Read Online A Wedding Quilt for Ella by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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said so, but it sure didn’t feel like it now.
He really must do something. That was much easier than speaking words. Aden had always been able to say things just right, but Daniel rarely could. Perhaps that was one of the reasons they had gotten along so well.
Why had Aden passed away? Daniel sat up in bed and struggled with the question. Why would God just come down and take away my brother — a brother so close to marriage with Ella. The two were wonderful together. It seemed as if they were made for each other. Is God so wise that He can see what I cannot?
It was not as if Daniel wanted to challenge God, but this tragedy seemed so very wrong. Sure, Aden carried some of the blame because he hadn’t gone to the clinic when the pains started. Home remedies hadn’t been enough this time.
The old people said one should crawl downstairs head first a couple of times to cure a stomach or side ache. It had always worked for him before, and Aden had seemed satisfied with the relief he received. He, at least, had rested well enough that one day to go back to work the next at the construction job near Randolph. They had driven down there together in the buggy instead of hiring an Englisha driver.
The weather had been good, Aden had looked okay, and they had worked hard all day. Aden hadn’t eaten supper, though, and complained about having a fever. His mamm had checked his forehead.
“It’s just the aftereffects of whatever you had,” she said. “Perhaps if you sleep on it and get a good night’s rest, you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Aden had his own room across the hall, and nothing unusual had happened that night. No groans or cries of agony as there should be from a man who would die the next day. It was strange. Maybe the preachers did know what they were talking about when they spoke of a God who chose to do what He wanted all without much warning.
Ella, the woman who was to have become like a sister, was downstairs, perhaps sleeping now. What could be done for her? Not much. She was obviously greatly distraught, more so than he was, perhaps. Aden had only been his brother. She was to be his wife. But maybe her pain would pass eventually. Maybe she could love again and marry. She was beautiful, that was for sure, even in her present agony.
Amish girls in similar situations married again unless they had some very good reason not to, and Ella obviously didn’t. Her sorrow would be overcome with time. There had been young widows before in the community, and they all came to terms with their grief and married again.
Suddenly Daniel felt ashamed. Where has such a thought come from anyway? It’s terrible to think about Aden and Ella, Aden’s body still lying downstairs. Another boy with Ella? No, the thought is best not considered. Yet it could happen. It is just a matter of time. No other boys have ever dated Ella that I know about. Aden had been the first and only one to ever take her home.
He rolled over in bed. How much better it would be if Aden were still alive.
Since I can’t help him with Ella, I’ll have to figure out another way I can help. And then Daniel remembered that his brother’s money needed to be dispersed in some fashion and that he was the other signature on the account in the bank at Randolph. The sum was considerable. By this time surely it was almost enough to build the house Aden wanted so badly to build for Ella.
Might this have been the reason Aden was hesitant to visit the clinic? Since Aden was over twenty-one—already twenty-four—and had no insurance, he would have had to pay the medical fees. If his reluctance to go the clinic was to save money it was all really a big shame. What good was money without the life to go with it?
“I’m a ripe old age for an unmarried Amish man,” Aden had said, ‘‘and I’m waiting for her, and she’s worth it. Worth every day and minute it takes.”
One morning at the job site, Aden had laughed about one of their preachers
He really must do something. That was much easier than speaking words. Aden had always been able to say things just right, but Daniel rarely could. Perhaps that was one of the reasons they had gotten along so well.
Why had Aden passed away? Daniel sat up in bed and struggled with the question. Why would God just come down and take away my brother — a brother so close to marriage with Ella. The two were wonderful together. It seemed as if they were made for each other. Is God so wise that He can see what I cannot?
It was not as if Daniel wanted to challenge God, but this tragedy seemed so very wrong. Sure, Aden carried some of the blame because he hadn’t gone to the clinic when the pains started. Home remedies hadn’t been enough this time.
The old people said one should crawl downstairs head first a couple of times to cure a stomach or side ache. It had always worked for him before, and Aden had seemed satisfied with the relief he received. He, at least, had rested well enough that one day to go back to work the next at the construction job near Randolph. They had driven down there together in the buggy instead of hiring an Englisha driver.
The weather had been good, Aden had looked okay, and they had worked hard all day. Aden hadn’t eaten supper, though, and complained about having a fever. His mamm had checked his forehead.
“It’s just the aftereffects of whatever you had,” she said. “Perhaps if you sleep on it and get a good night’s rest, you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Aden had his own room across the hall, and nothing unusual had happened that night. No groans or cries of agony as there should be from a man who would die the next day. It was strange. Maybe the preachers did know what they were talking about when they spoke of a God who chose to do what He wanted all without much warning.
Ella, the woman who was to have become like a sister, was downstairs, perhaps sleeping now. What could be done for her? Not much. She was obviously greatly distraught, more so than he was, perhaps. Aden had only been his brother. She was to be his wife. But maybe her pain would pass eventually. Maybe she could love again and marry. She was beautiful, that was for sure, even in her present agony.
Amish girls in similar situations married again unless they had some very good reason not to, and Ella obviously didn’t. Her sorrow would be overcome with time. There had been young widows before in the community, and they all came to terms with their grief and married again.
Suddenly Daniel felt ashamed. Where has such a thought come from anyway? It’s terrible to think about Aden and Ella, Aden’s body still lying downstairs. Another boy with Ella? No, the thought is best not considered. Yet it could happen. It is just a matter of time. No other boys have ever dated Ella that I know about. Aden had been the first and only one to ever take her home.
He rolled over in bed. How much better it would be if Aden were still alive.
Since I can’t help him with Ella, I’ll have to figure out another way I can help. And then Daniel remembered that his brother’s money needed to be dispersed in some fashion and that he was the other signature on the account in the bank at Randolph. The sum was considerable. By this time surely it was almost enough to build the house Aden wanted so badly to build for Ella.
Might this have been the reason Aden was hesitant to visit the clinic? Since Aden was over twenty-one—already twenty-four—and had no insurance, he would have had to pay the medical fees. If his reluctance to go the clinic was to save money it was all really a big shame. What good was money without the life to go with it?
“I’m a ripe old age for an unmarried Amish man,” Aden had said, ‘‘and I’m waiting for her, and she’s worth it. Worth every day and minute it takes.”
One morning at the job site, Aden had laughed about one of their preachers
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