waved his hat and nodded that he understood. She quickly hitched a horse to a buggy and started off to work. Kyle Snyder would be in later to bring the horse back home so that he wouldn’t have to stand in the heat all day. Christine and Ruth Ann, the Zook twins, were coming in to help quilt. Lisa Kennedy had asked if she could just volunteer to do whatever Charity needed doing.
The work in the store and the demands were more than her little store could manage now. She was pleasantly surprised because she had never thought she would do this well.
Jacob and Joshua had been discussing the increase in her business. They had made plans to buy the land beside her and add a couple of rooms. Several English women had been in hoping to find clothing for themselves.
Charity was lost in thought as she worked. Jeremiah will be in school this fall and I would like to sell clothing to the English. Enough of them come in to shop and visit. I am grateful for their business, but I do need to expand. I have an idea I am going to discuss with daed.
That night, Jacob came to make his nightly visit and see if she needed anything. She was surprised when he was joined by Joshua. Her mamm, Jenna Mae, and mamm-in-law, Leah, soon came bringing pies and homemade cider.
Charity was mystified as to why they all came, but she knew it would be bad manners to ask.
After pie and coffee they all settled around the kitchen table for a second cup of coffee and to talk.
“Well, dochder, wie geht’s?” (Daughter, how are you?)
“I’m fine, danki.”
“Gut. We’d like to discuss something with you. Since you do not have a husband to take care of you, we are happy to do so. Joshua and I went ahead and purchased the acre next to your store. That old building on it will have to come down and we would like to add two or three rooms to your store. Your business is growing more than any of us realized it would. You will have to be hiring some help before long. Your quilting frame is up in the storeroom and is crowded. One of the rooms could be just for sewing. The quilting frame could be set up and left up and people could come in and sew.”
Charity was so engrossed in hearing her father’s voice, as he rarely talked that much at one time, that she barely took in what he was saying. She loved hearing his deep rumble.
Jenna Mae, Charity’s mother spoke up. “We are all willing to help you with Jeremiah and anything you need. We will be there to sew for you, too.”
“Nee. I could not ask you to do that. If you did sew, I would pay you like anyone else.” She realized what they were saying.
Her mother-in-law spoke. “Charity, it is a blessing to us to help you. I love to quilt and we have many women in the church who will be delighted to help quilt.”
“I know and you are one of the best quilters I have seen, but ---”
“But nothing,” Joshua spoke, “Jeremiah is my grandson, too and you are still my daughter-in-law. That makes you my child, too. I want to do what is best for you. At this time you need more room and Jacob and I are going to see that you get it.”
Charity knew they spoke the truth and she was touched and grateful that they wanted to help. Her independent streak came out and she declared, “I hate to be a burden forever on all of you. I need to take care of myself and provide for Jeremiah.”
“Adam would be so proud of you,” his mother, Leah, spoke with a smile. “We all are. You have worked hard to keep house, put out a garden, work in your store and take care of your precious gift from God, your son. We love you and want, no, we insist on helping you. It is not a burden to us.”
Her mother quickly agreed. “Several of the women in church have commented on you and their pride in you. There will be many willing hands when you get the frame up and quilters can gather around it in comfort.”
“I will think about it and I am grateful to everyone. I am glad you came tonight for I have been wanting to discuss something with you.”
She turned to Jacob. “Daed, do you have cousins in Indiana? I am especially interested in Shipshewana, Indiana.”
At that moment Matthew and Deborah walked in. Matthew laughed, “Mine schwesechder wants to go so far away from home when we are lucky to get her into the next town. What is up?”
“Your little sister knows what she is doing,” Charity laughed and went to hug her beloved brother and sister-in-law.”
“I was just telling everyone I want to go to Shipshewana to visit their big store where everything is sold. I would like to know how they manage, where they get their supplies, and ---- I am full of questions.” She laughed.
“I think it is a gut idea,” Matthew said smiling at Deborah.
“We will be glad to keep Jeremiah for you,” Deborah said hopefully. Everyone loved the little boy. Matthew and Deborah had not yet had children and they were anxious.
“That is so gut of you and I do appreciate it. I am not worried about Jeremiah because I know there are many of you to take care of him. I just hate to leave him. We have never been apart.”
“He will have a great time. I will teach him to use a bat and ball,” Matthew assured her.
The next day being a Sunday with no service meant visiting or working on hobbies. Charity was reading a children’s book with Jeremiah when she heard buggy wheels and the clop of a horse’s hooves. Jeremiah had learned to read quickly and didn’t want to give up his time with his mother whom he loved dearly and knew she loved him.
Charity was delighted to see Benjamin and Angela Lapp and their three boys. Jeremiah was delighted to see the boys and hurried outside to play with them.
Coffee was kept going in most Amish homes and Charity was no exception. She soon had coffee and pecan pie on the kitchen table where they sat to talk and relax.
They talked about Clint and Purity Kime expecting their first child and about the death of some older members. They spoke well of Moses Yoder as the Bishop and knew he was doing a good job.
Charity finally told them of her wish to go to Shipshewana and check out the big Yoder store there. They thought it was a great idea and offered to help any way they could while she was gone.
“Thank you so much, but I have a big family willing to help with the store, this farm and my precious son.” she laughed. “They will have their hands full with Jeremiah.”
At that moment the four boys ran in asking for cookies and lemonade. Angela poured drinks while Charity sat out three kinds of cookies; Amish walnut kisses, Whoopie cookies and Springerle. (The recipes for all of these can be found in Amish Dilemma)
The time passed too quickly and the Lapp family went home.
Charity took Jeremiah by the hand and walked across the field to her parents’ home. They were just returning home from visiting other families. Jenna Mae insisted on getting nachtesse for everyone, so Charity stayed to help her mother and share a supper meal with them.
She told her family of her plans. “I have decided to go the first week of September because school will have started and Jeremiah will be busy most of the time. Rosemary and the Zook twins have agreed to mind the store and Rosemary can bring
