Amish Dilemma Read online

  Adam hired two teenage neighbor boys to help him in the field and to help build whatever was needed for use on the farm. He wanted a separate building for the food stored as feed for the animals and one to park the buggies and work wagons. In the fall they would harvest the crops and put up necessary supplies or sell what had been raised to sell. Charity would can foods and prepare for winter.

  Adam and Charity had a stand beside the road in front of their property where they sold vegetables, fruit and honey. Charity included eggs and few baked goods. A few times she sold pots of flowers.

  The summer was hot and hard for them. Adam was kind to Charity and was quick to see that she had what was need inside and out, but he was not affectionate. Charity wished with her whole heart that he would once hold her and say “I love you”. He was a gentleman and a good husband but didn’t think it was necessary to show affection. He felt he was working to provide a good home, plenty of food and that was all that was necessary.

  Charity worked hard to be a good wife and a good housekeeper. She was an excellent cook and a very good seamstress. She kept the house neat and tidy, fed some of the animals and took care of the garden. She also helped Adam when he needed her outside.

  Charity was pleased to view the many jars of vegetables and fruits she had canned and made ready for winter. These were kept down in a basement.

  She would can meats later.

  Chapter Two

  Late spring and early summer were hotter than usual and Adam worked hard in the field and feeding and caring for the larger gediere (animals). Charity took care of the picks (pigs) and all the fowl.

  One Deenshdawk (Tues.) Adam was standing under a tree giving Bonnie Kate a bath. Kyle Snader, Matthew Startz and Gerry Raber were visiting.

  “Adam, she sure is a schee (pretty) gaul.” Gerry stated as he used a scraper to take the suds off Bonnie Kate.

  “Danki, (thank you) I think so,” Adam answered. “At first I was naerfich (nervous) riding her on the highway, but she handled beautifully.”

  “Why would you be nervous? You’re one of es bescht (the best) with gauls.” Matthew assured him.

  “Nee. I’m not the best, but I do love to work with them. It would be so nice if I could afford to open a training school and have an income doing something I really like. Maybe I could ---

  “Kumme schnell (come quickly),” Charity called excitedly.

  “Why is she so excited?” Gerry asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’d best go see. She is a good frau, and I know I’m lucky to have her.

  “Wie geht’s (How are you)?” Kyle asked Charity.

  “Gut danki, ( good thank you ) but the picks (pigs) aren’t. The hundel (pup) got into the pack (pen) and frightened the picks. They broke out and are running over the field. They’ll tear up what has been planted and will eat what has grown.” She was in a dummle (hurry) to tell them, talking so fast and excited that they could hardly understand her.

  “So the hundel got into the pack and frightened the picks,” laughed Matthew. “We’ll get them. Don’t worry schwesechder (little sister). Your big bruder is here to help.”

  The young men ran off to get the picks back in the pack with a lot of laughing and missed tackles. The picks were finally back in the pack and the sides reinforced, and the frisky hundel was tied at the side of the house.

  “Oh, danki,” Charity laughed. “I could never have done it alone. Can you stay for nachtesse (supper)?

  “Nee danki. Mamm (mom) expects me home to eat supper with her and daed (dad).” Matthew grinned. “You know how mamm is.”

  “Ja, I know. Gern gschehn.” (You’re welcome any time.)

  “Ja, I know. Come on fellows. Are you going or staying for nachtesse?”

  “I’m going. I have a koppwveh (headache) and I need to go home and lie down.” Kyle said holding his hands on both sides of his head.

  “Why do you have a headache?”

  “I landed hard once on a rock and hit my head when I dived for a pick. Besides I’m so dreckich (dirty) mamm might not even let me in the haus (house) Kyle laughed.

  “You are no dirtier than my husband,” Charity laughed. “But if you must leave, know you’re gern gschehn to come again. Give my love to our parents.” The boys laughed and ran away.

  April came in with the heat beginning to build up. Ostar (Easter) was on the next Sunndawk but the Amish do not celebrate as the Englisch do. They tell the story of Christ arising from the grave and what the promise for us is.

  Shrove Tuesday is known as Fastnacht ( Fat Tuesday)and is the day before Ash Wednesday. The Amish do not celebrate Ash Wednesday. The women make a special dough and place it in a clean cloth in a basket to rise. Later it is cut into squares and fried in deep fat, then sprinkled with confectioner sugar. They are served hot at breakfast where they are cut open and spread with honey or whatever is desired. The Amish know that days of sacrifice are ahead so they think it wise to use up fats and sugars and prepare for a special fast.

  Gruna Dunaschdawk (Green Thursday) is the day before Kaofreidawk (good Friday). On Freidawk the families have a special worship service where they are told the story of Christ’s torture and entombment. At this service the congregation says the Lord’s Prayer (or model prayer) together.

  Veter unser im Himmel. Geheiligt werde dein name. Dein Reich komme, dein wille geschehe wie im Himmel so auf Erden. Unser tagliches brot gib uns heute und vergib uns unsure schuld wie auch wir verge Ben unseren schuldigern. Und fuhre uns nicht in versuchung, sondern erlose un von dem bosen. Denn Dein ist das Reich, und die kraft und die Herrlichkeit in ewigkeit. Amen

  All through the week the children, while gathering eggs, will hide some for themselves. The ones today are allowed to color their eggs, but not to hide them and hunt. They enjoy looking at each others eggs.

  On Sunndawk there is a long service and special food for a thankful day.

  They eat well to break the fast. Moondawk (Monday) is set aside to visit and rest. Some of the young men go fishing with friends.

  Mai (May) and Juni (June) was more work and little time for leisure. Adam proudly viewed the results of his labor and Charity was pleased with the sewing and cleaning she had done. They could not express their pride and pleasure though because it would be worldly and wrong.

  Juli (July) rolled in hot, dry and miserable. Everyone worked to keep water on their crops and gardens or they would dry up and be lost. The entire property was lovely to see. Adam had planted trees and had kept some of the fruit tress that were already on the property.

  They had a stream running along the back of their property and a place not far away that held fish. Adam’s friends joined him occasionally for fishing and a picnic.

  Charity decided to invite some close friends to fish and picnic on their property. One sweltering Mittrodawk, (Wed.) four girls joined her walking to the water. Christine Zook, Rosemary Raber, Bonnie Lehman and Nadine Lapp with Charity made up a group of five. They happily walked along talking of people they knew, of couples planning weddings, new babies expected and daily living on their farms. They carefully went around the bee hives that Adam kept.

  Christine giggled, “Charity, do you wish for a buwe (boy) or a maedel (girl)?”

  “Adam and I have discussed it and we’ve decided that we don’t care as long as the boppli is healthy. We don’t want to stop with just one kinner.”

  Reaching the water, they paused to admire the clear reflection of the water glimmering like a jewel as it reflected the azure sky and willow trees along the bank.

  “Oh,” Rosemary giggled, “I don’t know about the rest of you but we’re only girls here and I’m going to take off my shoes and socks and wade in the shallow end.” Rosemary was published and planning on being married in Oktobar. She knew that once she was married she must act like a grown woman. She intended to enjoy the few months left.

  “Rosemary!” Nadine as the oldest scolded, “You would have to pull up your dress and show your legs.” As a teacher
in an Amish school, she felt she should set a good example.

  “Poo with that. I’m going to join her,” Bonnie laughed. “Come on. Don’t be a snickelpuss (spoil sport).” As the youngest she was the most daring.

  Nadine sat on the bank. “This is just too beautiful to disturb the water. I love looking at it and feeling the peace it brings.”

  Christine was timid by nature, but was easily led to join them in the cool water on such a hot day. She hesitated on the bank.

  Charity hurriedly removed her shoes and socks and, pulling her dress to her knees, waded into the water. “Oooh, it feels so good. Come on all of you.”

  She laughed and kicked one foot out to spray the water toward Nadine on the bank. Soon all five girls were in the water, giggling and threatening to get each other wet.

  They were enjoying the cool water on such a hot day that they didn’t hear Amos Snader and Moses Yoder walk to the water’s edge. The girls jumped in shock and guilt when Moses, in his deep voice, yelled out.

  “Have you forgotten who you are and where you are? You should be ashamed to be in public showing your limbs. Get out of there right now and make yourselves decent. Your parents will be so ashamed when they hear of this.”

  The girls hurriedly came out of the water, dropped their dress to the ankles and put on socks and shoes. None of them looked in the face of the men.

  Charity was boiling, but was too polite to say anything to the men. Amish women were taught to not speak up and to allow the men to make decisions.

  This couldn’t keep her from thinking. This is my property and you are trespassing. Go away and leave us alone. She was a little angry that she dare not voice her feelings. The men left shaking their heads.

  After the men were out of the range of the girls’ voices, Rosemary stamped her small foot. “How dare they! Charity this is YOUR property and they had no business telling us what to do.”

  “Well,” Nadine huffed, “who is going to tell them so?”

  “Not me,” Bonnie said through tight lips. “It makes me so mad that the men, all the men, think they can rule over all us women. One of these days we’ll have the right to speak for ourselves and do as we please as long as it is on private property and we’re hurting no one. We had no idea a man would be cutting across your property, Charity. And they sneaked up on us.”

  “We were showing our limbs and knew better than to lift our skirts,” Christine timidly stated. They ignored her.

  “Do either of you feel like eating now?” Charity asked.

  They shook their kobbs (heads), picked up the basket of food and started trudging back to Charity’s house.

  Charity felt as if she had a stone in her stomach when she saw Adam waiting for them, his fists on his hips and glaring angrily. She resented his attitude but dare not challenge him.

  “Charity, get in the house. I think it’s time you girls went home,” Adam glared at them. The four girls silently hugged Charity and whispered encouragement, then walked quickly off. Charity had all she could take.

  “Adam. We did nothing wrong. It was just us five girls and the two men cut across our property. It was none of their business what we were doing. We didn’t even get to eat our picnic lunch.”

  “It was embarrassing to me for the men to come tell me what my wife, my pregnant wife, was doing showing her legs. I need to finish hoeing the weeds and then I’ll be in. For nachtesse,” he stated firmly.

  Charity stomped into the house determined to have a frank talk with her husband. She sure could use a hug now.

  Adam came wordlessly into the house just at dusk. He washed his hands, sat at the table and they bowed their heads for silent prayer (Matthew 6:6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray. Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.)

  They think this means to pray silently and not try to impress others.

  Adam stopped and said nothing, but he looked at Charity with a questioning expression.

  “This is our supper. The men kept us from eating our lunch and I didn’t want the food to go to waste.” Adam nodded and began to eat the ham sandwiches placing lettuce, mustard and tomato on it. Deviled eggs, fresh canned pickles, potato cakes and apple pie made up the rest of the meal.

  After they had eaten they again bowed in silent prayer. (Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God.)

  Adam scooted his chair back, placed his right ankle on his left knee and stared at Charity. She couldn’t take it.

  “Adam, I don’t know why you’re so mad. We did nothing wrong. In the first place, I was on my own property. We only had the dress lifted to the knees and the lower leg was in the water. They need to keep their naas (nose) out of my business.”

  Adam’s eyebrows went up because Amish women did not show such emotion. He put it down to her pregnancy.

  Charity continued, “The way those men acted, you would have thought dunner (thunder) and wedderleech (lightning) was being brought because of us. I’ll admit, my hochmut (pride) was hurt, and -- yes, I know I shouldn’t feel that way. We were not being nexnutzich (naughty); just cooling off and having a good time together. We were not acting in geeheemnis (secret); we were in the open on our own property.” She stopped to catch her breath and to take a deep breath to keep from crying.

  She started to talk again but Adam held his hand up, palm toward Charity to show he didn’t want her to talk.

  “I told you it was embarrassing to be told that my wife, my pregnant wife, was showing her limbs in public. After hearing you speak I can see that what you did was not bad enough to create all of that commotion. I’ll take care of it. Just let me know what you plan to do in the future.”

  Charity was trying very hard not to cry but could not stop a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Charity, while we’re talking I’d like to ask you some-thing. Do you regret marrying me? Is our life disappointing or boring?”

  Charity was so disturbed that she jumped up and overturned her chair. “I’ve been meaning to ask you those same questions.”

  “Why would you think to ask me about that?”

  “You have never hugged me, or kissed me, or said you love me. Are you regretting being married to me?” She was sobbing by now.

  Adam jumped up and hurried around the table. He hugged her and she laid her kobb (head) on his shoulder. He finally placed a finger under her chin and gently raised her to face him. He smiled and kissed her. “I do love you. Don’t you known I’ve worked hard to provide for you? I guess I’ve never seen my parents be affectionate and I just never thought to show you. I feel so blessed to have you. I’m so proud of you and want our marriage to be happy and successful.”

  Needless to say, bedtime, that night, was all Charity could want it to be.

  Adam was trying very hard to be a good, thoughtful husband.

  Their gut nacht (good night) was said very lovingly to each other.

  Chapter Three

  The next morning Charity happily got up at five thirty and went to the kitchen to get breakfast. Adam was out in the barn feeding and caring for the animals. He came in and ate a big breakfast because they had always been taught that breakfast was the most important meal of the day; it was breaking the fast. He had oatmeal, three over easy eggs, fried potatoes, four biscuits with butter and blackberry jam and two glasses of milk.

  He sauntered around the table to Charity’s back where she was preparing to wash dishes. He put his arms around her and hugged her close. She lay her head back against him and then slowly turned to face him. He smiled and kissed her soundly, then grabbed his hat from a peg on the kitchen wall and almost ran out of the house to start work for the day.

  Charity smiled to herself and began to dance around holding her arms out like a small child might. She suddenly realized that she was doing something worldly and stopped, asking God to forgive her. She wanted to do some
thing special for Adam and began to gather materials for making two banana pies with thick meringue just as he loved them. She was singing to herself and busily rolling out dough so that she didn’t hear someone come in the kitchen door.

  A deep voice said, “Guder mariye, dochder (Good morning, daughter).”

  She whirled around so fast she shook flour powder over the table and floor.

  “Ah, mi daed, (oh, my dad) I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Wie geht’s?”

  “I’m fine, daed, how are you?”

  “Gut, gut, although I‘m little nunnery (sad)”

  “Why daed?”

  “Was is letz do (What is wrong here)? Mannsleit (men) are telling stories on you. They even went to the Bishop and asked to shun you.”

  “Der Herr bilf mir” (The Lord help me) she spoke loudly. I am trying not to be falsch (resentful) but ---”

  Adam ran in. “Guder mariye daed Jacob (Good morning dad Jacob). I saw you come in, but had to finish a job.”

  Charity turned to him and threw her arms around his neck sobbing. She finally was able to tell him what her father had come to talk about. Adam got red in the face.

  “Charity is my frau and I lieb (love) her. I resent the nixnootzich (good for nothing) who spreads this manure. My wife was not nockich (naked); she was on her own property, not out in public and only had her feet and calf of her leg in the water. These men are schrooching (twisting) their story and it is shendlich (disgraceful) that they are allowed to tell greislich ligner (horrible lies).”

  Adam became even angrier when he heard the men wanted the Bishop to shun Charity. “They are all ob im kopp (off in the head) and need a gut bletching (good whipping).”

  By now Jacob was trying hard not to laugh out loud. “Ball wollt’s berser geb (soon it will be better). It sounds as if they missverschtch (misunderstood) and blabber maul (talked too much). It is fremt (strange) they didn’t come to me before they prattled to the Bishop. I’ll talk to him and explain what really happened and he will understand. I’m going to suggest that he bring the men before the congregation and caution them about spreading untrue talk.”