As
the years passed, my grandparents became parents of thirteen children. Four of
them died in infancy - a common
occurrence in the days of little prenatal care and primitive medical practices.
Fortunately, my grandparents were
blessed with good health and the nine children who survived, grew up strong
and healthy also. There was much to be done and many hands were needed.
Indeed, even the smallest of the children could help in some way to make
sure the inn continued to thrive.
The gasthof was located in the
perfect spot for the
employees of the nearby glass factory. In fact, the inn could have been
a success even if these workers from the Sudentenland had been its only
customers. My father writes about the glassmaking practices in those early
factories:
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