A COAL MINERS BRIDE: THE DIARY OF ANETKA KAMINSKA

By: Kristin Craver

Characters:
Anetka Kaminska- 13 years old (main character) Jozef- seven years old (Anetkas brother) Babcia (BOB-cha)- grandmother Mamusia (maw-MOO-shaw)- mother Tata (TAH-ta)- father Leon Nasevich- Czar solider (18 or 19 years old) Mr. Stanley Gawrych Stefania- Anetkas best friend Lidia and Jerzy-Friends in Lattimer

The Czars control

Lives in Russia-occupied Sadowska, Poland, in 1896 The Czar has forbidden Polish traditions and language. Anetka secretly teaches Polish to children Anetka hates Czar soldiers! She runs into Leon

Waiting for a Letter

She doesn't have "America fever" Waits for her fathers return from America. Tata has been working in a Pennsylvania coal mine for almost a year Tatas letter arrives Her father has arranged for her to marry Mr. Stanley Gawrych. Anetka wants to marry for love Tata told them to come to America

Heading to America
Leon saves Anetka from a Czar soldier Jozef, Anetka, and Leon head to America She is homesick Meets Lidia and Jerzy Learns America words and sentences Mr. Bogdan tells them about Ellis Island Starts developing feelings for Leon Leon kisses her At Ellis Island, they go through interrogations and inspections Leon got held up at Ellis Island Anetka and Jozef head to Lattimer, PA

Lattimer, PA
Anetka and Jozef reunite with their father Anetka is introduced to Stanley Stanley introduces her to his daughters
Violet (six), Rose (four), and Lily (three)

Stanley and Anetka marry Stanley is still in love with his dead wife Jozef woks as a breaker boy. Coal Miner Union Stanley dies Leon returns and boards at Anetkas house Lattimer massacre Jerzy dies

Epilogue
Leon and Anetka got married. Leon continued to work as a Union Leader. They had one daughter named Mary. Violet married at 16 to an Italian boy. Rose married an Irish boy. Lily married a Welsh boy. Mary taught 5th grade and married a school principal. Anetka never became an American citizen. Jozef participated in strikes and entered WW1 where he died in action at age 29. In 1965, Anetka suffered a stroke and died. A heartbroken Leon passed away the next day.

Polish Names & Terms

Babica (BOB-cha) = Grandmother Dziadek (JAW-deck) =Grandfather Mamusia (maw-MOO-shaw) = Mother Tata (TAH-ta) = Father Masz hart ducha (mawsh hart DOO-haw) = You have a spirited heart Nazywam sie (nah-ZY-vahm shen) My name is O jej! (oh yey!) = Oh my! O nie! (oh nyeh) = Oh no! Psia Krew! (Pshaw kref) =Dogs blood! Kocham cie (KO-hahm chen) = I love you Dzien dobry (jane DOH-bry) =Good day or Hello

Connections
Want to marry for love (no arrange marriages) Stubborn and hard headed at times Homesick- moving away to college

Questions?