The Gifted by Ann H. Gabhart Page B

acceptance. “Very well, sisters. Let us continue our duty with no more lagging.”
    She put her hand under Sister Abigail’s elbow to propel her up the row to where Sister Annie continued to strip the rose blooms with the energy driven by anger. It promised to be a long day for both Sister Annie and Sister Abigail.
    But Sister Abigail’s spirit wasn’t bothered. She waited until Sister Edna looked away to flash Jessamine a smile over her shoulder and whisper, “Love the sunlight.”
    “What are you whispering about, Sister Abigail?” Sister Edna gripped the girl’s arm harder and gave her a jerk forward.
    “Just being thankful for the warming gift of the sun. And wanting to share that gift with my sisters,” Sister Abigail said with an innocent smile. “Is it not proper to share gifts with our sisters?”
    “Not gifts of mischief. I don’t know why Eldress Frieda ever thought the two of you could work together. I will be informing her of your slack work here in the gardens.”
    “Will I be denied the evening meal?” Sister Abigail asked as she moved up the row toward Sister Annie. “Like a naughty child?”
    “Nay. You know little of our Shaker way,” Sister Edna said. “Wrong actions and thoughts bring their own punishment and steal the peace that can be yours. We deny no one the food necessary for health.”
    Jessamine sighed as she watched them move away. She did not intend to be forever in trouble. She rose each morning with the intent to walk the Shaker path with obedience, but something was continually tripping her up.
    As she began clipping off the roses and stripping the petals, she tried to think only of the silky feel of them on her fingertips, but that brought to mind Sister Abigail’s words about kissing. And that brought to mind the man from the woods. She did have the desire to see him again before he left the village, but she knew Sister Sophrena would never allow that. But what if she did happen to walk past Brother Benjamin’s medicinal garden? With the sun rising in the east. Or perhaps sinking in the west. The doctor’s garden received sunlight morning and evening.

Journal Entry
Harmony Hill Village
Entered on this 15th day of June in the year 1849
by Sister Sophrena Prescott
Sister Edna reports a lack of dutiful mindfulness to their task of picking rose petals by Sister Jessamine and Sister Abigail. Sister Edna is gifted with an observant eye when it comes to seeing lapses and faults. Such gifts are sometimes a help in maintaining proper discipline in our village, but I must say I am glad I do not share that gift. Even listening to our sister relate the wrongs she sees makes me weary. I often find it hard to sit silent as the list goes on and on. Small sins, but as Sister Edna insists and correctly so, sins nevertheless.
I do have to admit to feeling a heavy sigh build up in me as she continued on about Sister Jessamine’s improper attitude. Sister Jessamine seemed so ready to work to recover the proper peace of a Believer, but wrong thoughts tempted her yet again. She is so young. Even younger inwardly than outwardly, I believe. Her mind is much too easily entranced by fanciful ideas. She confessed that her worldly desire to see parasols was the reason she led Sister Annie on that wild-goose chase through the woods—a caper ending with the two of them perilously close to danger. Parasols of all things. It quite makes my head ache. I despair of ever teaching the girl proper discipline unless she can rein in her curiosity about such trivial things.
Perhaps it would be wise to move Sister Abigail to a different retiring room. Sister Edna reports the two have been heard whispering during the time for sleep. I do have to agree with Sister Edna in regard to that young sister. Sister Abigail has little desire to be among us. Her natural father forced his family to come among us. Such sisters—those compelled to come into the village rather than coming of their own free will—have much