She decides that she would leave her prison bag again if it meant protecting the people in the hiding place.
One highlight is the window, whose iron bars do not prevent Corrie from enjoying a bit of blue sky. With the coming of spring and sunlight, Corrie regains her health. When her eyesight regains strength, she begins reading the gospels hungrily. She realizes that Jesus had been defeated in a similar manner, but his defeat ended in victory. Corrie takes comfort from this knowledge, however victory is difficult to envision in her little cell. She makes a knife from a corset stay by rubbing it against the cement and uses this tool to scratch a calendar on the wall with special dates like her arrest, transport and birthday.
On April 15th, , Corrie attempts to sing a birthday song, only to be told to be quiet. Two pleasant occurrences include her first shower and the visit of an ant, whose delicate features are marvelous to Corrie. Betsie sends the message that God is good, although Corrie has yet to hear of her father. One week later, a package from Nollie arrives, containing a light blue sweater, cookies, vitamins, needle, thread, and a bright red towel.
Corrie begins to sob with relief, until a guard orders her to be silent. The next day, a lieutenant comes to ask her questions about her involvement in the underground. The lieutenant kindly hopes that Corrie will be well enough for her hearing soon. On May 3rd, while Corrie is embroidering designs on her pajamas, she receives a letter from Nollie.
She learns that Father died after ten days in prison, although family does not know where he is buried. Distraught, Corrie calls on a worker who is apathetic, offering a sedative. Corrie asks God to forgive her for asking for human help instead of his. Corrie scratches a new date in the wall, March 9th, — Father released. In Chapter Ten, Corrie describes two German prison settings, including Gestapo headquarters in The Hague and a seaside penitentiary called Scheveningen.
The images are of gray concrete walls and Nazi brutality against helpless prisoners. Although Corrie spends most of this period in a cold prison cell, she sees the blue sky and sunlight occasionally. During the war, the Beje house became a refuge for Jews, students and intellectuals. A secret room, no larger than a small wardrobe closet, was built into Corrie's bedroom behind a false wall. The space could hold up to six people, all of whom had to stand quiet and still.
A crude ventilation system was installed to provide air for the occupants. When security sweeps came through the neighborhood, a buzzer in the house would signal danger, allowing the refugees a little over a minute to seek sanctuary in the hiding place. The entire ten Boom family became active in the Dutch resistance, risking their lives harboring those hunted by the Gestapo. Some fugitives would stay only a few hours, while others would stay several days until another "safe house" could be located.
Corrie ten Boom became a leader in the "Beje" movement, overseeing a network of "safe houses" in the country. Through these activities, it was estimated that Jews' lives were saved. On February 28, , a Dutch informant told the Nazis of the ten Booms' activities and the Gestapo raided the home.
They kept the house under surveillance, and by the end of the day 35 people, including the entire ten Boom family, were arrested, Although German soldiers thoroughly searched the house, they didn't find the half-dozen Jews safely concealed in the hiding place. The six stayed in the cramped space for nearly three days before being rescued by the Dutch underground. All ten Boom family members were incarcerated, including Corrie's year-old father, who soon died in the Scheveningen prison, located near The Hague.
Two days later, an officer handed Corrie a certificate of discharge. After the war, she learned her discharge had been the result of a clerical error. However, she quickly learned she was not really free to go. Only reasonably healthy individuals were allowed out. Because of swelling in her legs, she would have to remain in the hospital until she was better. Although she desperately wanted to prop up her feet to ease her swelling, she hobbled around, helping patients who could not walk.
On this day, 30 December , the gates finally opened to release Ten Boom to a waiting train. There she discovered her ration card had either been lost or stolen and she travelled several days without food. Built around by the bailiff of Haarlem, the house has a long history.
The Ten Boom family is well integrated into that history. In , Willem ten Boom opened a watch shop in this house. He lived with his family in the rooms above the shop. The home was later passed down to Willem's son Casper, and then to Casper's daughter, Corrie.
The Ten Boom family were devoted Christians who dedicated their lives in service to God and their fellow man. Through the years the Ten Booms were active in social work in Haarlem. Their faith inspired them to serve the religious community and society at large.
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