Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation Read Online Free PDF

day of the accident. "I wanna see for myself."
    ^B "I'll be fine, Abram. Honest."
    ^M I le persisted till she had no choice but to show him her
    ^Bunded thumb, now as purple and green as springtime wild flow-
    ^H He peered at it, pushing his bifocals down farther on his nose.
    nim, this looks awful bad to me."
    P^ "I daresay it'll get better right quick." She wanted to stave off
    .my insistence she go to a doctor.
    "You can say all ya want, Lizzie, but, truth is, this here thumb's jUtinna need to be rebroken and set correctly." He waited while she Kvrapped it up again. "I'll be takin' ya over to see Dr. Schwartz the ifninute you're dressed for the day."
    I "Ach, Abram. That ain't necessary at all." She would stand her [ground to get her way if it took that. She was a strong woman, after gull, with no need for doctor visits and suchlike. Mercys sake!
    "Well, I don't know what's come over you, but I'm takin' you,
    lil.c it or not."
    You 'II have to carry me to the buggy, then, she thought, unconlously locking her knees. "I'll think on it," she mumbled.
    With a huff about how "awful stubborn this one is," her hus-
    li.md left the room. Lizzie could hear his needlessly heavy footsteps
    mi the stairs, and she breathed a great sigh of relief.
    37-ff--U"t,
    BW Hy do ya s'pose we don't practice bundling anymore?" Lydiann Bdlu-cl Leah clear out of the blue while they were scrubbing potatoes Brt|',fi Her outdoors, near the well.
    I I ,eah took what she hoped was an inconspicuous breath and willed herself not to reply too hastily to her girl's curiosity. BWIiere'd you ever hear this?" I "Oh, just one of Jake's letters."
    I "Well, do you know how bed courtship first got started?" H "I think so." Lydiann went on to explain what she knew how Hie early colonists lifted in unheated farmhouses, so when a young %an came to visit his girl, they simply spent time in her bedroom. 'Tor practical reasons."
    Leah nodded. "From what I know of this old custom, the couple would lie down on the made bed, fully clothed, and a bundling hoard was fixed between them as they talked and sometimes held hands late into the night. Later it became a time for the young lady tto display her pretty handmade quilts and pillow coverings, as well. least, that's how it was amongst our ancestors." I "A sort of getting-acquainted time?"
    I' "Jah, with much talkin' expected between the twosome." She idn't say what was not supposed to happen. No need at the moment H> have another talk about the birds and the bees.
    38.
    "Jake says there are certain Ohio groups that still practice the custom." Lydiann looked rather embarrassed. "And . . . well, I best not be sayin' all that Jake knows."
    Leah felt suddenly nervous, if not ill, at the thought of this sort of private talk being initiated by Jake; the possibility of his return made it all the more concerning.
    "A friend of Jake's says there are some couples that get downright snug as a bug in a rug." Lydiann seemed unable to leave well enough alone. "They slip under the quilts "
    "Lyddie," Leah interrupted. "I daresay 'tis best to turn our attention to other things now."
    Lydiann's head bowed. "Sorry, Mamma."
    "You surely know there's a time and a place for all things," Leah was quick to add.
    "Jah . . . the wedding night, ain't so?" Lydiann wore a fine, sweet smile now.
    Wiping her wet hand on her apron, Leah slipped her arm around Lyddie. "You've got plenty of time for smoochin' and whatnot. All good things come to those who wait."
    Lydiann looked up at her. "Willj/ow ever marry?"
    "That's up to the Lord, dear one." She suspected Lydiann had heard enough about Jonas from Sadie, years ago, that her girl would be curious now, although the recent church members' meeting was never to be discussed with folk not yet baptized. Without knowing what Jonas looked like, Lydiann would not have known Jonas Mast was present with the People last Sunday except for Jake and the incessant grapevine, of course. Such news was hard to squelch.
    "I