Anni - The Perfect Wisdom Web

a t t h e s p a r h o fIn actual fact, Anni’s arrival affected her more profoundlythan her letter home indicates. She later told:When my train arrived in Neuhof, I didn’t know howto get to the Sparhof, but at the station was a sleigh withhorses. Arno and Trudi, who were there waiting for me,told me that only a few hours before, Emi-Margret’s auntElse von Hollander had passed away. Trudi was on herway to Fulda to get some necessary things, and I droveup to the community with Arno.Everything was white and in deep winter, and snowcovered the hills. On the way I was quite apprehensiveabout how it would be on the community aftersuch a thing had happened. I imagined there would bea very heavy and sad atmosphere. But when I arrived,Emi-Margret’s father greeted me with great warmth, andI immediately felt that there was no reason for my fear.It is hard to describe the atmosphere that was in thecommunity when I arrived. One felt something frometernity–even to me as a person who didn’t especiallybelieve in these things or look for them. There was joy inspite of the great pain of the loss.Else von Hollander had contracted tuberculosis as a resultof the poor living conditions at the Sparhof, and had beensent to Switzerland the previous year to recuperate in themountain air, returning home in time for Emi-Margret’swedding in July. By then, it was clear that the cure hadnot worked. She continued her work in the community’spublishing house for as long as she was able, and then,125