baker's daughter, of Kuttenberg
“I am Else, daughter to the baker, though my hands look like a scullery maid's from the scrubbing. I know my own mind and will marry who I please, no matter who shouts.”
Things Else Klein had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at None
My father Kunz is shouting again because I dropped a sack of rye. He says my head is in the clouds. Let him shout. I have been saving pennies under my floorboards and soon I will pay for a cart out of this place.
Nota scribaeDictated at the well. She crossed her arms the entire time.
the eve of the Ascension, at Prime
My mother Alice is in a foul temper this morning, snapping at the hired hands. I know she slips out at night. She and her friend Madlen have secrets of their own, but she dares lecture me about Endres.
Hold your tongue, Else. You know nothing of my business or what the night brings.
the second day of Easter week, at Vespers
There are grunting noises under the floorboards at night. Father thinks it is demons sent to punish us for our sins. Christ almighty, it is just rats. But while he panics and prays, I use the din to slip notes to Endres's friends.
Demons or rats, I'd pour boiling water down the cracks just to be safe.
Laetare Sunday, at Sext
The bread is dearer, the roads are full of soldiers, and still they make me walk down the hill to the lower well for water. It is a servant's work. I saw Wilhelm the trader and bought nothing, just to spite the coin.
Nota scribaeShe spoke very fast and complained of a sore back.
the Friday after Ash Wednesday, at Terce
I met Endres at the market. He is a hired hand at a mill outside the parish, with no trade yet, but he smiled at me while carrying a sack. He is kind. Father calls him a beggar, but I will be his wife.
He is a penniless boy sniffing after my ovens. I forbid it absolutely.
I have no groschen yet, master Kunz, but my back is strong and my heart is true.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You will stay under my roof and marry a tradesman, girl, or God will strike you down.
God has better things to do than watch your ovens, father.