water on their crops and gardens or they would dry up and be lost. The entire property was lovely to see. Adam had planted trees and had kept some of the fruit tress that were already on the property.
They had a stream running along the back of their property and a place not far away that held fish. Adam’s friends joined him occasionally for fishing and a picnic.
Charity decided to invite some close friends to fish and picnic on their property. One sweltering Mittrodawk, (Wed.) four girls joined her walking to the water. Christine Zook, Rosemary Raber, Bonnie Lehman and Nadine Lapp with Charity made up a group of five. They happily walked along talking of people they knew, of couples planning weddings, new babies expected and daily living on their farms. They carefully went around the bee hives that Adam kept.
Christine giggled, “Charity, do you wish for a buwe (boy) or a maedel (girl)?”
“Adam and I have discussed it and we’ve decided that we don’t care as long as the boppli is healthy. We don’t want to stop with just one kinner.”
Reaching the water, they paused to admire the clear reflection of the water glimmering like a jewel as it reflected the azure sky and willow trees along the bank.
“Oh,” Rosemary giggled, “I don’t know about the rest of you but we’re only girls here and I’m going to take off my shoes and socks and wade in the shallow end.” Rosemary was published and planning on being married in Oktobar. She knew that once she was married she must act like a grown woman. She intended to enjoy the few months left.
“Rosemary!” Nadine as the oldest scolded, “You would have to pull up your dress and show your legs.” As a teacher in an Amish school, she felt she should set a good example.
“Poo with that. I’m going to join her,” Bonnie laughed. “Come on. Don’t be a snickelpuss (spoil sport).” As the youngest she was the most daring.
Nadine sat on the bank. “This is just too beautiful to disturb the water. I love looking at it and feeling the peace it brings.”
Christine was timid by nature, but was easily led to join them in the cool water on such a hot day. She hesitated on the bank.
Charity hurriedly removed her shoes and socks and, pulling her dress to her knees, waded into the water. “Oooh, it feels so good. Come on all of you.”
She laughed and kicked one foot out to spray the water toward Nadine on the bank. Soon all five girls were in the water, giggling and threatening to get each other wet.
They were enjoying the cool water on such a hot day that they didn’t hear Amos Snader and Moses Yoder walk to the water’s edge. The girls jumped in shock and guilt when Moses, in his deep voice, yelled out.
“Have you forgotten who you are and where you are? You should be ashamed to be in public showing your limbs. Get out of there right now and make yourselves decent. Your parents will be so ashamed when they hear of this.”
The girls hurriedly came out of the water, dropped their dress to the ankles and put on socks and shoes. None of them looked in the face of the men.
Charity was boiling, but was too polite to say anything to the men. Amish women were taught to not speak up and to allow the men to make decisions.
This couldn’t keep her from thinking. This is my property and you are trespassing. Go away and leave us alone. She was a little angry that she dare not voice her feelings. The men left shaking their heads.
After the men were out of the range of the girls’ voices, Rosemary stamped her small foot. “How dare they! Charity this is YOUR property and they had no business telling us what to do.”
“Well,” Nadine huffed, “who is going to tell them so?”
“Not me,” Bonnie said through tight lips. “It makes me so mad that the men, all the men, think they can rule over all us women. One of these days we’ll have the right to speak for ourselves and do as we please as long as it is on private property and we’re hurting no one. We had no idea a man would be cutting across your property, Charity. And they sneaked up on us.”
“We were showing our limbs and knew better than to lift our skirts,” Christine timidly stated. They ignored her.
“Do either of you feel like eating now?” Charity asked.
They shook their kobbs (heads), picked up the basket of food and started trudging back to Charity’s house.
Charity felt as if she had a stone in her stomach when she saw Adam waiting for them, his fists on his hips and glaring angrily. She resented his attitude but dare not challenge him.
“Charity, get in the house. I think it’s time you girls went home,” Adam glared at them. The four girls silently hugged Charity and whispered encouragement, then walked quickly off. Charity had all she could take.
“Adam. We did nothing wrong. It was just us five girls and the two men cut across our property. It was none of their business what we were doing. We didn’t even get to eat our picnic lunch.”
“It was embarrassing to me for the men to come tell me what my wife, my pregnant wife, was doing showing her legs. I need to finish hoeing the weeds and then I’ll be in. For nachtesse,” he stated firmly.
Charity stomped into the house determined to have a frank talk with her husband. She sure could use a hug now.
Adam came wordlessly into the house just at dusk. He washed his hands, sat at the table and they bowed their heads for silent prayer (Matthew 6:6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray. Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.)
They think this means to pray silently and not try to impress others.
Adam stopped and said nothing, but he looked at Charity with a questioning expression.
“This is our supper. The men kept us from eating our lunch and I didn’t want the food to go to waste.” Adam nodded and began to eat the ham sandwiches placing lettuce, mustard and tomato on it. Deviled eggs, fresh canned pickles, potato cakes and apple pie made up the rest of the meal.
After they had eaten they again bowed in silent prayer. (Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God.)
Adam scooted his chair back, placed his right ankle on his left knee and stared at Charity. She couldn’t take it.
“Adam, I don’t know why you’re so mad. We did nothing wrong. In the first place, I was on my own property. We only had the dress lifted to the knees and the lower leg was in the water. They need to keep their naas (nose) out of my business.”
Adam’s eyebrows went up because Amish women did not show such emotion. He put it down to her pregnancy.
Charity continued, “The way those men acted, you would have thought dunner (thunder) and wedderleech (lightning) was being brought because of us. I’ll admit, my hochmut (pride) was hurt, and -- yes, I know I shouldn’t feel that way. We were not being nexnutzich (naughty); just cooling off and having a good time together. We were not acting in geeheemnis (secret); we were in the open on our own property.” She stopped to catch her breath and to take a deep breath to keep from crying.
