by Sarah Price
Pastures of Faith:
The Amish of Lancaster Series
By Sarah Price
The Pennsylvania Dutch used in this manuscript is taken from the Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary (1991) published by Brookshire Publications, Inc. in Lancaster PA.
Copyright © 2012 by Sarah Price
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
Contact the author at [email protected] or visit her weblog at http://sarahpriceauthor.wordpress.com.
Books by Sarah Price
The Amish of Lancaster Series
#1 Fields of Corn
#2 Hills of Wheat
#3 Pastures of Faith
#4 Valley of Hope
COMING SOON: Plain Fame
The Adventures of a Family Dog Series
#1 A Small Dog Named Peek-a-boo
#2 Peek-a-boo Runs Away
#3 Peek-a-boo’s New Friends
#4 Peek-a-boo and WeeWee
Other Books
Gypsy in Black
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Chapter One
Daniel stood in the middle of the pasture, his battered straw hat resting askew on top of head. The midday sun was hot overhead, despite it only being early May. The grass was already halfway to his knees and he could hear the crickets chirping, hidden in their burrows among the twigs and leftover leaves from last autumn. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Instead, the sun gleamed against a brilliant blue backdrop. The depths of the blue were richer than any he could remember seeing in the past. It was truly a glorious day and a testament to the good Lord above.
Behind him, his father’s cows grazed. He could hear their movements, slow and sluggish, punctuated by mooing and heavy breathing. When he turned to watch them, he couldn’t help but smile. Most of the cows lingered near the large water hole at the bottom of the valley. With the unexpected heat, it had evaporated to not much more than a muddy patch of water but the cows loved to linger near it and, occasionally, wallow in the mud to cool off. They were predictable in their habits, he thought. Just like people.
His eyes traveled beyond the water toward his father’s farm. The white barn needed a fresh coat of paint, something his daed, Jonas, was sure to assign to him in the upcoming weeks. It was a large, two-story barn with the cows stationed at the lower level and the hay, grain, and equipment at the second level housing. There was a ladder to the second floor from the dairy section but there was also a large double door that led to the driveway, allowing easy access to the field machinery.
Next to the barn, closest to the lane, was the mule shed. It wasn’t as elaborate as the other outbuildings. In truth, it was more of a simple running-shed to protect them from the elements. The paint was peeling and there were shingles missing from the roof. But the mules had their own paddock to seek respite after a long day’s work. They often hung their head over the fencing, watching the cows meander through the rolling green pastures.
On the other side of the barn was the horse stable and farmhouse. The farmhouse was elongated since it was actually two houses in one. In just a few years, his parents would move from the larger section of the house to the back partition, the grossdaadihaus, so that their eldest son, Jonas Jr., and his growing family could benefit from more living space.
Daniel and his two younger brothers, David and Samuel, were the last of Katie and Jonas Lapps’ children living at home. Their seven older brothers and sisters had already married and moved to their own farms and houses to raise their families, except for their eldest brother, Jonas Jr. Some of his siblings lived close by while others lived a bit further away. Yet, as a true testimony to their upbringing, all of the children had remained faithful to the Amish faith, despite some bumps along the way.
Daniel knew that, in time, when he married, his two younger brothers would move with their parents to the back house. His brothers wouldn’t mind the smaller living quarters. The main house already seemed lonelier and quieter since both sister Sylvia and brother Steve married the previous year. It was much different living in a house without the noise and commotion of all of his siblings. But Daniel knew that there was a season for all stages of life. Nothing ever stayed the same.
At twenty-one, Daniel also knew the expectation from his family and church community. It wasn’t hard to figure out since those expectations were the same for all children in every Amish household. They were eager for Daniel to settle down from his rumspringa and accept the Lord Jesus as his savior through holy baptism. That was the precursor to establishing his own household with wife and children. But Daniel wasn’t ready for settling down. Not just yet.
Despite being in the midst of his running around years, Daniel avoided the Sunday singings by choice rather than design. He wasn’t interested in courting any girl, despite his suspicion that several of the single girls in the church community wouldn’t mind an invitation to ride in his courting buggy, a hand-me-down from his brothers. Jonas Junior, Emanuel, and Steve had all used the open-top buggy when they had begun courting their intended wives. But Daniel was reluctant. It wasn’t that Daniel didn’t like those girls. They came from good families and had every characteristic of being a fine Amish wife one day. He even suspected that his older sister, Sylvia’s friend, Millie, would have liked him to attend more singings, perhaps even offer her a ride home. He had done that once or twice in the past but that was the extent of his involvement with getting serious.
Daniel was happiest living life on his own. He favored staying with his parents, working the fields, and enjoying the peace and solitude of independence. Every morning and every evening, Daniel worked alongside his father and younger brothers, milking the cows and tending to the other animals. It was his favorite time of the day as it gave him time to reflect on life and the Lord without worry of interruptions from anyone.
For a moment, as he stared around him, he felt waves of peace flood throughout his body. God was indeed miraculously good, he thought, to give us this farm and this life. He was happy and that was all that God wanted, he thought. Happiness and obedience to His word. Daniel took a deep breath and started walking down valley toward his parents’ farm. On a farm in May, there were plenty of chores to tend to and Daniel was more than happy to accept the challenge.
Lillian stood at the window by the sink, looking outside at the flowering bushes by the porch. Springtime was always her favorite time of year. The flowers, the colors, the singing birds. She loved looking out the kitchen window and seeing the beginning of the crops, growing in the fields. Spring was about rebirth, a time of new beginnings and life.
For over seven years, she had been living at the Lapp farm. When she had been a young bride, she hadn’t felt quite comfortable in her new kitchen. She always knew that her mother-in-law, Katie, was nearby, just through a doorway that led to the main part of the house, cooking for her brood of children. She felt so unsure of herself, knowing that she was taking care of Katie’s eldest son and fearing that she was being watched. But, it didn’t take long for Lillian to gain her confidence in her own capabilities.
With Katie’s help, she had learned many things about taking care of her husband, Jonas Junior and their rapid succession of children. That was the Amish way. The community was a family and the family took care of each other. And, of course, over those years, there had been many marriages. First Emanuel, then Susie and Ana, then Sylvia and Steve. Their eldest sister, Sarah, had married several years before Lillian had
joined the family. As Lillian’s family grew and Katie’s shrank, the farm became much more like home to Lillian. It was a happy place, one filled with love and laughter.
But, today, her heart was heavy. She sensed something was different about the letter that she held in her hand. The edge was torn where she had opened it. The words on the page were so unbelievable that she had to re-read it for a third time. There was much being said in the letter yet she knew that there was also a lot left unsaid. It was the words that hadn’t been written that worried Lillian.
She had been preparing the dinner meal when her eldest daughter, Linda, had brought in the mail from the postal box at the end of the lane. It wasn’t something that they often did…collect the mail. Sometimes, days would go by before someone remembered to visit the mailbox for the small stack of letters and bills. Usually there was a letter from a distant cousin or aendi. Today, however, the letter that had been waiting in the pile of mail was different and distressing.
“What’s it say, Mamm?” Linda asked, her curiosity apparent.
Lillian broke from her trance of reflection and looked down at her eight-year old daughter. With a smile, she said, “Nothing of importance just yet.” She shoved the letter aside on the counter, knowing that she would need to speak with Junior about the contents but preferred to do so privately. There was nothing in the letter that needed to be shared with her children, that was for sure and certain. “Did you check the bread, now? No gut if it burns, ja?”
Her daughter smiled brightly and moved over to the oven, opening it carefully, which let wafts of good smelling bread escape and flood the room. Baking on Saturdays was a tradition in Lillian’s house. She loved the smells and good feelings that fresh baked bread seemed to create. She also loved the way her husband glowed when he came in from his chores and breathed in the scents of the kitchen.
By the time noon rolled around, the table was set and the children were crowded around it, sitting on the long wooden bench. Junior would sit at the head with his wife on his left-hand side. Since her mother-in-law, Katie and father-in-law, Jonas had gone visiting to a neighbor’s farm, Lillian had made certain to invite Daniel, David, and Samuel. It would be no gut to have them hungry and alone, Lillian thought. Besides, the more people around the table, the better it felt. Fellowship and visiting, even if with the immediate family, were two of her favorite pastimes.
“Smells wunderbaar gut!” Jonas Jr. said as he walked into the house. He smiled at his wife as he headed to the sink to wash his hands. He always had something pleasant to say to his wife, a compliment to let her know how appreciated she was. They had a special relationship, one that continued to grow with the years. Part of that was due to Lillian’s happy and cheerful nature, the very thing that had attracted Junior to her almost ten years ago.
“Ja,” Daniel concurred as he followed Junior into the kitchen with David and Samuel trailing behind him. “Mamm don’t make bread much more.”
Lillian laughed. “No wonder, with Sylvia baking so much each week. Even with the new baby, she has time to become quite the baker, ja?”
As the four Lapp brothers settled down to eat, they waited patiently for Lillian to place the food on the table before they bowed their heads to silently thank the good Lord for the bountiful food before them. A peaceful quiet fell over the room. Between the smell of good, wholesome food and the joy of a family sharing a common meal together, it was a happy room for all of them. But, as soon as the prayer was completed, the quiet dissipated as plates of fried chicken and mashed potatoes were passed around for the family to fill their plates and bellies.
“Mamm got a letter today,” Linda said to her father.
“Ja?” Junior asked, glancing at his oldest daughter. “Did you walk down to the mailbox by yourself, then, Lindy? That’s a mighty big girl but you remember to be careful when you do that.”
“Oh, I am careful, Daed!” she said proudly. Then, with her shoulders straight and her voice stern, she said, “No talking to strangers and stay away from Englischers in cars.” It was clear that she was repeating instructions that had been drilled into her by her parents.
Junior smiled at her before he turned his attention toward his wife. “Any gut news to report?”
Lillian set her fork down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Ja vell,” she began slowly. “I thought I would share the letter with you, husband, after the meal.”
He raised an eyebrow. If Lillian wanted to share it privately, there must be news indeed. Only he doubted it was very good news after all. Good news was shared right away. Bad news was saved for private. He also sensed her frustration that Linda had spoken out of turn but, what was done was done. Now that he knew about it, his curiosity was peeked. “Might I read it now, Lillian?”
She responded by pushing her chair back from the table and walking over to the counter to retrieve the letter from the spot where she had placed it. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before she returned to the table. She was too aware of the eyes watching her as she handed it to her husband. Deep down, she wished that Linda had not said anything. She would have preferred to discuss this matter privately with her husband but, now that the matter was aired in front of everyone, she had no choice but to give her husband the letter now.
Her husband took the letter and, quietly, read it while the rest of the table sat in silence, their eyes watching him as they ate. The only one who did not watch him was Lillian. She knew what the letter said and she anticipated his reaction. Whatever her husband decided, Lillian would support. And she knew what his answer would be without having to witness it.
When he put the letter down, Junior took a deep breath and looked around at the big round eyes staring at him. He forced a smile as he picked up his fork and started picking at his food. “Seems we are to have a visitor for a while.”
Daniel frowned. “Visitor? Who might that be?”
“Cousin Harvey’s oldest daughter.” Junior glanced at his wife.
“Cousin Harvey?” Daniel asked, the crease in his brow growing deeper. “On Daed’s side?”
Young Samuel chimed in, “Don’t know no Cousin Harvey.”
“Daed’s cousin,” Junior said. At thirty-one years of age, he was the resident expert on the family in their parents’ absence. “Seem to recall some mention of Daed’s uncles moving out to Ohio when they were younger. Land was cheap and the community needed some farming skills.”
Linda clapped her hands, excited by the news. “She’s from Ohio? That’s so far away! I wonder what she’s like!”
That brought a round of laughter from the adults around the table. Lillian smiled gently at her young daughter. “She’s no different than the rest of us, daughter. Just a humble servant of the Lord and part of our family.” Lillian glanced at her husband and spared him an understanding smile. “We will welcome her as if she were our very own, ja? She is family after all. Now, less talking and more eating before the food gets cold, children.”
It wasn’t until later that evening that Lillian had a private moment with her husband to discuss the letter. She had waited patiently, cleaning up the kitchen while Linda entertained the smaller children. After the evening chores were finished and the children were put to bed, Junior sat in his chair, reading from the Bible while Lillian patched up a hole in a pair of trousers. She listened to her husband’s voice, deep and rich as he read from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
“‘Cast your bread upon the water and it shall return sevenfold’,” he read. He sighed and shut the book, his thumb holding the place where he had been reading. “I wonder if we will get it back sevenfold for helping this child,” he said softly, his eyes seeking a response from his wife.
The quiet of the evening always reminded Lillian about how good God had been to her. She had a wonderful husband, healthy children, and loving extended family. So the news from Ohio was just a way that she could give back to the family and community. “This child, Rachel, is eighteen years old. She’s a young woman, Junior.�
� Lillian already knew that she would accept Rachel into their home and do what she could to help the girl put her life back on the path of salvation. “If she needs our help, then we will help her,” Lillian replied. “I could certainly use an extra hand around the house, ja?”
Junior sighed as he agreed with his wife. “Ja, that is for sure and certain. But for the community to send her away…” He left the rest of the sentence unsaid.
“I also wonder what she has done and why they want her to come here,” Lillian said. “But that will be learned in due time, I’m sure. Surely Harvey would have written if it was something we needed to know.”
Junior nodded. “True.”
“For now, she is part of our family and she is in need. That’s all we need to know,” Lillian added. “So we will extend our love of God and each other to this young woman in the hopes that she puts her faith in His hands.”
Junior smiled and reached over to touch his wife’s hand. “You are a right gut woman, Lillian.”