"Six hours' preaching doth seem of rather great length," I admitted; "still an eloquent man maketh the time fly on swift wings." "But our good Brother Emanuel is not eloquent. Before he hath spoken half an hour, most of the Solitary be asleep, so that this thing is a great disgrace to us." "Surely the Brethren are not so rude and ungodly?" I asked innocently. "Yea, I grieve that he too was recalled, and now we have no one that seemeth suitable." "Thou hast forgotten thyself," I reminded him. But he felt not the point. Instead he blurted out as I liked better to hear him, forgetting all his serpent's slyness--which I dislike greatly in man or woman--"We want thee, Brother Miller. The Solitary all want thee. We must have thee. I am enjoined not to return without thee." Brother Beissel could be just as outspoken as he could be insinuating. "What sayest thou?" "Doth the invitation extend to the child?" said I pointing to my boy who had by this time come out to me and was hanging shyly to my hand, and looking with no great favor upon Brother Beissel. "If needs be he come with thee, the invitation extends to him," he replied, although I thought reluctantly. "Then we come," I promised him, whereupon our brother turned to say "Good-bye," but the strange feeling between Sonnlein and Brother Beissel, for some reason or other never wholly left either. But even though I had chosen with so little hesitation to cast my lot and Sonnlein's with our Brothers and Sisters at Ephrata, I found that my hermit's life, with all its lack of companionship and intercourse with kindred souls was after all very dear to me, so that I was almost resolved to recall my promise; but in my bewilderment I turned to Him for help and guidance, and after long and earnest prayer it became clear to me it was my duty that Sonnlein and I join ourselves to Brother Beissel and his followers. The simple preparations for our departure were soon made. My hut and the little garden adjoining and my apple orchard were consigned to the care of one of my nearest adherents, and in a few days after Brother Beissel's visit, Sonnlein and I, my back loaded with my books, among them a number of volumes on the law, of which science I have been all my life an eager student, started out together sorrowfully enough for Brother Klopf's cabin, where he and his household, as well as Conrad Weiser and Hans Michael Miller and their families, and several men and women were gathered waiting for me and Sonnlein. A brief season of the morning was spent in praise and prayer, after which we solemnly proceeded on foot--except Sonnlein, who had to be carried much of the way on our backs--to Ephrata, and by evening we were in the welcoming folds of the little community of which Sonnlein and I and most of the Dulpehackin converts became an abiding part. CHAPTER V EPHRATA That we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. --New Testament.