June, 1864

Father and Mama will not let me join the army to fight the Prussians. I am very angry about it. But Father has allowed me to drop out of school to be apprenticed as a carpenter to Mr. Goetz. He is very wealthy. Father did want me to become a teacher or scholar, but I refused and am adamant in my decision. Four more of my brothers have been lost to tuberculosis, the poor boys. Mama tries hard not to show her misery. Father just becomes more forbearing in his determination for me to achieve some literary success.

A curious thing happened the other day. I passed Elisabeth Goetz, my employer’s daughter, on the bridge. I have never noticed her before, but it suddenly occurred to me that she is beautiful. True, she is only twelve, three years younger than me, but I fear I might be in love with her. I have been thinking about her constantly. Today, she came into the lumberyard where I was working and I became so distracted that I cut my shin with the adz! I do not think Father approves, or the entire village for that matter, but I will court her no matter what.

Jacob Riis