you would think me too childish and turn to someone else," she answered.
"I would not do that," he reassured her. "Were you sore long?" he asked.
She nodded. "It was a terrible punishment, but I realize why you felt it necessary," she said quietly. "You wanted to show me how important it is that I keep trust with the people who love me most. When I give my word and make a promise, I must be true to myself and keep that promise. I cannot let what I want take precedence over my promise to another."
"This is especially true for a husband and wife, Sadie. I did not enjoy inflicting pain and making you cry."
"I realized that, Samuel. The worst pain was in my heart... because I disappointed you... and Dat . I needed the punishment to let go of my guilt."
"Did it work?" he asked quietly.
" Ja . It worked very well. My feet were pleased when I could sit again for more than five minutes."
"Did your parents allow you a pillow to sit on at the table?" he wanted to know.
"No! I did not ask, Samuel. I feared you would not approve!" She looked at him in shock and dismay.
"I wouldn't have approved, but it is your Dat's and Mamm's home and I have no say over what happens there. I am glad you honored me by not asking, little one."
The call came for everyone to take their seats. The large barn was set up for services and the men and boys sat on one side, the women and girls on the other side. Sadie, and others who were to be baptized, met with the ministers in the house while the rest of the members sang songs from the Ausbund , the old Amish hymnal. The Bishop discussed another section from the Ordnung , making sure the young people understood, and smiled when all of them raised their hand when he asked if all of them were sure baptism into the Amish faith was their desire. He led them to the barn, where they took their seats, and then the preaching began.
Sadie sat with her Mamm and sisters. They'd kept a place for her, as did the families of the other young people. Samuel did his usual and sat with her Dat and brothers, making her smile. She was happy her Dat made room for Samuel as if he were already one of their family. More than anything it told her that her Dat was finding approval with Samuel.
Mary nudged her, frowning. Sadie knew she was going to have to have a serious talk with her sister. She did not like the way she was treating Samuel, and she especially did not like the anger that Mary harbored for him.
Finally the last sermon ended, and they sang the final hymn. Sadie went with her Mamm and Mary to help put out the rest of the food and to serve the men once they were seated. She was given the table where Samuel sat with some other young men, and she was happy to serve them iced tea. When the men finished eating, it was time for the women and children to eat. Sadie and Mary joined some of the other young women and the talk was of quilting and the mud sale that would be happening soon. Everyone was rushing to finish up quilts they hoped to sell then, knowing they would bring a good price at the quilt auction. By then tourists would be flooding the area, and store owners would be anxious to buy their Amish quilts for resale in their stores. Selling quilts was a big business and one way the women could contribute financially to their household. Sadie knew her Mamm had several quilts she hoped to sell; she'd worked on many of them with her over the winter, as had Mary. Hannah and little Katie were still learning to quilt and making smaller pieces, like pillows.
Sadie finished eating as quickly as she could without being rude to her friends, and then hurried off to find Samuel. She wanted to make sure he was planning to attend the singing that night.
Samuel was pleased when Sadie appeared in the doorway of the barn. He quickly went to offer her his arm and ask her if she wanted to take a walk. Sadie was pleased to have some time alone with him. It didn't matter that Mary was watching, anger in her eyes.
"Will your Dat
"I would not do that," he reassured her. "Were you sore long?" he asked.
She nodded. "It was a terrible punishment, but I realize why you felt it necessary," she said quietly. "You wanted to show me how important it is that I keep trust with the people who love me most. When I give my word and make a promise, I must be true to myself and keep that promise. I cannot let what I want take precedence over my promise to another."
"This is especially true for a husband and wife, Sadie. I did not enjoy inflicting pain and making you cry."
"I realized that, Samuel. The worst pain was in my heart... because I disappointed you... and Dat . I needed the punishment to let go of my guilt."
"Did it work?" he asked quietly.
" Ja . It worked very well. My feet were pleased when I could sit again for more than five minutes."
"Did your parents allow you a pillow to sit on at the table?" he wanted to know.
"No! I did not ask, Samuel. I feared you would not approve!" She looked at him in shock and dismay.
"I wouldn't have approved, but it is your Dat's and Mamm's home and I have no say over what happens there. I am glad you honored me by not asking, little one."
The call came for everyone to take their seats. The large barn was set up for services and the men and boys sat on one side, the women and girls on the other side. Sadie, and others who were to be baptized, met with the ministers in the house while the rest of the members sang songs from the Ausbund , the old Amish hymnal. The Bishop discussed another section from the Ordnung , making sure the young people understood, and smiled when all of them raised their hand when he asked if all of them were sure baptism into the Amish faith was their desire. He led them to the barn, where they took their seats, and then the preaching began.
Sadie sat with her Mamm and sisters. They'd kept a place for her, as did the families of the other young people. Samuel did his usual and sat with her Dat and brothers, making her smile. She was happy her Dat made room for Samuel as if he were already one of their family. More than anything it told her that her Dat was finding approval with Samuel.
Mary nudged her, frowning. Sadie knew she was going to have to have a serious talk with her sister. She did not like the way she was treating Samuel, and she especially did not like the anger that Mary harbored for him.
Finally the last sermon ended, and they sang the final hymn. Sadie went with her Mamm and Mary to help put out the rest of the food and to serve the men once they were seated. She was given the table where Samuel sat with some other young men, and she was happy to serve them iced tea. When the men finished eating, it was time for the women and children to eat. Sadie and Mary joined some of the other young women and the talk was of quilting and the mud sale that would be happening soon. Everyone was rushing to finish up quilts they hoped to sell then, knowing they would bring a good price at the quilt auction. By then tourists would be flooding the area, and store owners would be anxious to buy their Amish quilts for resale in their stores. Selling quilts was a big business and one way the women could contribute financially to their household. Sadie knew her Mamm had several quilts she hoped to sell; she'd worked on many of them with her over the winter, as had Mary. Hannah and little Katie were still learning to quilt and making smaller pieces, like pillows.
Sadie finished eating as quickly as she could without being rude to her friends, and then hurried off to find Samuel. She wanted to make sure he was planning to attend the singing that night.
Samuel was pleased when Sadie appeared in the doorway of the barn. He quickly went to offer her his arm and ask her if she wanted to take a walk. Sadie was pleased to have some time alone with him. It didn't matter that Mary was watching, anger in her eyes.
"Will your Dat
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