AFTER THE HARVEST AND after the slaughtering was over, the German church had a celebration of sorts at the Bruntrüllsens. It was to be a day of fellowship, food, games, and the sharing of bounty.
Norvald asked Jan to help him organize races for the young folk, and Jan threw himself into it wholeheartedly. Norvald could not have picked a better helper, for Jan brought humor and good-natured sportsmanship into the games.
The children and young adults had not had such fun in many months. They competed in running races, three-legged races, relays, and gunnysack races. Jan and Norvald recruited some of the young men to coach the smaller boys and then compete in team races. Four teams, with members of all ages, would race.
“You young men,” Jan counseled them, “are role models for these little ones, ja? Help them along and give them good advice. Make this a fun time and see what a sparkle you put in their eyes!”
The teams went off to a great “Hurrah!” and cheers from the crowd of onlookers. The young men of one team threw their smallest teammates atop their shoulders and ran the circuit for all they were worth. The little boys riding on their shoulders bounced and laughed. Jan chuckled at their ingenuity and then laughed until he had to hold his sides.
This team was easily on its way to victory—until one of their leaders tripped. Both he and the teammate atop his shoulders tumbled to the ground, inadvertently tripping up two other runners, who caused a fourth to also stumble.
The runners got up laughing and clapping each other on the back. At the end of the race, every young man hoisted a little boy to his shoulders and carried him off the field to the shouts and cheers of the onlookers.
Tomas Veicht gave Jan his hearty approval. “These kinder were in sore need of a day of pleasure, Herr Thoresen,” he told Jan through Norvald. “And so were all of us. We have worked hard this year. And do not the Scriptures say a merry heart doeth good like a medicine? This is a good day!”
At that moment they saw Adolphe speaking to his sons, Ernst and Frank. They had been two of the young men to carry their little teammates off the field. Adolphe gestured toward the field where the games were held and shook his head, then pointed toward the barn. The boys, with a weary slump to their shoulders, trudged off to perform some chore for Norvald.
Jan happened to glance at Tomas just then and saw sadness in the old minister’s eyes. Norvald cleared his throat uneasily.
Jan looked back to Adolphe, wondering again what caused this man to have such a sour outlook on life. He was startled to see Adolphe staring back at him, his face set in grim lines of disapproval.
After the games, the women set out a feast on long tables in the yard. Everyone was to eat their fill of fried chicken, glazed ham, and roasted beef, antelope, and duck; mountains of creamy mashed potatoes and turnips running with thick gravies; flakey homemade biscuits, jams, and jellies; and vegetables of every variety.
The congregation slaked their thirst with cool ciders, sweet teas, and a fruity punch provided by Inge Bruntrüllsen. Another whole table was set aside for apple, cherry, berry, and peach pies and strudels and cakes of many flavors.
When all the women and children were seated, the men remained standing by their chairs. Tomas and the elders led the congregation in prayer.
“Lord God, we thank you for your bounty. Today we celebrate your goodness to us in this harvest. We thank you for the health of our brothers and sisters and their families. We thank you for fun and laughter, for your word teaches us
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose
under the heaven:
A time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up
that which is planted
A time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance . . .
And also that every man
should eat and drink,
and enjoy the good
of all his labour,
it is the gift of God.
“Father, we have planted and harvested, and today, Lord, we laugh and eat and drink and enjoy the good of our labor, your gifts to us.”
“Amen!” the men roared, and the people set to the food with a will.
Such a good day, Lord, Jan thought, patting Elli’s hand and smiling at those sitting near him. The young men of the church in particular grinned across the tables at Jan.
After the feast, families brought out whatever bounty they wished to share. This was a time of bartering and selling and sometimes gifting extra foodstuffs to other families in the church.
Karl and Jan brought late weaners to barter or sell. Others brought chicks and calves or late produce from their gardens.
One farmer, a bachelor, kept bees. He traded his honey for ham, bacon, sausages, chickens, and canned fruits and vegetables. Amalie and Elli were excited to barter a ham for a precious half-dozen jars of honey.
Whoever was knowledgeable of a need within the community—such as a family experiencing a hard time—shared that knowledge with Tomas and the church elders. They quietly made known the need to the church. What was given to meet those needs was set aside. Before the end of the day, Tomas or one of the elders would ask a congregation member who lived near the family in need to deliver the gifts.
—
WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED frosty, Karl and Amalie moved from the soddy. The move was accomplished one afternoon without too much effort. Elli peeked into the kitchen. Jan had almost finished reassembling her stove! Her beautiful kitchen would at last be complete.
Elli and Amalie prepared the evening meal companionably as Karl and Jan carried in the long table and benches from the soddy. After dinner Elli unpacked and ironed a pretty blue cloth and covered the table with it. She smiled. It was ready for breakfast in the morning.
Together Elli and Amalie got the children settled for the night. Sigrün was delighted to be sharing a room with Kristen, but Little Karl and Arnie were not so sure about sleeping in a room by themselves for the first time in their young lives!
The women both collapsed in the warm living room, content to sip a quiet cup of tea before climbing the stairs to bed themselves. Their men were still rumbling about in the barn, but would soon seek their rest, too.
The next morning Elli busied herself getting breakfast; Amalie packed the lunch the men and Søren would need as they went to the river to gather rock for the foundation of Karl and Amalie’s house. Jan and Karl were taking advantage of a two-day window before they planned to butcher the hogs.
After the men finished with the milking, the families gathered for breakfast. Karl placed his family Bible on the breakfast table and automatically bowed his head and prayed aloud.
Jan sat blinking during the prayer. When Karl finished, Jan glanced at Elli. She was serving Kristen’s plate, but Jan could tell that she was avoiding his eyes.
Lord, Jan prayed silently. Isn’t this my house? Help me to be gracious while Karl and Amalie are here. But also, help me to assert myself in a way that pleases you.
When the meal was finished, Karl stretched his hand to his Bible. “Excuse me, Karl,” Jan said quietly. “If you please, I will read aloud this morning. Would you lead us in prayer when we finish?” He opened his Bible. “We are in Romans, chapter 2.”
He stared as mildly as he could muster at Karl. Karl’s mouth was open and then he shut it and frowned. “I always read, Jan,” he replied, somewhat testy.
Elli and Amalie did not look at either Karl or Jan. They knew how contentious things had been between the brothers in the not-too-distant past.
“Ja, I know, Bror,” Jan answered, careful of his words and tone. “But as this is my home, I have been reading for my wife and children. I would like to continue doing so. Perhaps we can take turns.” He cleared his throat. “So. Let us begin.”
He finished the chapter and closed their Bible. “Karl, would you like to pray for us?”
Later that day Karl and Jan were loading rocks into a wagon. Søren was downstream from them some ways. Jan could sense that Karl was disturbed. He hoped Karl would say something so that the tension would be relieved, but Karl was not a man of many words. Jan wondered if he should say something.
“Jan, I have been thinking about what happened at breakfast this morning,” Karl finally ventured.
“Ja, I have been, also,” Jan admitted.
Karl faced him. “You were disrespectful of me in front of my wife and children.” Now that he’d said it, his face reddened.
Jan carefully considered his response. “Brother, I said no disrespectful words. I used no disrespectful tone. I would ask you to look at the situation from where I am, please. You sat down to eat in my home this morning, nei? Did you consider that?”
Karl frowned more, and Jan hoped he was thinking on what he’d said. Instead, he repeated himself. “I still think you disrespected me in front of my family.”
“Nei, brother, I did not mean to. But we spoke of this a few years ago, of you treating me as an equal, eh? Perhaps you can understand that, in my house, I might feel you disrespected me? Did you not presume to lead us without thinking? This is the very thing that has caused strife between us in the past.”
“Truly,” Jan said, placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder, “I do not want strife between us ever again. So, let us be clear with each other when we trespass, ja? Otherwise, the anger festers.”
Karl considered what Jan asked for several minutes without speaking. “I am not sure I agree with you, Jan. I will pray on it.”
Jan nodded. “Thank you, Karl.”
~~**~~