We went back to the Scheimer homestead and were favorably received.
There was no special enthusiasm over our return, no marked
demonstrations of delight; but they seemed glad to see us, and all
the unpleasant things of the past, if not forgotten, were tacitly
ignored on all sides. We passed a pleasant evening together in what
seemed a re-united family circle-one of the brothers only was
absent-and next morning we met cordially around the breakfast table.
I really began to think it was possible that all the old
difficulties might be healed, and that the pleasant picture Sarah
painted, at Goshen, about settling down happily in Pennsylvania,
could be fully realized.
After breakfast I took a conveyance to go three or four miles to see
a man who owed me some money for medical services in his family, and
was away from Scheimer's three or four hours. During this brief
absence I could not help thinking with genuine satisfaction of the
happiness Sarah was experiencing in the gratification of her longing
to return home again. Surely, I thought, she must be happy now. No
more homesickness, and a full and complete reconciliation with her
family; all the anger, abuse, and blows forgotten or forgiven; she
restored to her place in the family; and even her objectionable
husband received with open arms.
But what an enormous difference there is between fancy and fact.
During this brief absence of mine, had come home the brother who had
always seemed to concentrate the hatred of the whole family towards
me for the wrong they assumed I had done to the youngest daughter
who loved me.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51