
Breakfast–
1 cup morning broth 1 pfennig
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 cup sauerkraut 1 pfennig
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Pretty sure I dreamt last night. Remember waking up at least once. But don't remember anything from them if I did.
Thomas has been quiet all week. No funny looks, no words, doing his work right. That's good. Still catch him looking at me every once in a while. He was standing by my desk one day when I came in, looking at the contracts. Didn't say anything, just looked at them. Really wonder what's going on in his mind. Can't help but worry. Haven't seen anything that proves he really has changed. Sad. I mean, to be as young as we are and to have that reputation. What's he going to be like when he's older?
Stopped in again at Syborg's Books, to stop and warm up a bit as much as anything. Glad I did. Herr Johann beckoned me to their counter as soon as he saw me come in, and handed me a copy of the fourth issue of Der Schwarze Kater. I was very excited! Fortunately, I had started carrying the two dollars necessary for the magazine, even though I didn't expect it to come out for a few more days. So, I gave Herr J the money and took the magazine. They wrapped it in a piece of extra paper, and I stuffed it inside my jacket and hurried back to my room
No writing tonight. Instead, feasted on new Poe and Lovecraft. First, Nyarlathotep, by Herr Lovecraft. Shivery. Then, The Masque of the Red Death, by Herr Poe. Not sure I'll sleep tonight.
Looked at the magazine submissions page. Again, I see that I am affecting the magazine, although not necessarily in the manner I wish.
Close to finishing clean copy of Portia in Tauris. Two pages tonight. Maybe another night or two and it will be done and ready to take to Herr Gronow. Ready to be done with it.
Recited evening prayers. Three times. Now to bed.
*
Not going to sleep. Recited evening prayers twice more, plus three Our Fathers. Now to bed—again.
****
From Der Schwarze Kater, Volume 4
Black Tomcat Magazine Submissions
1. 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.
2. 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. Use one side of the page only. Natural color or bleached paper only—No Dyed Or Tinted Paper, please! And black ink only. Not blue, or red, or purple.
3. 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.
4. Whether typed or written, do not write a story in all uncials. Leading sentence character and leading noun character in uncial with the rest in minuscule is preferred. All minuscule is acceptable. Again, let us stress tha
t legibility is critical to getting your work accepted for publication.
5. No illuminated manuscripts, please. Likewise, do not submit illustrations along with your story. If your illustrations are an integral part of your story's construction, we suggest you seek out another publisher.
6. 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.
7. 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 the 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.
8. 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
4 May 1635
Friday
Breakfast–
1 sausage 2 pfennigs
1 wheat roll 3 pfennigs
1 mug beer 1 pfennig
Supper–
1 bowl fish stew 3 pfennigs
Grantville Gazette, Volume 73 Page 8