Read Christmas at Harmony Hill for Free Online Page A

of discord between the two of them. Sister Edna had resented Jessamine’s lack of discipline while Sophrena had loved the young girl’s joyful enthusiasm for life. “She has been gone from us for fifteen years. Perhaps they have forgiven her leaving and are merely pleased she has found a place in the world writing stories.”
    “Foolishness. That’s what it is.” Sister Edna pushed her hand through the air in dismissal. “Naught but foolishness.”
    “Nevertheless, stories those of the world seem fond of, from all reports,” Sophrena said mildly. “Our former sister seems to do well in the world.”
    “No one does well in the world. Have you forgotten its evil actions and sorrow?” Sister Edna let out a disgusted huff. “Especially out there in the wild state of California. That is where she went, is it not?”
    “Yea, you are right, my sister.” Sophrena began lifting the biscuits off the pan to put into the baskets. Eight in each basket to be set in the middle of four sisters or four brethren so there would be no need for talk as they took care of the serious business of feeding their bodies.
    She could feel Sister Edna staring at her still, but she continued her task as she wished there was a rule against talking in the kitchen as well as the dining area. The bell would signal the morning meal soon, and while she might not be taking the proper joy in her work, she did intend to accomplish it as expected. She was relieved when Sister Edna blew out another disgusted breath and picked up a stack of plates to go set the tables.
    Was Sister Edna right? Were the letters she had received fromthose in the world upsetting her peace? Not the letters from Jessamine. They were always reason for joy. Just thinking about Jessamine brought a smile to Sophrena’s lips even in the midst of her malaise.
    On the other hand, the letters from her family in the world were reason for sadness. She had no idea why she had reached out to her worldly family after so many years of being the same as dead to them. The Believers were her family, and yet the desire had awakened in her to know what had become of her worldly family. In so doing, she opened her heart to grief. Her brother of the world’s daughter, Susan, wrote back to share her deep sadness over the loss of her son at Gettysburg.
    It would have been cruel to not respond to such an evident plea for someone to listen to her sorrow. For a year the letters had flown between them, with Sophrena coming to know the family through Susan’s words. The stress was there in their small family just as Mother Ann warned it would be, but something else was there too that pulled at Sophrena’s heart.
    Then a couple of months ago a letter had come in a different hand. That of Susan’s young daughter reporting the cholera had taken her mother and her youngest brother. Life was so fragile. It was good to be insulated here in the Shaker village. Yet, at the same time, Sophrena was beginning to wonder if there was more. She’d turned fifty before the coming of spring. She told herself it mattered not how old she was, but at the same time a strange desire arose in her to experience more of life. To know what it was to love as the world loved. As Susan and her family loved.
    Sophrena brushed her hand across her forehead as if she could wipe away such wayward thoughts. Why now, at her age, would the forbidden fruit suddenly look so tempting? And why with the season of joy coming upon them when they celebrated the birth of Christ?
    But first there would be Sacrifice Day, a day of atonement. Perhaps that would get her spirit back in order the way the use of abroom and a dusting brush could get a room back into fit shape for use. On that day, a leader from the New Lebanon village was expected to help them focus their prayers on righting their spirits and regaining unity with their Shaker brothers and sisters. Sacrifice Day could not come too soon for Sophrena.

7

    W hat’s the matter with you,