To Marry, or not to Marry

By Donna and Abs

Moses Hochleitner sighed as he went up to his bed alone.  Arista had gone to her party tonight, but Daniel Hochleitner, his older brother, had forbidden him from going to the "pagan ritual".  Although Daniel knew well enough that Arista was a sweet, humble, agreeable young lady, he still did not trust her not to corrupt Moses.  The young Amish man was saddened by this - because he loved her. 

She had wanted him to go; she wanted more than that!  She wanted to marry.  Moses could not even think of marriage until Daniel married, and he was dragging his feet.  Moses could understand that from the English, Book.  But Daniel had to know it was time to marry. 

As he passed Book's room, he noticed the light was still on, and the young man paused at the door. Maybe Book was not ready for marriage, but he at least talked to some of the girls in town! 

Knocking softly, he waited for Book's grunt before he opened the door.  "English?  I have a problem," he admitted. 

John Book was sitting with a book on his lap. "Have a seat, kid," he said, motioning to the one other chair in the room. “What can I do to help?” 

Moses took his seat, as Book asked what the problem was.  "My chin is still without beard," said Moses seriously. 

Book looked up. "So are your brother's and mine. So, what’s the problem with that?" 

"Amish men may not grow a beard if they are not married," Moses said, as if Book should know this by now. 

"Then marry," Book said. "You love the girl. That much is plain to see." 

"I cannot!  I am the younger brother. Do you know why Daniel is waiting to marry?  He is of age." 

"Ahh!" Book said, understanding the problem. "He is, that is for sure. The question is, how do we remind him of that. Hell, I know of one girl that likes him a lot, but he hasn't hardly even said boo to her." 

Moses drew up his knees, his big eyes sad, too upset to reprimand Book for his bad language.  "Which is as much of a problem as my beardless chin." 

Book looked thoughtful. "Maybe we can cheat. I have a nice little rocking chair that I just finished. I could tell him that it belongs to Anna and have him deliver it to her the next time he goes in for supplies." 

"What will that do?" he asked miserably.  "If he will not take the next step?  He has not even gone there for lemonade!" 

Book shrugged. "You better do some heavy duty praying then, boy. Anna is perfect for him. She is devout, sweet looking, and a hard worker. She would make him a very good wife. Just the type he needs." 

"I agree!  How do we get him to court her?"  His eyes pleaded with the other man. 

"Too bad we don't have one of your elders here to encourage it. Or is there someone he would listen to?" 

Moses looked at him pleadingly.  He had hoped Daniel would listen to Book!  "Perhaps if you said you were intending to marry, he would . . ?" he asked, wincing. 

Book chuckled. "Looks like I'll have to do something. I am older than him. And even though I wasn't born Amish, this is the life I am choosing to live. So that makes me his elder, right?" 

Moses brightened.  "Yes!  It does!  And the head of our household!  Tell him it is not proper for the youngest male to marry first, and if he will not consider it, then you might just have to.  And then choose someone entirely unacceptable!  Oh, English!  It can work!"  And he ran from the room, happy with the plan. 

Book sat there with his jaw dropped. What in the world had he gotten himself into! 

A few days later, Book called Daniel into his workshop.  "I need this chair delivered," he said, motioning to the rocking chair. It was simple, but elegant in line.  Daniel nodded, because this was not an unusual request. Book helped Daniel load everything into the back of the wagon. “Take this chair to Anna Anderson, one of the twins. She is staying at the boarding house, I believe." 

"Yes, she is," said Daniel, and Book looked closely to see if there had been any change in the Amish man's expression as he said the words.  Did Daniel like Anna?  Did he like her twin, Emma?  Book didn't care which he liked, as long as he picked one on his own.  If he did not have to go through with Moses' little "plan", he would be a whole lot happier! 

He headed back into the workshop, mentally crossing his fingers that this time, Daniel will actually notice the girl. Daniel climbed into the wagon, clucked at the team, and headed into town. Besides the chair, there were several other items to be delivered, including a cradle for the baby that Wyoming was expecting soon. 

As usual, the women's boarding house was a buzz.  There were so many babies there now, it was hard to avoid the chatter!!  Something was always happening.  But that made it a happy place, and all who lived there enjoyed it. Daniel brought the chair in, telling them that it was for Anna. Of course, that brought on a lot of good-natured teasing, which he did his best to ignore. 

"My sister went out to get some things from the garden," Emma said, looking up from her sewing. "She will love this chair. Did you help make it?" 

"I tried my hand at it," he said honestly, "but de English has a talent for it.  So I do the harvesting, and he does the wood working." 

"Someone help me, please! I can’t get the door open without dropping things!" came a sound from outside. It was Anna, her arms full to overflowing with items she had harvested from the community garden. 

Of course, Daniel was the only man there, so he responded quickly, stepping over the chair and a crawling baby to get there. 

She looked startled to see him there, but managed a curtsey. "Gud Dag to you, sir," she said politely. "It is good to see you again." 

"And you," he said, taking some things from her arms. "Let me help you with that." 

She blushed prettily as he relieved her of some of her burden. "Are things well on your farm?" she asked. There was a look of longing that passed over her face. Her sister Emma was adjusting to *city* life, but Anna still missed being on a farm. 

"Yah, though there is always plenty of work. I thought you and your sister were going to come our way to settle.  You must really like the city life?" 

She shook her head. "I would farm, yes, but Emma wishes to stay here for now. We have been told it is not safe for two girls to live alone outside of town." 

"The soldiers, they are not keeping the farms safe?  The men are armed and could patrol." 

Anna nodded. "Perhaps someday," she sighed. She really did want to move back out on a farm. The girl then spotted the rocking chair. "Oh how lovely!" 

"We - I mean, Book hoped you would like it." 

"For me?" she said, a delighted smile on her face. She lost her English, and expressed her gratitude to him in Norwegian, which Daniel could almost understand since so many of its words were similar to the German the Amish spoke. 

"Book heard you say you wanted one," Daniel said, glancing at the others, who were looking curiously at him.  He seemed a little flustered, and did not want her to think *he* had done anything more than deliver it.

"I thank you for bringing this to me," she said graciously. "May I offer you some tea? Or anything else?" 

He looked around the room.  So many women in one house - many of them with babies.  He did not feel comfortable here.  "No, t'ank you," he said, "I have other errands to run. T'ank you anyway." 

She looked disappointed, then brightened. "We are having a box lunch social after church on Sunday. Would you like to come?" 

Again he looked around the room.  But this time he slowly nodded.  "All right." 

Her smile could have lit up a dark room. "Wonderful! We see you then, ja?" 

"Ja," he said, and he got out of there as quickly as he could!! 

He got into the wagon, and after picking up the supplies he had ordered at the mercantile, headed back home. For some reason, he couldn't get the picture of Anna's smile out of his head. She really was a nice girl. It was too bad she was not Amish. 

When he got back to the farm, Book, Moses, and Arista were waiting.  And not just there in the house.  *Waiting*.  Like three policemen, guarding the door.  "Well?" asked the younger brother eagerly.  "How did it go with An-"  Arista nudged him sharply, and he stopped what he was saying, then went, "In town?" 

Book covered it up a little better. "Did Wyoming like the cradle?" he asked as he helped unload the wagon. 

"Oh yes.  Everyone was happy with your handiwork.  English, you are a master."  He smiled, then asked Arista for a drink.  "It is very hot and dry out there." 

"No one offered you lemonade?" asked the fae, looking pointedly at her intended. 

He looked up at Arista. "Ja, someone did. But I had to go." 

She frowned, her pretty face marred by it.  It was hopeless!  Both she and Moses looked desperately at Book. 

Book groaned and shook his head. It looked like they would have to go to Plan B after all! Book took a deep breath and suddenly turned to the older brother. "I have something else to say to you. Have I not proven to you that my wish to stay with you and Moses and continue living this way is sincere?" 

"Of course.  You have not gone to town to be a policeman, when you could have done so," said Daniel. 

Book nodded. "You may know more about the religious aspect of everything. I'm still learning all that, but I'm the eldest around here, right?" 

"I think you are the elder of me, yah," the other man said, though he was not a youngster.  There were several years between the brothers. 

"Then according to *our* custom, there is something I want to ask you to do. For the sake of harmony in our family, I want you to choose a wife. Once that is done, Moses will be free to marry as well. If you do not wish to, I shall be forced to be the one that takes the plunge. I think Ula of the Singing Creek Camp might be agreeable." 

Daniel's eyes grew large.  "Ula!  Isn't she the one . . ?"  He did not finish it.  Moses was already pink, and Arista was nodding, tossing handfuls of invisible faerie dust into the air. 

"Unless you want her, that is," Book said with a crooked smile. 

Daniel backed up against the wall.  "I?  Take a wanton woman?" 

"Unless you know of someone more suitable! I leave it up to you. If you don't choose, I will!" 

"And if I am not ready for marriage?" 

"If not, then we go back to batching it. We can't have these two love birds tempted beyond what they can bear because we are both dragging our feet, can we?" 

The older brother looked at his sibling.  Moses shrugged, then smiled innocently. Arista came up and slipped her hand into his, and he squeezed it.  Daniel nodded.  "But I haven't even begun yet." 

"Then begin," Book ordered. "Step one. Choose a potential girl!" 

"Anna Andersen asked me to a Social," he admitted.  "But that is only one step.  You cannot go to a Social and ask the girl to marry you right then and there.  It's just not done!" 

"Wrong. I heard one of the elders say that there should be no courtship until there is a commitment on both of the parties involved. I shall ask her for you, and if she is agreeable, you may begin to court her." Book was beginning to enjoy this. Perhaps he should have taken charge long before this! 

"I thought you wanted to speed through the courtship," Daniel said, his teeth clenched. 

"Only if the girl is agreeable," Book said, knowing already that Anna would be. 

Daniel shook his head.  But they had a point.  Moses certainly had put his time in, courting Arista.  Of course, she was living in the same house!! 

The memory of Anna's bright smile flashed across his eyes. She was most certainly suitable, that was for sure! 

"All right," he said.  "I'll do it." 

It was all Moses could do not to throw his hat up in the air and shout with joy!