Strangely enough, it happened that I found out what Bertha had in mind for me for Christmas ( 201 ), because I had left my handkerchief at Br. Teichelmann, with whom I had lunch; and since I came to Klemzig and was sweating profusely, I asked her for one, and lo and behold, she produced a silk one, which I had seen her working on earlier, and whose purpose she did not want to tell me at the time, but answered that it was for a man in the village. But her father would have forbidden her to say for whom.

We spent part of the evening in the garden behind the house, as Julius Fiedler was late and we would not have been undisturbed. Mr. Fiedler gave me a box of cigars. Bertha told me, among other things, that her father had said, that if she and me were in Encounter Bay and he was in New Silesia, then they would rarely see each other. But then I would have to buy [a] cart, and there would probably be enough time for us, me and Bertha, to visit her at least once every year. And once, she would have answered, they would come, so that we would see [each other] again every six months.

On one occasion, when I made it clear to her how happy her love made me, she repeated that she wanted nothing more than to make me happy always, as much as that was up to her. --

When I came home, the Eastmen were having a dance, with our people being spectators, so that the ( 202 ) previous enemity seems to have been given up.

December 23rd, 1839.
As agreed, today I held school with the native children for the first time; There were 7 of them along with a few adults. Among the latter was Itya mai itpinna, who grasped the letters so quickly that he was able to give me a little help. --

Last Saturday an ax came away from me, and as I suspected, not without reason, that it had been stolen by my natives, I asked them about it today and examined their nets and bags or pouches. Not only did they allow me to do the latter, but the former voluntarily showed me their nets and generally showed great reluctance to steal them.

Julius Fiedler visited me at school today.

December 24th, 1839.
Instead of 7, I had 15 children at school today. So far they are learning easily and quickly and are giving me joy; God grant that this will never be dampened by the children's departure. Bought a parasol for Bertha, 18 shillings.

December 25th, 1839.
On today's feast the five of us celebrate Holy Communion again. Mr. Kook, who came to me last night and spent the night, complains very much about Pastor Kavel's domineering nature.