Emma Miller - Hannah's Courtship

Aunt Jezzy’s husband had gone to visit a dying cousin in Lancaster. She never liked being alone in a house, so she’d hitched up the buggy and come for an overnight visit. Naturally, since neither of them had a telephone in the house, there was no way Aunt Jezzy could let her know she was coming, but she’d been certain of her welcome here.

This afternoon Hannah had been feeling lonely and out of sorts. Then Albert had showed up with his plan for the alpacas, brightening her day. There was no way she could have invited Albert to share her evening meal without anyone else present. It simply wouldn’t have been proper. A good Amish woman did not entertain a man without a chaperone.

Then here was Aunt Jezzy, a gift from God, as it were, making it possible for Hannah to invite them both to share the food that her thoughtful daughter had left for her. It just went to prove that the Lord’s mercy was unending. She had been feeling sorry for herself, wallowing in self-pity because she had to eat alone, and He had wiped away her gloom in an instant with an unexpected gift of sunshine.

Hannah glanced across the table with a smile. She could see that Albert was enjoying himself as much as she was. With a little urging, he began to explain his plan for raising alpacas; her aunt was fascinated. Aunt Jezzy had always loved animals. Actually, Hannah couldn’t think of anything or anyone her aunt-by-marriage didn’t like.

Some people thought Jezzy was odd, and she did have some curious habits, such as spinning spoons and turning objects around three times before she could let them rest. But Albert never seemed to notice Aunt Jezzy’s endearing little quirks. The three of them weren’t halfway through supper when Albert had them laughing so hard with tales from his veterinary practice that she almost dropped her glass.

Not that Albert mentioned any names or repeated anything he shouldn’t, but surely it couldn’t be a sin to be amused by stories of a man who let his pet pig sleep in a bed in his house and tied a ribbon around its head.

“As I live and breathe,” Aunt Jezzy said, wiping her eyes with her napkin. “How could anybody be that silly?”

Chuckling, Hannah rose and went to the refrigerator for the rice pudding. “Are you sure you won’t have more coleslaw?” she asked Albert. “And there’s more chicken and dumplings in the pot.”

“Not another mouthful,” Albert protested. “I’ll never make it up the stairs to my apartment. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed myself, being with you two, and sharing your supper. I really appreciate it.”

“Ne, ne, none of that,” Hannah said. “It was our pleasure.” The mantel clock chimed, and she glanced up. Was it truly that late? She glanced out the windows to see if she could catch sight of either of her daughters. Of course, it was Susanna she was most concerned about. Rebecca was so busy with wedding plans that she often stayed at one of her sisters’ houses until well after dark.

A small concern nagged at Hannah as she served up generous bowls of the rice pudding. “Would anyone like coffee?” She wondered if it would be an imposition to ask Albert to drive by Anna’s and tell Susanna to start for home, if her daughter didn’t get home before he left, that was.

But, there was no need. They’d barely started their pudding when the dogs outside began to bark, and Samuel’s buggy came into the yard.

Hannah went out onto the back porch. To her surprise, it wasn’t Samuel but her daughter Anna who, along with Susanna, was getting down from the buggy. Before Hannah reached the back gate, Susanna handed Anna’s little daughter, Rose, down to Anna.

“Mam!” Anna waved. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve come to spend the night. I just thought I’d use the excuse of driving Susanna home to take a little vacation.”

“Wonderful,” Hannah said, smiling back at her. She was always pleased to see Anna. Her daughter’s round, pink cheeks glowed with health, and she looked as jolly as ever. Of all her children, Anna and Susanna had always been the easiest to raise.

“Samuel can mind the children tonight,” Anna declared. “Baby Rose and I thought it might be fun to surprise you.”

“Ya.” Susanna giggled. “A surprise for you, Mam. I brought Anna and Rose. To sleep with us.”

“Wonderful,” Hannah said, taking the baby from Anna’s arms. “Aunt Jezzy is here to stay the night, too. We’ll have our own frolic.”

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