Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport

Author:Olivia Newport [Newport, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781683221128
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2017-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

I want to learn to do that.” Patsy hinged at the waist to peer into the vat.

“I doubt it,” Susanna said. “If you could see the way you scrunch up your nose when you look in my pots, you would know you do not want to learn to dye.”

“I concede,” Patsy said. There was no point in debating. She admired Susanna’s skill and determination, but in the middle of the nineteenth century, with a mercantile in every town and factories in the cities, why would she don long gloves and stand over a simmering pot stirring with a wooden paddle?

“Thank you for keeping me company anyway,” Susanna said.

Susanna had been quiet since Patsy’s arrival nearly an hour ago. Patsy chalked it up to concentration on her task. Now it seemed something more. Fifteen years of friendship told her to wait. Susanna would speak when she was ready.

“It soothes me to do something normal,” Susanna said, stirring. “So many things feel out of control.”

“Noah?” Patsy asked.

Susanna chuckled. “Noah’s preaching is starting to feel like the most unremarkable part of my day. ’Tis what everyone has to say about Noah—and Niklaus Zug and the bishop and your daed, and I suppose, even me. At church yesterday the bishop preached on submission for the third time in a row.”

“Surely submission to God is what matters most,” Patsy said. “True spiritual submission, not only obeying a man.”

Susanna stirred, silent.

“I’m sorry,” Patsy said. “I do not mean to criticize your faith.”

“Our calling is to reside quietly in Christ,” Susanna said.

Turn the other cheek. Go with him a second mile. Patsy could quote the same Bible verses Susanna knew about maintaining a mild spirit even when persecuted. But surely there were circumstances that cried out for righteousness.

“My father does not belong to your church,” Patsy said. “They cannot ask him to submit to your bishop.”

“They would not do such a thing,” Susanna said.

“He is not even here to defend himself, because he is off preaching the gospel and ministering.”

“That is what God calls him to do.”

“Then why are they angry with him?”

“We live apart,” Susanna said.

“You have been saying that for years.” Patsy picked up a poker and stabbed at flames beneath Susanna’s pot. “Yet you and I are friends. The Amish buy goods from others when they need to.”

Susanna stirred. “Where the outside world influences us, danger lies.”

Patsy circled around the pot. “Are you afraid the friend of your childhood will influence you to the point of sin?”

“You? No. You and I understand each other.”

Patsy was not sure on that point in the moment.

“’Tis not that way for everyone,” Susanna said.

“You confuse me, Susanna Hooley.” Patsy stood still and crossed her arms. “You hear Noah preach. You are moved by his sermons. I see it in your face. You saw for yourself how people responded when Noah preached with my father.”

Susanna nodded.

“Then how can you defend Shem Hertzberger?”

“He is my bishop.”

“I will have a word with your bishop. I will defend my father—and Niklaus and Noah and you and any other Amish who have found encouragement in Noah’s ministry.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.