Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind
Konrad Paul, had made money in America and on his return had invesed it in
this house. He was friendly and forthright and proved willing to sell or rent the
property, but he would not name a fixed price. During the days of the conference
the Arnolds had visited the Habertshof, a communal settlement on a meager farm
near Schlüchtern. Konrad Paul’s property, with its kitchen garden, orchard, cow
stalls, pig sties, and chicken coop, seemed in comparison almost too elegant. But
the house had fifteen rooms, and it would surely be big enough.
Before the Arnolds returned to Berlin they arranged with Lotzenius, the
innkeeper of the Gasthaus zum Stern, to lodge at the inn for several weeks
during the summer. Nothing else was settled. Once home, Eberhard and Else von
Hollander tied up a few loose ends at the Furche Publishing House, while Emmy
began to pack up the household. Many of their acquaintances only now realized
that the Arnolds were in earnest about their plans. Then, all at once, everything
moved ahead rapidly. Monika, the youngest child, had suffered for a long time from
enteritis and had grown very thin. A doctor had advised a stay in the country with
the necessary care and nursing, and the Arnolds did not want to wait any longer. In
a letter of June 8 they announced to Lotzenius that they would arrive on June 18.
Lotzenius replied by telegram: “summer vacation, 3 rooms, outbuildings, wardrobe,
bed linen, kitchen utensils, children’s beds, 3 windows – Lotzenius.” Actually it was
not until June 21 that Eberhard and Emmy and two-year-old Monika could move
into the outbuildings of the Gasthaus zum Stern at Sannerz and could telegraph
Else von Hollander in Steglitz: “well-accommodated here – thousand greetings,
Eberhard.”
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