Amish Front Porch Stories: 18 Short Tales of Simple Faith and Wisdom
352
Amish Front Porch Stories: 18 Short Tales of Simple Faith and Wisdom
352Paperback
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781643521893 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Shiloh Run Press |
| Publication date: | 11/01/2019 |
| Pages: | 352 |
| Sales rank: | 487,939 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d) |
About the Author
Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach. Visit Jean's website at www.jeanbrunstetter.com.
Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she’s learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, her first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling to different places, her favorite being Kauai, Hawaii.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Love
SIMPLE ACTIONS
* * *
by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Berlin, Ohio
The tip of Anna Hostettler's pencil broke when she picked it up to write in her journal. She set it aside and grabbed another one. An ink pen would have worked better, but Anna preferred a pencil with an eraser. It gave her the freedom to delete anything she'd written or changed her mind about.
Like so many other days this past week, today has not been good. The temperature outside is soaring, and the humidity has become so thick I can barely breathe. While I was downstairs doing the laundry this morning, one of the cats got into the house and ate the bowl of cereal I'd left on the table. Then on the buggy ride home from the grocery store, my horse threw a shoe, and now I have a headache.
Anna lifted her pencil from the page and reread the words she'd written. Not a very positive journal entry.
She quickly erased every one of her sentences. I need to focus on something positive. Anna tapped her pencil against her chin. Let's see now. ... What good things have happened in my life today? Anna began writing again:
The whole-wheat bread I made this morning turned out nice and fluffy. When I went shopping after lunch, I saw my friend Margaret, and we had a nice talk. We decided to meet for lunch one day next week. I am certainly looking forward to that.
Anna kept adding to the list of good things that had happened until a knock on the door interrupted her journaling.
Rising from her chair, she went to answer it and found her widowed English neighbor, Lucy Perkins, standing on the porch, wearing a dour expression.
"Good afternoon, Lucy." Anna smiled. "How are you doing today?"
"I'd be fine if your cats would quit coming into my yard." A vein in the elderly woman's forehead protruded. "They've been digging around in my flower beds again, and I'm tired of it."
"I'm sorry, Lucy, but our cats are free to roam outside or in the barn. They help to keep the mice population down."
Lucy's steel-blue eyes narrowed. "Can't ya keep 'em in the house?"
"My husband, Amos, has an allergy to cat hair, and he'd never stand for them being in the house all the time." Anna thought about the incident this morning when their calico cat had snuck in. It was a good thing Amos wasn't home at the time.
"Humph!" Lucy's pointy chin jutted out.
"Have the cats damaged your plants or flowers?"
"Well, no, but they could." Lucy's face tightened as she crossed her skinny arms. "And another thing ... That noisy rooster of yours woke me up at the crack of dawn this morning with his boisterous cock-a-doodle-doing."
"I'm sorry, but it's normal for roosters to crow when the sun comes up." Anna shifted her weight, leaning against the doorjamb. I should probably invite her in, but I'm not in the mood to listen to any more of her complaints.
"Well, I can see that I'm not getting anywhere with you." Before Anna could respond, Lucy whirled around and stomped off the porch. As her neighbor strode out of the yard, Anna heard her mumble something about a barking dog, and that if people were going to have animals they should keep them under control. Surely she couldn't have meant their mixed-breed terrier. Little Trixie didn't bark that much — only when there was something to bark about — like the intrusion of an unwanted neighbor trying to ruin someone's day.
Now that Anna thought about it, Trixie, who'd been lying under the shade of the maple tree, hadn't even budged when Lucy came into the yard, much less done any barking.
Anna's skin tingled as perspiration formed on her upper lip. Why are some people so difficult to deal with? She'd often wondered why her finicky neighbor had chosen to live in the country if she didn't like farm animals and all of their noises. Sometimes, like now, Anna wished Lucy would sell her home and move somewhere else. If that time ever came, Anna's days would certainly be more peaceful.
* * * "How did your day go?" Amos asked when he returned home from his job at Keim Lumber in the village of Charm.
"It was busy." Anna frowned. "And somewhat frustrating."
"In what way?" Amos placed his lunch box on the kitchen counter.
"I was in the middle of writing a journal entry when our neighbor Lucy Perkins showed up." Anna opened her husband's lunch box and took out his empty Thermos. "And she didn't come over for a friendly visit."
"Uh-oh. Don't tell me. ... She came over to complain."
Anna nodded.
"What was it this time?"
She rinsed out the Thermos before responding. "Let's see now. ... Lucy's first complaint was about our cats."
"What about them?" Amos pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table.
"They were in her flower bed, and she was worried they might do some damage to her plants."
"How did you respond?"
Anna dried her hands and joined him at the table. "I said they are outdoor cats and we can't keep them inside because of your allergies."
"Did Lucy accept that explanation?"
"Not really. She also grumbled about our rooster crowing. Said his crowing woke her up at the crack of dawn."
Amos smiled. "Roosters do tend to crow when the sun comes up."
"I told her that, but it didn't get me anywhere. When Lucy left the yard, she was mumbling something about a dog barking and said if people were going to have animals they should keep them under control." Anna heaved a sigh. "I think Lucy enjoys fault-finding."
"Unfortunately, some folks are like that. Guess all we can do is pray for our neighbor, because she's obviously not a happy person."
"I suppose." Anna made no mention that she'd been hoping and even praying that her neighbor would move. It wasn't right to feel that way, but she couldn't seem to help herself.
Feeling the need to find a different topic, Anna asked Amos what he would like to have for supper.
"You know, I was thinking about asking if you'd like to go out for our evening meal." Amos reached over and placed his hand on her arm. "You work hard all week, and I think you deserve a night off from cooking."
Anna smiled. "Danki, Amos, it's thoughtful of you. Did you have a specific restaurant in mind?"
"How about the Farmstead restaurant? Since it's just a few miles from here, it won't take us long to get there."
"That sounds good to me. I'll go change into a clean dress, and then I'll be ready to go."
"And I need to take a shower." Amos sniffed his shirtsleeve. "Jah, after working all day, I definitely need to clean up."
* * *
Anna picked up a plate at the buffet station and was about to start down the line when she felt a nudge. She turned and was surprised to see her friend Katie behind her. "Guder owed. I didn't know you were going to be here tonight."
Katie smiled. "Good evening. I had no idea you'd be here either."
"Amos decided I should have a night off from cooking." Anna pointed at the table where her husband sat. "He ordered something from the menu, but I prefer to sample a few choices from the buffet."
Her friend chuckled. "Same here." She looked across the room. "Andrew's sitting with our little ones while I get my food, and when I return to the table it'll be his turn. We chose something from the menu that we know the kinner will eat."
Anna envied Katie and Andrew. They'd been married only four years and had been blessed with two children. Anna and Amos had been married five years and still had no children. She had miscarried twice and had come to accept the fact that they may never have any babies.
"Have you had a nice day?" Katie asked as they moved down the line and put food on their plates.
"For the most part it went well — at least till our persnickety neighbor came over to complain."
Katie tipped her head. "What was she unhappy about?"
Anna told her friend everything her neighbor had said, as well as her responses. Then she leaned closer to Katie and whispered, "It upsets me when Lucy complains like that, and I really wish she would move."
Katie opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but instead she hurried along, putting chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans on her plate. "I'd better head over to my table now, Anna. I don't want to keep Andrew and the kinner waiting. I'll talk to you again soon."
"Oh, of course." Anna stepped aside so Katie could pass her and get through the rest of the line quicker.
I hope Katie didn't think I was gossiping, Anna thought. It just felt good to express my feelings about Lucy, and what I said was the truth, so how can that be gossip?
* * *
That night, before Anna got ready for bed, she went to the kitchen and took out her journal, prepared to write down a few things that had taken place during the remainder of her day.
"What are you doing?" Amos tapped her on the shoulder. "I thought we were going to read from the Bible, like we normally do before going to sleep."
"Oh yes. I didn't forget. Just wanted to write down a few more events of the day before I forgot what they were." Anna snickered. "I'm not getting any younger, you know."
"Jah, right. You're just an old lady of twenty-six years." Amos rolled his eyes. "I'll go get the Biewel now."
While her husband went to the living room to get his Bible, Anna scrawled a few things down in her journal:
Amos and I ate supper at the Farmstead restaurant this evening. I saw Katie and told her about Lucy coming over to see me today. I bet she's glad she doesn't have a neighbor who complains about everything.
Anna set her pencil aside a few seconds before Amos returned to the kitchen. "I'm finished writing in my journal, so you can go ahead and read a passage of scripture if you'd like." She smiled up at him.
Amos pulled out a chair next to her and opened the Bible. "I'll be reading from Proverbs chapter 11 tonight."
Anna listened as he read the first twelve verses. When he came to verse 13, Anna's conscience pricked her. "'A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.'"
The words Amos quoted about being a talebearer stuck with Anna, even as he read all the way to the end of the chapter. Did he choose this particular passage to read because he suspected I was being a gossip this evening?
When Amos closed the Bible and bowed his head, Anna did the same. At the restaurant, she had talked to Katie about her neighbor, which was gossiping, even though the things she had said were true.
Maybe that's why Katie didn't say much in response to what I told her. Quite likely she thought I was wrong for talking about my neighbor behind her back. I need to get control of my tongue, Anna told herself. Lord, help me to remember not to gossip about Lucy anymore. From now on, I'll just try to ignore my cranky neighbor.
She opened her eyes. In fact, I'll do my best to avoid talking to her at all. If Lucy comes over to the house, it might be best if I don't open the door.
* * *
The following day, while Anna was baking a batch of cookies, she looked out the window and saw Lucy out in her yard. From what Anna could tell, her neighbor seemed to be chasing something, as she ran about the yard, alternating between shaking her finger and clapping her hands.
I'll bet one of our katze is in her yard and she's trying to get it out. Anna rolled some ginger-spiced dough into a ball and placed it on a greased cookie sheet. Think I'll go outside for a closer look.
Anna placed the baking sheet in the oven, set the timer, and went out the back door. It shouldn't take long to find out what was going on in her neighbor's yard, so she ought to be back in the house in plenty of time to get the cookies out.
So as not to look obvious, Anna picked up the garden hose and began watering her tomato plants. This area of the vegetable garden was closest to the fence and gave her the best vantage into her neighbor's backyard.
"Out with you! Get out of my yard, you pesky cats!" Lucy hollered. The sound of the elderly woman's clapping could be heard all the way into Anna's yard.
Anna cringed. They had to be her cats, because she saw no sign of them in her own yard. For that matter, Anna hadn't seen any cats in the barn when she'd gone there this morning to tell Amos that breakfast was ready.
Should I go over to Lucy's and see if it's our cats she's chasing, or just let it go? Anna bit the inside of her cheek. If I go over there, Lucy will start complaining again. No, I'd better leave well enough alone. If she keeps hollering at the katze, they'll eventually come home.
Anna felt something cold and damp. When she looked down she realized she'd been watering her foot instead of the tomato plants. Guess that's what I get for being a nosy neighbor.
Anna pointed the nozzle at the plants and stood there until they were good and soaked. She was about to turn off the hose when Lucy shouted from across the fence: "Okay, you mangy cats, now get out of my yard!" Anna chose to ignore the outburst and didn't even look her neighbor's way. Instead, she turned off the hose and went back inside.
When she entered the kitchen, Anna smelled smoke. "Ach, my kichlin!" She grabbed a potholder and pulled open the oven door. Every one of her ginger cookies was burned to a crisp.
She glanced at the timer and saw right away that it had already gone off. How long ago, she couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain — this batch of cookies was ruined. They weren't even fit to feed the hogs.
"Guess that's what I get for going outside to spy on the neighbor," Anna muttered. "Well, at least the first two batches of cookies I made this morning turned out okay. At least I'll have some to give Amos when he gets home from helping his brother put a new roof on his house."
Anna turned off the oven and set the burned cookies on a rack until they were cool enough to throw in the garbage can. Then she glanced out the window and spotted two of their cats leaping over the fence and into the yard. She bit back a chuckle. "Guess they got tired of Lucy shouting at them. I wish she understood that cats like to roam and there's nothing I can really do to keep them here."
* * *
"How'd it go at your brother's place today?" Anna asked when Amos arrived home in time for supper.
"It went well, but I'm tired and hungry." He sniffed the air. "What's that good smell?"
"I made your favorite — fried chicken." She motioned to the stove. "Since I wasn't sure what time you'd get here, I put the chicken in the oven to stay warm."
"Yum." Amos smacked his lips as he took a seat. "And what's the plan for dessert?"
Anna dropped her gaze. "I baked some ginger cookies today, but lost an entire dozen when they burned."
"I'm surprised. It's not like you to burn anything you're cooking or baking."
"Well, I did today."
"What happened?"
Anna explained, frowning as she finished telling him about the incident with the hose while watching the neighbor chase after the cats.
Wearing a thoughtful expression, Amos stroked his beard. "If it happens again, I'll go over there and ask if the cats have done any damage to her property and offer to pay for it if they have."
Anna shrugged her shoulders. "It's up to you, but when I talked to Lucy the other day, she said none of her plants had been damaged. I think she's not satisfied unless she finds something to complain about." Anna rose from her chair. "Why don't you clean up while I get a vegetable cooking to go with the chicken? By the time you're done, supper should be ready."
"Okay, sounds good." Amos got up and came around the table to give her a kiss. "I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into that chicken."
* * *
"There's such a difference in the weather today." Amos pointed out the front of their open buggy at the clear blue sky. "The temperature's mild compared to a few days ago, and there's hardly any humidity at all."
"Jah, it's a pleasant change. It'll make it a lot easier to sit through three hours of church today too." Anna fiddled with the ties of her outer bonnet, making sure they hadn't come loose. One time when they were traveling in their open buggy, the horse had decided to go faster than usual, and her bonnet had fallen off.
"Daniel Schrock's woodshop has good ventilation. I'm sure we'll all be comfortable."
"I hope so. Remember two weeks ago when Aaron Troyer fell asleep and almost fell off the wooden bench he sat upon?"
Amos smiled. "If his brother, Melvin, hadn't caught hold of his arm, poor Aaron likely would have hit the floor."
"If he had, I bet our bishop would have kept right on preaching."
Amos chuckled. "You could be right."
They rode along quietly for a while, until Daniel's place came into view. While Amos got the horse unhitched from the buggy, Anna went to visit some of the women who had gathered outside the woodshop. The first person she spotted was her friend Katie.
After greeting the other women there with a handshake, Anna turned to greet Katie in the same way. This was a common practice before their church service, with the men greeting the men, and the women welcoming the other women in attendance.
"How are things going with you and your neighbor?" Katie asked.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Amish Front Porch Stories"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Wanda E. Brunstetter.
Excerpted by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Love,
Simple Actions by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Love Isn't Painless by Richelle Brunstetter,
Joy,
Cardinal at the Window by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Unexpected Joy by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Peace,
Nina's Struggle by Richelle Brunstetter,
Tranquility by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Longsuffering,
Miriam's Care by Jean Brunstetter,
Laura's Choice by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Gentleness,
A Change of Heart by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Kari's Joy by Jean Brunstetter,
Goodness,
Taunted by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Pam's Friend by Jean Brunstetter,
Faith,
Hiding Place by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Betty's Dog by Jean Brunstetter,
Meekness,
Receive with Meekness by Richelle Brunstetter,
The Beautiful Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Temperance,
Breaking Down by Richelle Brunstetter,
Tempted by Wanda E. Brunstetter,
