Joseph closed his eyes as he pondered the task ahead of him: attending Samuel Beachy’s funeral. Why is it that life presented so many challenges? And regrets. If he wouldn’t have hesitated when he first considered going to see Samuel, he’d have had a chance to see his friend alive.
He hadn’t known Samuel all that well, but during the summer Samuel had gone to Ohio to work with his uncle Timothy, they had bonded. Samuel was helping with the harvest and Joseph had been filling in for his brother at the buggy shop. Samuel was a buggy maker by trade, so naturally he asked a lot of questions about the different styles of buggies in the neighboring districts.
They were both in rumspringa the time, and although it was verboten in Joseph’s district, a lot of young men rebelled anyway. One of Joseph’s friends owned a car, so they’d go to the Englischers’ movie theater, roller skating rink, and bowling alley. Joseph had been courting Mary at the time, so he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her away from home. Samuel had met a girl from his uncle’s district named Carolanne. Jacob had just recently informed Joseph that Carolanne eventually became Samuel’s wife.
Joseph hadn’t seen Samuel since that summer and often wondered what became of him. If he’d known Samuel had moved back to Ohio, he might have gone to see him after his shunning. It was a dark time in his life and he’d been desperate for friends. Not only was he dealing with his excommunication, but he’d also been mourning Mary’s recent death.
Apparently, Samuel had only moved back to Paradise a few weeks ago. After his wife Carolanne passed on, he decided to move back home to be near his family and close friends.
“We’re almost there,” Jacob informed Joe.
Joseph opened his eyes and looked around. This is what he loved about the Amish culture – uniformity. He could visit nearly any Amish district and feel a sense of home and commonality, a comfort unknown in the Englisch world he’d lived. For the most part, a lot of districts were the same by appearance. The houses and barns were similar, the dress was always decent and modest, transportation was by horse and buggy – although he’d heard that there were some faster Amish groups that even drove automobiles and used electric. In his former Swartzentruber sect, they weren’t even allowed to ride in a vehicle unless it was an emergency.
One thing he greatly favored about the faster Amish groups was indoor plumbing. Using an outhouse still didn’t bother him, but indoor facilities were so much more pleasant. Jacob had informed him that his maternal grandmother ran a bed ‘n breakfast and that was where they’d be staying. He said the bed ‘n breakfast contained three indoor restrooms. Imagine that - three restrooms in one Amish home!
“See that stand? That’s been there forever. My Mamm said she used work out there selling stuff,” Jacob mentioned, pointing out an old road-side produce stand. “This is the turn to my Grossdawdi’s place.”
Joseph surveyed the property, still colorful from the vestiges of fall. “They haven’t had snow yet?”
“Apparently not.” The air was cool, but not like the normal chill this time of year. “The weather had still been nice when Rachel and I left. I never expected to be back so soon.”
Joseph eyed a large, white, octagonal, wooden structure. “That’s a nice gazebo.”
“I helped Grossdawdi paint that a few years ago. I’m surprised it’s still standing. Mamm said she and Dat shared their first kiss in that gazebo,” Jake volunteered.
“This looks like a nice place.” He examined the beautiful large home with its exquisite wraparound porch. “Where will the funeral be?”
“At Samuel’s folks’ place. And of course we’ll go out to the cemetery,” Jacob said. “But for now, let’s go inside and enjoy some of my grossmudder’s delicious cooking.”
“Sounds good to me!” Joe agreed.
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The viewing at the home of Samuel’s parents had been interesting. Not being from Paradise, Joseph felt slightly out of place, even though the People had been kind and hospitable. Joe had the opportunity to meet Samuel’s folks as well his brother Peter and his sister-in-law Deborah. Deborah and Peter had a little boy that looked a lot like Samuel, everyone had thought, including Joseph.
Jacob had also introduced him to the church leaders, primarily Bishop Hostettler, who served as the bishop in Anna’s district as well. He had heard many good things about Bishop Hostettler which somewhat surprised him. He had the notion that all bishops were unyielding and stern like Bishop Burkholder had been. But one look at Bishop Hostettler’s countenance told Joe there was something different about him. He was unsure whether he equated the look to kindness or mischief, perhaps a bit of both.
If Joseph had the opportunity, he planned to speak with the bishop regarding his standing in the church. He admitted to being nervous about it, knowing he’d been shunned and all. But he hoped Bishop Hostettler would give him the benefit of the doubt. Whether he found someone to marry or not, Joe decided he wouldn’t mind conforming to the ways of the People here.
After he and Jacob sat through the preaching service, Jacob took him on a tour of Paradise, showing him everything he’d loved about the community. They drove by Philip King’s herb shop where Jacob and his family had purchased most of the medicines they used growing up, and he shared a story of how Mamm’s Englisch friend had been bitten by a snake one time.
He took Joe by Miller’s Pond where he’d said he spent many winters ice skating and had swam in the summer time. He’d also said he’d been baptized there. Joseph thought it fascinating because all the Amish districts he’d ever heard of had just poured the water over the head – that’s how he’d been baptized. But Jacob told him that was not the way of the Bible; something he’d have to look into later if he wanted to become part of a New Order.
Lastly, Jacob had taken him to Miller’s Bridge. It was mostly a private covered bridge that the Englischers didn’t know about. The beautiful bridge was constructed mostly of wood and looked to be well over a hundred years old, judging by the lumber used. Joseph stared up at the magnificent structure and read hundreds of initials, sweethearts that had probably once had special moments under the cover of this ‘kissing bridge’.
Jacob beckoned him over to one of the wooden beams. “Read that.” He smiled.
Joseph surveyed the carved heart with initials inside. “J plus R. Jacob and Rachel?” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.
Jake nodded.
“How many of these people do you think got married?”
“Let’s see…there’s J and S, that’s Jonathan and Susie. He’s the minister of this district. J and L.” He laughed. “That’s Bishop Hostettler and his wife Lydia.”
“No way, really?” Joseph shook his head in disbelief. “The bishop carved initials into a bridge? Wow, he really is different. If I were to have done something like that back home, I’d probably have gotten a gut whipping.”
“Well, he hasn’t always been bishop. I suspect he did that when they were courtin’.” Jacob rubbed his chin. “I guess that’s why he’s such a good bishop. He knows he’s human and that others are too. He’s genuine and understanding. I reckon that’s part of the reason why I didn’t balk at moving to Anna’s district.”
“Do you have a knife?”
Jacob nodded and handed Joe his pocket knife.
Joseph found an uncarved area and engraved J plus A.
Jacob raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to make that a reality?”
One side of Joe’s mouth tipped up. “I hope so.”