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the first on the road again. I thought of my dear pastor, who was also on a journey with his amiable wife and daughter. At St. Gallen I already knew that they were also in the city, but my overworked joints and urgent business did not permit me to seek them out. In Herisau, however, I paid them a flying visit. But on the way home, as I was going down the valley with two companions, we were at times ahead of them and at times behind. Finally I had the honour of sitting with Herr Hottinger
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for an hour or two on his sleigh, and so we all came together and in good order to Lichtensteig, in spite of the biting head-wind, which continually hurled flurries of snow in our faces and took great pleasure in snatching at our hats." [Voellmy, v 3 pp 175-179]22nd Feb. Bräker is hurriedly summoned to stop a fight between his son-in-law Mathias Wälli and his former master. Eventually Mathias apologises. [Chronik, p 341]
23rd Feb. At Lichtensteig Bräker witnesses the punishment of two young thieves: Heinrich Rot is publicly flogged, his cousin Georg Rot is put in the pillory. Bräker remembers that Heinrich's father herded goats with him when they were boys. [Chronik, p 341]
3rd Mar. "Today is our - usual annual - Obedience, so called - in the next seven weeks till Easter, every week in turn - comes one of the seven districts of our parish to the mid-week sermon - and to the parsonage for the customary catechisation - to make known any changes in each household - and to make appointments for minor officials - then after a short address and admonition by the pastor - and discharge of the customary offering - each goes on his way."
6th-7th Mar. [summarised] Bräker has read in the newspapers about the fall of the Turkish city of Zakof to the Russians on 6th January. Most of the European powers are up in arms; Prussia has taken the Turkish side. Bräker thinks the newspaper writers make things sound worse than they are. Prussia should not be fighting for a heathen country against Christian ones " but the devil of greed for money, fame and lands is stronger than heaven or hell." Bräker writes a letter to the King of Prussia warning him that if he should "turn Mameluke" and go to war against other Christian rulers he will be in dire trouble in this world and the next. He could believe in "an ill-famed Frenchman" doing this, but not "an honest German prince". The Swiss, in particular, will resist fiercely any invasion of their territory. He also writes to the king of Sweden, asking why he got involved in this impending war. Does he intend to drive the Russians out of the lands they took from him, now that they have their hands full fighting the Turks? Not a good idea, the Russians are tough opponents. [Voellmy, v 2 pp 217-223]
Bräker thinks about world events and the difficulty of finding impartial news of them, for several days. On the 9th he writes "Yes, yes, that's how it goes in our world - the great ones of the earth have the mastery... they do on a large scale - what the humblest rabble - rascals and thieves - rogues and tricksters do on a small scale" but, he thinks, the great ones remain unpunished and the lesser folk are hanged, "those who wage war - are like people playing cards - the soldiers are the cards - subject to the others - their towns, villages and land are the stakes in the game". Bräker goes on to consider those who want to be monarchs on a small scale: "Nothing makes my gorge rise so much - as the sight of a tyrannical father - a barbarous husband - a tyrannical farmer - or drover - barbarous to his wife - and his children - and also his beasts - and nothing is more agreeable - than to see a sensible, kind father - ruling over his fortunate family - directing them by his looks alone, not poor, not rich - contented and happy - in a peaceful country; O my country - Switzerland - seat of freedom and peace - my dear Toggenburg." [Chronik, p 343]
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A lodger in Imhof's house.
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