China visited our church one time and said he slept on the floor while he lived in the foreign country.” While Ruthie talked, she slipped off the apron, which she’d stained by spilling a bit of leftover tea from a cup left in one of the rooms, and retrieved a fresh one from the wardrobe. “I’d make a terrible missionary because I much prefer sleeping in a bed. Don’t you?”
“It’s your bed. I didn’t want to muck it up.”
Ruthie pulled the clean apron over her black dress and tied the strings behind her back. She smiled broadly, eager to put Dinah at ease. So taciturn, she was! “Don’t be silly. It’s our bed now.” Dinah didn’t speak a word. Her expression remained sour. Ruthie blew out a light breath and tried a different approach. “So where are you from, Dinah?”
For a brief moment, Dinah ducked her head, her forehead crinkling into rows as crooked as the ones Seth carved in Mama’s garden with a hoe. “Chicago.”
Ruthie squealed. “You came all the way from Chicago? Mr. Irwin said you’d arrive by train today, but he didn’t tell me you’d be coming from a big city. I’ve never even visited a big city. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
The furrows in Dinah’s forehead deepened.
Uneasiness squeezed the excitement from Ruthie’s chest. “B-but only if you want to.” Mercy, she’d never stammered in nervousness before. Not around strangers or customers or even bashful people. But something about this girl left her floundering. She forced another smile. “Well, I only came up to changemy apron. We’re to stay fresh and tidy at all times—I’m sure Mr. Irwin told you. Now that I’m presentable again, I’ll”—she eased toward the door—“get back to work.”
She paused with her hand on the knob, obliged to be friendly enough for two people since Dinah seemed lacking in cordiality. “It’s nearly lunchtime. I take my noon meal at the counter downstairs. If you join me there, I’ll introduce you to some of the other staff—the ones who aren’t busy serving in the dining room. They’ll have to wait until evening to get acquainted with you. Mr. Harvey wants us to become like family, so they’ll all be eager to meet you. Do you want to join me at lunchtime?”
An odd look flittered across the girl’s face—a mixture of longing and fear. She offered a hesitant nod.
“Good! I’ll see you in a bit, then. Enjoy your rest, Dinah.” Ruthie clicked the door closed behind her and headed for the stairs. An image of Dinah’s unsmiling face filled her memory. Oh, such a solemn girl. She might have a hard time living with this one. But hadn’t Papa taught her to never let someone else’s behavior dictate her own? She would do as the apostle Paul instructed the Colossians—she would put on mercy, kindness, meekness, and patience.
As she trotted down the stairs, holding her skirt high to keep from tripping, she consoled herself with the thought that Dinah was probably only tired from her trip—all the way from Chicago!—and feeling a bit out of place in her new surroundings. In a few days, they would be as comfortable together as she and Phoebe had been. Her smile returned. Of course they would.
Amos
Amos counted his money again, but the amount remained the same. He shifted his gaze from the carefully stacked coins on his table to the single window of his little house. The beautiful colors of the sunset had already faded from the sky, leaving a smudgy gray expanse in its place. He’d never liked this time of day—no sun shining but not yet any stars to blink overhead. The depressing view added to the memory of the hotel manager’s words brought a wave of defeat.
“Four dozen eggs a day? Mr. Ackerman, our kitchen staff requires three times that number on a daily basis. I’ll not deny your eggs seem of highest quality, but you can’t possibly meet our needs with such a small flock of chickens. Now, if you were to triple or even quadruple your flock, then I
“It’s your bed. I didn’t want to muck it up.”
Ruthie pulled the clean apron over her black dress and tied the strings behind her back. She smiled broadly, eager to put Dinah at ease. So taciturn, she was! “Don’t be silly. It’s our bed now.” Dinah didn’t speak a word. Her expression remained sour. Ruthie blew out a light breath and tried a different approach. “So where are you from, Dinah?”
For a brief moment, Dinah ducked her head, her forehead crinkling into rows as crooked as the ones Seth carved in Mama’s garden with a hoe. “Chicago.”
Ruthie squealed. “You came all the way from Chicago? Mr. Irwin said you’d arrive by train today, but he didn’t tell me you’d be coming from a big city. I’ve never even visited a big city. You’ll have to tell me all about it.”
The furrows in Dinah’s forehead deepened.
Uneasiness squeezed the excitement from Ruthie’s chest. “B-but only if you want to.” Mercy, she’d never stammered in nervousness before. Not around strangers or customers or even bashful people. But something about this girl left her floundering. She forced another smile. “Well, I only came up to changemy apron. We’re to stay fresh and tidy at all times—I’m sure Mr. Irwin told you. Now that I’m presentable again, I’ll”—she eased toward the door—“get back to work.”
She paused with her hand on the knob, obliged to be friendly enough for two people since Dinah seemed lacking in cordiality. “It’s nearly lunchtime. I take my noon meal at the counter downstairs. If you join me there, I’ll introduce you to some of the other staff—the ones who aren’t busy serving in the dining room. They’ll have to wait until evening to get acquainted with you. Mr. Harvey wants us to become like family, so they’ll all be eager to meet you. Do you want to join me at lunchtime?”
An odd look flittered across the girl’s face—a mixture of longing and fear. She offered a hesitant nod.
“Good! I’ll see you in a bit, then. Enjoy your rest, Dinah.” Ruthie clicked the door closed behind her and headed for the stairs. An image of Dinah’s unsmiling face filled her memory. Oh, such a solemn girl. She might have a hard time living with this one. But hadn’t Papa taught her to never let someone else’s behavior dictate her own? She would do as the apostle Paul instructed the Colossians—she would put on mercy, kindness, meekness, and patience.
As she trotted down the stairs, holding her skirt high to keep from tripping, she consoled herself with the thought that Dinah was probably only tired from her trip—all the way from Chicago!—and feeling a bit out of place in her new surroundings. In a few days, they would be as comfortable together as she and Phoebe had been. Her smile returned. Of course they would.
Amos
Amos counted his money again, but the amount remained the same. He shifted his gaze from the carefully stacked coins on his table to the single window of his little house. The beautiful colors of the sunset had already faded from the sky, leaving a smudgy gray expanse in its place. He’d never liked this time of day—no sun shining but not yet any stars to blink overhead. The depressing view added to the memory of the hotel manager’s words brought a wave of defeat.
“Four dozen eggs a day? Mr. Ackerman, our kitchen staff requires three times that number on a daily basis. I’ll not deny your eggs seem of highest quality, but you can’t possibly meet our needs with such a small flock of chickens. Now, if you were to triple or even quadruple your flock, then I
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