Everyone had a wonderful time. This night the singing was held in the Zook home rather than outside or in the barn. Miriam and her younger children stayed in the kitchen to help with the food before the children retired upstairs. Joseph Zook, the head of the household, had gone to William Mast’s house for a time before arriving home and joining his wife in the kitchen for a bite to eat before heading upstairs with her. Their daughters Annie and Barbara were at the singing along with their eldest son, Josiah.Annie had confided to Rachel that her parents enjoyed hosting the singing for the young people. It reminded them of their days of courting when Annie’s vadder had driven her mudder home.Rachel liked hearing the story of the Zooks. Horseshoe Joe and Miriam obviously cared for each other still, and it was nice to see another example of a successful marriage.Neither Noah nor she had joined the church yet. Most of the young people at the singing had not. Joining the church was the decision of the individual.
