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Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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prepared for us. You have blessed us with so much, we can never give You thanks enough. Be with us now. We give You praise and glory that…”
Miriam snuck a look at Mose across from her. His beard nearly touched the table below his bowed head. His face was solemn, filled with holy thoughts of thanks, Miriam was sure. Why couldn’t she give thanks for this great blessing the Lord had sent her way? Here was no doubt a wunderbah husband who had landed right in her lap. She didn’t even have to look for him. He was surely prosperous—in a reasonable way. She wouldn’t haveto worry about financial difficulties if a dozen kinner were given to them by the Lord. Mose was a minister, and she would hold a position of honor in the community in Wayne County. This would all be achieved overnight without effort on her part. All she must do is go along with things. But instead of feeling thankful, all she could feel were the clear, blue eyes of Tyler Johnson as they pierced into hers.
“Please help me, Lord.” Miriam whispered her own prayer as Uncle William pronounced the amen. The words caught in her throat, and Miriam coughed into her apron.
Aunt Fannie glanced at Miriam with concern on her face. “Is everything okay?”
Mose half rose from his seat.
Miriam managed a painful smile. “Something caught…” Miriam rubbed her neck. This had to stop. But how? Maybe if she’d think more about Mose, the memory of Tyler would fade into the distant past?
Mose had settled back into this chair. “You had me worried there,” he teased. “I thought my presence had unsettled the dinner table.”
Miriam forced a laugh. “No, I’ll be okay. I’m glad you’re here.”
Uncle William gave Miriam a strange look. No doubt that was a little forward of her to say, but she had to get Tyler Johnson out of her mind.
Mose appeared pleased, though, responding, “I’m also glad to be here. And oh, if I didn’t say it plainly enough this afternoon, your school was very well run. The children appear well taught and well behaved.”
Comprehension seemed to dawn on Uncle William’s face. “So that’s what the nervous attack was about. I’d be weak bodied myself if someone had inspected my schoolteaching.”
Mose waved aside the comment. “You don’t have to worry. Miriam passed with flying colors, as I’m sure you all knew she would.”
“We expected nothing but the best,” Uncle William said, his tone sober. They all laughed, and even Miriam managed to join in.
When the laugher died down, Mose said, “By the way, Bishop Mullett told me this afternoon about the two million dollars Miriam inherited and gave away. Why didn’t anyone tell me this before?”
Miriam coughed again and kept her head down. This was not her place to speak.
Thankfully, Uncle William answered for her. “I take it as a compliment to Miriam that she hasn’t told you, and we didn’t think that was our place either.”
“I suppose not,” Mose allowed. He appeared quite pleased. “That was a very courageous and righteous act, Miriam. I commend you for it.”
“Thank you,” Miriam whispered. Now she had turned all sorts of colors, and not because of Tyler Johnson.
Aunt Fannie reached over to touch Miriam’s arm. “Miriam has been through her trials. But the Lord has seen her through them all and has never stopped the blessings.”
Mose smiled. “When one does the will of God, it always ends well. We should remember that even in our darkest hours.”
Everyone nodded. After that gut word, the Lord would surely remove Tyler Johnson from her memory, Miriam told herself.
For the next several minutes, the chatter was light, and Miriam relaxed and even laughed at some of the banter. Finally, Aunt Fannie bounced up to announce, “And now for dessert.”
Miriam motioned with her hand for her aunt to seat herself again. “I’ll get the pies.”
She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Mose wasimpressed. She hadn’t intended to make a
Miriam snuck a look at Mose across from her. His beard nearly touched the table below his bowed head. His face was solemn, filled with holy thoughts of thanks, Miriam was sure. Why couldn’t she give thanks for this great blessing the Lord had sent her way? Here was no doubt a wunderbah husband who had landed right in her lap. She didn’t even have to look for him. He was surely prosperous—in a reasonable way. She wouldn’t haveto worry about financial difficulties if a dozen kinner were given to them by the Lord. Mose was a minister, and she would hold a position of honor in the community in Wayne County. This would all be achieved overnight without effort on her part. All she must do is go along with things. But instead of feeling thankful, all she could feel were the clear, blue eyes of Tyler Johnson as they pierced into hers.
“Please help me, Lord.” Miriam whispered her own prayer as Uncle William pronounced the amen. The words caught in her throat, and Miriam coughed into her apron.
Aunt Fannie glanced at Miriam with concern on her face. “Is everything okay?”
Mose half rose from his seat.
Miriam managed a painful smile. “Something caught…” Miriam rubbed her neck. This had to stop. But how? Maybe if she’d think more about Mose, the memory of Tyler would fade into the distant past?
Mose had settled back into this chair. “You had me worried there,” he teased. “I thought my presence had unsettled the dinner table.”
Miriam forced a laugh. “No, I’ll be okay. I’m glad you’re here.”
Uncle William gave Miriam a strange look. No doubt that was a little forward of her to say, but she had to get Tyler Johnson out of her mind.
Mose appeared pleased, though, responding, “I’m also glad to be here. And oh, if I didn’t say it plainly enough this afternoon, your school was very well run. The children appear well taught and well behaved.”
Comprehension seemed to dawn on Uncle William’s face. “So that’s what the nervous attack was about. I’d be weak bodied myself if someone had inspected my schoolteaching.”
Mose waved aside the comment. “You don’t have to worry. Miriam passed with flying colors, as I’m sure you all knew she would.”
“We expected nothing but the best,” Uncle William said, his tone sober. They all laughed, and even Miriam managed to join in.
When the laugher died down, Mose said, “By the way, Bishop Mullett told me this afternoon about the two million dollars Miriam inherited and gave away. Why didn’t anyone tell me this before?”
Miriam coughed again and kept her head down. This was not her place to speak.
Thankfully, Uncle William answered for her. “I take it as a compliment to Miriam that she hasn’t told you, and we didn’t think that was our place either.”
“I suppose not,” Mose allowed. He appeared quite pleased. “That was a very courageous and righteous act, Miriam. I commend you for it.”
“Thank you,” Miriam whispered. Now she had turned all sorts of colors, and not because of Tyler Johnson.
Aunt Fannie reached over to touch Miriam’s arm. “Miriam has been through her trials. But the Lord has seen her through them all and has never stopped the blessings.”
Mose smiled. “When one does the will of God, it always ends well. We should remember that even in our darkest hours.”
Everyone nodded. After that gut word, the Lord would surely remove Tyler Johnson from her memory, Miriam told herself.
For the next several minutes, the chatter was light, and Miriam relaxed and even laughed at some of the banter. Finally, Aunt Fannie bounced up to announce, “And now for dessert.”
Miriam motioned with her hand for her aunt to seat herself again. “I’ll get the pies.”
She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Mose wasimpressed. She hadn’t intended to make a
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