Read Online A Baby for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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Jake’s sermon…I wish he would speak more plainly if he wishes to instruct us, without hiding behind the true Word of God.”
Silence hung heavy over the room as Jake got slowly to his feet, his eyes watching the floor.
“I regret that our brother does not give his blessing, and it was not my intention to hide behind the Word of God. Rather I thought I was using the Word of God to open our eyes to what is going on around us. I will take counsel with the other ministers and see if they have any further words of correction for me.”
Jake raised his eyes to look in Will’s direction, nodding once. “I hope that is satisfactory with the brother. If not, he is welcome to speak further with the bishop about the matter. Let us pray now.”
A soft rustle filled the room, and Hannah knelt with the rest of the people. What in the world had come over Will to cause such an outburst—and in public at that? Soft sobs came from across the room as Hannah covered her face with her hands. There was no need to look around to know who was crying. The voice of Will’s wife, Rebecca, was clearly recognizable.
Jake read the prayer, his voice rising and falling like usual. He must be handling things very well, but then he always did. She was the one who wasn’t. Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Why did those Mennonites have to come into the community and make trouble for all of them? Didn’t they know life caused enough trouble already?
Jake closed his prayer with a strong voice, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Hannah rose slowly, sitting back on the bench. Elizabeth was looking sideways at her. She reached over to squeeze Hannah’s hand, which didn’t help much. It just made the threatening tears that much closer to falling. She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief as Bishop John announced the close of the service, and the smaller boys made a dash for the outside.
Will’s oldest boy, Andrew, followed behind them, already too old to walk fast at six years of age. He was the spitting image of his father, walking erect, and grabbing his black hat by the front door. How his mom loved her children, and now Will was acting up again. Apparently Will’s desire to leave the Amish hadn’t been fully resolved last year, even with Jake’s best efforts.
Bishop John couldn’t blame Jake for that, could he? Jake had tried his best and had come away from a difficult task with excellent results. It was those Mennonites who were stirring things up. They were the ones to blame, but she must not be bitter about it. Da Hah gave grace to all, and He wished His people to love even those who did them wrong.
Hannah watched the short line of older boys get up and walk toward the front door. Not that long ago Jake would have been in that line, and her heart would have been pounding with joy instead of wrenched in pain.
Will’s brother, Dennis Riley, was the last one in the line, stooping low to pick up his hat before stepping outside. He was tall, even taller than his brother, and good looking. Why had he never married? Surely he could find a girl if he wished to? Sylvia’s sister Susie had been looking at him at the last Sunday evening hymn sing, smiling in his direction in between songs. Apparently he wasn’t interested in her attentions or was taking his gut time about it.
But then perhaps he shared Will’s desire to leave the Amish and wasn’t interested in an Amish girl? Wouldn’t that be an awful thing? Yes, but surely not as awful as the situation Rebecca was in—married with two small children and her husband disagreeing with one of the ministers in public. Bishop John wouldn’t let Will’s outburst pass, but Jake would likely speak on Will’s behalf for patience. Jake was that kind of man.
Why didn’t Dennis date? Perhaps he had, and she didn’t know about it. It wasn’t likely that any girl would have dumped him though. He wasn’t the kind of boy a girl would do that to. Miriam
Silence hung heavy over the room as Jake got slowly to his feet, his eyes watching the floor.
“I regret that our brother does not give his blessing, and it was not my intention to hide behind the Word of God. Rather I thought I was using the Word of God to open our eyes to what is going on around us. I will take counsel with the other ministers and see if they have any further words of correction for me.”
Jake raised his eyes to look in Will’s direction, nodding once. “I hope that is satisfactory with the brother. If not, he is welcome to speak further with the bishop about the matter. Let us pray now.”
A soft rustle filled the room, and Hannah knelt with the rest of the people. What in the world had come over Will to cause such an outburst—and in public at that? Soft sobs came from across the room as Hannah covered her face with her hands. There was no need to look around to know who was crying. The voice of Will’s wife, Rebecca, was clearly recognizable.
Jake read the prayer, his voice rising and falling like usual. He must be handling things very well, but then he always did. She was the one who wasn’t. Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Why did those Mennonites have to come into the community and make trouble for all of them? Didn’t they know life caused enough trouble already?
Jake closed his prayer with a strong voice, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Hannah rose slowly, sitting back on the bench. Elizabeth was looking sideways at her. She reached over to squeeze Hannah’s hand, which didn’t help much. It just made the threatening tears that much closer to falling. She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief as Bishop John announced the close of the service, and the smaller boys made a dash for the outside.
Will’s oldest boy, Andrew, followed behind them, already too old to walk fast at six years of age. He was the spitting image of his father, walking erect, and grabbing his black hat by the front door. How his mom loved her children, and now Will was acting up again. Apparently Will’s desire to leave the Amish hadn’t been fully resolved last year, even with Jake’s best efforts.
Bishop John couldn’t blame Jake for that, could he? Jake had tried his best and had come away from a difficult task with excellent results. It was those Mennonites who were stirring things up. They were the ones to blame, but she must not be bitter about it. Da Hah gave grace to all, and He wished His people to love even those who did them wrong.
Hannah watched the short line of older boys get up and walk toward the front door. Not that long ago Jake would have been in that line, and her heart would have been pounding with joy instead of wrenched in pain.
Will’s brother, Dennis Riley, was the last one in the line, stooping low to pick up his hat before stepping outside. He was tall, even taller than his brother, and good looking. Why had he never married? Surely he could find a girl if he wished to? Sylvia’s sister Susie had been looking at him at the last Sunday evening hymn sing, smiling in his direction in between songs. Apparently he wasn’t interested in her attentions or was taking his gut time about it.
But then perhaps he shared Will’s desire to leave the Amish and wasn’t interested in an Amish girl? Wouldn’t that be an awful thing? Yes, but surely not as awful as the situation Rebecca was in—married with two small children and her husband disagreeing with one of the ministers in public. Bishop John wouldn’t let Will’s outburst pass, but Jake would likely speak on Will’s behalf for patience. Jake was that kind of man.
Why didn’t Dennis date? Perhaps he had, and she didn’t know about it. It wasn’t likely that any girl would have dumped him though. He wasn’t the kind of boy a girl would do that to. Miriam
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