That night, Heidi had everything organized in her mind. After the children had been put to bed, she gave them special kisses and said goodnight while thinking goodbye. Then she sat by the fire with Derek, and when he went to bed, she told him she wouldn’t be far behind him.
As soon as her husband was up the stairs, she pulled out the diary from underneath the couch where she’d hidden it.
Please take me back, book, if you have some secret powers. What am I talking about? God has done this to show me the other road I could’ve taken. God, thank you for showing me what could’ve been. I’d like to go home now. Amen.
She found the part where she’d fallen asleep back in the apartment, covered herself in a blanket, took a last look around her home, and then settled back to read more of her grandmother’s adventures.
Today I was amazed to see a familiar face arrive at Aunt Elsie’s farm. It was Malachi Arnold. He’s always at our place and my parents think highly of him. Sally Anne seemed too pleased to see him and now she won’t stop talking about him. She wouldn’t stop talking to him and no one else could get a word out, and that annoyed me more than a little. She kept looking at him from under her eyelashes with her head tilted in a funny way. I’m sure she thought she looked adorable as she smiled at him. I hoped he didn’t think so. He didn’t seem to pay her any mind. No more than anyone else if you deduct all the time she was talking. I mean, he had to look at her when she was speaking. It would’ve been rude not to.
I heard her whisper to her mother, “He's so tall and handsome."
“He's too old for you, Sally Anne. He must be nearly thirty," Aunt Elsie told her.
"That's fine by me," replied Sally Anne. "With looks like that who cares how old he is?"
My instincts were right. Sally Anne likes him. I hope he doesn’t marry her and move away from our community. Mamm and Dat would be most upset if that happened. They enjoy having him to the house.
Now it is the next night and we had another of Mammi’s recipes. Mammi is Mamm’s and Aunt Elsie's mudder, but I’m sure Mamm doesn’t have all these recipes. I spooned into my mouth a dish called family beef potato pie. I helped her cook it. It was baked in a deep dish with layers of ground beef and chopped onion, mashed potato, and grated cheese, and then topped with loads more potato and baked until it was golden brown. It was really good! Aunt Elsie says she sometimes adds vegetables, too, such as peas and corn and carrots.
Family Beef and Potato Pie
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
¼ cup flour
2-3 cups beef broth or water
1 pound cheese, grated
5 pounds potatoes, boiled and mashed in advance
salt and pepper to taste
optional – peas, corn, lightly cooked chopped carrots, about 2 pounds total.
Cookware
Large frying pan
Large deep casserole dish
Method
Heat oven to 325 F
Brown beef and onion in frying pan, adding salt and pepper if desired.
Stir flour into juices in frying pan, mixing until smooth.
Add broth or water slowly, stirring constantly to make a thick gravy.
Layer into casserole as follows:
1/3 of the meat mixture
½ of vegetables (if using them)
½ of cheese
¼ of mashed potatoes
Repeat above layers, then all remaining meat.
Remaining mashed potatoes as top crust, covering to edges of the dish.
Bake until bubbling-hot throughout and top of mashed potatoes is browned. (About 1 hour).
Everyone gave thanks for the food before we ate and Aunt Elsie told Malachi that I made the food. She made it sound like I made it by myself and I could tell Sally Anne didn’t like what her mother said. Her face didn’t show she was annoyed, but I could feel it because the tension filled the air.
Again, Sally Anne tried to make me look silly. This is what she said, "Agnes was sent to learn to cook and sew, Malachi. Can you believe that at her age?" Then Sally Anne gave me a little smirk while Malachi finished chewing his mouthful.
"Don't worry, Sally Anne,” I said, “I’m a fast learner." Then I gave her a sweet smile to let her know she hadn’t upset me in front of everyone. I should’ve said something clever, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“Agnes’s mudder is a gut cook and don’t the dochders learn from their mudders?” Malachi asked.
“Jah, but she can’t do it.” Sally Anne laughed.
I felt I had to explain myself. “Amy, my schweschder, and Mamm get so involved they tend to leave me out, but with Amy getting married soon, Mamm will have time to show me everything.”
Malachi smiled at me. I think he felt sorry for me, the way I had to explain my lack of cooking skills in front of everyone at the table.
Sally Anne leaned over the table and touched Malachi lightly on his hand, in a desperate way. "Malachi, can I show you around the farm tomorrow?" Her voice irritated me, and she kept talking before he had a chance to respond. "We have milking cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, farm horses and we grow all our own fruit and vegetables."
My uncle said to her, "Sorry Sally Anne, Malachi is here just a few days, and he is riding with me to the high country tomorrow. I want his advice on some extra farm equipment I’m thinking of purchasing."
Sally Anne pouted.
Aunt Elsie said, "Before Malachi leaves, we’ll all go on horseback and have a picnic by the river."
I can say I was more than a little shocked that Aunt Elsie suggested to go horseback riding. My mudder would say that was worldly and like an Englisch sport. Then I remembered each community has a slightly different Ordnung. I would probably see and hear many things like this on my travels.
It cheered Sally Anne up when she heard about the picnic, because she announced loudly, "I will do all the cooking for the picnic."
"Nee," said her mother. "I want Agnes to do it."
With that, Sally Anne stood and left the room even before dessert and with food still on her plate. No one at the table said anything for a while. Everyone was shocked at her sudden departure. If she thinks Malachi would like someone who does things like that, she’s mistaken. She has a temper, she must have, to do something like that. I know she likes Malachi, and doesn’t like me, but I’ve done nothing to her. Perhaps she doesn’t like having visitors staying in the house. It seemed much like a small child's temper tantrum, and I thought I would not like to be Sally Anne later, when her father spoke to her about it.
I’ve been busy and tired, so I’ve missed writing for a couple of days. Now it is Thursday morning, and things have not improved with Sally Anne. I tried to be nice and then I gave up and now I altogether avoid her. Nothing I do or say pleases her and she’s always finding fault when I help with the cooking. I suppose that’s good because I need to learn what I’m doing wrong and I shouldn’t let her annoy me so.
Today is the day of the picnic. I am up and dressed very early. Yesterday, I helped Aunt Elsie with the food for the picnic. We made roast chickens, and cake, as well as some small apple pies. I hope today will be enjoyable. I’m not used to horseback riding, but I found out that around here they do it quite a bit. Aunt Elsie said after breakfast we’ll make sandwiches and then be on our way.
Now it is night time and the picnic was enjoyable. I have a sore bottom from riding the horse and sore lips from the dry wind. We must’ve been riding for two hours, and after our picnic it was another two hours back. The day was more about the riding than the picnic, I am guessing, otherwise, why go so far away for a picnic?
It was nice where we had the picnic. It was by a fast-running river, and we tied the horses up in the shade where they had lots of grass. Aunt Elsie spread out a large blanket and we all helped her place the food in the middle. Sally Anne deliberately waited until Malachi sat down and then she sat next to him. I sat on the edge of the blanket facing half away from everyone. Onkel Robert talked a lot about farming to Malachi and I wondered if he was talking so much so Sally Anne wouldn’t get a word in.
Sally Anne then came and sat beside me and asked me why I was so upset. She said it loud enough for everyone to hear. I insisted I wasn’t upset, I was merely enjoying Gott’s handiwork in the beauty surrounding us. She looked shocked at my response.
While we were there at the picnic, Aunt Elsie told me I’ll be leaving soon and be onto my next adventure. The next place is only twenty miles away. Onkel Robert is taking me halfway to meet the next people I’m staying with. I am to leave the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, Aunt Elsie said she has some more things to show me in the kitchen before I leave.
Sally Anne added that I have much more to learn and I smiled and thanked her and Aunt Elsie for showing me so many cooking skills and sharing so many lovely recipes.
We only just finished the food and Onkel Robert said we should head back. I wasn’t ready to leave because I just wanted to sit awhile. Maybe I’d been sitting incorrectly on the horse as no one else seemed to be troubled by a sore rear. I found more pleasure in sitting on the blanket than I had riding the horse and I wasn’t pleased to have another two hours of it on the way back. At least it’s over and I won’t have to do it again.
This is my last night at Aunt Elsie’s farm. After breakfast, Malachi came to say goodbye. He added he might see me again before I finally arrive home. I figured that meant he knew where I was going on my journey and he might be at one of the upcoming places too. After I said goodbye, I told him it was nice that he’d been there. He looked a little shocked that I said that, but I think he was also pleased. It was a little hard to tell.
Aunt Elsie sat me down at the kitchen table to give me advice on keeping a house. The first advice she gave me was to always bake enough bread. She said she’d give me more breadmaking practise that day and she did. Then she told me to always have cookies and cake on hand in case visitors stop by.
Before I went to bed tonight, she told me she’d loved having me here. She must really like me because she said it’s a pity we live so far from each other. Then she told me I learn fast and my parents will be pleased when she writes to tell them about my visit. Then she said something that shocked me. This is what she said, “I think Malachi has feelings for you. I see the way he looks at you.”
I shook my head. “We’re just friends,” I insisted. Secretly, I was pleased with what she said about Malachi. I’ve never had a man like me and I think I’m starting to like him. He’s quiet, but he’s thoughtful and kind.
I will write more after I arrive at Mr. and Mrs. Jemison’s place tomorrow.
Here I am at the Jemison’s horse-breeding farm in Youngstown and it’s very late at night. The home is another large log cabin type of home, and it is a family farm but mainly for horse breeding. There are two or three cows for milking and some chickens, a large vegetable garden and some apple trees. Mr. and Mrs. Jemison once lived in our community until they married and moved to this property years ago. It was left to Mr. Jemison by his uncle.
The Jemison’s have three sons. Job, Jeremiah, and Abraham. All are in their twenties and not married. There probably aren’t enough women here for them. Mr. and Mrs. Jemison asked me to call them Aunt Sarah and Onkel Abel. Aunt Sarah is a short motherly woman with an ample bosom. When we were alone, she told me all the women in her family are short and fat. She used the word ‘squat,’ which I suppose sounds a little better.
When Mrs. Jemison saw me for the first time, she said, “You are a dear little girl, so pretty and delicate. We will have to fatten you up. You are too thin."
I didn't tell her I was not intending to fatten myself up. I’m not even skinny, I’m just normal and average size, aside from being short. The way I am is just normal for me, just as she is naturally squat. I asked if I could help her cook while I was here and she seemed pleased and then she told me she wrote Mamm that she would give me all her cooking secrets.
I was so pleased and thanked her. I know it’s a big thing for women to hand over their cooking secrets. Aunt Sarah told me that making good food and being a hardworker was a way to a man’s heart. I nearly laughed, but stopped myself because she hadn’t meant it to be funny. I think she could see I was about to laugh because she shot me a funny look and her icy blue eyes fixed themselves upon me. I had to look away from her.
Then she told me to read Proverbs 31 about a virtuous woman. I told her I would and that I brought a bible with me from home. I could tell she was pleased about that and she gave me a big smile.
For the evening meal tonight, we had roast beef, roasted corn on the cob, sweet potatoes and beets, with fresh crusty bread to soak up the extra gravy. Dessert was a lemon meringue pie with cream. I found out I love lemon meringue pie and it could very well be my newest favorite dessert. I could eat dessert and nothing else. That would be good, I thought, if I never ate meat and vegetables again and then had room for more dessert. I could eat three or four desserts at one time.
Before dinner, I met the Jemison boys. Joe, the eldest was short like his mother, and fairly plain in the looks department. Jeremiah was tall, slim and very good-looking, like his father would’ve been in his youth. Abraham was not very good-looking, and neither did he look like either of his parents. Although, he did have lovely dark curly hair and a friendly smile.
After the dinner and the washing up was done, both Aunt Sarah and I joined the men in the living room in front of a huge fire. It wasn’t even very cold outside. At home, we wouldn’t have had the fire on in this hot weather. It seemed like a big waste of firewood to me. Not just the wood but the time and the effort to cut all the wood. I guess with three big men in the house, four including Onkel Abel, it wouldn’t be such an effort for them. It seemed a waste to me, and Mamm would’ve thought the same.
Jeremiah said to me, "What are you doing here, Agnes? Surely such a pretty woman as you could find plenty of suitable men for choosing a husband where you came from. It’s such a large community."
That shocked Aunt Sarah. "Jeremiah? Enough!"
It was then that I realized everyone would think I was traveling to find a husband. “Maybe I’m not interested in marriage." I don’t know why I said it, but the moment I did, I regretted it as everyone gasped. I’d shocked all of them.
Job, the eldest spoke up with a stern voice, and said, “Gott made woman and He made man to marry and have kinner, and the sooner you learn that, the better for you."
I nodded. What else could I do? I didn’t want to say that Gott didn’t make man and woman for only that purpose. I mean, who knows the mind of Gott? After this, there was an awkward silence. Aunt Sarah asked if I would like an early night and, after that business, I was eager to agree to one. I wonder if they want to send me right back home? Or, maybe on to my next place early?
In future, I will keep out of Job's way and think before I speak. I didn’t like Job’s beady little eyes judging me.
Now it is the next night. They didn’t send me away after that awful exchange with Job. I’ve managed to stay in the kitchen all day and learn some of Aunt Sarah’s secrets. She’s always telling me things from the bible and quoting things.
I asked her for the recipe to the lemon meringue pie. She gave it to me to copy out right then, and tonight I will copy it again, right here in my book in case I lose the paper I wrote it on.
Lemon Meringue Pie
First you’ll need to bake the pastry.
Sweet Pie Cookie-style Pastry:
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 egg
Method:
Cream the butter and the sugar.
Add egg and beat well
Add sifted flour.
Knead lightly
Roll out to size and press into pie tin.
Bake in a moderate oven for about twenty minutes, until lightly browned.
Set on a rack to cool.
Filling:
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of plain flour
2 tablespoons of cornflour (cornstarch)
Half a cup of white sugar
Half a cup of lemon juice
Half a cup of boiling water
Two egg yolks
Grated outer-layer of one lemon (the "zest")
1 tablespoon butter
Meringue:
2 egg whites
4 tablespoons of sugar
Method:
Blend flour, cornflour and sugar in a saucepan with water along with the lemon juice. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
Boil until it thickens and keep stirring.
Add lightly- beaten egg yolks, butter and lemon rind, and stir until mixed well.
Place in already baked and cooled pie crust.
Beat egg whites until stiff
Add sugar gradually and continue beating until thick.
Pile on top of pie and place in a very moderate oven or under a slow griller until lightly brown.
Today I also learned how to make apple pie and custard. Aunt Sarah didn’t cook it, she just told me how she makes it and allowed me to copy the recipe out. She said her pie crust for the apple pie is different from others and she makes it with crushed cookies. That’s her big secret. She also has a secret for preparing the apples for the pie.
The secret she told me is that she drains all the liquid from the apples by heating them, straining them, letting them stand until they have cooled, and then heating them slightly again to take out all the liquid and letting them cool again. It seems a lot of trouble, but she assures me that it really does make a difference.
I’m not just going to take her say-so on it. The first time, I’m going to try what she said to do, and then the next time, I’m just going to strain the stewed apple once and then I’ll compare the results. I hope the shorter way tastes as good.
Tomorrow night we are having turkey and vegetables. It’s a plain dish and I don’t know if I’ll learn much from that. It’s just putting a turkey in the oven and then baking the vegetables. Even I can do that.
I also heard that Malachi Arnold will be arriving for dinner and staying here until I leave for Mamm’s cousin’s house in Munfordville. He’s not staying here in this house, but here with someone else in the community. Elizabeth, Mamm’s cousin, has a store and is famous for her jams, pickles, and chutneys. Mamm has always talked a lot about her and I can’t wait to meet her.
Aunt Sarah says I’ll be an expert cook by the time I arrive home and I’ll be ready to make some man a gut fraa. She even said if I strive hard, I might become a virtuous woman. I wonder if she judges herself as a virtuous woman. Most likely or she wouldn’t say I might become one.
Then she said, “Don't overlook my boys. I can see Jeremiah has taken a liking for you, but he is greatly influenced by his vadder and his bruder. They are both trying to persuade him to marry Betty Mueller. She is strong and solid like me and would make an excellent choice for him.”
"Why is Malachi Arnold coming here?” I asked, ignoring what she said about Jeremiah. She didn’t seem to mind that I didn’t comment about Jeremiah.
“I believe he wants to purchase some of our horses. He’s coming from such a long way because he has heard how good they are."
I didn’t believe it. We shall see if he buys any of their horses. Even if he did, how would he get them home? It’s such a distance from where we live and we don’t have trouble buying horses in our community. There are plenty of them. I’m starting to think that Malachi Arnold is Mamm’s secret plan. It is most likely a matchmaking plan and if that is so, it’s deeply embarrassing.
Crushed-cookie Pie Crust
Ingredients:
2 cups crushed cookies
½ cup melted butter
⅓ cup sugar
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and press evenly onto the base and sides of the pie dish
Bake in a moderately high oven for ten minutes.
Heidi yawned, and was too tired to read more. Did Agnes end up marrying Malachi? Was that Agnes’s mother’s secret plan? Dat never talked about his history or his family. Heidi didn’t even know her own paternal grandmother’s name until she was given the diary. Heidi was tempted to skip to the end and hopefully there’d be a proper conclusion to what happened to Agnes. Going by the size of the diary, it seemed possible. She hugged the diary to herself and closed her eyes.