4th Nov. Bräker takes yarn to St. Gallen and has success in selling it. He has not been there for some years because he had heard that it was difficult to sell yarn there. [Chronik, p 83]
11th Nov. The weather is still warm enough for the cattle still to graze in the meadows. Bräker collects beech-leaves
[these were dried and used to stuff mattresses]
But only two days later the first snow falls. [Chronik, pp 83-84]
17th Nov. "Better to serve than to be served"
"But alas, how much the condition of service is disliked! How despicable seem manservants and maidservants. How unwillingly will anyone accommodate himself to willingly serve his neighbour. And yet everyone demands service from everyone else! And everyone has need of the service of his neighbour, however high and mighty he might be, yet no one can live in this world who has no need of someone else. And so one who works willingly and is willing to serve another, is much more beloved than one who will serve no-one, though no human being is to be found who can serve enough for the insolent ones of the world." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 159-160]
[Another extract from a longer passage, which throws some light on Bräker's attitude to class. Böning says that this passage shows surprising independence of thought, but I think that he has not recognised some ideas that Bräker derived from the Bible.]
25th Dec. Bräker complains that Christmas is being celebrated "in stuffing and supping, with all kinds of childish games, yes, even with heathenish abominations". [Chronik, p 85]
[Bräker may be referring to pre-Christian mummers' plays, and/or license in sexual behaviour,]
28th Dec. "In the world there is nothing but snares"
"As often as I associate unnecessarily with worldly society, so often I do not come away without injury to my conscience. All too often my heart has betrayed me. In vain have I often resolved beforehand to be the keeper of my mouth, my eyes and ears. Afterwards I have always realised too late that my intentions have been vain and my thoughts worthless, so that I have wished in vain that fire should not burn me nor water make me wet. But the proverb remains true: The burnt child dreads the fire [literally: Old soldiers are found far from the shooting]. If fire should not burn me nor water wet me, I must not go too near them, better stay far away. [...] One has to live in the world and also have to do with it. But one must never let oneself be too involved with it, but flee away again from it as soon as possible. [...]" [Voellmy, v 2 pp 160-161]
