Ruth Hartzler - Kindness: An Amish Romance Novella

Kindness: An Amish Romance Novella

Ruth Hartzler

Kindness: An Amish Romance Novella

(The Amish Buggy Horse, Book 5)

Ruth Hartzler

Copyright 2015 Ruth Hartzler

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 9781925689808

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The personal names have been invented by the author, and any likeness to the name of any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Glossary

Pennsylvania Dutch is a dialect, not a language, because it has no standard written form. It is written as it sounds, which is why you will see the same word written several different ways. All are permissible.

The word Dutch has nothing to do with Holland, but rather is likely a corruption of the German word Deitsch or Deutsch.

Glossary

ab im kopp - addled in the head

Ach! (also, Ack!) - Oh!

aenti - aunt

appeditlich - delicious

Ausbund - Amish hymn book

bedauerlich - sad

bloobier - blueberry

boppli - baby

bopplin - babies

bro - bread

bruder(s) - brother(s)

bu - boy

Budget, The - weekly newspaper for Amish and Mennonite communities. Based on Sugarcreek, Ohio, and has 2 versions, Local and National.

buwe - boys

daag - day

Daed, Datt, Dat (vocative) - Dad

Diary, The - Lancaster County based Amish newspaper. Focus is on Old Order Amish.

Dawdi (also, Daadi) (vocative) - Grandfather

dawdi haus (also, daadi haus, grossdawdi haus) - grandfathers or grandparents house (often a small house behind the main house)

de Bo - boyfriend

Die Botschaft - Amish weekly newspaper. Based in PA but its focus is nation-wide.

demut - humility

denki (or danki) - thank you

Der Herr - The Lord

dochder - daughter

dokter - doctor

doplich - clumsy

dumm - dumb

dummkopf - idiot, dummy

Dutch Blitz - Amish card game

English (or Englisch) (adjective) - A non-Amish person

Englischer (noun) - A non-Amish person

familye - family

ferhoodled - foolish, crazy

fraa - wife, woman

froh - happy

freind - friend

freinden - friends

gegisch - silly

geh - go

gern gheschen (also, gern gschehne) - youre welcome

Gott (also, Gotte) - God

grank - sick, ill

grossboppli - grandbaby

grossdawdi (also, dawdi, daadi haus, gross dawdi) - grandfather, or, in some communities, great grandfather

grosskinskind - great-grandchild

grosskinskinner - great-grandchildren

grossmammi (or grossmudder) - grandmother

gross-sohn - grandson

grossvadder - grandfather (see also grossdawdi)

gude mariye - good morning

guten nacht (also, gut nacht) - good night

gude nochmiddaag - good afternoon

gut - good

haus - house

Herr - Mr.

Hiya - Hi

hochmut - pride

Hullo (also, Hallo) - Hello

hungerich - hungry

Ich liebe dich - I love you

jah (also ya) - yes

kaffi (also, kaffee) - coffee

kapp - prayer covering worn by women

kichli - cookie

kichlin - cookies

kinn (also, kind) - child

kinner - children

kinskinner - Grandchildren

Kumme (or Kumm) - Come

lieb - love, sweetheart

liewe - a term of endearment, dear, love

liede - song

maid (also, maed) - girls

maidel (also, maedel) - girl

Mamm (also, Mammi) - Mother, Mom

Mammi - Grandmother

mann - man

mariye-esse - breakfast

mei - my

meidung - shunning

mei lieb - my love

mein liewe - my dear, my love

menner - men

mudder - mother

naerfich - nervous

naut (also, nacht) - night

nee (also nein) - no

nix - nothing

nohma - name

onkel - uncle

Ordnung - Order, the unwritten Amish set of rules, different in each community

piffle (also, piddle) - to waste time or kill time

Plain - referring to the Amish way of life

rett (also, redd) - to put (items) away or to clean up.

rootsh (also, ruch) - not being able to sit still.

rumspringa (also, rumschpringe) - Running around years - when Amish youth (usually around the age of sixteen) leave the community for time and can be English, and decide whether to commit to the Amish way of life and be baptized.

schatzi - honey

schee - pretty, handsome

schecklich - scary

schmaert - smart

schtupp - family room

schweschder - sister

schweschdern - sisters

schwoger - brother-in-law

seltsam - strange, unnatural

sohn - son

vadder - father

verboten - forbidden

Vorsinger - Song leader

was its let - what is the matter?

wie gehts - how are you?

wilkum (also, wilkom) - welcome

wunderbar (also, wunderbaar) - wonderful

yer - you

yourself - yourself

youngie (also, young) - the youth

yung - young

Chapter 1

The sun streamed in through the kitchen window as Lydia spooned out scrambled eggs onto two plates. She took in a deep breath. There was something about the smell of bacon and fresh kaffi. It was calming and comforting, and reminded Lydia of her vadder, humming along in his work clothes as he got ready for a day of work at the break of day. She remembered how her mudder would fuss at him for wearing his steel toed boots in the haus, while he just grinned over at her in his calm way. Even all these years later, she still remembered the way he would laugh in this kitchen. Nothing had been the same after he passed away.

Lydia shook herself from fond memories. She set the plates on the table, and popped a small piece of bacon in her mouth. She savored the smoky flavor as she went to the gas refrigerator to get the milk.

My goodness, Lydia; look at the amount of food! Are you feeding the whole community? Her mudders voice was strident.

Gut morning, Mamm. Lydia kept a level voice as she turned with the pitcher of milk. She was careful not to look directly at her mudder as she busied herself with making breakfast. How did you sleep?

Less than you, her mudder shot back, her tone filled with annoyance. Lydia, its already almost seven in the morning. Ive been working the garden since sun up. Why are you just getting around to breakfast now, at this late time?

Sorry, Mamm, Lydia said automatically as she pulled a chair for her mudder before sitting down herself. I didnt wake up on time for some reason.

Her mudder snorted. I knocked on your door twice this morning.