The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings To All In Western Illinois.
I'm a hopin' you all are refreshed from this past weeks rain. It was just what those soybeans needed and should be a finishing touch for the corn.
Some say, for those receiving the rain, it's about all that is of want to polish the crops off.
I can remember, several years in the past, where we have harvested corn already by this time, on the calendar.
Also, when we planted earlier varieties of beans, we has some fields opened up and a few completed.
With those hurricanes blowing in, one after another, some are expressing concern for a wet fall. With the large combines of today, and their dual wheels, I don't suppose a wet fall would present near the problem it did 50 years ago. Least ways, not with the harvesting machinery.
Extra work would be experienced getting those huge auger wagons to the trucks, on the road, rather than being able to park the trucks in the field.
Large amounts of mud might gather on the roads, but that can be cleaned up with the farm tractor blade or skid loader. (hopefully)
A wet fall would possibly bring on increased drying costs and that's one thing today's farmer does not need-additional expenses for this year!
Fall tillage would be complicated ifn' a wet fall endured. But, as I think about it, I'm just borrowing trouble from the future.
Cornelius tells me, "Don't trouble trouble "til trouble troubles you"! So, we'll just let them hurricanes slip on by one by one, until they get it out of their system. Then we'll plan on it being a good fall for harvest and tillage work.
With those thoughts, "I'm as comfortable as a snake's belly inna' old wagon rut".
Cornelius was a tellln' me about the "Old Order Amish" come'n out of the north, to help those in the flood areas.
There is of course many kinds of church folk come'n around to help disaster needs, including Amish, but not much is known about the Amish, least ways not the "Old Order Amish".
So, I questions old Cornelius a bit, to satisfy some of my curiosity.
What motivates those "Peculiar People" to rebuild for others, that which they do not condone for themselves? Why would a people that purposely separates itself from the "world" be so helpful to "a world in need?"
They had their own flood up in their north country this year and many lost their own crops. And yet, here they were helping flood victims along the rivers and tornado victims in Parkersville, IA.
A few years back, when a deranged shooter trapped and killed so many of their youngin's, what allowed them the forgiveness they displayed and the mercy they extended, to the shooter's family.
Cornelius says, "To sum up the Amish in a few thoughts, would not do them justice." They are careful not to call attention to their good deeds and want no publicity.
However, his reference for all Christian folk is made to two scriptures from the Holy Bible: I Peter 2:9 and Titus 2:13,14 of the King James Version, which is the Bible the Amish use in their church services.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." I Peter 2:9
..... "our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:13, 14
The Kalona "Old Order Amish" have eight church districts and each church district sends a van load of workers every other week, four days a week. That makes four van loads a week that are a comin' into the Oakville bottoms and quietly working without any fan fare.
They did the same thing a few years back on the last flood, for the Keithsburg area, here in Henderson County. ÊÊÊÊÊOther non-Amish churches are also helpin' in many ways, including providing free meals every day for the workers.
To be sure, the Old Order Amish are not the only churches helping. Many different denominations are contributing in many other ways also. But Cornelius tells me, perhaps, the Old Order Amish are not as well understood by the "English" (non-German speaking church folk). I'll be a ask'n him more questions as time goes on, to understand these particularly "Peculiar People" a little more.
Maybe you would like me to share with you what I find out? For example, why the buggies, horses, steel wheels on tractors, no electricity in homes, no phones, why they dress the way they do, why no attendance at public schools, why no education beyond 8th grade, in homes etc, etc.?
For now, as far as the "Old Order Amish" is concerned, "We've howdied, but we ain't shook." Maybe it's time we "shook" and got to know them a little bit better. After all, as I hear it, there is a right good settlement of them just fresh into Warren County, near Roseville.
They've got a discount store started and are a doing good carpenter work in this area. Also there's a settlement near Tennessee/Colchester with stores and carpenter workers.
Maybe we should get to know our neighbors, as we did years ago. Let me know your questions about them, if'n you have any, and I'll try to find out answers for you from old Cornelius.
Catch ya later,
Barnyard Bruke