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Taken from a letter written in 19?? from Luba to Wendy:

Luba's page numbers are enclosed in ()'s.
Notes and copier pages are in <>'s.

<pg 1> (1) Dear Wendy,

So you want your grandmother's history? I shall oblige you and do my best in piecing it together for you! Even though I actually don't know the date nor the year of my birth, but I can explain in case my statement will sound questionable? You see dear we never celebrated our birthdays like we do now and as I look back now, I don't think that new births in general were correctly registered, at least in our little burg, but nevertheless I am here, so I must have been born some time!

I was born in a small town called Shedrin (?) in

<pg 2> the state of Minsk, Russia. I remember thinking that I was the 3rd child in the family, but being told later that a baby girl - which died in infancy was born before me. She was between my oldest brother, Sam, and myself. He was, by the way, Eita's (?) father, your mother's cousin. My parents raised a family of seven children, four girls and three boys. I still remember my mother giving birth to my baby brother, and when he was about two years old, my oldest sister which was married young had her first baby son, and like all proud grandparents they almost adapted their first grand child, and we all loved him of course. He really

<pg 3> (2) felt more at home too, as having a playmate and the companionship of his young uncle almost his same age! In fact, he was on the family picture I received several years later when I was still living in New York City. If anyone is having my picture? He is sitting side by side with my baby brother, both holding their study books, having perhaps the same teacher or Rabe as he is called, which teaches boys mostly in Judaism or rather Jews religion in general. We had no public schools in the small towns, but it was customary that the able or rather the well to do families would hire one Rabbi for several boys. He would

<pg 4> hold class either at home or in the synagogue, also teachers for the girls which taught general education as reading writing Yiddish first and Russian even some german our teacher taught me. I must mention now, my little brother and my nephew were later killed in the Russian Japanese War where they evidently served together!

As I mentioned above being born and raised in a small town was really much to our advantage! We lived a healthy and peaceful lives, our climate was good. The flat rich land with all kinds of grain growing that actually

<Pg 5&6, an only semi-legible page with much of the text crossed out>

<Pg 7> Our town was far from either Railroad or River (?). The most traveling was done by hired horse-buggy. They were available like taxis. whether (?) you wanted the train or ship. During the winter the big river we had long (??) freeze and you travel by horse and sled! Our town was also surrounded by national forests which is for (??) bidden to enter, the woods are deep and had all kinds of wild berries growing as

<Pg 8, almost the same, but not identical to pg. 3>

<More semi-legible text pg 9> Now looking back a life ... ... ...

<pg 10, crossed out> cherry blossoms, it was like a good perfume in the air. My parents?? weren't rich, but neither poor. We had a good comfortable home of our own, and made more than others. We raised a lot of our own food and plenty of milk produce and eggs. We raised chickens a geese? and even goats. I remember having a white baby goat with furry white earings hanging down her ears as our pet! My father being the first born to his parents inherited some land from his father! It was an exception since Jews were not allowed any land in Russia. but this land was given to the Jews that served in the

<pg 11> army during the Alexander the Great regime of Russia as a reward! My grandparents on both sides were well to do. They had palatial homes and <were> well established in their towns. My father's parents and his grandparents as well as his greats were born in our town. On my mother's side as well -- she came from a little town close by. I knew her mother only. When we visited grandma, she was then living with her only son and family, or rather the son as living with her on a big plantation like estate. The communications between the little towns were made on horse and buggy. we were miles away from

<pg 12> surrounded the town added a log to the delicious fragrance when it was in bloom. I can still remember when the apples and cherry trees were blossoming in spring time. The air was filled like with a good perfume. I can still see myself in the field watching the pesant women cutting and gathering the grains and how I helped planting potatoes following the plow and later gathering them.

My parents weren't rich but neither poor! We had much more than other people I knew. We had a good comfortable home of our own which many people didn't! We had some land which others didn't.

<pg 13> We raised a lot of our food, plants, milk, cream, butter and hen?? eggs and even some meat. We raised chickens and geese even goats. I remember having a white baby goat. She had funny white earring like hanging down her ears! She was our baby?? pet and as I think of her now it reminds me of the amusing incident(s) she was involved. It was really funny, at least at that particular time! It happened the first night of passover and the first seder. The family were gathered at the table beautifully set for the very special occasion. The glittering wine glasses were filled with the sparkling red wine. Each of us children

<pg 14> had our favorite decorated glass which was used from year to year. Our father conducting the ceremony had a special pretty one decorated with gold and silver stripes. The house or dining room lighted only by candle light ???became tranquil and quiet?? almost a holy like atmosphere. Everyone looking attentive and listening to the prayers, at the same time stealthily looking with hungry eyes at the the delicious filled wine glasses, waiting for the moment when we could take a drink. It was customary that an extra place at the table was set for the prophet or ?

<pg 15> the ??? or the holy ghost with a bib?? name. I forgot. There is a moment during the prayers when the door is opened for him to enter. Its a real mysterious and tender?? moment. Our eyes would be glued to his glass, watching if its touched or moved. At that moment the door was opened but how came in? but our white livable baby pet goat! We sat there chuckling?? not daring to laugh out loud. Passover was one holiday I always looked forward to. It was very exciting to keep my mother unpack all the nice things and the special dishes where were used only for passover. Its stored away carefully from one year to the next. A room was taken before the holiday

<pg 16> and almost sterilized and kept under lock for the certain things and food that was used only during this holiday. I look back now with nostalgia at my early childhood. Hoping it wont bore you!

My fathers being the first born to his parents inherited the land we owned from his father. It was an exception though, since Jews weren't allowed to own any land in Russia! But, during the regime of Alexander the great of Russia, some land was given to the Jews that served in the army of that time as a reward. I guess that my father's forefathers earned this special privilege. My

<pg 17> grandparents and their parents before them were born in our town. They were well established there. So was my mother's folks. She came from a small town near by. On my mother's side, I remember only my grandmother when we visited her once she was living there in her ???ial home with her only son and family or they were living with her. To communicate between the little towns, it was made by horse and buggy which we had to have. We were miles from either railroad or water to reach any destination. It was really something to look forward to when we did go visiting our relatives.

<pg 18> (6) we had long Winters. The big rivers would freeze, then the traveling would be done by sleigh. Actually our lives were much like the pioneers in America at that time. Food was stored for the winter time. ?? They did have fresh fruits were practically none existent with the exceptions of apples or pears. Oranges or lemons or even grapes were shipped from the south, and it was available?? only when one was sick. Even watermelons were rare. I never saw tomatoes until I was in a big city later when I left home! And now I am beginning to grow up! I was perhaps about 10 or 12 years old

<pg 19> and I was the oldest of the girls in the family, and it was time for me to learn to be the responsible one! My married sister was having her family and mother was frequently absent from home. It was my responsibility to keep the household going. I would surprise our neighbors and friends when they came in to see how we were coming along when mom was away. I used <to> be proud of what I was doing and I really liked it! It was proper that a family of our size should have someone to sew, and mother decided that I should be the one to learn to sew. She hired me out for a whole year to the town's beset seamstress??

<pg 20 is faint and mostly illegible, some words like New York City, trip to America are readable. >

<pg 21> (7) and paid her 10 rubles to teach me sewing. I must mention, that at that period, ready made clothes were practically unknown, at least in our little world! The seamstress and her husband sewed for all the rich people in town from underwear to top coats. Beside the hired help, they had several other girls like me come in to learn sewing. I liked sewing and learned it quickly. After the year was over, she refused the 10 rubles. She even gave me a gift, a pretty blouse. My mother was so proud of me. I soon was sewing for the whole family, including my sister and her brood. She

<pg 22> (8) had some one there from our town we knew. <rest is mostly illegible>

<pg 23> used to tell me that I owed it to her because she didn't have the chance to learn, "as it was my fault". So I even had to make the gadtk?? for her husband. Its like p. of s.

As usual the time goes by quickly. I felt grown up. I was about 16 when I decided to see the world. I knew other gorls were away from home and I felt that I could do the same. I had three girlfriends that we grew up together. M??? was one of the! We were the brave ones, we decided one day to leave home! We both went to a big city called Ekat...slau??. I don't remember now, why we choose the place? To reach there we traveled by steam boat. We must of

<pg 24> I was home sick missing the comfort of home, the food. We liked the surrounding but were too proud to give in. Meanwhile a one year went by. In 1906, I was back home and found myself getting ready to go to America. ??? decided to send us off to America for safety since the Russian revolution was in full force already and the ?? most of young ones were ??? in ?? and so was I!

<24 pages total>