Brides Of The Farm

Invite to Tea

Atlee Stolfuz, in her middle twenties, is a mail-order bride. On board a train from Lancaster Pennsylvania to Iowa. She read and reread her letter from Benjamin, finally put it back into her purse, and snapped it shut.
    Folks around her pointed to say the lovely lady is Amish, her clothes are cute. " Actually Mennonite Amish Miss. I'm not dressed in old-order Amish. I'm wearing modest clothing attire. And on her head, a crocheted round veil hair pinned on.
      Wearing a winter coat, and boots all dressed for winter. The Conductor just told us we were coming on ice and snow-covered roads. And would be going at a very slow pace into the next town.
       Dunkerton Amish Village, finally it became so dangerous to move for the Train we detoured and stopped at an Amish Farmstead. Where Altee was directed by the Sheriff to get off there because all visibility was gone because of such a raging ice storm.
       Isaac Troyer greeted her to come right away and stay at his farm. Alter followed bag in hand full of her things. Isaac gently took it from her to his big pickup truck. Then helped her up in. He got into the driver's side and drove away slowly to his farmstead.
     They drove into the farm at a snail's pace, arriving in time before a complete whiteout.
He parked as close to the back door as possible.
Helping her into his warm cozy house. Inside a crackling fire going. And he lit oil lamps immediately so they could see.
Her room is right off the kitchen, a nice big spacious room it was. Where her clothes fit in nicely there. The time now is one in the afternoon. Deciding to take a nap, lying on her bed exhausted. Sleeping till four, she then rose to put on a nightgown, robe, and slippers.
Isaac had made a meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and thick gravy. Also fried potatoes, scalloped corn, and hot kaffi. " Danke Isaac, it all looks delicious."
Isaac: " Welcome what brings you out this way? Altee responded ,"A mail-order bride, I have not met him yet his name is Benjamin Esh. Do you know of him?
      Isaac: " No I do not, he lives further into the Countryside I'm thinking, they call Sunrise territory Mennonite. Very nice hard hard-working folk. By the way it's nice to meet you. I'm so glad you'll be holding up here for a while. And by the way, here is an invite to tea with myself " He handed her a teacup," Yours to keep and tea party."
     She laughed with delight, he is truly charming thinking to herself and glad. For the Lord has sent a new friend. Her new cup was made of rusty clay molded uniquely to resemble a tree stump. Handmade by no other except Isaac himself.
Altee: " This is beautiful Danke so much. Do have a business making pottery !
Isaac: " Yes I do, all mine to cherish, I've been a potterer since seven years old. My Fater is one and my brother. We own the Pottery Barn. It's making God in its own image in pottery design."
     Next, he got up and brought back his catalog of clay dishes. She was Astonished at the perfection done by him, and his family. Expressing herself by telling him what a true talent he has.
       Outside the weather raging yet, a whiteout. The stock horses were put up for the night fed and watered. This house in a barn was built that way many years ago. Horses nestled in a safe, clean living space in the barn. Isaac just walks out a side door into a barn where our horses lived. Also an indoor arena.
Isaac: " We shall be lucky this time, while it storms our store closed catalog orders only.
Until weather permitting they'd open up again.
Altee: " How much do I owe you to stay at your home during the storm? I mean you are so generous to keep me. Danke very much."
Isaac: "Your friendship, Altee is all I want, and your gut company. I believe under the circumstances of this horrible storm raging on it is fair to say we have had a splendid time talking."
   Altee: " Danke you are so kind, Isaac, and since this is my first time away from home I must say it was frightening for me and I feel safe being here with you. "
      The electricity was off from the ice storm, thankful for the oil lamps and lit candles, and plenty of them. The house became cozy and warm from a fire going in every fireplace in the house.
     Soon after the night became game time checkers. Both laughed a lot, as if they met before for which they had not. Before long bedtime, each said their good night and went to bed.
     Buddy a large tabby cat jumped up on the bed and purred loudly as a healthy cat does.
Atlee, fast asleep, comfortable and happy, next to his big German Shepard lay on her other side Freddy, sound asleep.
       Upstairs asleep from rescues yesterday, he is home to stay this week. And his horses, well-kept, groomed and fed. He dreamed of hard work and Beverly his lost love dying tragically as she had. In a landslide two years back.
      His last thoughts in his dreams are not getting to her in time to save her. Awakening abruptly to find she had died and he was alone in the house jerking to the point of setting up in his bed.