Patchwork: A Story of 'The Plain People'Myers, Anna Balmer
General
Patchwork: A Story of 'The Plain People'
Myers, Anna Balmer
Amish -- Fiction
Miss Lee started as a woman's voice answered, "Number one hundred
forty-seven." However, her surprise merged into other emotions as the
old hymn rose in the low-ceilinged room. There was no accompaniment of
any musical instrument, just a harmonious blending of the deep-toned
voices of the brethren with the sweet voices of the sisters. The music
swelled in full, deliberate rhythm, its calm earnestness bearing witness
to the fact that every word of the hymn was uttered in a spirit of
worship.
Maria Metz sang very softly, but Phœbe's young voice rose clearly in the
familiar words, "Jesus, Lover of my soul."
Miss Lee listened a moment to the sweet voice of the child by her side,
then she, too, joined in the singing--feeling the words, as she had
never before felt them, to be the true expression of millions of mortals
who have sung, are singing, and shall continue to sing them.
When the hymn was ended another preacher arose and opened the service
with a few remarks, then asked all to kneel in prayer.
Every one--men, women, children--turned and knelt upon the bare floor
while the preacher's voice rose in a simple prayer. As the Amen fell
from his lips Miss Lee started to rise, but Phœbe laid a restraining
hand upon her and whispered, "There's yet one."
For a moment there was silence in the meeting-house. Then the voice of
another preacher rose in the universal prayer, "Our Father, which art in
heaven." Every extemporaneous prayer in the Church of the Brethren is
complemented by the model prayer the Master taught His disciples.
There was another hymn, reading of the Scriptures, and then the sermon
proper was preached.
Aunt Maria nodded approvingly as the preacher read, "Whose adorning let
it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
"You listen good now to what the preacher says," the woman whispered to
Phœbe.
The child looked Up solemnly at her aunt, about her at the many
white-capped women, then up at Miss Lee's pretty hat with its white
Mercury wings--she was endeavoring to justify the pleasure and beauty
her aunt pronounced vanity. Was Miss Lee really wicked when she wore
clothes like that? Surely, no! After a few moments the child sighed,
folded her hands and looked steadfastly at the tall bearded man who was
preaching.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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