An Instrument in His Hands

Part 2 Chapter 11

Part 2

85 - 78 BC

Chapter 11

‘You are courting someone,’ I accused Andrew as I laid out the table for our dinner. His behavior had changed radically in the last few weeks, from carousing in the evenings, to coming home to dress respectably and perfume his hair.

‘I am,’ he confessed sheepishly. ‘If she will have me.’

‘Who?’ I was intrigued!

Andrew reddened. ‘The daughter of Zoram.’

‘What? Her father is the elected judge of the people.’

Andrew stiffened. ‘And, I run his government. What could be more advantageous to both of us?’

I sought for a reason to protest this. ‘But, but she is an idol worshipper! Your children would grow up foolish.’

He lowered his brows as he pulled out a chair. ‘Perhaps it is not so foolish.’

I laughed in disbelief as I stopped my work. ‘Surely, you, Andrew, do not worship the rice god?’ That would be absurd.

He tucked a cloth onto his lap. ‘Of course not! But the rice god serves to give hope to the masses. And, he does not demand obedience like the god of the Nephites.’

‘Yes he does,’ I retorted, leaning over the table, ‘I’ve seen people pour all their money into his coffers.’

‘And that, in turn, builds his temple and provides employment for the masses. That is how the rice god brings prosperity.’

I thumped my hand. ‘He impoverishes the masses.’

‘They do not have to contribute if they so choose.’

‘And how much do the rice merchants contribute?’ I asked as I too sat down.

‘As much as they choose.’

I flicked my cloth onto my lap also. ‘Exactly my point. But enough of the rice god! Are you really going to marry her? Where will you live?’

He hesitated. ‘Well, I will have to move to the center of the city and have many servants.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Like our mother? How pleased she would be.’

‘Yes, I think mother would approve of Lydia,’ he said and served himself some soup.

Lydia. I would have to move myself. Suddenly, I did not want food.

Andrew offered, ‘You may remain in this home if you can afford it.’

I could not.

Much to Andrew’s dismay, I moved closer to my work, renting space in another hut in the poorest section of the city, like I had when he found me in Antionum years before. But I felt free. My school prospered and I was able to use my extra earnings to continue my work serving the poorest of the poor.

I myself had nothing but my basic necessities and the riches of eternity. I felt the Lord’s approval, and knew that in time, he too would come down among men and dwell amongst the poor. If that was good enough for the Creator of the stars above, it was good enough for me.

My students made great progress, many of them highly ambitious to become merchants and lawyers and live among the rich. Others learned for the love of it, curious about life and the world beyond Antionum. And a few came only because their mothers wanted them out from under their feet. But I loved them all and tried to teach them charity and kindness, in addition to reading, writing, ciphering, history and geography.