maidservant in Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I do the heavy work while everyone else shouts. Without me, this house would fall apart.”
Things Madlen had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Friday after Philip and James, at None
Lord have mercy, we must put Karl in the ground. The old man died on Tuesday and still sits shrouded in the house. Father Sebastian wants twelve groschen for Sedletz, but Berchta only has six. Joerg says he will do it for four and a jug of ale. They should take the deal before the smell turns.
Nota scribaeShe crossed herself three times while dictating this and sighed heavily.
the Monday after St George, at Prime
It rained in the night and water poured right through my roof. Sister Gerta takes the rent for this shed but does not care that the timber is rotting into the mud. I am coughing from the damp. I asked Anna to help me complain, but she only tells me to fix it myself.
Use Uncle John's scrap wood and stop your whining. My hand aches too much to listen to it.
It is not my place to mend a cloistered nun's property, Anna.
the third day of Easter week, at Vespers
Christina is still watching the road for that journeyman Konrad. He left for Prague a month ago. I told her men who see the paved streets of Prague do not come back for Kuttenberg girls. She wept, but it is the honest truth.
You are just a bitter old maid who has no one to wait for her!
The maid is right for once. He is a shiftless vagabond and we are better off without him.
Nota scribaeShe let out a long, put-upon sigh before speaking.
the Feast of St Gregory, at Terce
My knuckles are bleeding again from scrubbing the iron pots with sand. The grease never comes off easily. I fetch the water before the roosters even wake, and nobody in this house says a word of thanks. I keep my hands tucked in my sleeves just to stay warm.
It is hard work, lass. We all have our burdens in this world.
Nota scribaeThe word she used for the grease was not polite.
the morrow of Candlemas, at Sext
The winter has been bitter and my shed is freezing. I saw John putting away his saved pennies in the yard today. He thinks nobody sees him hiding them in that hollow block of oak, but I see everything. I wish I had a few groschen, and a family to sit by the fire with.
Keep your eyes to your own work, Madlen. Wood is dear and pennies are scarce.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Hold your tongue, Madlen. My husband will not lie in unblessed dirt like a dog.
The offer stands. Four groschen and the ale, and the worms can have him by Compline.