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as they pleased. My wife, her sister and Dr. Wirth took all possible care of me. The Most High blessed their efforts, so that within a week I was regaining my health, and my three little ones also were gradually recovering. But while I was still keeping my bed, my sister-in-law came to me one evening and told me that my two goats had strayed. "Ay, let them all go", said I, "if that's how it is to be". But next morning I rose up, still dazed and weak as I was, to look for my beasts, and found them, much to the joy of my children and myself.

Grief, hunger and sorrow were at that time widespread in the whole countryside. Every day corpses were borne to the grave, often three, four, as many as eleven at a time. Now I thanked God, that He had helped me once again, and also even that He had provided for my two little ones whom I could not help myself. For a long time, however, those sweet creatures with their dear childish ways would come before my mind's eye as though they were still living. "O, my dear children!" I would groan a hundred times a day, "when shall I follow after you? For alas! never will you come back to me". For many weeks yet I went about like a shadow of my former self, gazing stupidly on heaven and earth, and though I did all I could, it was not much. The prospect of paying off my creditors was slenderer than ever, to pour good money after bad and hold out as long as I could, was perforce my whole aim and purpose in life at that time."

1771 (no exact date) "For the past few years I have no longer attended this assembly of the commune. A week ago I let myself be persuaded to canvass for a man who wanted to be a member of the Landrat [provincial council]. He promised a half-measure of wine to each man that held by him. But it awakened jealousy and discord. What I did, I am now sorry for. I write it as a warning to my children. In my heart anyone who gets to office by promises is not fit to do it, however fit he thinks me. Presents darken the eyes. A righteous man should not give nor take anything in this respect." [Voellmy, v 2 p 65]

20th Feb. The first consignment of the Abbot's grain reaches Wattwil, but the price is still too high for Bräker and other poor people, and the quantity is insufficient. [Chronik, p 57]

25th-27th Feb. "Health is the most precious thing, among the gracious gifts of God there is none more excellent. And yet by me and the majority of human beings it is so shamefully misused. One perceives its value only when one loses it. If one is healthy, one wants for many things. Thoughts spring one after another, wishes have no end. If I had this, if I had that! But when we are ill, we lack only one thing, only health. And then it goes: Alas, if I only had my health! I would wish for nothing more. We prefer one thing and another from day to day, but when we lose our health, everything is gone. O my God, what a precious gift is health, which comes from Thee, down to us! Grant me the favour, that I may recognise it clearly, thank Thee for it and not forfeit it by my own fault!" [Voellmy, v 2 p 147]

20-21st Mar. Bräker hears that his brother Jakob has disappeared, leaving his wife and four children in the lurch. On the 25th he learns that after trying and failing to find work, Jakob intends to go to Herisau and enter mercenary service. [Chronik, p 59]

14th-15th Apr. Bräker writes of the charity of the Prince-Abbot of St. Gallen:
     "As in need one can prove a true friend, so in this time of need is shown the love of a prince towards his subjects. We people of Toggenburg too experience the kindness and tenderness of our gracious prince, for in the present long time of need he has permitted us, as in all his lands, to

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