Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
Mistress Truelove Taberer, having read in a very clear and gentle
voice the Sermon on the Mount to those placid Friends, Tobias and
Martha Taberer, closed the book, and went about her household affairs
with a quiet step, but a heart that somehow fluttered at every sound
without the door. To still it she began to repeat to herself words she
had read: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the
children of God ... blessed are the peacemakers”--
Winter sunshine poured in at the windows and door. Truelove, kneeling
to wipe a fleck of dust from her wheel, suddenly, with a catch of her
breath and a lifting of her brown eyes, saw in the Scripture she had
been repeating a meaning and application hitherto unexpected. “The
peacemaker ... that is one who makes peace,--in the world, between
countries, in families, yea, in the heart of one alone. Did he not say,
last time he came, that with me he forgot this naughty world and all
its strife; that if I were always with him”--
Truelove’s countenance became exalted, her gaze fixed. “If it were a
call”--she murmured, and for a moment bowed her head upon the wheel;
then rose from her knees and went softly through the morning tasks.
When they were over, she took down from a peg and put on a long gray
cloak and a gray hood that most becomingly framed her wild-rose face;
then came and stood before her father and mother. “I am going forth to
walk by the creekside,” she said, in her sweet voice. “It may be that I
will meet Angus MacLean.”
“If thee does,” answered one tranquil Friend, “thee may tell him that
upon next seventh day meeting will be held in this house.”
“Truly,” said the other tranquil Friend, “my heart is drawn toward that
young man. His mind hath been filled with anger and resistance and the
turmoil of the world. It were well if he found peace at last.”
“Surely it were well,” agreed Truelove sweetly, and went out into the
crisp winter weather.
The holly, the pine, and the cedar made green places in the woods, and
the multitude of leaves underfoot were pleasant to tread. Clouds were
in the sky, but the spaces between were of serenest blue, and in the
sunshine the creek flashed diamonds. Truelove stood upon the bank, and,
with her hand shading her eyes, watched MacLean rowing toward her up
the creek.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account