Amish Faithful

By Phyllis Rogers

Two tales in the Amish genre.
The Cradle - Hannah seemingly has it all with her loving husband Samuel and a newborn on the way. But adversity soon hits as a drought in their Amish community puts a damper on their finances and their marriage. When Hannah's father suddenly dies, she realizes just how much he meant to her, but she's also forever grateful for everything he taught her in life. She then watches as Samuel struggles with the concept of what it means to be a good husband and father as they struggle through problems in their Amish life with a new baby on the way...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201082178

Book preview

AMISH FAITHFUL

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PHYLLIS ROGERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMISH FAITHFUL

A PROPER AMISH MAN

THE CRADLE

The scent of white oak filled the tiny wood shed Samuel Fisher worked in. It was a pleasant herbal-like aroma with nutty overtones. He hand-cut each piece of wood and smoothed them with a wood planer his father and grandfather used before him. He used a lathe to form the spindles, which he fit into the sides of the cradle, one by one.

Samuel took off his black straw hat and wiped the sweat off of his head and face. It had been a grueling two months. It seemed as though the drought had settled and was there to stay. The farm work had become arduous, and between the long days of working in the fields with the blistering heat and taking care of his beloved wife, Hannah, the young man sometimes was overwhelmed. He paused and sighed, concerned. Hannah’s pregnancy had proved to be a difficult one. It was the hottest summer on record.

The lack of air conditioning offered little respite for one in such a state. Hannah had lost their first child at only two months. She was much further along this time, and the doctor monitored Hannah and the baby carefully. He told her constantly to take it easy. Thankfully, Hannah’s mother, Sarah, was able to help. She and Hannah’s father, Jacob, were nearby in the main house, while Samuel and Hannah lived in the smaller cottage which had been built a few feet from the back door.

Samuel returned his attention to the wood. He had cut a white oak tree at the far side of the farm, which spanned seventy-five acres. The graying white bark had V-shaped patches and ridges. The characteristics of the wood blended well with the simple furniture he and his forebears had constructed.

Samuel intended the cradle as a surprise to Hannah. He devoted an hour each afternoon to working on the project and wanted it to be perfect.

There were times he questioned his competency as a husband and father. He had lost his own parents when he was young, and he wasn’t really taught what it was to be a man. Hannah’s father was the best example he had in that light. He deeply respected Hannah’s father as did all the local Amish folk, however, Samuel often felt as though he lived in Jacob’s shadow. Jacob seemed to do everything right. He was a loving pillar in their community and often thought of as a leader of sorts. Samuel wasn’t sure if he could ever be the man Jacob was.

The cradle was an offering of love and devotion to his wife and unborn child. Samuel sanded the wood down to a smooth, soft finish and laid it carefully on his work table until the next day’s work.

"Liebchen," Samuel whispered to Hannah as he went into their tiny cottage and kissed her on the forehead.

She was working on a quilt for the baby. The quilt had larger squares which had alternating white hearts at the centers, and every other square had smaller pastel squares sewn into an X shape. The colors used were yellow, blue, pink, and green. Whether Hannah had a baby girl or a baby boy, the quilt would be perfect. She placed the quilt she was piecing together on the table in front of her and turned her attention to Samuel.

"Mann. How did today go?" Hannah inquired.

The heat is slowing us down, Samuel admitted. All we can do is pray for rain and for fall to come quickly.

Yah, Hannah agreed.

Samuel washed up and helped Hannah to her feet as they made their way