Miriam Gets the Measles, I Get Tonsilitis Little Miriam got sick with the measles. As was the custom she was kept in a dark room. The Germans got wind of it, and they came to investigate. They entered the room where Miriam was in bed and opened the window wide. Mother became frantic and tried to explain that this was a child's sickness. The conversation lasted a while because mother did not know the German word for measles. Finally, they understood but they insisted on examining little Miriam several times.
After Miriam got better I developed tonsillitis. The army doctor, the felsher, came. He explained that he couldn't do much for me since the tonsils had to be taken out. he advised mother to take me to a big city and have the job done. Since this advice was impossible to follow, we accepted numerous home remedies given us by friends. But the only remedy that really did help was the concoction made from the bark of a certain tree which was boiled in water which you then had to gargle. The taste was horrid and would get me real sick. But I was forced to use it and it must of helped for I got better.
