perhaps one of the sisters will take pity on us and bring us a bit of sustenance out of the regular time. If so, you will be expected to eat whatever is offered.”
“You’ll have no worries there.”
“First we must tend to the horses. Then we’ll visit the bathhouse and get you some proper clothes before we take you to Elder Homer. He is in charge of the Gathering Order.” He pulled the horses to a stop in front of a barn and waited while Isaac climbed down to open the doors.
“Where is everybody?” Isaac looked around while Asa guided the horses inside the barn. Isaac left the doors open to the fading light and went to hold the horses while the Shaker man climbed down from the wagon. “All in bed already?”
“Nay. The retiring bell rings at nine o’clock. Now the brothers and sisters are gathered in each family house for worship practice.”
“Practice?” Isaac looked across the back of the horses at the Shaker man who was unhooking the harness. “You practice worship? I thought that just happened.”
“We labor the worship dances in good order and the steps must be practiced. Plus there are new songs to learn. This is Tuesday, so the families spend time in worship and practice. If you listen well, you might hear their music.”
Isaac stood still and listened. He could hear nothing but the horses making anxious noises for their supper and the bugs and tree frogs beginning their night songs. A clear evidence of spring, along with the fresh smell of the evening air rising up off the new pasture grass. When he left the McElroys’ farm, he never thought he would miss the country, but he wasn’t sorry to have the sounds of country in his ears again.
“I don’t hear any music,” he said after a moment.
“Oh well,” Brother Asa said. “Perhaps it is only an echo I hear in my heart. Not any real sounds coming down from the upper rooms of the family houses. You will hear the songs soon enough.”
They brushed the horses down, led them to the watering trough, and fed them grain. Brother Asa talked to them softly as he worked. At last, as once more the moon had risen to give them light, they led the animals out to a pasture.
“It’s a warm night. They will be glad to be in the open.” Brother Asa looked over at Isaac. “You have a nice touch with the animals. Perhaps that is another gift that will stand you in good stead here among the Believers.”
“I’ll do whatever you say.”
“The elders and eldresses of each family decide the duties with guidance from the Ministry. But have no worries. The work duties are rotated so no one brother is stuck in a tedious and unwelcome task overlong.”
“Family? I thought there were no families.” Isaac frowned.
“Not as families of the world. Families of Believers. It may sound odd to you now, but it will become simple in time.” Brother Asa put his hand on Isaac’s shoulder. “Come, let us go wash the dirt of the world off our bodies. There is still much to do before we can lay our heads down on a pillow this night. And I admit my energy is ebbing.”
Isaac followed the little man along the pathway past some smaller buildings that were closed and shuttered for the night. As they came near an impressive brick building rising three stories high and with many windows indicating a number of rooms, Isaac heard the singing Brother Asa had asked him to listen for when they were at the barn. The music of many voices spilled out the open windows on the upper floor of the building, along with the flickering light of lamps or candles.
“I hear the singing now,” he said.
“Yea, a fine sound.” Brother Asa stopped in the pathway and looked up. “The sound of home.”
It didn’t sound like home to Isaac. It just sounded odd. Very odd. But oddness he was ready to embrace in order to stop the growl in his stomach. And to keep away from the gallows.
8
The minute she set eyes on the two men, Lacey knew there was something unusual about them. It was
“You’ll have no worries there.”
“First we must tend to the horses. Then we’ll visit the bathhouse and get you some proper clothes before we take you to Elder Homer. He is in charge of the Gathering Order.” He pulled the horses to a stop in front of a barn and waited while Isaac climbed down to open the doors.
“Where is everybody?” Isaac looked around while Asa guided the horses inside the barn. Isaac left the doors open to the fading light and went to hold the horses while the Shaker man climbed down from the wagon. “All in bed already?”
“Nay. The retiring bell rings at nine o’clock. Now the brothers and sisters are gathered in each family house for worship practice.”
“Practice?” Isaac looked across the back of the horses at the Shaker man who was unhooking the harness. “You practice worship? I thought that just happened.”
“We labor the worship dances in good order and the steps must be practiced. Plus there are new songs to learn. This is Tuesday, so the families spend time in worship and practice. If you listen well, you might hear their music.”
Isaac stood still and listened. He could hear nothing but the horses making anxious noises for their supper and the bugs and tree frogs beginning their night songs. A clear evidence of spring, along with the fresh smell of the evening air rising up off the new pasture grass. When he left the McElroys’ farm, he never thought he would miss the country, but he wasn’t sorry to have the sounds of country in his ears again.
“I don’t hear any music,” he said after a moment.
“Oh well,” Brother Asa said. “Perhaps it is only an echo I hear in my heart. Not any real sounds coming down from the upper rooms of the family houses. You will hear the songs soon enough.”
They brushed the horses down, led them to the watering trough, and fed them grain. Brother Asa talked to them softly as he worked. At last, as once more the moon had risen to give them light, they led the animals out to a pasture.
“It’s a warm night. They will be glad to be in the open.” Brother Asa looked over at Isaac. “You have a nice touch with the animals. Perhaps that is another gift that will stand you in good stead here among the Believers.”
“I’ll do whatever you say.”
“The elders and eldresses of each family decide the duties with guidance from the Ministry. But have no worries. The work duties are rotated so no one brother is stuck in a tedious and unwelcome task overlong.”
“Family? I thought there were no families.” Isaac frowned.
“Not as families of the world. Families of Believers. It may sound odd to you now, but it will become simple in time.” Brother Asa put his hand on Isaac’s shoulder. “Come, let us go wash the dirt of the world off our bodies. There is still much to do before we can lay our heads down on a pillow this night. And I admit my energy is ebbing.”
Isaac followed the little man along the pathway past some smaller buildings that were closed and shuttered for the night. As they came near an impressive brick building rising three stories high and with many windows indicating a number of rooms, Isaac heard the singing Brother Asa had asked him to listen for when they were at the barn. The music of many voices spilled out the open windows on the upper floor of the building, along with the flickering light of lamps or candles.
“I hear the singing now,” he said.
“Yea, a fine sound.” Brother Asa stopped in the pathway and looked up. “The sound of home.”
It didn’t sound like home to Isaac. It just sounded odd. Very odd. But oddness he was ready to embrace in order to stop the growl in his stomach. And to keep away from the gallows.
8
The minute she set eyes on the two men, Lacey knew there was something unusual about them. It was
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