The Story of My Life — Volume 05

In this candid memoir the narrator recalls the exuberant days of his youth, when study halls were punctuated by lively banquets in rustic taverns and mischievous pranks—like the frozen snow‑man crowned with a black cap—kept the dormitory buzzing with laughter. He paints vivid pictures of friends speaking French at one table, German at another, and the playful fines imposed for slipping into another tongue, all while teachers watched with amused tolerance. These carefree moments give way to a quieter reflection as he prepares to leave his beloved Keilhau for his first semester at a modest manufacturing town, where new teachers and the stark surroundings promise a different kind of education.

The narrative then turns to his arrival at Kottbus, introducing the stern‑yet surprisingly generous Dr. Boltze, whose severe eyebrows inspire local superstitions but whose hidden warmth soon earns the young student’s respect. Boltze’s formidable wife, equally diligent, manages the household with a quiet strength, and the narrator finds himself drawn into the rhythms of this new academic world, sensing both the challenges and the subtle joys that lie ahead.