19th February:
I held a conference about their school with Brother and Sister Neubert. He was pleased with the method although he considered it rather difficult. I told him however that it was easier in practice than it appeared in theory. I showed it to him by immediately beginning the school according to the Method and continued in the morning and afternoon also. The number of children is small, about 16. Their simplicity and childlikeness won my heart right away. They are quite sweet and emotional children with whom one feels amazingly well. They were so excited that they ran home full of joy and told their parents immediately everything that they had heard and learned by which the parents also were moved.
20th February:
I indeed began the school in the morning and afternoon, but after that I let Brother Neubert continue altogether with me being there. Likewise on the
21st February:
If there is a school in the country that particularly has charmed me, then it is Allemaengel because of the learning of the children but also especially because of their childlike, honest and emotional hearts. I have never been with them when my heart has not been moved by the most tender and emotional feelings. Similarly we have perceived this with the children. They are very loving and hardly know how to relate to one to show their love. One told his parents that he wished the Brother could stay with him for 100 days. Another came to me today and told me that I should stay with them for just 2 years. The little grandchild of the old Welshman [37], a dear brother, told him so sweetly what he had learned that the tears ran freely down his cheeks and he told his son-in-law that he would hardly have believed that he could learn something from the children. In the evening I held the usual Singstunde and spoke on the Text for the Day with a blessed feeling in my heart. Many strangers were also present and many children as well.
37. He might have been from Wales or simply a foreigner; “welsch” is also the word for “foreigner”
Brother Bader's Diary
of his Journey and Visit to the Schools in the Country from
16th November 1752 to
28th February 1753
Translated by Pastor Roy Ledbetter
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