by Jerry
Yesterday was a rainy, dreary day for a Sunday. This morning it’s nice again and balmy. James Yoder went to that other church again yesterday. He took the three youngest boys and Dorothy with him. Millie and the rest came to our church. That poor family. It would be such an awful situation to be in.
We ended up at Robert’s Friday night on a sudden invitation. Your family was also there. The men were all working on some project outside while the women stayed inside and played Probe. I really enjoyed the game.
What would you like for Christmas? Is there something you really want or need? If there is, please tell me. This isn’t proper to ask, I suppose, but I’m at a loss to know what you’d like. I think boys are much harder to shop for than girls.
Monroe and his wife are going to move to their new place tomorrow. Somebody said Daniel might continue boarding at Robert’s since he helps on the farm now. I suppose Lydia would be happy, as it’s closer to where she lives. By the way, they are going steady.
Sometimes I get the feeling this winter will never end. I sit around imagining what life would be like married to you. That would be quite wonderful, but it doesn’t give me any more patience, which I’m in sore need of. Take care of yourself.
With all my heart,
Naomi
* * *
NOVEMBER
* * *
November 1
My beloved Naomi,
Just as the months do onward go.
Just as the seasons surely roll.
So is my love as sure to you.
It’s ever binding, ever true.
Two months have gone by, though it seems more like two years. I often wonder if you miss me as much as I do you. Yet I hope you don’t sit around and mourn for me. I do enough of that for both of us.
There sure is a big difference between weeks at school. Last week I had to push everything hard to get the lessons through, now today things went smoothly. I even finished early enough that I could work with the first graders for an extra half an hour. I wish I could spend extra time with them more often.
Dena, Dennis, and Laverne were absent today. Dena is on a three-day trip to Michigan. Dennis was sick, but he’s supposed to be back tomorrow. Poor Laverne has been taken west to a doctor for treatment. His condition has continued to worsen, to where his skin started to scale badly. The plans are for him to be at the doctor for most of the week. Hopefully he won’t have a hard time catching up when he comes back. If they find help for him, it will have been well worth the effort.
On Tuesday the school is planning a trip to the local river for part of the day. The excursion will be to the campground I was at the other Saturday. I hatched up the idea last week and talked with the board last Monday evening. The children are all excited. I didn’t tell them where we’re going though. I’ll make them sweat it out to increase the pleasure of the outing.
Last night we visited Luella’s sister’s place. She’s an old maid, and older than Luella. The topic of interest was her parakeet, which she took great joy in showing me. The thing talks. His name is Billy, and I got to hear him say “Billy talks.”
The parrot also says “Billy’s tired” and “Billy’s naughty,” but that wasn’t easy to understand. They informed me the only way to teach parakeets to talk is if one person is around them all the time and spends a lot of time talking to them.
I’ve been having headaches lately, which is very unusual for me. Who knows what’s causing it. Perhaps a nasty brain tumor.
Tuesday evening…
It sure gets dark around here early.
I reread your letter with the answers to my questions tonight, enjoying it again. I’ll have to remember that you like to be independent.
Lonnie brought up something interesting the other evening at the supper table. He said that when a new idea comes to him, he thinks about it, and even though he might not like the idea, if it’s right, he can learn to like it. I thought that was a good way of looking at it.
I’ve started planning the Christmas program this week. I found one poem I want to use for the introduction, so that’s a start. I might try taking a familiar melody we know and putting new words to it.
Around here the schoolchildren have a tradition that on a child’s birthday they stick the person under the table. That’s been going on at school, but they haven’t gotten rough yet, so I haven’t forbidden the practice. I figure one has to walk carefully with other people’s traditions.
The other morning in arithmetic class, Dora wasn’t done with part of her page. We went ahead checking the other papers, and as I read the answers off she was afraid she would remember them so she held her ears closed. That’s one honest girl, if you ask me, although I doubt she would have remembered the answers.
I love you, dear.
Eugene
November 2
My dearest Eugene,
Greetings.
Elena Marshall stopped by today and spoke with Mom again. She says that when she tries to talk with Bob, he won’t listen and just doesn’t communicate. He’s not ignorant at all, but there isn’t much love between them apparently. He won’t even kiss her anymore. She said he goes with her to the marriage counselor, but he won’t talk there either. I feel sorry for those two. It seems to me that a marriage like they have wouldn’t be much of a marriage at all. How sad. I sure am glad Amish people don’t have marriages like that.
The information you wrote about the yeast was not new to me, but I suppose I work with such things more than you do. I too have often wanted to operate a microscope. I think that would be very interesting, so perhaps you can show me when we come out before Thanksgiving.
Darrel Hooley still comes to church once in a while, but I’m not sure what his plans for the future are. It must be hard even thinking of joining the Amish if you haven’t been raised in the faith. At least it seems so to me.
Today we received a letter from Dad’s side of the family. Three of his siblings might come to visit this Saturday. Yippee! Anything to break the boredom around here.
The weather has been seventy degrees two days in a row, which is pretty odd for November. Especially since it’s supposed to snow on Friday. Or so the lady I work for told me.
Mom was helping Monroe and his wife move today.
And so it goes around here. I miss you awfully, Eugene.
With all my love,
Naomi
November 3
My beloved Naomi,
The weather isn’t cooperating at all. It has turned cold and windy, so it’s yet to see how the planned outing tomorrow will go. The children are enthused enough about the trip. I informed them tonight on where we’re going.
I was looking through the Pathway Readers today, searching for poems I could use for Christmas and ran across this one. I won’t use it, but I really like it. I think I heard it used for one of the Amish school programs once. Here it is…
Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross,
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wanderings, praise after tears.
Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain.
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.
Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb.
After long agony, rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway, leading to this.
—FRANCES R. HAVERGAL, 1879
Thursday evening…
When I arrived home from school, a wonderful letter from you was waiting. I quickly headed upstairs to read it. I agree, your mom had a good answer to the question on marriage.
The weather today didn’t turn out well, but we still went on our field trip. It was cold, with a strong wind blowing. When we arrived at the river, we walked out to the water, where I expected the air to be much warmer. Not so
at all. It nearly snapped my ears off, so we stayed around for a few minutes, leaving to look for someplace else to eat our lunch. We found a woods with a deep ravine that cut the wind off, so it wasn’t too bad.
I’m having fun with the microscope. I looked at a scab, which had blood vessels running all over the place, and at some green leaves, which had many straight lines and were, of course, green.
I love you,
Eugene
November 4
My dearest Eugene,
I’m back from babysitting, and it’s 9:00 p.m. I was there the whole day, the husband having picked me up at 8:00 this morning. I tell you, I have never met a family I have admired so much. Lee and Chris seem to have a wonderful relationship. He is the exact opposite from her—well, maybe not exactly. She is a little taller than I am, slender, with dark hair, and on the beautiful side. She speaks softly with a very pleasing voice and is somewhat of a perfectionist.
Lee is tall, and not really fat but big. He has a booming voice, very hardy, with an outgoing nature and a nice personality. They get along great with each other. Their Christianity struck me immediately. In all the places I’ve worked, I’ve never found a family that is as dedicated like they are. They even say grace before meals, which is a very rare thing to see outside the community. Anyway, I have never been happier with a job than this one.
Do you have any idea how happy it makes me that people out there like you so well and want you to teach another year? I am thrilled even though we plan to get married and you won’t be going back.
I’m sure I would never be a good speaker, even if I managed somehow to speak in front of a group. I’d collapse afterward, feeling a great relief that it was over. I’d probably fear I didn’t say something right. I think it’s great that you feel so good about it afterward. I believe you are probably very good at speaking in front of people.
Now it’s late, and I should get some sleep. This letter isn’t very long, but I will try to write a long one over the weekend.
With all my love,
Naomi
November 5
My dearest Naomi,
“Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law” (Romans 7:7). I have spent time looking at this verse, trying to understand it. It’s some mystery, and I wonder if anyone understands it. Stan probably has an answer, if I ever get a chance to ask him.
I forgot all about telling you what I wanted for Christmas. You really don’t have to bother, and that’s naughty to say that boys are harder to buy for than girls. It all depends on the perspective. I’d say don’t get anything big. I’ve been picking up small things here and there for you as I have the chance. Of course, if you want something in particular, please tell me.
I’m still thinking hard on what I want, and all I can come up with are books. You know what my tastes are. I could also use work or dress handkerchiefs, and perhaps a gray shirt would be nice. Does that give you enough options? Oh, and a wife would also be okay.
Luella was making plans at the supper table where to place everyone for the night when you come out for the Thanksgiving trip. She doesn’t know yet, but the Sauls are offering to take in several people. I’m sure Luella will have things figured out by the time you arrive. She said everyone is very anxious to meet you. If they stare at you and you pass out from the glory, I promise I will join you on the floor.
We received the news this morning that Lonnie’s mother died last night. It was not totally unexpected, but everyone is in mourning around here. There will be no school on Tuesday because of the funeral. I was hoping we could have school the day after Thanksgiving, but I’m doubtful the school board will approve, as they usually take the day off. I would like to get as many school days in as possible, the sooner to meet my quota, plus it gives me something to do.
They are making active plans to ordain a minister at the church. It’s still a long process, but by the end of this month they hope to at least have the date of the ordination.
Since I’m not a member, I don’t hear everything that goes on, but there is talk that depending on who gets ordained, there may be a split in the church. There is much argument amongst the members on whether to change the rules on allowing photos and musical instruments. I thought only the Amish argue about such things. I guess it just goes to show you.
I’m feeling quite lonesome again, and it would be so good to be home. I’d love to see you, as well as everyone else. Sundays are long days in which the air itself doesn’t seem to move. Things go so slowly.
I think so much of you and love you dearly.
You are so sweet.
Eugene
November 5
Dearest Eugene,
I have finished writing a page for my cousin Malinda’s circle letter. I told them I’d like to drop out and asked them if it would be okay if I entered Rosanna in my place. I think there are ten people on the list and she’d like to keep it that way. I decided I can’t keep up with my letters to you, let alone writing circle letters. Rosanna isn’t writing anyone that I know of, so she might want to, if the others don’t object.
Last night we got our first snow, and it has been snowing off and on all day. The temperature was twenty-seven today, and this morning Dad said the wind chill must be close to zero. Brrr! Winter is here from the way it looks.
You said you don’t like how early it gets dark out there, but I like it because it seems we get supper finished earlier and Dad doesn’t stay outside working as late.
I did get one of your wonderful letters today, and that’s usually the first thing I ask about when I get home. “Did I get a letter?”
You said that two months have gone by. I don’t keep track because they go too slowly. When I think of all the months that lie ahead, it gets pretty depressing. That’s usually what I think of instead of how many have passed.
I wonder how your trip to the river went yesterday. I hope you had nicer weather than we did.
By the way, I don’t especially like being independent. Well, maybe sometimes I do. I hardly ever feel independent when I’m with you, and it’s not that I want to either. Though I might always get independent sprees, but that’s a girl thing, isn’t it?
Goodnight for now, and I love you. I think if you’d walk in the house right now I’d give you a big hug regardless.
November 6…
All the above was yesterday. Now it’s the next evening, and Dad’s relatives have just left. It’s only 7:30, so they didn’t stay very late.
Our chores are done. Don helped me milk so Dad and Mom could visit. We had eaten supper before chores. I fully enjoyed the day, and I think the others did also. You can enjoy the time better when only a few families come rather than the whole clan. Oh, and they were having a royal time teasing me about getting married!
Grandpa said, “They’ll marry on Thanksgiving without any question.”
And I said, “He’s out in Iowa, you know.”
Someone else chimed in with, “Oh, well, you could even get married on a weekend.”
Another said it just takes a half day. Gary said, “Not even that long.”
Then Grandpa said you probably couldn’t get married before school is out, and I said that was right.
Then he very matter-of-factly said, “Oh, so you’ll get married next year in June?”
I just sat there and laughed at them. They don’t know how right they are.
Dad and his brother Henry made it through their business transaction okay. Dad had borrowed some money. Mom and Dad had been praying that they might be able to pay Henry $1000 today on the $3000 debt and the accompanying interest charges. And wouldn’t you know, Dad was able to sell enough hay so he had the money. When Dad handed Henry the check, Henry said, “Well, now, I don’t want to make it hard for you.”
Then Henry went and removed the interest rate of 5 percent he’d been charging. So now we only have $2000 to get together by Christmas and it’s over with. What makes me happier than anything was to see them handle the matter so
well because Dad said loans between family members can sometimes cause more problems than they do good.
Don and I plan to make a trip to the east district for church tomorrow at Stan Hochstetler’s place. I wanted to visit just for anyhow, and Don agreed, so that’s that.
Sunday afternoon…
How I wish I could be sitting beside you downstairs instead of having to write long distance. I did have an enjoyable day with flashes of sadness here and there when your name came up. One thing has cheered me considerably, and that is we have decided on the final date for our trip—the week before Thanksgiving. So I don’t have to wait as long as I thought. Just think: I’ll get to see you! I’m so anxious to see how everything looks—Lonnie and Luella’s place, the schoolhouse, the young folk girls, but most of all you.
James Yoder was not in church today, and Bishop Enos mentioned that we should all pray for the family. I’m certain there were tears in his eyes, the poor man. He seems burdened about the matter, as are Mom and Dad. Excommunication can’t be far away if things continue on like this.
Betsy invited James’s oldest daughter, Martha, home with her for the afternoon. I suppose she’s trying to be extra-friendly with the family’s situation the way it is. On my part, I’m trying very hard to be more tolerant of people and refrain from saying anything harsh or unfeeling about anyone. Sometimes I say things without thinking or only think of it afterward. I guess such habits are deeply ingrained and take a long time to break.
I have to babysit again tomorrow.
Take courage, it won’t be long now till I see you again. I’m saying that for me as much as for you. Let’s not think of the parting on the other side.