Here's another post by Adair Magee, a woman from Western Pennsylvania who has Amish next-door neighbors. I find her stories very heartwarming.
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Brad, my son, was coming to visit. He had been
working in New York and was taking a short vacation. I knew he would help me
with my spring yard work, which was a big chore. I hated to have him spend his
whole week off working in my yard. If we had help, it wouldn’t take more than a
day and Brad could have time to relax and visit instead of working the whole
week. I asked my Amish neighbor if her children could come and help. I enjoyed
their company and felt Brad would too.
On Monday
morning the Miller children arrived early and were ready to work. I introduced
the workers to Brad. I sensed a bit of skepticism in Brad’s raised eyebrows as
I introduced Susan, 14, Jonas 12, and Jeremiah 10, as his work crew for the
day. Each one stepped forward and shook Brad’s hand as I said their name. Brad
took it in stride and handed Susan a shovel and began giving her instructions
on how to dig a post hole.
“Seriously Brad, it is not as though I’ve not dug a
hole before,” Susan remarked with a smile.
Ten minute later, as it often happens when you use
old tools, two of the shovel handles broke.
“Not to worry,” Susan said. “We have lots of shovels
at the farm. If you drive us there we can get them.”
The boys and Susan got in the car and we drove to
the Miller’s farm.
As we pulled into the driveway, Jonas began speaking
frantically in Dutch. Both boys leaned forwarded and were frantically pointing.
“Chief is loose,” Susan said so I could understand
why the boys were so excited. Then she ordered, “Adair, drive us to the back of
the barn NOW!”
I stepped on the accelerator and pulled through the
field to the back side of the barn.
“Chief is outside the fence. We need to shoo him
back through the gate. I need to give you directions.” Susan continued in a
rapid commanding tone.
I stopped and
the boys jumped out of the car and ran to open a gate to the fenced in area.
Susan led me over to the fence and told me to stand perpendicular to the
opening with my arms outstretched as far as I could.
“Just stay right here and trust me, Adair,” she said
as she and the boys took off running to the field beyond where Chief was
contentedly grazing.
I stood where
she told me with my arms outstretched and watched as Chief, a huge paint
stallion with a black mane and tail, became aware of the children heading
toward him. He lifted up his head, snorted and began running full speed in my
direction. The boys were prompting the horse with commands in Dutch and
Elizabeth was shouting to me, encouraging me to stand firm, stand still.”
My heart was beating fast and my mind was racing as
Chief came barreling toward me. I wondered if they really knew what they were
doing. I heard the sound of Chief’s heavy breathing and his hoofs rapidly
hitting the ground as he was getting closer and closer to me. When he was just
a few yards from me he turned and went in through the opening in the fence. I
swear I felt the tips of his mane and tail brush my face as he passed by me. I
was impressed by the way the children had handled getting Chief back into his
pasture. They did it with movement and encouraging words.
The children cheered as they pushed the huge gate
shut and secured it. Chief pranced back and forth shaking his head, and I think
he was even smiling.
We got the shovels and when we were back in the car
I ask Susan, “Have you read the book by Monty Robert’s that all the Amish men
are talking about?”
“Not yet,”
she answered. “My dad has worked with Amish and English horse people. He
believes in positive training and that is what he has taught us. He says it
also works on us,” she said as she turned to look at me and smile.
When we arrived back at my place, Brad had the yard
tractor out and had several holes started. The three children each grabbed a
shovel and started to work. As we worked, we told Brad of our herding Chief
adventure. I could see that he was impressed.
He was also impressed by the way the children worked
diligently all day, each assisting and being assisted, as a team. All in all,
we had a fun work day. Brad met my Amish friend’s children, we finished the
yard work, and Chief was safely returned to his pasture.
Amish buggy in downtown Smicksburg, PA
