A Place Called Eden Read online

  Jacob was impressed with the neatly arranged store. The appearance was of an “old world” general store. It was an inviting place that he had heard about, but had not yet visited. And in light of the smells of leather and new unworn starched cloth filling the air, he had a feeling that he had entered an earlier time that would have otherwise been known only by the early settlers of this part of the country, perhaps even a century previous to this. The store was obviously managed by one who cared for this ancient store, and who intended to maintain its character and purpose which was to serve their Old Order Mennonite community. Jacob also did not know when he entered the store that Tom Yoder’s sister, Rebecca, was the one who maintained the store’s cleanliness and order.

  As he looked around at all that there was to see, he caught sight of stacks of cartons of soda that were sitting by the east wall near the store manager’s office door, and then he also saw the dairy supplies that he was to purchase that were neatly placed on shelves near the side door.

  He was walking toward the stacks of cartons of soda that he had come to buy with the money that his father had given him when he heard a voice, obviously a young female voice, coming from somewhere above on the other side of the room. “Hello, may I help you?” Unable to locate the source of the voice, Jacob looked up and around, but could not locate it. Finally, the voice said, “Up here!” Jacob looked up and across the room, and eventually found where the voice was coming from. The sweet voice had come from a girl who from a distance appeared very petite, very blond, and very pretty. She appeared to have been folding and arranging clothes on the upper shelves on the south wall of the store. The tall ladder that she was standing on did not seem very steady, but she negotiated it with grace and agility. Jacob was so taken by the sight of her that all he could think of to say was,

  “Do you work here?”

  As she climbed down from the ladder and jumped gracefully to the floor from the second to the last rung of the ladder, she moved closer to Jacob and said, “Of course, silly! My father is Abraham Yoder and he is the manager here. I help out on Saturdays when he needs me.”

  She was, indeed, a vision of loveliness. She was wearing a traditional long print dress of their Mennonite Order, and although she was very petite and apparently very young, she filled it out beautifully in all the right places. He tried not stare, but it was difficult not to. Even without lipstick and other makeup that other young women he knew wore, he could not remember when he had seen such a lovely young woman. She was wearing the typical white cap of young Mennonite women of the Eden River Mennonite Order that was perched on the back of her head with long dainty straps hanging lightly over her shoulders. Her appearance was that of an angel, but it all somehow seemed to fit her demeanor. He was surprised that even in light of the long plain high neck print dress that was worn to just above her ankles, along with the traditional puffed sleeves and brown oxford shoes typically worn by young women of their Old Order Mennonite heritage, it didn’t matter. All Jacob could think was, ’She is beautiful!’

  Jacob had just opened his mouth to ask her name when a muscular bearded man entered the room from the back of the store. The beard was typical of the Eden River Mennonite Order being worn by a rather severe-appearing man who moved directly to the young woman, saying, “Rebecca, do you need my help?” His voice resonating from his vast barrel chest.

  “No, father,” replied Rebecca. “I believe that this young man came here to make a purchase.”

  Although Jacob’s family, at least his father and mother and grandparents, were well-known in that community, and his father knew Abraham Yoder, it was apparent that he did not recognize Jacob. Jacob’s ancestors on his father’s side had lived in or near this Old Order Mennonite community for more than five, going onto six generations, and their farms and individual tracts of land had been bought and sold over the generations, including the vast acres of Fall Meadow Farms. However, even though Jacob thought that he knew most of the people in that community, up to this moment he had never met Abraham Yoder, and did not realize that there was such a beautiful girl in that community.

  Realizing that Rebecca’s father was looking at him rather sternly while he was absent mindedly admiring the sight of Rebecca, Jacob averted his eyes to those of her father, and moved directly to the stacks of cases of soda and dairy supplies that he was to purchase. While Rebecca waited patiently for him to determine which types and flavors he was going to purchase, he couldn’t help being distracted by the sight of her blond hair, and her beautiful blue eyes that were focused intently on him.

  Jacob desperately tried to think of something to say to break the silence, but could not seem to. All conversational thoughts seemed dull. The weather was nice, but she knew that. The store looked nice, but she knew that also. She was beautiful, but he was hesitant to say anything about that. Besides, her father may be listening.

  Jacob went to the cases of soda that were stacked near the back wall of the store, and carefully filled four cases with the full variety of soda that was on hand at the Eden General Store while Rebecca waited somewhat impatiently. He couldn’t tell for sure, although he glanced at her face periodically to see if she was waiting patiently or otherwise. He took his time filling the cases of soda—partially because he wanted the widest variety possible, but also because he liked being near Rebecca. So, he extended the time for as long as he could, trying not to be overly obvious. And, he also had to pick out the dairy supplies that his father wanted him to purchase.

  Finally, Rebecca broke the silence. “Can I help you fill the cases? I must get back to work stocking the shelves. My father expects my work to be done by noon.”

  It seemed obvious to Jacob that she may not be enjoying herself being near him nearly as much as he was enjoying her proximity. And, perhaps she was not enjoying it at all. He couldn’t tell. However, he was happy when she did begin to enter into a conversation with him. She asked his name, where he lived, and if the day was still as nice as it had begun earlier in the morning. He answered politely, and even though he felt rather awkward being so close to such a beautiful young woman, he tried to respond to her in a positive way. And, he must have made sense since she began smiling at him when he spoke. Jacob then completed filling the cases, moved over to pick out the dairy supplies, and used the money his father had given to him to pay for everything. He, using hauling carts from the store, carried the four heavy cases of soda and dairy supplies to their old pickup truck that was parked outside next to the store.

  In the meantime, Abraham Yoder left the back of the store again and walked outside to help Jacob load everything into the back of the pickup. While helping him, Rebecca’s father talked to him briefly, “Does your family live close by?” It was obvious that he did not know who Jacob was, and wanted to keep track of young men who were obviously not of their Old Order Mennonite heritage. Of course, Jacob’s family did not belong to the Eden River Mennonite Church where the Yoder’s attended, so Jacob had probably never been seen by Rebecca’s father.

  “My last name is Swenson,” Jacob replied. “Jacob Swenson. My father’s name is Milo Swenson. People just call him Milo. Our main farm headquarters is about six miles north of here. That’s where I was born and raised.”

  Joseph Yoder looked surprised. “You mean that you’re Milo Swenson’s son? Well—you do look a little like him. I’ve known your father for many years. He is a good and hardworking man, and your mother seems like a fine woman. I knew your grandparents too…good farmers, they were very prosperous indeed!” he remarked with some enthusiasm.

  Rebecca’s father’s demeanor changed gradually as they talked, from the gruff bearded Mennonite man of the conservative order to a man who seemed interested in what Jacob was saying. Never a man of many words, he seemed to relax a little as he helped Jacob load the cartons into the bed of the old truck.

  Chapter 4

  When Jacob climbed back into the old pickup truck, and drove down the dusty gravel and sand main street of Eden,
Kansas, and onto the country road to return to their farm, he thought back on his time at the Eden General Store and the image of Rebecca upon the ladder. He recalled that when he finally located her, how angelic she appeared. And, he remembered how he felt when she was near him for a brief time before her father entered the room. He knew that a relationship with her was considered to be impossible because of the differences in their religion and culture. After all, he was ‘of the world.’ However, he likewise felt it would be impossible not to see her again. He was, indeed, smitten! This young woman had stolen Jacob’s heart!

  He knew what he must do now is to plan his next trip to the Eden General Store at a time when he was sure that there was a possibility that Rebecca would be there—maybe a Saturday morning like this one. While driving down the rough country road, his thoughts continued to turn back to his brief time with Rebecca, apparently a sweet young woman, and obviously very pretty!

  As Jacob drove toward home, he recalled that he had learned several things while at the store where he met Rebecca. First of all, he learned by way of what her father had called her that her name was Rebecca. Secondly, he learned that she is a member of a rather traditional family of Old Order of Mennonites, at least judging from her father’s beard, his plain clothes, his strict formal manner, and the traditional ankle-length dress and white cap that Rebecca wore. Thirdly, he learned that she must be Tom Yoder’s sister who he had seen from afar, but never met before that day. Fourthly, from what he observed while he was at the general store, she was not only attractive, but taking it a step further, she was beyond attractive. She was beautiful! And, she also seemed very polite, which he would expect. And lastly, Jacob was a little taken aback that although Rebecca was the only daughter of their traditional Old Order Mennonite family, she was apparently allowed to attend high school along with her brother Tom. If the blond young woman he had seen with Tom Yoder walking out of their high school was, indeed, Rebecca, then her parents were allowing her to attend high school. Since the other children of their Mennonite Order were required to cease their schooling at the 8th grade, it was unusual that Rebecca and Tom were allowed to attend high school and interact with other students who were ‘of the world,’ as they were called.

  Back at the Eden General Store, Rebecca recalled the customer who she now knew as Jacob Swenson. Since the majority of customers who shopped at that store were older residents of Eden, Kansas and member of the Eden River Mennonite Church, it was unusual for a young man who was obviously not of their Mennonite Order to come there to shop. She thought of him as rather handsome, and well-mannered, but that he must be dismissed from her thoughts since she would not be allowed to enter into any type of relationship of a young man who was ’of the world and not of their Mennonite Order.

  She also recalled that she, at her young age of 17 years, usually dismissed the attention of young men as not being of a serious nature. Further, most of the young men who belonged to the Eden River Mennonite church were either close or distant relatives, at least cousins, and she did not want to date a relative, let alone marry one! So, she took none of them seriously.

  But she couldn’t help recall the visit by this particular young man who she met during his visit to the store. She recalled that Jacob was well-tanned probably from working in the fields, and most of all, she remembered once again that he seemed rather nice and well-mannered. Although she knew that he was not of their faith and heritage, she could not help hoping that he would return to the store sometime soon. But she had a feeling that as a result of the abrupt visit by her father during their brief time together, and the amount of soda that Jacob purchased, it would not be soon. Jacob, on the other hand, was committed to thinking of a reason to return to the Eden General Store on a Saturday morning as soon as possible so that he could see Rebecca again!

  Jacob drove the six miles north on the dusty country road back to the family farm, having delivered the grain to the Eden Feed Mill and Grain Elevator, purchasing the dairy supplies, and bringing the cargo of soda that would provide refreshment to him, his father and their hired hands during the summer months. When he drove up the long driveway into their farm yard, he parked the old pickup truck by the milk barn, and walked toward their white two and one-half story colonial house to wash his hands and get ready for lunch. As his mother hurried about the large kitchen of that majestic colonial home, she prepared lunch for Jacob and Milo, her husband.

  Chapter 5

  The morning after meeting Rebecca, Jacob had risen from bed, washed his face and hands and shaved. Even though his beard probably hadn’t grown enough to need to be shaved, shaving made him feel as though his preparation for the day was complete. And beside at eighteen years of age, he felt that he should be shaving, even though it was typical rather than atypical for young men of the Mennonite Order of that community to begin growing a beard that would grow along the line of the chin, but without a mustache since a mustache was considered to be a sign ‘of the world.’ But, he was what was considered “of the world” and not part of theirs.

  After preparing for the day, he ventured outside and stood alone in the open field east of the four-columned colonial home where he had lived since birth. As he looked into the pre-dawn horizon, the cool breeze of early spring caressed his face and ruffled his sandy blond hair. Jacob loved this farm—this land and the vast acres of Fall Meadow Farms.

  At that moment, however, his thoughts were of Rebecca. He recalled seeing her for the first time the day before. He was struck by her petite size, her pretty face, her sweet voice, her silky blond hair and very blue eyes. He wanted very much to see her again, and he wished that he could remain there in that grassy field listening to the wind, remembering Rebecca as he saw her the day before. But he knew that he must return to begin the routine work of morning chores that are common to farm life. He also recalled that any thoughts of Rebecca, or any thoughts of seeing her again should probably be pushed aside since she was in essence from another world that was not to associate with his.

  Jacob and his family, although farming in that community for nearly six generations, were still not a part of the Eden River Mennonite community since they were not a member of their faith—or their heritage. Milo Swenson, Jacob’s mother Caroline, and Jacob were a part ‘of the world,’ the outside world that was not a part of the Eden River Mennonite heritage and beliefs, and members of their Order were to avoid being a part of that world. Again, if Jacob had any thoughts of a relationship with Abraham Yoder’s daughter, those would need to be pushed aside since he felt it would not be permitted.

  As Jacob sat at the kitchen table to eat his breakfast, he was unusually quiet. Even his mother noticed it and asked him if anything was wrong. Jacob assured her that nothing was wrong. But, deep inside, he was aware that something was different within him. He didn’t know exactly what ‘love’ was, nor was he aware of what was called ‘infatuation.’ He was not familiar with those feelings. He only knew that he couldn’t get Rebecca out of his mind.

  Perhaps at nearly the same moment, Rebecca telephoned her best friend, Sarah. She had again recalled Jacob’s visit to the Eden General Store the day before, and could not release him from her thoughts. She just had to tell someone about this young man who came to the store who was ‘of the world.’

  Rebecca and Sarah had been best friends since early elementary school. Their families attended the same Eden River Mennonite church, a gigantic white wooden church that sat near a country road in the center of a vast open field in their community, so she and Sarah saw each other at least once a week after church services. She just had to tell Sarah of her encounter with Jacob. She had never met anyone quite like him before, and needed to share the experience with someone she could trust. Rebecca’s best friend, Sarah, was the one.

  During the school year, Rebecca and Sarah were together nearly every day of the week except for Saturdays. Since their conservative Order of the Mennonite faith had begun to permit its members to have telephones in their homes
, on Saturday they usually spent some time talking, using that newly permitted device. They enjoyed indulging in that small segment of ‘the world.’ Rebecca felt a sense of freedom to have the opportunity to talk on the telephone, since other branches of the Mennonites, and other conservative Orders such as the Amish had not yet allowed its members to include that extravagance of ‘the world.’

  ‘The world,’ according to the traditional Mennonite philosophy was to remain a distant presence in their lives. They could tolerate it, but were not to be a part of it in order to remain faithful to their traditions and heritage of leading a simple life.

  Rebecca’s family, being rather traditional and devout members of their Eden River Order of the Mennonite church had made it clear to her since childhood that it was expected that their children would not stray from their traditions when they began dating, since dating young people who were not of their faith and traditions, or for Rebecca, dating young men whose families were ‘of the world’ was prohibited. Young women of their Order were to date only young men who were likewise members of their Order of Mennonite, particularly since dating could lead to more serious matters such as marriage.