Part VII of A Dairy for Puse continues on February 18, 2016, the latest installment of a mother’s diary to her daughter from 1919 – 1953, capturing a moment of Dalmatia and Dalmatian exile in history.
Start at the beginning with Part I here.
I.
April 29, 1928
And today, Puse was hiking with the big ones near Stobreč. A terrible south-east wind made it unbearable warm. But Puse said it was beautiful. Mom helped her to bed as she was so tired. After 15 minutes, she calls me with a crying voice and I wonder in amazement what has happened. Puse tells me seriously: “Mom, certainly I sinned today as it is Sunday and I missed Mass?” Mom things about it for a second. How will she reassure this little soul, when so often she fails in the same way herself? Therefore, to justify it, with a convincing in her voice, she speaks:
“Sweetheart, nobody will say a word to you, because you were not at some stupid light-minded party, you was in the nature, enjoying the wind, sea and sun, you was picking flowers and enjoyed everything that God has created for us, people under the blue sky.”
Puse must have liked my interpretation, because she immediately stopped sobbing and said with a questioning voice: “Really?”. She hugged and kissed her mom and so reassured, she closed her eyes and fell asleep again. I wonder, if Mom just made it worse for Puse with that pantheistic response, or was it helpful after all? Who knows what her inner preferences are and what her soul will choose later on in life, when searching for the right path through the difficult issues of life? Puse is now a lot into religion, but it can also be the result of the religious education; certainly her sensitive side still prevails over the reasoning one: I do not remember her asking me about anything that would oppose the religion and faith, as it often happens with other children, who already got an innate sense of scepticism.
December 18, 1929
Puse learns about the history of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and there was something what would make her heart tremendously shaking. At the lesson about “The first uprising for freedom”, she raced home, threw her books away and with the history book in her hand, she stood up in the middle of the room and began to read out loud, although her voice was shaking a bit. It was a chapter in which the Catholic Ljudevit received adoration and among them, there was Ljudevit, the Prince of Pannonia and Croatia accompanied by Borna, who was fascinated by the splendour of the court and wondered how the glow has no effect on Ljudevit. And Puse, very touched, read:
“See, Posavina eagle”, said Borna addressing Ljudevit, “how beautifully the golden cross shines at the emeror´s crown?”
“Yes, I see it!”, replied Ljudevit. “But I also see my crucified people on it and hear them crying for freedom.” Puse emphasizes the words ´my crucified people´ and continues: “See, proud eagle, how beautiful the purple mantle of the Emperor is?”, says Borna again.
“Oh, yes”, Ljudevit smiles bitterly. “The Emperor Frankish bathed in the innocent blood of my people.”
Puse´s eyes full of tears and her voice trembles: “Listen, dusky wolf, listen to the spears and swords, armours and shields of the Frankish nobles?”, asks Borna with an evil laugh.
“Oh, yes, I hear the poisonous snakes, the sound of chains on the hands and feet of my tortured Croatian people, brother Slovenes and even those being prepared for brothers Serbs”, grinds his teeth the brave Ljudevit.
Puse justified the anger of Ljudevit, her soul revolted against the vicious Borna, and she might “for the first time felt the injustice beyond her own interest”. Mom immediately confirmed that this is an extraordinary item and that the nobility of Ljudevit and his love for his people is truly great. Puse was please, that her mother agrees with her and that she has understanding for such wonderful words.
