John laughed. “Ya, hasn’t it? My mamm will help my daed while I’m here. Still, the more hands there are, the faster we can finish and get inside. Is there anything you need help with, that you can do inside?”
“Hmmm. I do need to select the wood for my next order. An Englischer family wants me to make a chest of drawers and a headboard, using this pattern.” Joseph pulled a piece of paper with a colored design printed on it, showing it to John.
“This is beautiful! Ya, I will be happy to help you – do you have heat in the shop?”
Joseph let out a large, pealing laugh, throwing his head back.
“Ya, I do, John! I bought a wood-burning stove a few years ago, when it became obvious that working through the winter would be necessary if I was going to keep up with all my orders. Besides . . .” he paused, rubbing his left forearm.
“Your injury. It hurts on days like today?”
“Ya. My . . . assistant back then wasn’t so handy. He neglected to check the condition of one of my power saws and I was injured. Needless to say, as soon as I got home from the hospital, I told him never to return. I paid him for his work through that day. To this day, cold, humid and wet weather causes pain. I’m grateful I can still work,” Joseph said with a smile.
That night, the storm still blew hard, with snow coming down heavily. After the family went upstairs for the night, both Miriam and John struggled with their twin desires to visit each other in their rooms. Miriam put her robe on over her nightgown, wanting to go downstairs for some cool water. Hearing steps on the other side of the door, she paused.
What if it’s John? I can’t allow him to see me in my night things. I’d best wait until I hear him pass by on his way to his room. She walked around her room, thinking and listening for John’s steps to return in the opposite direction. Once she heard him walk past, she waited for another minute until she heard the catch of his door catch in place. Opening her door, she checked the hallway in both directions, then sped downstairs to fill a tall glass with cool water. Back upstairs, she took a long gulp of water, continuing to struggle with her desire to go see John.
The third day of the storm dawned with the wind continuing to shriek angrily around the house. John and Joseph squinted their eyes against the cold, snow pellets and wind, seeing the snow being blown horizontally when a sharp gust of wind blew by. As with the previous day, they stayed in the carpentry shop, warmed by the wood-burning stove as they worked on the chest of drawers and headboard.
In the house, Miriam and Sarah cleaned the house, then began working on their individual crafting projects.
“Miriam? It is dark in here. Do you have an extra lamp?” asked Sarah.
“Nee, I don’t. I’m working on some delicate stitching, so this helps. Denki,” said Miriam.
Sarah lit the kerosene lamp, adding to the gentle glow in the room. She opened the curtains, allowing the dim daylight to enter in. It was enough for Miriam to continue working, although she had to admit that she had done this so many times that she probably could do it in the dark. It was something she loved doing; calming, peaceful and a time for reflection. As her hands worked, she could pray her mind unencumbered by realistic things.
“I’m lighting fireplaces so we can keep the house warm. We will have potato soup and homemade bread for dinner.” Sarah went back to what she loved – cooking. Although her daughter was a good cook, Sarah loved the craft. It allowed her to be creative while keeping with traditions. Her soups and breads always had a little twist, something different that was nuanced in the presentation. It was these subtle additions she loved; she hummed softly as she went about her business.
“Mamm, that sounds delicious! Do you need help?” Miriam called from her quilting area. She didn’t want her mother to be left to do everything, but she also knew of her mother’s love of cooking.
Nee, daughter. It is done. All I need to do is combine the ingredients and allow them to boil. The bread is rising now. We will have a hearty, healthy dinner soon. You keep working. When is that due to your customer?”
“Thankfully, not for another month. Getting sick didn’t help me. I may work after supper to get some more done tonight,” Miriam said.
“So, right after Christmas?”
“Ya, it is a birthday gift for someone,” Miriam said. After her mother moved to the opposite side of the long room, they both began concentrating on their quilting and cross stitching.
As she had mentioned, Miriam returned to the quilting room so she could get more done and catch up on the time she had lost while she was in bed with the flu. By the time she finished, she was yawning and sleepy.
“It looks like someone needs to sleep!” John said with a tender smile. He caught Miriam’s hands in his own, drawing her into the kitchen. “Your mamm made some hot chocolate. Drink some with us.”
“Delicious! On a cold night like tonight, it will warm me up. And I know I will sleep,” Miriam said, stifling another yawn.
“You worked very hard today, Miriam. You shouldn’t overdo – you just got over being sick,” John said. It was his way of intimating the conversation. He worried about her, and she liked that cared for feeling. He was such a strong man, and as she’d gotten to know him better, she realized he was also very caring. Kindness would be a virtue with anyone, but he smiled at her in that special way and his worry was personal, deep and just between the two of them.
Is this what her mamm meant when she said a man could be good, strong and honorable, but a man who loves you shows a softness that the rest of the world never sees. There is a special bond between people in love that transcends the normal constraints and is expressed in the simplest of statements.
“Ya, I know, but I fell behind on the quilt. It’s due to my customer right after Christmas. It’s a birthday gift, so it must be done on time. As it is, I will barely make it.”
“I will help your father for as long as I am here, Miriam. You concentrate on the quilt, but don’t work so hard you get sick again.”
“Denki, John. I will be careful. And you – you be careful,” Miriam murmured.
John, knowing that Joseph and Sarah had already gone upstairs. Gently pulling Miriam closer to him, he wrapped one arm around Miriam’s waist and kissed her lips softly.
It was Miriam’s first kiss.
Feeling his lips on her own caused her heart to skip and then beat rapidly. Stepping back, she looked at John with new eyes. As she looked at him, taking in the man she knew she would spend the rest of her life with, she struggled to bring her breathing back under control.
“Goodnight, John. I will see you in the morning,” she said softly. She wanted to dance, although it would be frowned upon by the elders. She wanted to sing; ditto on the elders. But the smile in her heart made its way to her lips and she couldn’t stop smiling. Yes, it was silly, and the smile felt goofy, but it was still there plastered on her face.
“Goodnight. I think we should both go to our rooms – I want to respect you,” John said, feeling breathless after his kiss.
When he had left, Miriam allowed herself a brief twirl of happiness. What the elders didn’t see wouldn’t hurt them.
***
The next morning dawned more bright as the storm seemed to be blowing itself out. As they walked to the barn and carpentry shop, John and Joseph peered to the sky.
“It looks like the clouds are thinning out, Mr. Beiler. Look, to the west over there,” John said, pointing.
“Yes, you’re right! The wind has stopped and the snow has almost ended. Until the next storm blows in,” Joseph said.
After helping Joseph with the livestock and eating a hearty breakfast, John returned home. Aside from the gently falling snow, there was no reason for him to continue staying, so he thanked the Beilers for their hospitality and, holding Miriam’s hands, said he would return when the weather permitted.
Miriam smiled. “Yes! Weather permitting, we will see each other soon.”
“John, please tell your mamm and
daed that, if another storm blows up while you are visiting Miriam, you will have a place to stay here until it’s safe to go home. That way, they won’t worry needlessly,” Joseph said.
“I will, sir, thank you!” John said, smiling gratefully.
***
The next week, another storm came. This development sparked much conversation around dinner tables and in barns as Ephrata families began to hope that the string of harsh winter storms would be ending soon.
Bishop Stoltzfus used the time to visit the families in the district. His message for each was the same – they would continue to wait until the threat of storms was gone before gathering for services. He reminded families that illness still raged through the community. As families heard this, they decided that it was better to wait.
Families used the sunny lull between storms to shovel the high snow drifts, wash and dry clothing, chop wood and replenish wood piles and go grocery shopping to stock their pantries. Farmers and carpenters repaired damage to barns and homes caused by the high winds.
Because school was still canceled, children did their lessons at home as their mothers instructed them. And, for those families still dealing with illness, the solitude helped them to focus on treating sick children and parents, as well as getting better.
John took advantage of the calm, visiting Miriam as often as he could. He watched the sky carefully, peering through the windows of the Beiler home while he was there. One visit, he saw a bank of clouds far away as he arrived at the Beiler farm.
“Miriam, I’ll really have to keep an eye on the sky today – we have another storm coming in,” John said as he shrugged out of his coat.
“Ya, it is getting colder, isn’t it?” Miriam observed, rubbing her arms briskly.
“I’ll stay for only a few hours, then I’ll go home so I can beat the storm,” John promised.
In fact, he was halfway home when the winds suddenly picked up. John, feeling the icy cold like a sharp knife as it cut through the thick fabric of his coat. Pulling the coat closer around him, he slapped the reins on the horse’s back, urging her to trot more quickly.
‘Go, go on! Let’s get home!” He shouted against the rising wail of the wind. The horse needed no more urging. She stretched full-out, wanting to be inside the warm barn. John steered her so she and the buggy went straight into the open door.
John jumped out of the buggy, unhitching it from the horse. Brushing the horse, he put a blanket over her, fed and watered her. Shutting the barn door securely, he gripped the icy rope and struggled against the stiff wind and gusts into the house. The door slammed, pushed by a particularly stiff gust of wind.
“Ach!” Emily screamed, dropping an empty casserole dish.
“Mamm, I’m sorry! I left the Beiler house an hour ago and the storm hit just as I got home,” John said, panting.
“Oh, John, I don’t care about the dish! You’re home, safe from the storm. That’s all that counts,” she said, rushing to John, hugging him and thanking God for bringing him home.
***
“Mamm, will we can have anybody over to celebrate my birthday with us?” Miriam asked as she quilted.
“Nee, daughter. Too many people are still sick – these viruses are still epidemic here. Also, we don’t know if a storm will hit or not. Bishop Stoltzfus wants families to worship and celebrate in their own homes. We will still be able to celebrate, but your brothers and sisters won’t be coming over,” said Sarah.
“That’s what I was thinking about. I’ll miss them. It won’t feel the same with them gone, but at least we have each other.”
“Ya. Don’t worry. It will still be a happy and blessed day. And I am making your favorite cake. Who knows? If the weather is calm and John stays healthy, maybe he’ll come to see you.” Miriam’s mamm gave her a knowing look.
“Maybe he will,” Miriam said hopefully.
“He is a good, young man. Strong in his faith.”
“Yes, he is, mamm. He’s very strong in his love for the Lord.”
Miriam’s birthday was a quiet one, but the weather stayed calm – it had stayed so for the previous few days. Thus, nobody in the Beiler home was surprised to hear a knock at the door.
“John! Come in,” Joseph said with a wide smile beaming through his long beard.
“Miriam, Happy Birthday,” John said with a warm smile.
“Thank you. I’m very happy to see you.”
“Ya.”
“Why don’t the two of you warm up in the kitchen, and John, you can have a slice of Miriam’s birthday cake.”
“Denki,” John said, his face flushed. While Miriam knew that her parents tacitly blessed the courtship between her and John, it was warming to hear them express it so plainly.
As they stood at the counter, eating twin slices of cinnamon apple cake, John said, “It is so good to see you, Miriam.”
“Ya.”
“I’m just hopeful the storm holds out until tomorrow.”
“Storm?”
“Didn’t you see the clouds to the northwest? We’re going to have another storm soon.”
Miriam sighed. She didn’t want to complain, but when was this going to end?
“Denki, John. We’ll keep an eye out in that direction. We’re supposed to be going to the grossmudderhaus to see if Miriam’s grandfather is feeling better tomorrow morning. Maybe it would be better to go today,” Miriam said without enthusiasm.
“Before you have to go,” John said, reaching into the pocket of his trousers. “I wanted to give you something. For your birthday.”
“You didn’t have to—“
“I wanted to. It’s not much, but I think it represents who you are,” John said, handing Miriam a small box.
Opening the box, Miriam gasped as she saw a small, wooden box made of a light-colored wood. John had sanded the wood so that it gleamed. Lifting the box out of the box, Miriam opened it, finding several Bible verses and psalms nestled on small sheets of paper inside.
“Oh, John, denki! This is beautiful! I can store more Bible verses inside,” Miriam said, feeling breathless.
“Ya. I thought of you as I made the box and looked for the best verses. Each one describes a quality I see in you – as you read them, you’ll see what I mean,” John said with a gentle smile.
Miriam blushed.
John leaned down and brushed Miriam’s lips softly with his own. The contact tingled through him, and he struggled to breathe normally when they parted.
Miriam reacted in the same way to John’s soft kiss. Inhaling deeply, she looked out the side window of the living room – and saw heavy clouds.
“Oh, John, look,” she said sadly.
“Nee!” John said as he jumped up and jogged to the window. As he reached it, Joseph and Sarah came in, removing their coats and unwrapping their scarves.
“John, it looks like we’re about to have another storm. We’d love to have you stay . . .”
“Denki, Mr. Beiler. But daed is just over his own flu. I have to go help him with the livestock. I’d better go now so I can beat the storm home,” John said, pushing his arms into his coat. He wrapped his dark scarf snugly around his neck and set his hat firmly on his head. “Miriam, I hope you’ll enjoy your gift. I know I’ll enjoy mine. It is perfect – thank you! Goodbye, everyone!” John stepped outside, feeling his breath sucked out of his lungs by the strong, bitterly cold wind. Running to the barn, he quickly hitched the horse to the buggy. Slapping the reins, he told the horse, “Home! Now!” The horse needed no more urging.
John made it home and was able to get the horse unhitched and brushed down before the storm hit in its fury. As he was jogging to the kitchen door, the snow began coming down, blown in all directions by the stiff wind.
This latest storm wasn’t as strong as previous storms had been – but it was one of the longest, lasting six days. Amish families all over Ephrata were ready for the severe winter to end. Illness continued to take its toll on individuals and families. One infant ca
me down with the vicious norovirus and, despite her parents’ best efforts, she died after becoming severely dehydrated. Bishop Stoltzfus and the deacons heard of this tragedy, as well as the news that several families had found it necessary to take family members to the hospital to receive medical treatment for the stomach virus or flu.
After the storm ended, the bishop decided it was high time he visited individual families to pray with them.
“I want to make sure they are holding up emotionally and spiritually through this hard winter,” he told his worried wife. “I will be fine. No clouds are in the distance – the sky is clear in all directions. It is only very cold.”
“But husband, you will expose yourself to illness!” objected his wife.
“Nee. If any family members are still sick, I will not go into the house. I will pray with healthy family members only. Do not worry – God will protect me,” he told his wife. “This harsh winter and season of sickness must end soon. I need to give families hope that this period will end. I will be back before nightfall.” With that, the bishop climbed up into the buggy and left.
At the end of a long day of visits and prayer, he returned. Inside his house, he reported what he had learned.
“We have to pray for the Lapp family – their daughter’s baby is the one who died of the stomach virus. She became extremely dehydrated after she couldn’t keep anything in her stomach. Several families are still dealing with illness and they are understandably tired of not being able to leave their homes. Ach, this will be a very quiet, sober New Year’s Eve,” he sighed.
“Here, eat. I made roast beef with potatoes and plenty of vegetables. You need to eat right – your responsibilities take a lot out of you,” his wife commented.
“Ya, they do. But I would have it no differently. Our community is very precious to me. The Lord willing, we will soon see an end to everything ravaging our families,” he said, digging tiredly into his roast.
***
Two weeks later, Miriam, warmly wrapped against the bitter cold, lugged a heavy basket full of wet laundry outside. As she set it down, she belatedly realized that it wasn’t as bitterly cold as it had been for most of the winter. She cautiously loosened her scarf so she wouldn’t overheat. After she had hung out the clothing, sheets and towels, she held the laundry basket out away from her so the mud caked to the bottom wouldn’t get on her coat. Sitting on the bench in the entry way, she took her shoes off so she could clean them of the mud more easily.
Winter of Faith Collection Page 5
