Father's Secret
Only then mother told us the reason that father had gone to America. He had been called to serve in the Emperor's army in Siberia. Surprised, I asked mother: “How can that be, he is married and not so young any more?”

Mother told us the secret: Father had received a so-called white paper, saying that he had not served in the army. The government had begun calling up all those holding a white paper. Without regard for age or family status all of them were required to serve two years in the Russian army. Instead of serving for two years in Siberia, father and mother found it preferable for him to spend the time in the U.S. and then return to be with us. Mother insisted: “But please darling, do not tell anybody, this is a secret. Nobody must know!” I promised not to talk to anybody about the matter.