Abner's Dilemma: Will Faith and Endurance with Little Else Enable the Brethren to Reach Their Promised Land?

By Janet L. Dempsey

With the comforts of their Bavarian homes far behind them, ten year-old Abner and his friends are among the Brethren refugees challenged once again to trust God. They must wait on the eastern banks of the Susquehanna River until Thomas Penn signs a treaty with the Susquehannock Indians. This treaty will allow them to safely go forward to their promised lands in York County, Pennsylvania.
Daily Abner's family and friends anticipate the signal to move on, yet almost a year passes. As they continue to hold on to their dreams, Abner's father struggles to provide for his family, and Abner learns the value of hard work. Widow Schneider continues to harass Abner with her mean ways while Abner learns the value of forgiveness and keeping his mouth shut. Fear of poverty, sickness, war, Indians, and the possible cruelty of bound servitude hound them as they wait.
The joys and sorrows of life and death flow one day after another as lives are challenged with the blessings and struggles of surviving in the New World. The Proverb, "He who does not work does not eat," applies to life in this land of opportunity. The land is beautiful but demanding, and all sojourners are expected to give their all when faced with the pressures of this new life. Yet, hope and dreams fill their hearts for their future since they are believing that God will never leave nor forsake them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481774215

Janet L. Dempsey

Louise M. Coffman, public school teacher and free-lance writer, was a WWII war bride from California transplanted to York County, Pennsylvania in 1948. After living surrounded by the Pennsylvania Dutch culture for over fifty years, she captured the heart of that culture in her humorous and inspirational Abner Series depicting the lives of the early settlers of York County.

Book preview

Abner’s Dilemma

Louise M. Coffman

Will faith and endurance with little else enable the Brethren to reach their

Promised Land?

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© 2013 by Janet L. Dempsey. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/31/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7423-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7422-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7421-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013912430

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Contents

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Glossary

About the Author

Foreword

January 4, 2011, my mother, Louise M. Coffman went home to be with the Lord. Abner’s Dilemma was very much on her heart and mind during the months just prior to her passing. She knew that she had not finished his story which began in Abner’s Story and continued in Abner’s Escape and Abner’s Journey to America. She did not want to leave her readers disappointed. Mother struggled with this book because she wanted it to be historically accurate, but upon finding out more or the history of the Columbia, Pennsylvania, area, she knew that she did not have time to research everything as well as she had previously. However, she had a story to tell, and she desired to tell it. Many of the events and circumstances of the characters are accurately portrayed in the story line. She particularly wanted the readers to be aware of the conditions of those who were bondservants.

Mother finished this book near the end of November 2010. After it was finished, her health rapidly declined. The content, storyline, humor, and love for the Lord are my mother’s. The sequencing of events and minor changes in conversations and events were part of the editing process that I have been working on since her death. The process took longer than I had originally thought because in August of 2011, my father also went home to be with the Lord and his Louise. Then our family had the task of taking care of their estate. So thank you for your patience.

Enjoy Mother’s wit in this work. This is not the only manuscript that she has left for us to remember her sense of humor and wisdom. She wrote other novels of a different genre Pregnant Summer and Marcie’s Story which I hope will be published as well. Her desire was to educate, encourage, entertain, and inspire. I consider myself to be very fortunate to be able to pick up one of her writings and to remember afresh the love and wisdom of my mother.

Janet L. Dempsey

Prologue

Abner’s family, the Hartzells, and members of the Brethren religious group, had recently come to Pennsylvania from a small village high in the Bavarian Alps. Because of their religious beliefs, they had been forced to leave their homes and flee for their lives, leaving nearly all of their possessions behind. As the group traveled, they never knew if a person they met would be a friend or an enemy. They never knew where the next meal would come from or where they would be able to stay.

The refugees walked many days to reach the Rhine River which they thought would take them to safety, but still they were not safe. Toll takers, river pirates, soldiers, and thieves took from them in one way or another. At der Lorelei, the most dangerous spot in the Rhine River, they had to change boats as certain vessels were not able to safely negotiate the swift current around the jagged rocks and boulders. In the general confusion of changing boats, many were robbed of most of what they had been able to carry along. To add to that, Abner’s mother, Rachel, fell into the river, causing her to lose her unborn baby, and nearly her life. After several days, a second boat took the Brethren group out of the German States into Holland where they were safe at last from their political and religious enemies. However, they were still not safe from the changeable weather, the thieving pirates, and various kinds of sickness.

In Holland, the Mennonites, a Christian religious group that had been persecuted in Switzerland, took the travelers in, housed them, fed them, and found short term jobs for them. After three weeks, they sailed from Rotterdam in Holland to England. Since the British controlled the seas, the refugees had to make the trans-Atlantic passage in a British ship. Not knowing the English language added to their difficulty. It took nearly four months to sail across the North Atlantic to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From there, they traveled west looking for their Promised Land in the wilderness. The entire journey from the Alps to the banks of the Susquehanna River had taken more than eight months, and each day had been a challenge.

Late autumn of 1735, after the religious group had traveled more than one hundred miles west on Pennsylvania soil, they were told by agents of the William Penn Land Company that they were not allowed to cross the Susquehanna River to where they had planned to settle. Thomas Penn, William Penn’s grandson, had learned that a treaty had not been signed with the Susquehannock Indians who lived west of the great river. He insisted on following his grandfather’s directive to treat the Indians fairly. In order that the settlers would have no trouble with the Indians, he immediately canceled permission for Europeans to cross the river until a treaty was signed.

Three weeks prior, Abner and his family had arrived at the eastern banks of the Susquehanna. Here they had been sleeping in a barn belonging to Gideon Mummaw and his wife. The Mummaws had a large house and a snug barn. In exchange for being allowed to stay in the barn and eat at the Mummaws’ table, the men in the group were building log cabins on the property belonging to the Mummaws for travelers to rent on their way through the area. Herr Mummaw and his bondservant, eighteen year-old Ezra Knaub, had cut logs the previous summer hoping that someone would come along who would work in exchange for shelter and food. The arrangement was beneficial for everyone concerned. The immigrants had a place to stay over the winter or until they could cross the river, possess their land, and establish their homes further to the west. At the same time, Gideon Mummaw had cabins built on his property.

Some of the immigrants had stayed in Germantown near Philadelphia. However, the group that Abner was with had continued into the wilderness. The members of each family were as follows:

The Hartzells:

Abner—ten year-old son of Matthias and Rachel

Frederick—Abner’s grandfather and spiritual leader of the group

Matthias—Abner’s father, a mason and handy-man

Rachel—Abner’s mother (maiden name—Altland)

Minnie Ness—Abner’s ten-year old cousin

Mary—Minnie’s little sister

Ephraim Schotzenberger (Schotzy)—his orphaned friend

Reuben Hubley—Schotzy’s adopted brother

The Altlands:

Jacob—secular leader of the group

Trudy—his bride

Widow Schneider—Trudy’s mother

The Bentzels:

Andreas—a farmer

Helena—his superstitious wife

Waldemar Wentz—six-year-old orphaned son of their original leader who had been martyred

The Schmitts:

Schmitty—a blacksmith

Dorothy—his wife

Their daughters—Martina, fifteen; Alice, nine; and Freda, seven

Antonio Eby: former Catholic priest, teacher, and beekeeper

Glossary terms are designated by an asterisk (*).

Chapter One

Abner! shouted Schotzy. Climb that ladder down once’t*. We’re s’posed to fetch more stones for the footer. You know this one must be done before they get the go ahead for the next log cabin. And watch yourself up on that roof. You’re just doppy enough to fall off and break your neck.

Ya, ya, I’ll soon make myself down, replied Abner. I want to look awhile across the river now that I’m up here once. I want to see as far as I can see. He gazed around and then shouted, You know what? There’s not so many trees on the other side of the river as on this side. It wonders me why.

I mean it! Quit gawksing* around and make yourself down, yelled Schotzy, somewhat upset with his friend. The stones the men are using will soon be all. They need more, and you know it takes us longer to find them and fetch them since we’ve used up all the ones that were nearby.

Don’t get all worked up! Plenty of stones they’ve got yet. Come on up. It’s worth coming up here for, the view. It makes a bend, the river; and then there’s an island that splits it in two. It’s beautiful. You should see the other side! There’s open country, not just trees. It’s pretty country, too—just like Cousin Jake said.

I’m not about to make myself up there now, replied Schotzy. The men don’t have as many stones as you think, and they’re making with the walls pretty fast, said Schotzy. Everybody wants them, the cabins, so we can have some privacy. This living all tangled up together is getting to me. You can fool around all you want; but me, I’m going now to work once.

All right, all right, replied Abner as he stepped onto the ladder and made his way down. But it’s a sight to see—the Susquehanna River. I want you to know that! I can’t wait to get over there and see where our new home will be. Grandpa says that’s our Promised Land.

Abner and Schotzy had been friends all of their lives; both had turned ten since they left home. Abner’s hair and eyes were dark, almost black; but his skin was fair. He was slender and tall for his age. Schotzy, shorter and of a stockier build than Abner, was fair complexioned with freckles. His very blond hair was almost always wind-blown and tangled what the Dutch call strublich. He was an orphan who had inherited a fortune of fifty, large gold pieces. Abner’s grandfather was his guardian.

You really missed an eyeful when you didn’t make your way up on the roof with me, Abner told Schotzy. Beautiful it is around here. I looked all around, and I never seen anything more beautiful. A few trees have their leaves still, and they are orange or red or yellow. Grandpa says the deep yellow ones are nut trees. We’ve been a lot of places, but I tell you this place tops ’em all. I can’t wait to go across the river and get to the place we’ll live. Waiting for the Penns and the Indians seems like a waste of time.

He and Schotzy each picked up a flat rock and headed back to the building site. Once there, they watched the men lay the stones together and finish the foundation of the second cabin. The logs of the first tier were hewn flat on one quarter and placed on the foundation. There was not enough lime for mortar to form a proper foundation, but what they had would keep the logs off the ground. Therefore, the logs would not draw moisture and rot as soon as those that were laid directly onto the bare ground. After a bitterly cold spell at the end of November, the weather had turned off rather warm. All of the snow from an early snow had melted, turning the ground into mud. Nevertheless, it was not all bad because the earth was soft enough to be leveled; the logs could be slid easily to the building sites; and there was mud for the chinking between the logs to keep the weather out.

As the boys watched the work being done, Abner’s father said, Don’t just stand there; make yourselves useful. More flat stones we need for the next cabin. But ach du lieber*, make yourselves far from the woods, and keep your dogs close.

He doesn’t need to tell us that, thought Abner as he and Schotzy headed toward the river in search of more flat rocks. Grownups are always telling us stuff we already know. We know they’re around, the wolves and maybe even bears.

After Abner’s father and his grandfather had started the first log cabin, Herr Mummaw suggested that they take advantage of the warmer weather and spend their time building foundations for all of the needed cabins. Soon the bad weather would return. There was a possibility that the ground would become frozen so hard that it could not be dug into until the following spring. They could see that it was good advice so they proceeded to build footers as fast as they could.

Sometimes the boys worked with an adze, a tool for taking bark off of logs; but most of the time they were sent to look for and bring back large, flat stones. Since searching for flat ones, picking them up, and carrying them back to the building site was hard work, but not very exciting; they often looked for any other diversion they could think of.

Wandering close to the river, Schotzy picked up a smooth rock and threw it toward the river as hard as he could throw. It hit the water and sank. Remember how I used to throw stones into the mountain stream back home? Just then Herr Mummaw came down the path behind them, picked up a small flat stone, positioned it in his hand, and flung it. It landed flat on the water and skipped five times before it sank.

How did you make it do that? asked Abner in astonishment.

Didn’t youse* boys ever skip stones before?

No.

You mean to tell me you never did that back in the old country? asked Herr Mummaw as he showed them the best kind of small flat stone to choose and how to throw it just so.

Up in the mountains where we lived there were no flat stones. Only round ones from the river or rough jaggy ones in the fields or mountains, said Schotzy. I used to throw rocks in the stream all the time just for something to do. They always sank real quick like.

Herr Mummaw picked up another flat stone and skipped it across the water. Then Abner chose a stone and pitched it. It sank immediately. He tried again and again until, on the fourth try, it skipped three times. Schotzy’s skipped once the first try and not again until his fourth.

Ain’t, it’s not so easy as you thought? laughed Herr Mummaw as he walked away. He turned around and called back, You better would get back to work and quit your foolin’. He looked toward the barn and saw that Ezra was leaning against the barn doing nothing. That’s not the way to earn your keep, he shouted angrily at the bondservant. I know the harness is not mended, and the barn needs cleaned. There’s no reason for you to be loafing.

As the boys walked away from their encounter with the owner of the place where they were staying, Schotzy remembered the window panes he had bought in England with some of the money from his unexpected inheritance. I never did tell Herr Mummaw I have window panes, he said. Do you think I should tell him? They’d be much nicer, the cabins, with a window.

They’re yours, the panes, replied Abner, shrugging his shoulders. I’m not telling you what to do.

Well, I think I better would tell him. I’d feel selfish if I didn’t. I think we’ll have plenty for ourselves. I best go tell him now. Wait up, Herr Mummaw! he shouted as he ran to catch up with the man who had been kind to them. Abner came trailing behind him.

Herr Mummaw stared at Schotzy in disbelief as he told of his treasure. What do you mean you have window panes? One window pane costs as much as a whole cabin. You’re funning me, ain’t? Where did a boy like you get them, the panes?

In England.

Yah, but you’re Herr Hartzell’s bound-out boy.

Yah, das es recht*, I am.

I don’t understand, said Herr Mummaw.

I’m not really exactly bound out, replied Schotzy. Herr Hartzell watches out for me, and I watch out for Reuben. We’re part of his family now.

Reuben is your brother, then.

Well, not exactly, added Schotzy. A beggar he was in a village we came through, and I decided to ’dopt him.

You’re quite a young man, said Herr Mummaw admiringly. What else can you tell me about yourself?

I’m not a builder like Abner and his family so I decided I better would buy building materials, bring them out to the wilderness, and sell them. I could help out that way, replied Schotzy. I inherited some money so I figured that I mize* well use it. I bought nails, too, in England. So if you are building a log cabin, you need how many nails to build one, a log cabin?

Eight. It was Schotzy’s turn to look surprised. That’s right, continued Herr Mummaw. It takes eight to attach the hinges if you make a cabin the cheapest way.

I don’t see how you could build it, the cabin, with only eight nails. How would it stay together without nails? asked Abner.

These cabins will be thirteen by eighteen feet, said Herr Mummaw. So we cut the logs accordingly, allowing for one door. Then the men measure and measure again to make sure. You saw how they notched the logs so they fit together. Then the cabin goes up quickly because they all fit together, the logs.

Abner listened carefully because he wanted to remember every detail.

You don’t need any nails for that, continued Herr Mummaw. Then you splint the rafters together with strips of white oak. For the roof you gather reeds, tie them into bunches, and tie them to the rafters. For the top, you tie the reeds in the middle and bend them to fit the pitch of the roof. If there are enough reeds, this is the cheapest and fastest roof to put on. My father learned how to do this from the Swedes that first came here a hundred years ago. (Source: Jacob My Friend, by Barry Kent)

A hundred years ago? said Abner in surprise. Do you mean to tell me that white people lived around here a hundred years ago? That would be in 1635!

Ya, nodded Herr Mummaw. The first Whites came even before that. The English came to Virginia in 1608; I’ve been told. They claimed this land. The leader came up here and met the Susquehannock Indians that lived around here someplace. The Englisher didn’t say exactly where, but he wrote a book about his adventures. I’m not sure of his name, but it seems so half, it was John Smith.

Schotzy scratched his head and said, One hundred and twenty-seven years ago, 1608. Abner looked at him in astonishment and thought, He sure is better at numbers than me. I never even thought about figuring it out.

Herr Mummaw continued, The Dutch from Holland claimed this land, but not for long because the Swedes came. They were the first to build log cabins. They must build them so in their old country. Also, they traded the Indians brass kettles, guns, and beads for beaver skins and other animal pelts. Those pelts, especially those from the beaver are worth a lot of money in the old country. Look here. He bent down, picked up an arrowhead, showed it to them, and explained what it was. Then he added, One time I found a brass arrowhead. It surprised me. Then I found out that the Indian men took brass kettles from their wives and cut out arrowheads. It was much easier than knapping* them. Can you imagine what our women would do if we took their kettles for such?

Yah, I can, laughed Abner. And I wouldn’t want to be near when it happened. Schotzy just shook his head in wonder as Herr Schmitt, the blacksmith, came out of the barn and waved. Abner waved back as he continued listening to Herr Mummaw.

It’s always been a challenge, living here, he continued. The traders ordered supplies from their old country, but it took so long to get anything from across the water that they had to make do. You’ll find that’s the American way. We sometimes do things the old way, but we have to keep our minds open to new ways. You really have to use your brain if you’re going to make a go of it on this side of the ocean. Take the question of the reeds for the roof, our problem is that we don’t have enough reeds left for more than one roof. So we’ll need nails when we use shingles. However, if they are put on right, each shingle takes only one nail.

Abner looked up and saw Herr Schmitt walking towards him. He was a big, strong, healthy-looking man with bulging biceps and a ready smile. Abner had liked him from the time he was little and had gotten acquainted with him back in their village.

Greetings, little buddy, Herr Schmitt called, Remember how you used to help me in my shop back home in the village? Abner nodded. It wonders me if you could maybe give me a hand tomorrow a while, he said when he got closer. A man is coming with a young stallion that needs shod. It’s the horse’s first time, and he’s bound to be feisty. But if you stand back, it won’t be dangerous. I’ll need a little help.

I’d be glad to help you, but I must ask my papa if he’ll allow me. I’ll let you know, Abner said as he bent over, selected a flat stone, and pitched it onto the water. It skipped five times and he shouted, Yay! That’s my first time for five.

Herr Schmitt smiled and patted him on the head. I miss those good old days back in the village when you used to come by and help me, he said. You were always a good helper, and I suspect that you still are. He looked out over the water and then walked back to the section of the barn where he had set up his anvil and blacksmith shop.

Abner and Schotzy continued along the riverbank looking for stones for the foundations. Herr Mummaw continued to walk with them until they saw an old Indian paddling a canoe down the river. Where do you suppose he’s going? asked Schotzy.

You never can tell about them there Indians, said Herr Mummaw. It looks like he might be stopping here. I believe so half that’s old Running Rabbit. See, he has beaver pelts. If he stops here, he’ll want to trade them for guns, or whatever we have that might catch his eye. If we don’t have anything he wants, he’ll go the river down to the next settlement.

He’s in white people’s clothes, but he don’t look right, said Schotzy.

Ya, said Abner. He’s dressed funny for a man, and he looks old and tired.

Ya, he’s dressed in white man’s clothes, and he’s wearing a petticoat on the outside, said Herr Mummaw. That’s because he’s an outcast from his tribe. (Souce: History of North Codorus, by Armand Glatfelter)

He’s an outcast? questioned Abner in surprise. How do you suppose that happened?

I don’t know, replied Herr Mummaw. But this much I do know. Running Rabbit is not a name for a brave. He no doubt used to have a different name. Those Indians mark a man for life so he’ll have to wear the petticoat for the rest of his life. That tells everyone who sees him that he’s really a woman at heart. If one of those Indian bucks ever once shows any lack of bravery, out he goes from the tribe. His whole family goes with him. They’re shunned for life. I’m not sure what the old tribe would do to him if he refused to wear that petticoat; but whatever it is, he’s scared enough that he wears it.

The Indian is paddling this way, said Schotzy. I do believe he’s stopping here. I’ll run and tell Minnie. He turned to Herr Mummaw and added, There was an old man on the ship who died and left his stuff to her. It may be that the Indian could use some scissors or needles and thread. She has lots of different colored thread. Ya, and she has knives, too.

After Schotzy left, Abner explained to Herr Mummaw what Schotzy was talking about. Minnie is my cousin, and she’s an orphan. Her stepfather made her work for a powwower* named Herr Flickinger. He cut off a lock of her hair; and after that, he had power over her. At least that’s what she believed. He wanted her to be bound out to him. Minnie did not want that because she was afraid of him. Jake Altland is my cousin and Minnie’s cousin, too. He rescued her.

That’s something how all of youse came here together, said Herr Mummaw. Were you planning the trip for a long time?

Ach*, no. The troubles happened all of the sudden, and then Minnie joined us on the day we had to leave. Her mother had just died so Cousin Jake brought her to our place. Then when Old Flick found out that she was going to Pennsylvania, he decided to follow. He found her and all of us just before we got on the ship. Just thinking about him made Abner shiver. He was greistlich* to look at and mean. Old Flick hexed* the men who tried to protect Minnie. I never did believe anyone could put an evil spell on anyone, but those men really got sick quick-like. But when my grandpa prayed, they got well again quick-like. Old Flick got mad when he saw that Grandpa’s prayers were more powerful than his spells. He cursed us all and then fell over. He never did get over it and died a few days later. He left Minnie everything he had brought along.

My wife believes in powwowing*, but I think it’s a lot of hogwash, said Herr Mummaw.

Abner smiled in remembrance. That’s the way it was with my Grandma and Grandpa. He fussed her when she went for the powwower. Grandma didn’t come along with us ’cause she died just before we left home. Abner did not notice that for the first time when he talked about his grandmother, he did not have to cry.

Abner and Herr Mummaw watched the old Indian pull up to the bank and get out of his canoe. He was tall with reddish-brown skin, high cheek-bones, a big nose, and most of his teeth. Abner’s dog, Pearl, barked as Abner stared at the man dressed in a petticoat. Hush dog, he said as he thought, Poor man, I wonder what he did to deserve such punishment.

The Indian pulled out a beaver pelt and showed it to Herr Mummaw. I never saw a beaver skin up close before. It’s beautiful, thought Abner. It looks so soft I would just love to stroke it and wrap it around myself. However, he just watched and didn’t say anything. Herr Mummaw nodded and motioned for the Indian to wait. He nodded, rubbed his belly, and pointed to his mouth.

Herr Mummaw nodded and said, I’ll go tell Frau Mummaw to bring something good down here for him to eat. He’ll be more willing to trade when his belly is full.

Since the Indian looked old and tired, Abner motioned for him to sit on a log that had been sawed some on one side. He nodded and sat. Abner smiled and said, pointing to himself, Me, Abner.

The Indian pointed to himself and said something that Abner didn’t understand. Then he added, Running Rabbit.

Nice to meet you, Herr Running Rabbit. I like your country. Abner swept his arm in an arc and added, It’s pretty around here. The Indian grunted, and Abner said no more.

Pearl barked again. Come, girl, said Abner, patting his hip. Now sit. She eyed the Indian and did as she was told. Good girl, he said as he patted her head. The Indian reached out and patted the dog, too, at which she got excited and licked his hand. Running Rabbit said something else that Abner did not understand, but it seemed as if he said she was a nice dog.

Abner nodded and the Indian looked pleased. Just then he heard Schotzy’s dog and saw him coming back followed by Minnie. Her hands were full of samples of everything that had belonged to Herr Flickinger. Herr Mummaw followed her. Frau Mummaw was last with a large plate of food. That looks good, Abner said as the Indian reached into the plate and picked up a large hunk of roast venison. He chewed on it awhile and then bit off a mouthful of bread.

When Herr Mummaw saw Minnie, he frowned and said, Girl, you stand back. You better would give me that stuff and go back to the house. That Indian will not deal with you. Indians do not deal with women, much less girls.

Minnie frowned and then handed her trade goods to Herr Mummaw, but she did not leave. Running Rabbit finished eating, looked at what Herr Mummaw had in his hands, and then pointed to Abner’s dog.

He’s not having my Pearl, Abner objected. "No, not ever! I can understand why he’d want my dog, but she’s mine and I’m keeping her. But tell him that next spring after she has pups maybe he can have one