Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites

e Heart B

ave looked with envy upon the scene being enacted in one of the small streams of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There a little red-haired girl, barefooted, her short gingham skirt tucked up unevenly here and there, was wading in the co

, some of 'em washed round and smooth like little white soup beans--ach, I got to watch me," she exclaimed, laughing, as she made a quick movement to retain her equilibrium. "The big stones are sli

whistle rang out, followed by a lon

he crick," she cal

nity through the meadow to the stream. He held his red-crowned head high and sang te

are straighter'n yours! You dare, you just dare once,

in the water. She splashed him and he retaliated, but the boy, though smaller, was agile, and in an unguarded

y as he held her there, "you will

up, leave me g

I wonder. My goodness, what

xed, but he read a desire

puckered up his lips in imitation

rang crossly, "yo

her wrists. "But because you're such a fraid

, curiosity helping her to forget momentaril

ot it in a tree. Now if you're not a blockhead mebbe you c

" The words were p

rew from his poc

you get that?" The girl's

ky birds and thought I'd get you an egg. There's three more in the nest; I guess that'

God will punish you for that!" Her eyes blazed

y bird's egg? You make me sick, Manda. Cry about it now! Oh, th

er. "You need something right now to make you remember not to take eggs from nests. And here it is! When you want to do

le, girls are a

e but the hold of his

e nests alone?

? I just brought you one 'ca

where they belong," she said as

hen the funny spectacle of we

"won't we get Sa

earn such awful slang? Abody can hardly understan

your dresses tried on. And mebbe you'd like to know that Aunt Rebecca's here aga

. "Aunt Rebecca--is she here again? Ach, if she wasn't so cranky I'd

ckly like a chestnut burr. Jiminy crick

burrs are like velvet inside. Mebbe she'd be nic

wants you to fit. Come on, get pins stuck in you and then I'll laugh.

n thought came to her--"Come in, Phil, while I fit and then we'll se

adily, "come on, Mand

n through the hot sun of the pasture lot, up the narrow path a

ered choice vegetables to be sold in the famous markets of Lancaster, five miles distant. The farmhouse, a big square brick building of old-fashioned desi

who was responsible for the success of the farm, and a hired girl, Millie Hess, who had s

re so like their father had been, that at times her heart contracted at sight of them. His had been a strong, buoyant spirit and when her hands, like Moses' of old, had required steadying, he had never failed her. At first his death left her helpless and discouraged as she faced the task of reari

t in them. Laughing, merry, they sang their way through the days, protesting vehemently when things went contrary to their desires, but laughing the next moment in

e inscription in the big family Bible. But it was difficult to un

e time with her; nothin' anybody does or says is just right. She's faultfindin' every time she comes. It wonders me sometimes if she'll like heaven when she gets up there, or if she'll see some things she'd change if she had her way. And mostly all the plain people are so nic

ania Dutch country. Orphaned at an early age she had been buffeted about sorely until the happy day she entered the Reist household. Their kindness to her won her heart and she

futility of fuss, the sin of useless worry, and had never learned the invaluable lesson of minding her own business. "She means well," Mrs. Reist said in conciliatory tones

once!" Amanda heard her aunt's rasp

" the girl walked i

aid dutifully, then turned t

in the back!" Aunt Rebecca said shri

sitor. "My goodness, what was you two up to? Such wet blotches like you got!" "We were wadin' in the cr

the crick in dog days!

into a doggie, ain't, Mo

children who were bubbling over with laughter. "I think," she

tn't mind them. They get so full of laughin

od to have a merry heart and me and Phil's go

on dry things, then I want to fit your d

f I rutch in water an hour. Jiminy pats, Mom, g

m as she ran up-stairs, "you're gettin' so

o's afraid?

he girl appeared

I better go out to the pump and clean 'em so

ed the handle up and down, while her brother f

ther for stealin' that bird's egg, and a third to learn you some sense." Before he could get his breath she had run into the house and stood before her mother ready for the fitting. "I like this goo

unless your ha

t Rebecca. "When I was little I wore what my mom bought me, and so di

rown and colors Amanda likes don't cost more than those she

ren plain people expect to raise nowada

d down at her new dress took away the sting of the older woman's words. "I want," the mother said softly, "I w

n the new dress, and pressed a kiss on the top of the white-capped head. "When I grow up

n to her with shouts of "Granny!" But she did not carry the thread of thought far enough to analyze her own actions and discover that, though childless, she could attract the love

er, "for your other dress is soon ready to fit. As soo

ness to go to all that bother when gathe

ntly agreed to a temporary truce so that the game of counting might be played. He would pay back his sister some other ti

'My goodness' thirty times till four o'clock I'll fetch a tobacco worm and put it in her bonnet. I

ped into the other room and in a few minutes the two settled themselves on the se

They don't make nothin' no more like th

the paper. Jiminy Christmas, that's easy!

to leave these dresses down till time for school. Now if I was you I'd m

exciting and, under the stress of it, the counting on the old settee rose above the discreet wh

ss, what for you writin' on the hymn-book?" She turned to her sister. "A

other would not object to their use of the book and safely c

da," said the woman, taking the ment

eulah Land," she read, a sud

s a girl still. My goodness, abody gets old q

ast one," prompted Phil. "Mar

of her so and count after how often she says the same thing. Sh

e, what's bitin' you? It ain't four o'clock yet, and it ain't right, neither, to go back on a promise. Anyhow, if we don't g

ed thirty lines were marked on the paper. Then, the g

hysical toil made the meal doubly enjoyable. Millie saw to it that there was always appetizing food set upon the big square table in the kit

face shone from a vigorous scrubbing. Millie sat beside Mrs. Reist, for she was, as she expressed it, "Nobody's dog, to eat alone." She expected to eat with the folks where she hired.

anda and Philip

gain, by the gigglin' of you and the rutchin' around you're doin'! I

clared Phil. "We just

for nothin'. Anyhow, you better not laugh too much, f

tted. "There'll be another Niagara Falls, r

hat's just another of

the Posey Woman sign and then they wonder why they get only flowers 'stead of peas and beans. They take up red beets in the wrong sign and wonder why the beets cook up stringy. The women make sauerkraut in Gallas week and wonder why it's bitter. I could tell them what's the matter! There's more to them old women's signs than most people know. I never yet heard a dog cry at

flippantly. "What's all new since

sewin' machines--anyhow, they wer

omob

out abody. I don't go in none and I don't want no automobi

e," the boy said, while Amanda giggled and Uncle Amos winked

dishes, but I want to get home before it gets so late for me. Anyhow, Amanda is big enough to help. When I was big as her I cooked and baked and worked like a woman. Why, when I was just a little

are full of germ

-what ar

re little, crawly bugs with a lot of legs, and if you eat the

h that emphatic remark she stalked to the sitting-room for her bonnet. She met Phil coming out

rom one foot to the other. If only Aunt Rebecca wouldn't hold the bonnet so the worm would fall to the f

rushed her cheek. Intently inquisitive, she stooped and p

Amanda, ain't?" she said as

his guilt. "Now, when did tobacco worms learn to live in

of Aunt Rebecca--"You're a bad pair! Almost you spoiled me my good bonnet. If I'd squeezed that worm on my cap it wou

id Amanda, truly ashamed. But Phil put

hamed. Your mom just ought to make you hunt all the worms in the whole tobacco patch. My goodness, l

ly, eager to make peace with the woman, who

ught to help her brother be good, not learn him tricks. Boys go to the bad soon enough. I'm goin' now,"

ot cut up like to-day. You are always so ready to help us-

in't spoiled. If that had happened then t

und the room by her dress skirt--in undisguised hilarity over the departure of their grim relative. Boys

y," Philip admitted with pretended seriousne