watches a puppet-show at The Eagle. But then he moves on to The Lion and meets his "Swabian girl". Nothing happens, however, except some "idiotic toast-drinking". On the next day she persuades him to join a party of other Swabian girls and many other people, dancing to the music of a fiddle. After drinking some wine Bräker is sufficiently enthusiastic to join in, "it was all quite decent, no licentiousness - a respected merchant from Glarus, apprentices from out of town, burghers - from Wattwil and Helffenschweil - etc., none of the common rabble." The dancing goes on till midnight, but then Bräker makes for home, although the girl from Kempten invited him to stay and he is sure that "this time I should have carried out my intentions".
Entries for the 11th to the 16th show that Bräker was not very repentant about this episode: "I feel that I was made for love - and find no objects which respond to my love - I will compel myself to love that which I can love lawfully" [...] - but he admits to himself that the girl from Kempten, a servant at the inn, is likely to end up in a brothel. He has also had encounters with "a Russian female nail-maker"
[sic!]
and a beggar-woman, but resisted temptation. He is confident that no-one at home knows of this adventure, but Giezendanner seems to have heard something of it, and he also has some ambiguous words from Pastor Imhof. On the 16th a student called Hottinger who lodges with Imhof asks Bräker to help him compose a letter to his tutor making excuses for just such behaviour as Bräker has been indulging in. Bräker is invited to a Shrovetide ball, but refuses. On the 19th he comes home very late from Lichtensteig and meets Johannes, doing the same thing. [Chronik, p 295]
27th Feb. On the way to Herisau Bräker reflects - probably accurately - that it was his son's death that has made him behave so badly of late. [Chronik, p 296]
26th Mar. Bräker goes to Lichtensteig and discharges business in preparation for going to Herisau. On the way he meets with a poor woman emigrant from Unterwalden
[possibly a Protestant who wished to leave a predominantly Catholic canton]
. In Herisau he gives her money to pay for a night's lodging in a pilgrims' hostel, as he does not wish to take her to the place where he himself is lodged. Next day on the way home Bräker travels with a Catholic business colleague called Wenk, they drink together, so that "it was so effective that when I got home into the warm room - I took something of a giddy turn." [Chronik, p 297]
31st Mar. In Ganterschwil Bräker hears of people who have had to do public penance in church (which included hearing a sermon two hours long). Bräker thinks their sins did not merit such an outcry: a middle-aged man persuaded a girl to show him her naked body for two kreutzer, in front of other children. A woman and her daughter were also punished. [Chronik, p 297]
15th Apr. For a few years past I have from time to time had two sacks of yarn from Herr Salomon Walker
[In the Chronik, p 299, this name is spelled "Walcher"]
of Glarus on credit from one time to the next. And usually he came here every ten to twelve weeks, so that I could count on it and make up my accounts. Now this time he came three weeks early (probably because he had heard news of the fall in price of yarn) at a time very inconvenient to myself. I had plenty of yarn, indeed, but few cloth pieces and of money none. At the same time I had a debt of 10 louis d'ors which I had promised to pay this week, and Walker's bill came to 270 guilders 54 1/2 kreutzer. Walker came upon me unexpectedly. I was terrified when he came into my house and demanded the money. "On Saturday, when you come back from Herisau, I will have it ready". "Walker went away. But I was in fear and dread. I was sweating at every pore. In two days' time I had to have 380 guilders ready. I scraped together a few pieces of cotton. My business partner was not at home. So I had to let the matter rest. Failed already, thought I. I ran to hunt up some cash, with inward cowardice and a beating heart, and outward cheeriness and assurance, as usual. The first one was my landlord, from whom I begged 20 louis d'ors. I received only eight. On Friday I went round again. I found my partner at home. Sold him my cloth." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 250-251]
