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19th Feb. As Bräker goes to work in the morning he hears the birds twitter for the first time in the year: "I considered whether it would not be better not to devote oneself too strenuously to thoughts of business, but rather take delight in the works of God, and please Him by means of one's love?" [Chronik, p 104]

22nd Feb. Bräker records that the weather is unusually mild for February, but that people are blaming God for this.

[A mild winter was not an unmixed blessing, since cold weather kills off some agricultural pests and some of the germs of infectious diseases.]
He complains once more about the Shrovetide festivities: "Shrovetide is a shame for us Reformed people, we have left the Roman church and kept only the heathenish abominations of the feast." These included dancing, eating and drinking to excess, and bonfires. But Christians should rejoice every day over the sun, the beauties of nature, over God's goodness and over every sinner that repents... [Chronik, p 105]

27th Feb. Salome has lost a pair of silver necklaces, she thinks they may have been stolen, which causes quarrelling among their acquaintances.

12th Apr. Every spring the earth brings forth manifold kinds of crops, "for she is the mother of ourselves, of all people, of the beasts and of all the fruits of the earth; but not the father, for the Father is above." [Chronik, p 106]

19th Apr. Snow falls on the trees in bloom. "One can hardly tell whether the blossom or the snow is whiter." [Chronik, p 106]

23rd Apr. Bräker confesses that he now, as in the past, sometimes feels his life a burden, he would sooner be dead, to be free of debt and cares. But God will take care of his life and its end. [Chronik, pp 106-107]

28th Apr. Bräker watches a ceremony at which the young men of the Toggenburg assemble at Lichtensteig to swear an oath of loyalty to the Prince-Abbot Beda Angehrn. He takes great pleasure in the ceremony, but thinks that it smacks more of worldly glory than of "love and reverence towards the authorities that God has set over us".

[For a description of a ceremony of this kind see entry for 14th May 1793.]
[Chronik, p 107]

1st May This year promises to be as fruitful as the last. For the first time for many years the cattle can be out on the pastures as early as this. Rye and barley are already growing in the fields. [Chronik, p 107]

19th June Bräker mentions several cases of sudden death in the region, including a near-fatal stabbing in Herisau and a murder at Ebnat, both committed by "Nachtbuben"

[literally: lads who are about in the night]
. Another man died while mocking a pastor by imitating his preaching. [Chronik, p 108]

22nd June Bräker climbs the nearby Stockberg to see the view, but it is too foggy. On the 28th he reproaches himself for curiosity. [Chronik, pp 108-109]

3rd July Bräker refers to temptation by "Delilah". [Chronik, p 109]

31st July In the course of one of the many homilies written about this time Bräker says that if he wanted to make an image of God he would liken Him to the sun, for he knows of nothing more beautiful. [Chronik, p 110]

17th Aug. Hail falls in the lower Toggenburg. Bräker attributes this to punishment by God, but some people think it was caused by witches.

Belief in witchcraft was still widespread, the last trial for it in Switzerland took place in Glarus in 1782, resulting in the execution of a servant-girl called Anna Göldi.
[Chronik, p 110]



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