Read Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal for Free Online

Lord Jesus coming to earth In die to offer eternal life was precisely what Mamma had also hr I It"veil. Hearing Aunt Lizzie say that we can be saved and know it without falling into the sin of pride, that the "Good I look teaches this," Hannah wondered what Gid might think il he knew. And she worried if Gid and the brethren got wind i >l Lizzie's beliefs, that her newly ordained husband would feel obligated to speak about them to Bishop Bontrager.
    Could dear Aunt Lizzie be in danger of the shun? A cold kIliver flew up Hannah's back.
    Nearly as excited as the children had been at breakfast, I i-iih rode along in Dat's sleigh to Georgetown School after lunch. Sadie, too, had been invited to attend the Christmas piny, bift she'd awakened with sniffles and decided to stay home. Aunt Lizzie and Dawdi John had also been given I homemade invitations, but the children didn't expect Dawdi in make the effort to venture out on such a blustery day none of the family did. And Aunt Lizzie had felt she ought to
    8fay put in case Hannah went into early labor, as she had with the first two little ones. Fortunately, she was only a holler nway in the little log house.
    "Lydiann said she was awful nervous 'bout the play when
    1 look her and Abe to school this morning," Leah said as they rode along. \ ' '::
    45 46 ^ JO e d e r I u J~^ e w I s ; '
    Dat made his familiar grunt, which meant he'd heard but was somewhat preoccupied.
    "There'll be lots of parents on hand, I'm sure." She made yet another attempt to have conversation with her father, since they scarcely ever found themselves alone anymore.
    "I hope we won't be expected to sing the weltlich carols," Dat said, glancing at her.
    "Well, why not the more lighthearted ones?" She found this interesting.
    He kept his face forward just now, and Leah thought she saw the corners of his mouth twitch.
    "Dat? Did I speak out of turn?" ', . ,
    His chest rose at the question. "No . . . no, that's fine."
    She wished he'd talk about whatever was bothering him. Was he missing Mamma still, just as she was? Leah wouldn't be so bold as to bring up such a thing. All the same she wondered, though Mamma's home-going seemed a distant memory to her.
    "I'm sure Lydiann and Abe are havin' trouble keeping their minds on their schoolwork right now," she said.
    "They're prob'ly getting the schoolhouse ready, I'd guess."
    "Jah, puttin' up string across the room to hang up letters spelling out 'Merry Christmas to Everyone!'" she said, glad Dat was talking freely.
    He sighed. "Abe said he was mighty happy with the name he drew for Christmas."
    "I hope he didn't tell ya who." She had to smile at this. "Abe's quite the little man ... as thoughtful as any child I've known." : "But he speaks his mind when he wants to." ',' . ;', ;:
    She knew this was so. .. , . :.
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    I I tat kepi I he horse going at a steady pace just right for a
    Hi 11'I tnlk nn a snowy afternoon.
    I "Smile seems to be settling in here again, ain't so?" she
    Hi I'll, sticking her neck out a bit.
    H "I daresay she's missin' her husband something awful." Dat I Milked, bent his head low, and then continued. "She and I have Nomefhing in common for the first time."
    I.tmh hadn't thought of it quite like that. But Dat was i mill, Both he and Sadie shared a great sense of sorrow.
    l.ydiann took her seat as the teacher rang the bell on her >lenk, She couldn't keep a straight face, because Dat and Leah urre right here in this very room, sitting in the back with lots nl other folk parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, .it 111 hahies. It looked to her as if nearly all of Gobbler's Knob
    11,ul lurned out for the school play.
    I ler first-grade cousin, Essie Ebersol, stood at the front of i hi' loom and began to recite a poem. " 'Baby Jesus, meek and mild...'" *
    When Essie returned to her seat, Lydiann knew it was i ime for a group of older boys to perform their skit. Following i h:il, the boys sang "The First Noel" quite nicely, she