Family: The Governess

Family: The Governess.

By

Jan Skarzynski

October 2009

There was great consternation in the Komorowski household. Maria, commonly known by the diminutive of Marisia or even Marisiu, had been offered a job as governess on a large estate near Warsaw; Grodusk, by Pan Mierzynski to look after their son and daughter. Mother and her elder sister, Ludwika, were not happy. They thought it was far beneath them, that a Komorowski should become a servant. The Komorowski family were as poor as church mice, living in a big, dilapidated family house, owned by the banks and money lenders. Ludwika had a poorly paid job as an assistant to a manager in a store and Maria was working as a teller in a bank, hence the introduction to the post.

“I don’t know why you are all so upset?” argued Maria. “This is far better paid than the poor job I have now and we’ll get the bond money back. The Mierzynski’s aren’t asking for a bond and they have my references already.”

“But Marisiu, what will people think of us and the family, with you working as a servant?”

“Don’t go on about it being a servant’s job. It’s a Governess, more like a teacher and the Mierzynski’s are highly regarded and at least they still have an estate, not like us, all lost in gambling and high living.”

“That’s not true Marisia,” interjected Mother, “We have always been a respected family and we have never resorted to lowly jobs or professions.”

“Yes, but don’t forget it was me that kept the family from starvation by keeping a goat. I was the one who had to feed Ciuba and milk it.”

“It was a devil that goat. It was deformed with only one horn and it wouldn’t allow me to milk it, that’s why I couldn’t help,” answered back Ludwika.

“Yes, but you were too busy with your nose in a book to forage for fodder.”

“Now girls, stop the bickering. I think I shall have to write to the Mierzynski’s and tell them nicely that you want to continue your position at the bank.”

“No mother, please; you know I hate my job and being a Governess will be much better.”

“But it’s such a lowly job Marisia. Where is your ambition and self respect?”

“Oh mother, who was it that worked all day at the market garden, tying up bunches of carrots and things. I brought vegetables home at the end of the day to keep the family fed. I wasn’t told then that it was lowly job and beneath me!” 

“But you were a little girl then and you only did it for a short time.”

“Maybe a short time mother but at least it kept us fed. Ludwika did nothing but pore over her precious books.”

“I helped mother with housework!” shouted Ludwika in return.

“Precious little that did to keep us fed. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to accept the job. It’s only for two years until their children go off to school and mother, you will be able to pay that Jewish money lender off when I get my bond back from the bank. That will be one less debt we owe.”   

Maria left the bank and took up the post as Governess to the Mierzynski’s children. Pan Mierzynski had recently been promoted and was now working for the Bank of Poland and was deemed to go far. Pani Mierzynska was somewhat frail and often persuaded herself that she needed rest and treatment at luxurious spas in Switzerland, which is why they needed a Governess for their two children. The vast estate was run by Grandfather Mierzynski, known as Dziadek within the family and Stary Mierzynski, which was Old Mierzynski. The ‘Stary’ was a deferential term as in “Head of the family”. The main house itself was large but lacked the style of the ‘French Mansions,’ a common style of build of the adjoining large estates. 

Maria finally got her way and departed without much of a send off, other then a curt, “You must write regular letters,” from Dika, her sister and a warning,  totally unheeded, from her mother that, to her friends, she had to say she was on a long vacation and not working as a Governess. A small carriage, a droszka, pulled by two fine horses, took her from the outskirts of Warsaw, terminus of the tramline, to the Grodusk estate. There she was warmly welcomed by Dziadek Mierzynski, his son and the two children Janek and Elrzbieta (Can’t for the life of me remember their proper names, even though Babcia recounted the story on numerous occasions). Sofia Mierzynska, the children’s mother, was away on another expensive healing venture.

“Welcome Maria, at last we are going to get some decent conversation at dinner. Not just Politics and Banking,” said Dziadek. “I hope you have brought some recent editions from Warsaw for me to borrow. My son doesn’t seem to have time to bring me any.”

“Don’t listen to the old man. He’s the first to bring up Politics and he’ll bore you to death with the age-old problem of Polish agriculture and the peasants, ‘the Chlopi’    (pronounced Hwopi). Welcome to Grodusk. We will ensure your stay will be wonderful. Now children, show Pani Maria the rooms. I hope you will be comfortable there. You have three rooms, one for yourself, one for the children and one for general use. There is also a modern bathroom for your use, but I’m afraid we aren’t as palatial as some of our neighbours.”

“Instead, Pan Mierzynski has just purchased himself the latest Lagonda limousine to take him to Warsaw and I haven’t even got a tractor.”

“There, there Dziadek, bringing Politics up again. I’m sure that Pani Maria understands that I need the car to take me to my office and it takes a fraction of the time of horses.”

“Yes, but then it sits there all day doing nothing!”

“At least it’s not in need of feeding, watering and mucking out all day. Go on children take Pani Maria up to her quarters. Oh, I forgot, I have a letter for you from Pani Sofia to welcome you here. Lunch will be at twelve with the children. Just speak to the cook and we shall have a formal dinner at seven tonight.”

“Can we join you Tata?” asked Janek eagerly.

“I think on this occasion it would be appropriate but you mustn’t start looking bored or you will be sent to bed mind you.”

“Yes Tata, we will be good and think up some sparkling conversation for Pani Maria,” said Elrzbieta smiling knowingly at her Dziadek.

“OK kids, off you go,” answered Dziadek, “and after lunch we will all take the droszka and have a trip to show Pani Maria the estate and maybe meet some of the neighbours.” 

“Oh Dziadek, can we visit the Chlopi farms so that we can introduce Pani Maria to our friends,” requested Elrzbieta eagerly.

“Of course we can,” answered Dziadek and added, “Elrzbieta doesn’t like to visit the large estate house. She thinks the people are all just stuck up, don’t you Elrzbieta? Full of airs and graces.”

The children ran off ahead, up one flight of stairs to the second floor. “This is your bedroom Pani Maria. Ours is next door and the largest room Janek wanted for our school room and playroom,” said Elrzbieta.

“It’s also got most light with large windows. The other bedrooms are down the corridor at the other end of the house. Tata said we can have as much or little furniture as we like. We’ve only have to ask Stan to move it for you. He’s the odd job man, he will bring your case up for you,” said Janek eagerly, and added, “when do we start lessons? Can we start today please Pani Maria, please?”

“First, I would like you to show me the house so that I know my way around and then show me the kitchens and introduce me to the cook so that we can order some lunch.”

“Lunch is always soup and bread, it’s boring,” answered Janek, taking Pani Maria’s hand and leading the way around the mansion. They saw three other guest bedrooms, the main family bedroom suite, furnished in the French style and Dziadek’s bedroom, more in keeping with traditional tastes. Pani Maria commented that she had never seen so many bathrooms in a house. Elrzbieta told her in confidence that Mother had got them installed at great expense and was copying the modern style that she had seen in Switzerland, where each bedroom had its own bathroom and dressing room. Janek added that Grodusk was too small to do that to each bedroom. They then visited the rooms on the ground floor, which comprised a large lounge, dining room and two offices, one for Tata and one for Dziadek.

The kitchen was also on the ground floor. Elrzbieta told her that Mother had insisted on the kitchen being relocated from the cellars onto the ground floor so that the food wouldn’t get cold on the way up to the dining room. It was also more hygienic. Janek added that the ovens and stoves were fired by coal and not wood which was an innovation that Dziadek had introduced. Pani Maria introduced herself to the cooks and suggested that she would cook for the children that day. The cellars below were packed with barrels, sacks and partitions full of sand where the root vegetables were stored for the winter.

They then visited the extensive kitchen garden with Janek telling Pani Maria that Dziadek would want to show her the stables and farm sheds himself. Part of the gardens consisted of pigsties and chicken coops, the rest was devoted to herbs and vegetables. There were two full time gardeners to provide produce for the family and staff. Janek added that Dziadek kept some cows for milk and also to make into butter and cheese. 

Pani Maria picked some chives and parsley and they went back to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Janek was sent off to clean off the table on the terrace and set it up for the three of them whilst Elrzbieta was tasked with breaking six eggs into a bowl and whisking them up lightly.  The omelette, with chopped chives and parsley, was served onto three large plates accompanied by buttered rye bread. A maid helped to carry the food out onto the terrace and also brought out a jug of soured milk and three glasses. The children wanted to repeat this novelty every day and pestered Pani Maria to agree. During the meal Maria had to tell them all about herself and her life with her sister and mother in Warsaw.

After lunch, the droszka was driven by the Furman (the Farm Manager), whilst Dziadek, Pani Maria and the two children sat in the carriage. Dziadek pointed out all the significant features of the extensive estate, including the managed forest and the mill on the river, which was a tributary of the Vistula. They then visited the Chlopi, peasant farms, and Dziadek pointed out the wastage of land which the locals were physically not able to farm thus wasting much valuable land. They ended up at the river, where the horses had a well-earned rest and they children paddled in the shallow water’s edge. By this time, they were joined by a gang of peasant children from the surrounding farms. Dziadek told her that he looked after these peasants as best he could but was hamstrung by “Politics” and wouldn’t elaborate at that time. They drove back to the house to prepare for dinner.

Pani Maria, with the help of a maid, bathed the children and dressed them in their best clothes. She put on her best and only dress and they all went down to the drawing room in time for dinner. Pani Maria was offered French wine whilst the children had to make do with apple juice. The cook announced that dinner was ready and Pan Mierzynski escorted Pani Maria into the dining room. Dziadek took the children’s hands and they followed. The dinner comprised of huge portions of soup, a fish course, main course and a dessert. Most of it was left. Dziadek complained that he was too old to eat much, whilst Pan Mierzynski wanted to keep his figure trim.

“Pani Marisu, we have the best fed pigs and chickens in Poland,” answered Dziadek laughingly.

“Don’t the staff eat what’s left?” 

“No, they find it too rich for them and prefer something plainer,” answered Pan Mierzynski. “Pani Marisiu, maybe you could persuade the cooks to serve up smaller portions. All this goes back to the times when the gentry would gorge themselves silly in the good times and starve in the bad.”

“But I can’t order the staff about. There must be somebody in charge of them?” asked Maria.

“There is,” answered Dziadek, “But she’s gravely ill in some resort in Switzerland, surviving on one lettuce leaf a day.”

“Don’t exaggerate Stary, you’ll frighten the children. The facts of the matter are, Pani Marisu, is that the household has no manager with Sofia away and I would like you to take up the reins and steer it into some modicum of modernity. I will tell the staff that you are in charge whilst Sophia is away and that they have to obey you.”

“We have far too many staff here,” added Dziadek, “but we retain them more from good will, so making them work a little harder will do them good, Pani Marisu, and stop them from bickering. Yes Janek, what have you to say?”

“Please, please Tata and Dziadzio, can Pani Marisa look after our lunches from now on.”

“I don’t see why not Janek, and while she’s at it, she can arrange the menus for the next week and bring a modicum of reason into the kitchen. Pani Marisiu, you have a free hand and my blessing to put the house in order. Yes Elrzbieta, what have you to say?”

“Dziadzio, why don’t we have a tractor on the farm? You always talk about them.”

“Good question Elrzbieta but a Political one. We vowed not to raise Politics with Pani Maria on her first day, so suffice it to say that the Polish Government have put such swingeing taxes on farm machinery to make it uneconomical. They are afraid that the peasants would revolt, being afraid of losing their jobs on the land. What the Government doesn’t take into account is that, as you saw with your own eyes Pani Marisu, half our productive land is wasted and the poor workers in towns have to pay a premium for their produce and revolt at the price of bread, which the Government has to subsidise. Poland, with tractors, could produce enough grain to feed the whole of Europe. That’s enough for today.” 

Next morning the household rose early, with the sun. Pan Mierzynski was driven off to his office in Warsaw by the chauffer and Dziadek had his horse saddled and was off on his round of inspection. With the help of a maid, Maria got the children dressed and ready for breakfast. She ordered lightly boiled eggs with fresh crusty buns and glasses of chilled milk,  served outside on the sunny terrace instead of in the small dining room, just off the kitchens. This was a novelty for the children. The cook came to have a word with her about the menus for the week. Stary had given the orders. Maria accepted the menus but requested that the cook apply a certain amount of portion control. She insisted that for dinner the cook limited the portion size to one potato each and the same for the vegetables. Everything had to be served on platters and serving dishes so that people could help themselves rather than having everything plated up.

The children wanted to start lessons immediately but their common room was rather formal. Maria got Stan the odd job man to move a large settee into the room so that they could be more comfortable. They sat together on the large sofa and Maria began with Polish history which she recounted as a story. They then proceeded to geography with the help of a large atlas and then recited multiplication tables to the tune of a popular song. They finished with Maria starting telling them the story of ‘W Pustini i Pushczy’ (In the desert and jungle) and they would continue an episode each day. Maria prepared them lunch of fried potatoes with cured ham and an egg, which again was eaten on the terrace.

“What shall we do this afternoon, children?” asked Maria. “We need to get outside whilst the weather is good and get some exercise.” 

“Can we go to the river please Pani Marisu,” pleaded Janek.

“I don’t see why not but you have to be careful there.”

“Dziadek says its quite safe there if we stay in the shallows behind the sand bank,” added Elrzbieta.

“Can we take Henry?” asked Janek.

“Who’s Henry?”

“He’s our own horse and he goes every where with us,” answered Janek. “I’ll ask Stan to get him ready.” With that Janek ran off to the stables.

“We’ll take some fruit and apple juice with us for a snack,” said Maria to Elrzbieta.

“Oh yes, that would be lovely but we need to take a lot because lots of other local friends will join us if they see us going there.” They went down to the kitchen to ask the cook to prepare a basket of apples from the store with a jug of apple juice and some glasses. Janek led Henry the horse around the front of the house and trailing behind the horse was a small sled.

“We can ride on the sled when we get tired and we can load it up with things that we collect,” informed Janek.

“And where is this expedition heading?” asked Dziadek, riding up to them on his large stallion.

“We are off to the river Dzidzio,” answered Janek. “We are going to show Pani Maria our own private swimming pool.”

“Well enjoy yourselves and don’t go beyond the sand bank,” ordered Dziadek in a stern manner, wagging his finger. “At least you have Pani Maria to look after you. Now Pani Marisiu I need a quick word with you. The cooks are up in arms that the portions you ordered will be too small. I agree with you but I just told them to choose big potatoes,” he added conspiratorially. “I like the idea of being able to serve ourselves rather than a huge plate being plonked down in front of us. Keep up the good work Pani Marisu.”

“Stary, this horse is rather large.”

“Don’t worry Pani Marisiu. He’s the safest horse in the World. He also knows that he has to come home at lunch times and dinner and bring the kids home whether they like it or not. He’s a large English Shire horse but very docile. You’ll have no trouble with him. Now go and enjoy yourselves.”  

As soon as the local children saw Henry plodding along the track to the river, they rushed out to join the party. Eventually about twenty children, all under ten years old, turned up. The older ones were too busy in the fields helping their parents. Some sat on the sled but most ran and skipped along ahead, all excited by the novelty of a Governess from the House actually joining them and bringing along treats. When they reached the river, the children splashed about in the water. Maria decided that they should all learn to swim rather than  splashing about aimlessly. She had them all lying on the sandy beach, practising the frog movements of the breaststroke. Once they had mastered the principles on dry land, one by one they had to enter the water to chest deep and launch themselves, trying to emulate what they practised with lots of encouragement from the onlookers.

 Those that managed the strokes effectively were then sent into the water to practice on their own whilst the less able ones were back on the beach to hone their technique.  The second group were then individually sent into the water to check out their technique under the watchful eye of the Governess and then paired up with the more accomplished ones until they all could at least perform the correct strokes.  The braver ones soon managed to swim a few strokes which encouraged braver deeds. The more timid just managed to keep their feet off the bottom for a few seconds. One or two even managed to swim across to the sandbank.

After the swimming session, the Governess decided that they all should play ‘palanta,’ a type of rounders played with a held stick which is used to strike a short stick, sharpened at both ends. The idea was to strike the point on the ground, making the short stick flick up, then bat it away. The skill was to flick the short stick off the ground high enough to be able to bat it. For the less able the stick was thrown up for them to bat. The Governess ordered that each child should present themselves next time with decent sticks so that they could all practice. Once they had all dried out it was time for the treats. The apples were set out and counted and then divided amongst twenty-four people, Henry was also allocated a portion. Since there were only ten apples, this caused some difficulty. The children were then divided into boys and girls and told to work out in the sand how best to divide the apples. The best suggestion was that the eldest boy should run back to the house and get more apples but this was discarded by the Governess with a smile and each group were told to draw large circles on the sand representing each apple and then divide them up until each person got an equal piece. After much discussion and argument they all agreed that the simplest was to cut each apple into six and each person to get two pieces then at least there was more fairness since the apples were of different sizes. It was at this point the Maria understood that there was no education available for the children of the ‘Chlopi.’ On the journey back the children were all excited and made the Governess promise that they would do the same the following day.

At dinner that evening, Dziadek opened the conversation with, “Pani Marisiu, you must be a good swimmer. I watched you teaching the kids and you did it very efficiently. I was surprised that you didn’t go in with them?”

“I had to keep an eye on a lot of children and it’s easier from the bank,” she answered, hiding the fact that she couldn’t swim at all and added, “It’s important that they can all swim safely if they live so close to the river.”

“It is quite dangerous, the river,” added Pan Mierzynski. “We regularly get drownings, so it would be good if all the children could learn how to swim. We are lucky that we have that lagoon at this moment in time. Carry on the good work Pani Marisiu.”

“Thank you Sir. They are a nice bunch of children, but they need some schooling.”

“That’s true Pani Marisiu but our Government won’t provide teachers for under tens and after that the locals are reluctant to send them, since they are needed to help around the farm,” said Dziadek gravely. “I did think of starting up a junior school myself but the other landowners were against the idea of educating the Chlopi. I know it’s backward thinking but I have upset enough people around here with my innovations.”

“Talking about innovations, this dinner is much better served this way Pani Marisiu,” said Pan Mierzynski. “It even tastes better and I don’t have to make an attempt to eat more than I have to. What miracles have you performed?”

“I only showed the cook how I wanted to be served and also showed her how to season it with salt pepper and a few herbs. I hope it’s to your liking?”

“It definitely is Pani Marisiu, but don’t make it too tasty otherwise we will gorge ourselves,” said Dziadek.

“I don’t think we need worry about that,” added Pan Mierzynski, “The portions are too small, we might even starve!” he exclaimed. “Don’t worry Pani Marisiu, it’s time we cut out the excesses of the past.”

“I agree,” added Dziadek. “The cook was moaning that there wasn’t enough food for the pigs but I told her there are plenty of potatoes in the barn to use up rather than scraps from our tables.”

“Pan Stary, why haven’t you got ducks, geese and goats on the farm?” asked Maria.

“I don’t really know,” answered Dziadek. “We did have some at one time but somehow they never got replaced. Pani Marisiu, do you think we should get some more?”

“Well, it would be a variation to our diet. The geese would keep the grass down in the front garden and goat’s milk is very good.”

“You seem to know quite a lot about these things Pani Marisiu,” added Dziadek.

“When I was a little girl, I kept a goat, some ducks and geese to feed the family.”

“Well, Pani Marisiu we shall have some again. I will instruct the gardeners to clean up the pond and make provision for them. I look forward to having my own duck eggs for breakfast. That reminds me Pani Marisiu. Can I join you for lunch each day? It does sound very tempting.”

“Of course you can Pan Stary. I will make an extra portion for you and the children would love to have you there to themselves for a while each day.”

“Good, that’s settled but Pani Marisiu can you get the cook to prepare lunch for us rather than you doing it your self. We need to keep our staff occupied and you can instruct them into your way of things. We need to keep abreast of times and show the locals and City folk that we are not ‘Chlopi.’”

The next day Maria told the children that they were going to get some ducks, geese and goats and they pestered her to show them where they would be kept. Maria took them to the large kitchen garden and showed them where the labourers were cleaning out the derelict pond for the ducks and fencing off part of the garden for the goats. She then took them to the front garden to show them where the flock of geese would keep the grass and weeds down. She called Stan over who was cleaning the windows.

“Stan, why don’t those large gates close?”

“Never have been closed since I remember. I think one of the hinges is broken Pani Marisiu.”

“Can we get them repaired?”

“Yes Pani Marisiu, the koval (Blacksmith) could do that but it will be a nuisance to keep opening them every time we want to come in.”

“I understand that Stan but this is only a short cut to the stables. I want you to get the Koval to repair the gates so that they can be opened and in future we shall have them closed. People can use the proper way to the stables. We are going to keep geese here to keep the grass and weeds down. Stan, can you also weed and tidy up the drive, it’s a disgrace and it looks bad from the terrace where we have lunch.”

“Yes, Pani Marisiu but we will need some fresh gravel from the river.”

“I’ll get the children to load up the sled on the way back each day. And please mend the wooden fence and gates over there. Tell the stable lads that they have to go round the proper way and not through here.”

After the lessons and lunch Elrzbieta and Janek were eager to go down to the river again to try their hand at swimming and at palanta. Dziadek had instructed Stan to provide them with the necessary sticks, expertly cut. Henry was harnessed and provisions for the picnic loaded and off they went. The word had got around the farms that organised games and swimming was taking place by the river and lots more children joined the throng. Again, they all had swimming lessons, followed by palanta practise plus a game to finish. Before the treats were brought out Maria decided to check on the children’s counting ability. They were lined up military style and each child had to go down the line and count the children, themselves, the Governess, plus Henry the horse so that they could divide the apples correctly. The first in line had to go down and count aloud and if he got it right, without stumbling the next child followed. Any that got it wrong had to rejoin the queue of counters. Eventually all got it right even though the last few had help. There were thirty-six people and only twenty five apples. This time they were divided into four groups to work on the correct solution. This took a while with lots of argument but at last one team came up with a solution that was agreed. One whole apple was to be given to Henry and the rest to be cut up into six, with four pieces each, including Henry. The eldest boy was given the task of cutting up the apples whilst the girls poured out the apple juice. Once each child had his allotted portion, Maria bade them sit under the shade of an old willow and started telling them the history of Poland in story form. The children made her promise to tell more the next day. She agreed on the condition that they filled the sled with gravel each day.

The weeks went by with more or less the same routine. Formal lessons for Elrzbieta and Janek, lunch on the terrace with Dziadek telling them stories about the farm and surrounding estates. Afternoons by the river, playing games, listening to history stories and doing rudimentary mathematics. On the way home Maria introduced another couple of regimes. They had to sing. They first started with the National Anthem, followed by the National Hymn and then more light hearted songs, including one which went through the multiplication table and the alphabet.  The weekends were different in that there were no more formal lessons as far as the two children were concerned but they still continued the history story. Dziadek would harness up the droszka and they would go farther a field, visiting other estates, forests and occasionally as far as the banks of the great River Vistula. On Sundays they took the droszka to the local church and Stary would invite the local dignitaries back for lunch. His main purpose was to feed them ideas on how the region should make progress on the agricultural front. Maria had to plan the menus and arrange the setting of the table. A horse rider would gallop back from church to warn the cook of the numbers expected.

At the end of six weeks Dziadek suggested the Maria take a few days to visit her family. A droszka would take her there and she would come back in the Lagonda with Pan Mierzynski on the Monday evening. Maria was excited since she had been paid a substantial salary, far more than she expected and given money to buy lots of books for the library, including books for the children. Furthermore, Dziadek insisted on loading up the droszka with barrels of sauerkraut, pickled dills, pickled herrings, whole hams, cured sausages, bags of potatoes, apples, and vegetables for her family. He said it gave him pleasure to provide for the City since he had no relatives there.

Maria’s arrival caused a commotion and utter excitement. Never had they seen so many gifts of food for a long, long time and mother wondered what to do with everything. Dika was more practical and wanted to sell everything to buy books. Maria recounted in great detail all the work and functions she performed at Grodusk and mother was heartened by the fact that she was acting as hostess in Pani Mierzynska’s absence. Unbeknownst to Dika, Maria handed over the majority of her salary to her mother. Dika would have immediately demanded some for books and good works in the neighbourhood. Maria kept a small amount to buy a dress and small items that she needed. Dika was satisfied that she was entrusted with a considerable sum to purchase modern books for Grodusk. Maria insisted that Dika produced a receipt for every purchase. They reached a sort of agreement that for the first visit Dika would hand over a lot of her books whilst she purchased new ones to be either collected by Pan Mierzynski or taken back by Maria on her next visit. Most of the weekend was spent by Dika updating Maria on the current Political situation, the cultural happenings in Warsaw, the gossip and the Political jokes of the day, for which the City was famous.

The second excitement of the weekend was when Pan Mierzynski arrived on Monday evening in his Lagonda to take Maria back to Grodusk. Correctly, he was invited in to have tea and pastries with the family, whilst the chauffeur packed the boot with boxes of books, Maria’s case and small parcels of presents for most members of the household. As they got nearer to Grodusk the chauffer had to slow down since the road was poorer and full of potholes. Maria enjoyed the experience of being chauffeur driven and being driven fast where it was possible. She was thrilled when the car reached the speed of ‘Cetke’ (100Km/hr), which wasn’t often because of the state of the road and the slow, horse drawn carts in the way. The last three Kilometres on the estate were the worst. Full of potholes and badly drained. She made it her objective to get that repaired so that the last few Kilometres could be driven at full speed and in style.

Everybody welcomed her back and they were surprised by the little thoughtful presents she had brought for everybody. That evening they had arranged a special dinner, for which two ducks had met their untimely demise. Before the desert, Dziadek surprised them by bringing out a round of goat’s cheese, made from the milk of their own herd. Some early Autumn rainfall had brought the grass on in the front garden and the geese were excited by their new crop of fodder. Dziadek was busy with bringing in the harvest. He had recently invested in a horse drawn reaping machine that cut the corn and tied up the stooks automatically, avoiding much labour with scythes and the back breaking work of gathering the cut corn and manually tying it into stooks. He had also invested in an automatic thresher and winnowing machine that would be powered by the machinery at the mill. He told his workers that in the following year he planned to plant double the crop so that they shouldn’t worry about loosing their jobs. The children had missed their Governess and had decorated her room with lots of wild flowers.

With the harvest at full swing, there was no time for the local children to go swimming and playing. They had to help in the fields. After finishing his fields with the automatic reaper, Dziadek offered to work the fields of the Chlopi. Some took him up on the offer, others were still suspicious of new machinery and declined but they all wanted to make use of the automatic thresher which was more efficient. Apart from removing the chaff, it removed the weed seeds. The house staff were busy cleaning out the storage cellars ready for the new harvest of potatoes, carrots and barrels for pickled cabbage and dill cucumbers to last through to the next harvest. Stan, Maria, Elrzbieta, Janek and Henry were assigned to collecting fine sand from the riverbanks for the storage of carrots and apples in the cellar. When they had completed their task Maria insisted that they continue their task but this time collecting mixed gravel and sand to fill in the potholes on the estate road. Pan Mierzynski immediately noticed the improvement in the road surface and got Dziadek to assign some extra labour to dig up and spread the gravel, even beyond the estate so eventually at least five kilometres were fully graded and allowed the Lagonda to sweep up to the house in style.

At the end of September Pani Mierzynska was due back from Switzerland and Pani Marisu was assigned to getting the house in ship shape order. This wasn’t much of a task since Maria ensured the staff had regular routines but she made great efforts with the outside of the house and gardens which had been neglected for some time. All the windows, shutters and doors were repaired and painted, the bushes pruned and gardens at the front of the house weeded and freshly dug over. The most important thing she did, which pleased Pan Mierzynski but vexed Stary, was that she had the horse dung heap repositioned at the far side of the stables and the pigsties moved to the other side of the garden. This reduced the farmyard smells wafting into the house. Stary retorted that the smells were a natural part of the farming landscape and Pan Mierzynski commented that he didn’t wish to carry the smells of the farmyard to his office on his clothes.

Pani Mierzynska arrived in style, in the Lagonda and her cases with new purchases arrived from the Warsaw main station by horse and cart. The children were excited by the arrival of their mother and the anticipation of new presents. Pani Mierzynska was tired after her long train journey from Geneva and after the greetings retired early to her bed chamber. Apart from providing the cook with a proposed menu for the rest of the week Maria effectively handed over the housekeeping duties. She decided to eat with the children rather than with the adults in the evening. The cook took this to be a message that things had to go back to the old methods and for Dziadek and Pan Mierzynski cooked an enormous meal served on large plates. Dziadek immediately sought out Maria and demanded what was going on. “Pani Marisiu, co sie stalo?” he demanded to know what was happening.

“Now that Pani Mierzynska has returned, I have handed over the reins to her for the running of the household.”

“Yes, but there was no need for the cook to go back to her old ways. She’s placed before the two of us the biggest plates of food I’ve ever set eyes on. It’s disgusting! My son and I want to go back to the way you instructed the cooks.”

“Pan Stary, I didn’t give the cook any orders to change her ways. She just did what she thought best. I think we should both go down to the kitchens and we can explain what you want. Shall we?”

“I apologise for thinking you, Pani Marisiu, were instrumental in this. Please come with me and we can make peace with the old woman.”  They went down and Stary explained that things were now on another footing and the cook should continue serving the way Pani Maria had introduced and that the portion size had to be reduced as before. The cook wasn’t very happy but agreed.

Midmorning the next day, Pani Maria and the children were summoned up to Pani Mierzynska’s rooms to help her unpack and receive their presents. There was a mountain of cases, boxes and parcels in the spare room and Pani Mierzynska had all the maids there to help. She first of all handed a large box each to Elrzbieta and Janek to open and then handed Maria a small box stating that since she didn’t know Maria well yet then a gift of a string of pearls was the safest route. Whilst the children delved into their presents of toys, books and clothing Maria helped Sofia to unpack the extensive wardrobe she had purchased. A mountain of clothes and garments were pressed aired and put away but there wasn’t enough room in her large main wardrobe, so much of Sofia’s time was spent sorting and discarding items that she deemed to be old fashioned. These were put away in the wardrobes of the spare room. Sofia ordered that Maria should dispose of these in any way she pleased and take any items she fancied or which would be any use to her family. The next visit home would include a couple crates of Sofia’s discarded clothing. 

Sofia approved of the new arrangements with the kitchen and insisted that Maria joined them each evening for dinner. The cooks and the maids were not very happy with the sudden change of leadership and were quick to fall back into their old sloppy ways until Maria pulled them up and told them that it was also Pani Mierzynska’s wish that they should continue in the new way. Stary also backed up Maria by reiterating the orders. Although the staff were displeased with Maria initially, they soon thanked her for helping them out in interpreting Pani Mierzynska’s new demands. She had brought with her a pile of new recipes from Switzerland and insisted that the cook reproduce them. Maria helped the cook adopt these to local ingredients and techniques. She had also brought two crates of expensive porcelain china that she insisted on using and Maria helped the maids in setting tables correctly with the new crockery and cutlery. Maria spent much time in the kitchen helping the cook to perfect the new techniques required to prepare the new recipes as well as with the new flavours demanded. All in all, this kept Pani Mierzynska happy and she was able to marvel at how ordinary Polish peasant cooks could produce the equivalent of fine dining as in the best that Swiss hotels could muster. 

On the next visit home, the droshka was overloaded with cases and baskets of clothes which Pani Mierzynska insisted that Maria disposed of discretely since she had a new wardrobe of the latest Parisian fashion. Maria had sent a message for two seamstresses from a famous Warsaw ladies fashion shop be at the house in the afternoon.

“Marisiu, we could sell all this stuff on the market and get good money for it,” said Dika thinking of the proceeds greedily. “It’s a waste of time bringing in those snooty women from Powalski’s.”

“We need to sort the clothes and pick out things that we need for ourselves,” answered Maria. “You need a new coat for winter Dika and mother needs clothes too. The ladies will alter them for us to fit.”

“Yes, Maria but we could have got a local Jewish lady to come at fraction of the price. Money doesn’t grow on trees around here you know.”

“Mother, just trust me. If Dika took these garments to the local market, who would buy this elegant stuff there. The locals there wouldn’t buy and we would probably get peanuts for it for rags.”

“At least we would get something for it and not have to pay Powalski’s prices to have alterations done. Mother, Marisia is wasting our money again.”

“Don’t you go on about money Ludwika. You’d give all the money away or spend it on your books. At least I’m bringing some money into the household and provisions from the estate. So don’t criticise me sister!”

“Now stop bickering girls. What is done is done and Marisia is doing the best she can for us. Now let’s have some lunch.”

That afternoon the seamstresses arrived with their sewing machines and they set themselves up in the large sitting room. All the clothes were sorted into garments to be altered for the family and those to be disposed of. Maria chose three dresses and two coats and the garments were so altered and adorned that Pani Sofia couldn’t recognise them. Both Mother and Dika got winter coats and dresses for themselves and altered to fit. The leading seamstress took Maria aside and asked what she was going to do with the remaining pile of garments, shoes and hats. The shop might be interested in purchasing them. The shop manager was called and a large sum of money exchanged hands. Dika, seeing the amount raised was still displeased and thought that her little sister should have bargained harder. Mother tried to placate them. On Monday night when Pan Mierzynski was due in his Lagonda, Marisia was sent out to the most expensive patisserie in Warsaw to purchase some fancy pastries and to make sure the shop’s logo was on the paper doilies. 

Maria returned to Grodusk with new clothes, a case of books purchased and previously read by Ludvika, and little presents for all of the household. Dziadek got a new pipe, Pan Mierzynski an English fountain pen, Sofia received some lace handkerchiefs, Elrzbieta loved her new coloured pencils and Janek was proud owner of a penknife. The rest of the household were not forgotten and received appropriate small presents. The cook was most proud of her new chef’s bonnet which elevated her status.

There was another member of the family who visited frequently. This was the Grandmother who lived on the other side of Warsaw. She was a tartar and her visits caused much misery to the staff, who were constantly criticised and shouted at. She would insist on being driven to Warsaw in the Lagonda, accompanied by Maria. They visited the most expensive and fashionable stores to have private showings of the latest fashion. Maria was there to help the Grandmother choose and also for company since the visit also included a number of fashionable cafes to hear the gossip and the latest political jokes. On one occasion the Grandmother insisted on buying Maria an expensive dress. It wasn’t her favourite and she had it extensively altered to suit. 

September and October where the times to pick mushrooms in the forests. Henry pulled the sled full of wicker baskets and an army of household staff plus Elrzbieta, Janet and Maria went and scoured the local forests for a wide variety of mushrooms and fungi. These were carefully placed in the baskets and hauled back to the house by Henry. The fine mushrooms were sorted out and the smaller ones pickled in large jars. The larger fine ones were arranged in small baskets for Pan Mierzynski to take to the Bank as presents. A stock was put aside for general usage in the house. Fresh mushrooms were always a favourite. The majority of the harvest was brushed clean, threaded on twine and hung above the stoves to dry and be used throughout the year for flavouring soups, stocks and sauces. The sweet smell of drying mushrooms pervaded the house and made people smile and consider the wonderful dishes to come during the winter months ahead. Stary also made sure that a large quantity was bought from the chlopi to provide them with cash for Christmas to buy some luxuries.

The harvest was in and work got underway for preparing for the harsh Polish winter. Field drains were cleared and snow poles set by the roadside to mark the way. When the first snows fell in November the carts and droszkas were changed for sledges. Trees were felled and hauled for timber over the frozen ground. Stocks of firewood were brought up to the house and new stock cut and stored to season for the following year. The barns and byres were checked for weatherproofing and hay and straw stacked in the lofts for the horses and farm animals. The hen coops and pigsties were strengthened against marauding foxes and wolves. The icehouse set deep in the farmyard was cleared ready to take new ice cut from the river once it had frozen over to a depth of a metre. Heavy curtains were placed over the windows and the shutters checked so that they would close properly. Grodusk had electricity for lighting and the power lines were checked over to ensure all the poles stood firm.

The first winter in Grodusk for Maria was wonderful because the living rooms were kept nice and warm with a plentiful supply of fuel for the large ceramic stoves in each room. Stan ensured that they were constantly stoked up. Electric lighting was bliss for reading. No longer did Maria have to put up with candles to save the costs of electricity at home. During the day, when the weather was fine, Maria took the children out on a sleigh ride with one of the stable lads at the reins. They would go round the shacks of the local chlopi, distributing small lots of food and checking on their wellbeing. When the winds were howling and blizzards blowing they would stay in doors and Maria would give the children lessons and tell them stories. Elrzbieta and Janek preferred Pani Maria’s own stories than being read to, even though she would embellish well know tales in her way. In the middle of winter one day, they were on a sleigh ride with the horses in a fast gallop on the frozen snow, the stable lad at the reins turned to them and told them that they had just ridden over a shack covered with snow.

Christmas was again a wonderful time for Maria with huge banquets and balls. Pani Sofia was more and more reliant on Maria in preparing the menus and ensuring that the cooks knew how to serve the food in the best way. After all, Grodusk was getting a reputation for fine dining with the best of French and Italian cuisine, done with a Polish twist. No one turned down an invitation to dine and people would travel from afar, even in bad weather. During the winter, game was always on the menu with wild venison, boar, duck and hare. Reared carp, perch and pigeon was also on hand to supplement the fare. The cellars were a huge store of prepared foods, carefully preserved and stored during the times of plenty.

The two years passed away quickly and Maria was sad to leave Grodusk since the children were now old enough to go to school in Warsaw. She promised to visit them both at Grodusk and at their school. The local gentry were also sad to see Maria leave and hoped that the cooks would continue the high standards set. The local children of the Chlopi were probably the ones who missed Pani Maria most since she brought so many new experiences to their lives, teaching them Polish history, geography, new games, and telling them such nice stories.

Maria went back to her family home in Warsaw and a job at a bank. Mother was grateful for her financial support. Dika was grateful for the money she could give away for needy causes and to buy her books.

Pan Mierzynski prospered and became the head of the Bank of Poland which ensured his survival through the various regime changes in Poland. Babcia, Margaret and I visited them in their small apartment in Warsaw during one of our visits to Poland in 1969. They were happy and commented that things had changed for the better. An example they gave was that the son of one of the stable lads was now at University, which would have been unheard of at one time.

Janek died of shot wounds on the first day of the Warsaw uprising. I don’t remember what happened to Elrzbieta. I don’t think she survived the war otherwise we would have probably met her on our visit.