The Shunning by Susan Joseph

left behind. The elderly man told him to make use of what he could, and to do what he wanted with the rest. The farm equipment included with the sale was in good condition and Samuel felt he was lucky. Some of the other things he found in the barn were buckets, and broken harness straps that he could use to mend other straps. There was even some wood that was protected with a tarp, and Samuel's eyes lit up with pleasure. He planned to do a lot of woodworking to help support himself and his family, when he had one. As he sorted the wood into piles according to size and type, he thought he heard a horse and buggy coming down the lane. He stepped outside the barn and learned he was right.
    It did not take Samuel long to recognize Sadie's father as his visitor, and he wondered how much trouble he was in for bringing Sadie home last night. He doubted the pretty redhead would tell her Dat that he took her over his knee, but if she did, he might be in even more trouble. He squared his shoulders and stepped forward to greet the man. " Gudermariye , Mr. Miller."
    " Gudermariye , Samuel. It is a fine day, ain't so?" he asked quietly.
    " Ja , it is. Would you care for some coffee? I have some already made in the haus."
    " Danki , that would be nice." Levi followed him inside the house and Samuel invited him to have a seat at the table. He quickly poured two mugs of coffee and then asked, "Do you take sugar or milk?"
    "No. Black is fine."
    Samuel nodded, trying to figure out what the man wanted. After he set the coffee on the table, he took out a package of cookies and opened them. "These aren't as good as the cookies the ladies in your family make, but I am not a cook."
    "They are fine," Levi said, helping himself. He waited until Samuel was seated to say, "My Sadie says you are to be baptized in May."
    "Yes, sir. Bishop Hershberger was kind enough to offer to instruct me privately, and he feels I am ready. My mamm raised me to understand the Ordnung and little has changed since my father took her away."
    "I remember your mamm . She was a nice young woman."
    "Did you know my father?" Samuel questioned.
    " Ja . He was restless during his rumspringa , but he seemed to settle when he started courting your mamm . The elders spoke with him on several occasions, but Melvin was stubborn and refused to accept the warnings were for his best interests."
    "That is what Mamm told me. She was heartbroken when he was shunned and he took her away. Her family shunned her from that point on and refused to speak with her or answer her letters. I know nothing of my aunts and uncles or cousins, or even if my grandparents still live. Mamm did nothing wrong, but my father took her away and she was shunned by her own family for his choices."
    "I have wondered why she did not return here and ask the community for help when your father died."
    "She feared she would not be welcomed, and she did not wish to be a burden on the community."
    "Shunning is a painful matter for all those involved."
    " Ja , it is."
    "I came to see if you need help with your spring work? Do you know how to plow your ground?" Levi asked curiously, wondering how the young man hoped to make the place work without any experience. He came to offer help and instruction if need be.
    "I worked on an Amish farm for a year, sir. I knew I needed to learn before I bought a place and settled here. I still have much to learn," he admitted with a grin.
    "You have been planning to come here for some time then?"
    "It has been my dream since I was sixteen or so. I never felt a part of the world I grew up in. Mamm worked very hard, and as soon as I was old enough to work, I did. When I lost her, I closed up the apartment we lived in, and I found an Amish farmer who was willing to take me on and teach me."
    "I am sure you found it much different to live plain...?" Levi said with a smile.
    "Living without worldly things has never been a problem. We had no radio or television in our home. We did have electric,