Pilgrims 1:1 It came to pass in the second year of the Confederate War that I, Joshua, a deacon of the Lord of Hosts Fellowship and the son of a goodly farmer of some esteem by the name of John Lange, had received correspondence from one Ariel Haivri regarding a matter it seemed to me should be made known to the saints of the church without delay. With leave from Elder David Long, therefore, I undertook to read this epistle to all the holy brethren at the Price Meetinghouse following our mid-week evening prayers. The salutation of Ariel Haivri and the urgent communication are given here. Pilgrims 1:2 House Haivri to our fellow laborers in the vineyard of God Most High, though by the sorrows of Providence we are asundered by the tides of history, yet our hearts are knit together in the bonds of holy fraternity. Be it known unto you, dear neighbors, that upon the seventeenth day of the present month, the hosts of war shall clash in earnest among the wooded hollows and open fields near unto your fair house of prayer. Pilgrims 1:3 In earnest concern for the tranquility and safekeeping of your flock, we, of the Haivri clan do extend to you and yours the offer of refuge within our own house of prayer. Let any among you who seek a haven from the tumult and travail of battle come hither without delay or hesitation. Pilgrims 1:4 Our doors stand open, and our hearth prepared without cost. Particularly do we urge this in regard to the safeguarding of your horses, mules, and kine, for though the secessionist columns oft profess courtesy toward the inhabitants of the lands they tread, yet it is held as common knowledge that whatsoever goeth about on four hooves is reckoned fair spoil.
Pilgrims 1:5 Take heed also: when the great guns roar as thunder upon the heights, as they are like to do this coming Lord's Day, the fourteenth of September, then our premonition shall be made manifest, yet shall it be too late to flee by any of the roads round about, save at peril of your cattle and wagons being taken by the quartermaster companies of both contending armies. Pilgrims 1:6 We therefore entreat you, brethren beloved, that should ye discern wisdom in our counsel, let your arrival, be it with family or flock, by light of day or under cover of night, stand as your silent assent to this offer of shelter. Our vigil shall be constant, and our prayers ever with you. In faith and charity, your servants of the Way Restored. Pilgrims 1:7 And it came to pass that the letter of Ariel did sharply divide the brethren, when I read it aloud before the faithful upon that Wednesday night. For Ariel did give the name of her people as Congregation Derekh Me’hudeshet* and this did trouble the minds of many among us. Pilgrims 1:8 For some held that they were not truly Christian, but rather heathen, or Jewish, or (God forbid) even Romish. And others did suspect a dark design, supposing that this offer of refuge was but a pretense whereby they might seize upon our beasts. Pilgrims 1:9 And there was also the matter of the portrait which Ariel had enclosed with the letter, whereby it was made known that the writer thereof was a woman.*Derekh Me’hudeshet—The Way Restored
Pilgrims 1:10 And she was adorned in a brown cloak of feathers,
which did appear most strange unto the simple farmers, and
contrary, as they supposed, to the plain instruction of both
Peter and of Paul in the holy scriptures.
Pilgrims 1:11 And the likeness gave not the appearance of being
hand-tinted, but in full lifelike color, even unto the smallest
particular.
Pilgrims 1:12 But a moiety took the prudent course of conveying
their families and beasts to Williamsport. Though Ariel had
dispatched letters of equal tenor to near a dozen congregations
in the vicinity, it was the Lord of Hosts Fellowship alone that
deigned to reply, divided though that body was within itself.
The remainder maintained a silence that was as stony as it was
predictable.
Pilgrims 1:13 For in the days that followed I came to know the
heralds of House Haivri claimed a lineage* reaching unto the
hoary recesses of antiquity, and were by no means unacquainted
with the disregard of both commoner and crowned head, having
endured such slights as a matter of course through unnumbered
generations.
*Lineage — Elisha founded the school known as the Bene ha-Nevi'im,
or the Sons of the Prophets. This marked the origin of what became
known more recently, and informally, as Angel Academy, and more
formally as Sodales Exemplaris Divini. The B'nei ha-Nevi'im enjoyed
much intercourse with the kings of Samaria until late in the reign
of Jeroboam II when an earthquake devastated the land. The king
misunderstood the true nature and purpose of divinely-inspired prophecy.
Pilgrims 2:1 And it came to pass, upon the afternoon of the seventeenth day of the same month I did receive the epistle of Ariel Haivri, that muskets were discharged in great number along two walls of stone, so that the sound thereof did run swiftly from man to man, and the smoke of the black powder did burn the eyes of those engaged. Pilgrims 2:2 And these walls did join unto a bridge* of hewn stone, where oft believers were received in baptism. There many soldiers did converge in great tumult, coming on foot with much shouting. And at the first encounter the Federals did press forward with great force, and came near unto the far side of the stream; yet were they driven back again by the Rebels, with much violence. Pilgrims 2:3 And being under heavy fire, the men did fall back across the bridge, treading in reverse upon the bodies of the fallen, which did already lie one upon another. And some were dead, and others did yet writhe in great agony, having their bones broken or their bodies pierced through with balls of lead. Pilgrims 2:4 And among the fallen were men who had endured former battles, even such as that named after the Shiloh church, where the war did first rise unto a great height of slaughter. Pilgrims 2:5 And there was brought to bear a large gun loaded with canister, which was set to command the length of the bridge, and did sweep it from end to end, so that men were cut down as the grass before the scythe, and a second layer of the slain was laid upon the first.*Bridge—Rohrbach's Bridge or Lower Bridge
Pilgrims 2:6 And some of these likewise had been present at the great contest at Malvern Hill in Virginia, where the artillery had wrought terrible destruction. Pilgrims 2:7 And two guns, placed somewhat upstream, did cast forth bursting shells, whereby the gunners of the Union were sorely maimed; and another did fire solid shot with great effect, until the lone Federal piece was broken and reduced unto splinters and twisted iron. Pilgrims 2:8 And thereafter there came a counter-assault of the Rebel infantry; and they did swiftly regain much of the bridge, which had become as a place of slaughter. Pilgrims 2:9 And it came to pass that a certain God-fearing colonel among the Federals was struck by a ball; yet, to the great wonder of those about him, he did rise up again, for the ball had lodged within a small Bible which he habitually carried upon his person. Pilgrims 2:10 And this thing was taken by many as a token of divine favor; and the officer, being thus emboldened, did lead forth yet another charge against the enemy. Pilgrims 2:11 And the soldiers of both sides did stand upon the mounting heap of the slain, and did pass up loaded muskets one unto another, even as water is borne along in buckets to quench a fire, casting aside those which were spent. Pilgrims 2:12 But as the contest did endure, the Rebel infantry began to fail in their powder; and the colonel who commanded them did perceive that the bridge could no longer be held.
Pilgrims 2:13 Wherefore he issued orders to withdraw his guns under the covering fire of fresh troops, who did stand fast in a rearguard action, that the other soldiers might retire in good order. Pilgrims 2:14 And the commander* of IX Corps did then pass over the stone bridge, following after the retreating Rebels. And having set his forces in array, he did order a certain lieutenant of his staff to ride unto the headquarters and make report that a foothold had been gained upon the left wing of the army at Henry Rohrbach's Bridge. Pilgrims 2:15 But the messenger, beholding how the bridge was heaped with the dead of both sides, did refuse to pass again over it, lest he should bring further dishonor upon the fallen. And he went down instead unto the stream, and did cross over on foot, avoiding the span of stone that had been made into a fearful abattoir. Pilgrims 2:16 And in this the officer suffered little hardship; for the water of the run was never more than waist deep in every season, even as was well known among the farmers of all that country. Pilgrims 3:1 And the Price Meetinghouse, being the much beloved house of prayer of the Lord of Hosts Fellowship, was taken and made into a hospital for the tending of the wounded. And the walls within were stained with blood, and the light of day did enter in through many holes made by shot, casting beams across the suffering of the men.*Commander—Major General Ambrose Everts Burnside
Pilgrims 3:2 And one physician did administer chloroform, that the wounded might be eased of their pain; and another did take up the saw, and remove the shattered limbs, casting them into a heap without. Pilgrims 3:3 And I entered the chapel, and saw the commander of the federal army did bend over maps of our town and of the encircling country, giving heed unto his dispositions. Pilgrims 3:4 And when the general beheld me, he was wroth, and did demand of me who I was. And I said unto him that I was a humble deacon of the church which now lay in desolation round about us. Pilgrims 3:5 But the officer gainsaid me, saying that the place was not now a house of worship, but rather the headquarters of the whole Federal army. Pilgrims 3:6 And the east door, by which the brethren did enter, and the south door, appointed for the women, had been taken from their hinges, and were made into tables where the wounded were laid, even as altars of sacrifice. Pilgrims 3:7 And the great Bible which had been given unto the congregation was no more to be found, whether through neglect or by the hand of theft I cannot say. Pilgrims 3:8 And the pews were cast out into the yard; and officers of the Federals did sit upon them at their ease, smoking cigars, and making idle marks upon the wood with their knives, as though in sport.
Pilgrims 3:9 And I did charge the General that he should cause
his men to deal more gently with the property of the church; but
he was angered, and commanded me to depart out of his sight,
saying that if I would remain, he would place a musket in my
hands and set me upon the line.
Pilgrims 3:10 And straightway there came a great crashing sound,
and the house of God was filled with flying splinters of wood.
Pilgrims 3:11 The artillery of the Rebels had opened a furious
barrage from behind their works, covering their retreat. And the
General did run forth from the building, plucking splinters from
his flesh, and crying out orders; and the officers who had been
idling upon the pews did scatter in haste, as shells burst round
about them, and solid shot did strike the trees, shattering them
at the trunk.
Pilgrims 3:12 And the artillery of the Federals was brought up
to answer the guns of the enemy; but I remained within the
chapel, having a slender hope that by my presence the Lord might
yet spare the building. Yet even as I prayed, the shot did tear
great openings in the walls thereof; and two shells from the
enemy’s chief battery did burst above the roof.
Pilgrims 3:13 And the sound of the guns did cease suddenly, in a
manner not to be accounted for; and in the darkness and the dust
I did cough, and was taken with a great and grievous pain. And
as I lay in the dimness and in great suffering, I heard the
voice of a woman*.
*Woman — Raphael Haivri, a healer among the elyonoth
Pilgrims 3:14 And the voice said, Gabrielle*, take great care.
Joshua is still alive beneath this fallen timber, though he is
severely injured.
Pilgrims 3:15 And I did marvel that a woman should be present;
for I had spoken with no one when I went forth to view the
chapel after the passing of the army, neither had I desired that
any should share in so great a peril.
Pilgrims 3:16 And the light did begin slowly to increase; and I
beheld a great beam of pine to be lifted up, as though it were
of little weight, and a figure did move beneath it.
Pilgrims 3:17 And it seemed unto me that the outer walls of the
meetinghouse were no longer standing, but had been taken away
round about me. And the woman came into view; and I saw that she
was arrayed in raiment much like unto that of Ariel, having
feathers of a red hue beneath a white coat furnished with many
pockets.
Pilgrims 3:18 And she said, You did well, Gab. You were not here
on the previous pass, so we cut through to him with Shahar
Haruach, and not a few timbers shifted, and Joshua suffered
immeasurably more.
Pilgrims 3:19 And yet a third voice did say that three other
wounded men were present amid the wreckage; and the woman said
that she would tend unto all four, and vowed to preserve the
limbs which the ishim doctors were preparing to saw away. And
her words did cause me to fear that I had gone mad.
*Gabrielle — The same is Gabriel in the scriptures
Pilgrims 3:20 But the woman said, Do not be afraid, Joshua. A
splinter has pierced your kidney, and your leg is broken. You
cannot feel it because the beam is compressing it. That will
change when we lift it.
Pilgrims 3:21 And I could do no more than gasp for help. And she
said again, This will pain you considerably, to my great regret,
but I see no way to avoid it. And Gabriel did lift up the
timber, even as before, with no sign of labor; and straightway
there came upon me a pain exceeding all that I had known.
Pilgrims 3:22 And it was as though all things were turned unto
redness before mine eyes. And my countenance was fixed with the
astonishment thereof; and being overcome, I did lose all sense,
and knew no more.
Pilgrims 4:1 And it came to pass that when I did regain my
senses, I found myself lying in a bed within a comely house of
glass and stone and fine wood. And I was tended with great care
by those whom I did not know, who did entreat me to remain at
rest long after I felt strength enough to rise.
Pilgrims 4:2 And out of gratitude I did humbly obey; yet I could
not put from my mind the brethren, and how they must needs be
troubled at the absence of their deacon, for I had gone missing
in the midst of the battle.
Pilgrims 4:3 And a woman clothed in garments of green did come
unto me, and she made herself known as Vretiel*, the sister of
Ariel. And she said, Are you now well, Joshua?
*Vretiel — Running Star among the Kuwapi, the Scribe of God
Pilgrims 4:4 And I answered, Yea, I am made whole; yet would I feel the better if I were permitted to rise from this bed. And she said, Joshua Lange, I pray you, do so; for I would introduce you unto another who is with us, who came hither in like manner as thou didst, though under the threat of fire rather than battle. Pilgrims 4:5 But I was curious, and said unto her, Where is this place? And Vretiel answered, It will be easier to show thee than to tell thee. Come, and see. Pilgrims 4:6 And she led me without; and there I beheld a young man sitting in a chair beside a great pool of water, irregular in its form, and set about with a dark wooden deck. And it appeared unto me that he was of the people who had been thought to be of the land of India, yet in all truth they had dwelt only in America before the coming of the Europeans. Pilgrims 4:7 And as I drew near I perceived that the pain in my back and in my leg had greatly diminished, so that but a small remnant thereof remained, to my great wonder, for my injuries in the shelling had been sorely grievous. Pilgrims 4:8 And Vretiel said, Joshua Lange, I would have thee meet this young man, who is called Shy Bear among his people; yet the name of his manhood, which he shall take hence, is to be Jashen. He hath not yet learned many words of English, but I am at work to remedy that. Pilgrims 4:9 And I knew not how I should greet him as she desired; and I did not extend my hands, but inclined my head, and cast mine eyes downward. And this did seem to suffice.
Pilgrims 4:10 And Vretiel did smile upon me, and sat herself
beside the young man; and with a gesture she invited me also to
sit. And I confess that I did so with reluctance, for having
lain many days abed, I would rather have stood.
Pilgrims 4:11 And Vretiel said, I have asked that he should be
present that thou mightest know him by sight; for in a time to
come, if God be willing, ye shall meet again.
Pilgrims 4:12 And I looked upon the youth, that I might remember
his countenance; but my gaze was drawn away unto the heavens
behind him. And I beheld clouds that did change and move, yet
behind them was a firmament of green, and blue, and brown, which
did not change, and I perceived that there was land in the sky*.
Pilgrims 4:13 And the sun stood above us irregular in its form,
waxing in heat and brightness, yet it did not move from its
place. And I said again, Where are we?
Pilgrims 4:14 And Vretiel answered, This place is called Kemen.
And there is no measure of distance, nor any direction, whereby
it may be compared with the places which thou knowest.
Pilgrims 4:15 And I said unto her, Then have I passed on? And
she answered, Nay, Joshua; thou art safe, and thy people in the
other world are safe also. For the invading army returneth
across the river, and soon shall the army of the United States
depart from thy lands. And my sister shall return with thy
livestock, even as she hath spoken.
*Land in the sky — Kemen is inverted, a hollow world where the
inhabitants walk with their head toward the center and feet out
Pilgrims 4:16 And Vretiel did smile gently, and reached beneath her chair, and brought forth a roll of canvas, which she placed in my hands. And she said, This is a map for thee. It shall guide thee and thy people unto the place where ye shall make your new home. And I shall be there awaiting you, and Jashen Shy Bear shall be with me. Pilgrims 4:17 And I did unroll the canvas to behold it; and I saw thereon rivers, and forests, and hills, yet they were without names, and there were no lines to mark the bounds thereof. And it seemed unto me that such a map might be made in another world. And when I perceived the place unto which we were appointed to go, I said, It is very far. Pilgrims 4:18 And Vretiel answered, Even as far as one may go by river and by rail, and yet farther on foot. For House Haivri hath a small farm at the end of the rail, where we shall make provision for you against the journey that remaineth. And thou shalt go unto a place appointed, where ye may dwell together in peace with the Kuwapi. Pilgrims 4:19 And when Shy Bear heard the name of his people, he lifted up his head in recognition, and smiled upon me. Pilgrims 4:20 And Vretiel said, I would caution thee, Joshua, that some among thine own flock shall account thee unsound of mind when thou speakest of this place, and how Raphael did so swiftly restore thy body. Pilgrims 4:21 And I answered, Then will I entreat the Lord that he choose servants more worthy, that his will might be done.
Pilgrims 4:22 But Vretiel said, Not so. For the brethren of the
Lord of Hosts Fellowship are like unto those who first loved
Yeshua ben Yosef when he walked in thy world. Yet the land
appointed* for you would bring slow hunger, if the water thereof
be but a mirage.
Pilgrims 4:23 And I said, Then doth God invite us to proceed by
faith. And Vretiel answered, Yea, even at the slow pace of oxen
and wagons. Yet Ariel of House Haivri shall go with you, if ye
will receive her; and any among your number who shall hear all
that thou hast seen and heard in this place, and believe, and
choose of their own will to go. For as it was even in the very
beginning, El Elyon, God Most High, seeketh students, and not
thralls.
Pilgrims 4:24 And thou, Joshua, art not excepted from this
choosing. Dost thou freely choose to take up a new life in the
west? And I answered, I do. It shall come to pass even as thou
hast said.
Pilgrims 4:25 And Shy Bear, being a young man of the wandering
peoples of the great plains of America, saw how greatly pleased
Vretiel had waxed by hearing my words, though he understood them
but little.
Pilgrims 4:26 Shy Bear stood and came near unto me with his
hands held open in peace, and said in farewell, Joshua Lange,
hello.
*Land appointed - Even today Havilah lies on arid, rolling
scrublands south of the Black Hills, at the center of the
largest roadless quarter in the American west.
*Land appointed — Even today Havilah lies on arid, rolling
scrublands south of the Black Hills, at the center of the
largest roadless quarter in the American west
Pilgrims 5:1 And by the going down of the sun on the day of the
battle the army of the Rebels was pressed back unto a bend of
the Potomac, the waters thereof running swift, so that they
could not be forded with ease.
Pilgrims 5:2 And the Federal commander did look out upon the
field, yet would not advance, though he held a great advantage
in number. And there were some who did murmur, saying that even
were his strength increased manyfold, yet would he delay, and
make complaint that he had not men sufficient to move against
the enemy.
Pilgrimns 5:3 Yet the mercy of God did prevail even in that
earthly hell; for at dusk on the second day the waters were
abated, and a courier came by horse with orders that the wounded
should be carried away. And three among the wounded had been
made whole by Raphael in Kemen; yet none did believe their
report.
Pilgrims 5:4 And the heap of severed limbs was set on fire; and
wagons drawn by horses did bear away the maimed. And at every
roughness in the road there arose cries of great anguish from
those within the ambulances.
Pilgrims 5:5 And no man who beheld the passing of those wagons,
nor the slaughter that remained upon the field, would thereafter
speak lightly of the glory* of war; neither did any among the
faithful of my own congregation.
*Glory — Some members of the Fellowship had suffered persecution
for resisting conscription, and none among them owned slaves,
finding the Book of Philemon to argue against this
Pilgrims 5:6 And when both armies were departed, I stood nigh
unto our house of prayer, which had been made a place of
slaughter, and was pierced through with many bullets. And the
brethren came forth with fear from their houses to bury the
dead; and they rejoiced greatly when they found me alive and
unhurt.
Pilgrims 5:7 And for the burying of the fallen, the government
of the United States did promise a dollar for every man that was
laid to rest. And there went a report that a certain man, not of
the brethren, had cast many bodies into a dry well, and taken
the money unto himself.
Pilgrims 5:8 And Elder David Long said, Do not grieve overmuch,
my friends. We shall bury the dead, and make our meetinghouse as
it was before. If the brethren have willing hands, all this
shall soon be but an unhappy memory.
Pilgrims 5:9 But I was not comforted by the words of Elder Long,
and I said, Before our grief be much abated, Brother David, the
same thing may come upon us again. For Virginia lieth just
across the river; and but lately there was a second battle at
Manassas*, with much the same result as the first.
Pilgrims 5:10 And Elder Long answered it was by an evil chance
our fertile shore hath become a convenient crossing-place for
the armies. And I said in reply, Then it may be wisdom that we
receive the help offered by our new friends of Congregation
Derekh Me'hudeshet, and remove ourselves from the path of the
armies.
*Manassas — The Second Battle of Bull Run was a Federal debacle
Pilgrims 5:11 And Elder Long said, We must seek that the Lord God make his will known unto us in this matter. Therefore let each man among us pray upon it. And there is no prayer better than work. Pilgrims 5:12 And straightaway the brethren had need of their beasts, that they might convey the dead unto their places of burial. Half had been taken or slain; yet as Ariel had promised, all those that had been entrusted unto House Haivri were speedily restored. Pilgrims 5:13 For the men had driven them northward unto Williamsport; yet Ariel did bring them again, even she alone. And she did seem to have a manner with the creatures of God that was passing strange; and this did not go unremarked by the faithful. Pilgrims 5:14 And her own horse was tended with greater care than she herself, yet in a short time, I confess, my heart was much drawn unto her, and it was whispered among some of the believers that Ariel's power over beasts extended to men. Pilgrims 5:15 And when the brethren had made an end of burying the fallen, Elder Long declared that he would remain in Sharpsburg; and with him the family of Price, who had first given the land for the meetinghouse, being resolved to restore their farm, which had been laid waste in the battle, yet spared from becoming a graveyard. Pilgrims 5:16 And five other families likewise chose to remain, and covenanted together that they would build again the house of prayer which had been destroyed.
Pilgrims 5:17 House Haivri vowed to help the brethren to seek a quiet life far from the continuing threat of war, as many as were willing to go. A number of families did consider making the move but it would take some time to put their land up for sale and make all the necessary preparations. But the seemingly boundless generosity of Ariel and her kinfolk still engendered suspicion there was a underlying motive. Pilgrims 6:1 When the faithful of the Lord of Hosts Fellowship first beheld the likeness of Ariel many among them did take her for a young man, or even a lad; and I confess that at that time I did likewise. And upon the road unto the farm of the Haivri, I did often ride somewhat behind her, and observe her closely, for my heart was much drawn unto her. Pilgrims 6:2 And she did sit her horse a full head taller than I; and her form was not full, neither was her hair long. And as we journeyed, I did remark, in an idle way, that it might well become her to suffer her dark reddish hair to grow longer; for as it was, she did appear unto me like some tall woodland spirit. Pilgrims 6:3 But she answered, No shears come near my head, for there hath never been need. The strands grow only so long as thou seest, and no longer; then do they fall away, one by one, and I scarce take notice of it. Pilgrims 6:4 And as we drew near unto the farm of the Haivri, the weather did suddenly turn, and there came a brief and violent rain. And to my great astonishment, Ariel did give over the shelter of the tent unto her horse, and remained herself without, enduring the downpour. Pilgrims 6:5 And soon I observed also that she did bestow more care upon her horse than in aiding her mother Mitza in the ordering of their large house. Pilgrims 6:6 And in those first days, being received as a guest of Ariel’s father, whose name was Yishmael, I did ask of him whether the Haivri were of the Jewish people. And he said that such a matter was not easily answered; for there hath long been strife between Christians and the Jews. Pilgrimns 6:7 And he said that this division might be traced unto the time after the war in Jerusalem between the Jews and the empire of Rome, when it did serve the Christians to set themselves apart from those who had been brought low. Pilgrims 6:8 And Yishmael said that he took no offense at my question; rather, it did seem to afford him some small amusement. And he said, The House of Haivri was established before the building of the first temple, and long before that which the rabbis have ordered in these latter centuries without a temple. Pilgrims 6:9 Thou mayest think of us as distant kindred unto the Jews; yet we were in former times more nearly joined unto those who dwelt in Shomron, or Samaria if you will, otherwise called the northern kingdom of Israel. Pilgrims 6:10 And Yishmael went on to say, My surname, ha-Ivri, signifieth The Stranger, or The One Who Passeth Over. The word Hebrew is but a corruption thereof, brought about by the wearing of time. And we do hold ourselves to be the annunciators of God; yet seldom do men give ear unto us. And I answered and said, But, sir, some among my own people have already received great benefit from the things which ye have spoken.
Pilgrims 6:11 Now I perceived that the house of the Haivri was not kept in good order, and might even be called disorderly; yet the barn was ordered with great care. And if the house did appear untidy, it was by reason of an abundance of goods, which did testify to a wealth both great and unstudied. Pilgrims 6:12 And the kindred of Ariel whom I encountered in and about Williamsport did possess means sufficient for their needs, yet without any show thereof. And it seemed unto me that they gave little thought unto money, as though it were already assured unto them. Pilgrims 6:13 Nor did any seek to profit from the misfortune of the farmers of Sharpsburg, though many had been brought low; but each did labor in his own way. And Ariel did give herself chiefly unto the tending of her horses, not from necessity, but from delight; for she seemed to take joy in the creatures themselves, and not in the service which they might render. Pilgrims 6:14 And the House of Haivri did lend unto me a small cottage, set apart from the dwelling of Ariel; and like provision was made by her kindred and acquaintance for each of the families and couples from Sharpsburg who had come to join me in the pilgrimage. And daily were they supplied with food in great abundance, and without price; yet this did sit uneasily with them, being contrary to the custom of rural Americans, who are not wont to receive freely without labor. Pilgrims 6:15 And more than once there arose in my mind the thought that my little flock, being uprooted, had become as a diversion unto Ariel’s father, even as the horses were unto Ariel herself. Pilgrims 6:16 Nevertheless, Yishmael did grant unto us the use of the Temple Derekh Me'hudeshet, that we might assemble therein upon the Lord’s Day. Pilgrims 6:17 And upon an evening, as we sat at supper, Mitza did say unto Ariel, in a manner most casual, that she stood in need of a male companion, that certain rumors might be quieted. And on the morrow she purchased a stallion. And when once I did show signs of jealousy, having found upon her coat a strange hair, Ariel did bring forth a horse that did match it. Pilgrims 6:18 And on the following day I went unto her father Yishmael in all earnestness, and said, What must I know of the customs of the Haivri concerning courtship? And he answered, If thou hast a mind toward Ariel, then know that she is wholly free. The Family keepeth no rules of the sort thou imaginest. If there be any such customs, they shall be appointed by Ariel herself, and it shall be for thee to discover them. That is the nature of it, and therein lieth the interest. Pilgrims 6:19 And Yishmael said unto me, I would ask thee, Joshua, what are thy views concerning divorce? And I answered him, The brethren have ever held the New Testament to be the rule for every part of our lives. Pilgrims 6:20 And he said, That is even why I asked thee. For in the gospel according to Mark, Yeshua is reported to have forbidden divorce altogether; yet in that attributed to Matthew, he permitteth it for the cause of fornication. And Paul also hath written that the bond of marriage may be loosed where one abideth in unbelief. Thus, upon this matter, thy scripture speaketh both yea and nay, and somewhat besides.
Pilgrims 6:23 And by these words Yishmael did show a knowledge of the Christian writings greater than I had supposed. But I said, Be it even as thou hast said, sir, yet it is of no consequence; for I do truly love thy daughter, and I do swear unto thee most solemnly that the ordinances concerning divorce shall never arise between us. Pilgrims 6:24 And Yishmael said, Thy words do thee credit, Joshua; yet even with the veil of affection before thine eyes, thou must have perceived that Ariel hath a certain manner with the beasts, of which man is certainly of their kin. Pilgrims 6:25 And I said, I am grieved, sir, that thou hast taken up the strange notions of Charles Darwin*. But Yishmael answered, We hold it more strange to suppose that man is altogether set apart from the other creatures. Pilgrims 6:26 And I said unto him, Then, sir, dost thou hold with those among my own people who have less charity, who say that I have been bewitched by thy daughter? Pilgrims 6:27 And he answered, Nay, there is nothing of enchantment in it, Joshua; yet as thy courtship proceedeth, it shall surely become a matter of discourse concerning the secrets of the House of Haivri, which are far beyond what thou hast already seen in Kemen. Pilgrims 6:28 For mystery is a part of the charm; but I pray thee, suffer not thyself to be overtaken by surprises too great to endure. *Darwin - Descent with variation, culled by natural selection
Pilgrims 6:29 And it came to pass that at her bridal gathering, Ariel did receive many gifts; and of these, a great number were bridles. And when the day of rejoicing was come, and it was time for the wedding, Ariel came late, having tarried overlong in the tending and cleaning of the horse stalls.And I did consent to take her as my wife nonetheless. Pilgrims 7:1 And it came to pass that not until the second week of July, in the year following the battle, did the remnant (having taken upon ourselves the name of the Root of Jesse Fellowship) set forth upon our journey into the western territories, which did promise to be long and full of hardship. Pilgrims 7:2 And the House of Haivri did make provision for us, even unto securing a train of passengers to bear us part of the way; and it was said to be under the charge of a company called General Materials, of which I had no knowledge. And it seemed unto us that we departed in a most timely manner. Pilgrims 7:3 For after the campaign of Lee in Maryland, the President did remove McClellan from command, and did appoint in his stead General Burnside, who had contended at the Lower Bridge near Sharpsburg. And this same Burnside did lead the army into a great defeat at Fredericksburg; and afterward did prepare another campaign in a season of storms, which was stayed by the President himself, being warned by the urgent dispatches of the general’s own officers, lest yet another calamity should come to pass. Pilgrims 7:4 Then was Joseph Hooker appointed in his place, who had before led men upon the right of the Federal line, even while Burnside was pressed hard at the bridge.
Pilgrims 7:5 Yet there had entered into the hearts of many a persuasion that Lee could not be overcome; and this conceit did also take hold upon Hooker. For at Chancellorsville, though he had the greater force, he faltered; and Lee, dividing his army in the face of his enemy, did prevail once more, and thereby strengthened the belief of his own invincibility. Pilgrims 7:6 And thereafter the President did appoint General George Meade to command the army; and in this, it was said, he chose wisely. For Meade had before taken charge of the First Corps when Hooker was wounded in the Maryland campaign; and he was a man of greater boldness than McClellan, yet not rash as Burnside, neither was he dismayed by Lee, as Hooker had been. Pilgrims 7:7 And when Lee once did again cross the Potomac, seeking to bring the war into the North, the course of the roads did draw the two armies together at a place called Gettysburg. And upon the first day there was much confusion in the fighting; for Lee was absent during a great part thereof, and Meade was not yet come upon the field. Pilgrims 7:8 And the forces of the Union, being sorely pressed, did fall back and take their stand upon a low ridge, which was not great in height, yet extended for a long distance. And Lee, being set against them from the west, and somewhat lower, could see only that which lay before him; for his cavalry was not at hand to make report. Pilgrims 7:9 And Lee made trial of the Federal right, yet prevailed not; and again he pressed them sore upon their left, and there was great slaughter on both sides, yet neither gained advantage sufficient to decide the contest.
Pilgrims 7:10 And so it came to pass that Lee was brought unto a single and desperate course, even an assault upon the center of the Union line. And before this was done, there was a mighty cannonade, the like of which had not before been seen upon this continent. Pilgrims 7:11 Yet the assault did fail utterly; for though a few did reach the stone wall, they could do little, and were taken, and victory went to the North. Pilgrims 7:12 And after these things, Lee did withdraw the broken remnant of his army behind South Mountain, and made haste toward Virginia; and Meade limped after him upon a course somewhat parallel, along the eastern side of the ridge. Pilgrims 7:13 And the armies did again come together at Williamsport; and there the beasts which had been preserved by the pilgrims from the former battle were taken out of the hands of the House of Haivri, even all the horses of Ariel which she loved. And the temple was despoiled, yet the houses of Ariel and her kindred were not defiled. Pilgrimns 7:14 And this, as we learned afterward, came to pass even as our train drew near unto Baltimore. And it seemed unto us that calamity was appointed to drive us continually onward. Pilgrims 7:15 And thereafter the remnant did journey westward by many short lines of railway, joined one unto another, across the mountains of the Appalachians. And these rails were made of wrought iron, so that the trains might not go swiftly upon them, lest they be worn out before their time; and thus our passage was slow.
Pilgrims 7:16 For the ridges of the mountains did run from north to south, standing as a barrier against our course; and there were many halts along the way, to take on coal and passengers. And it required the greater part of two days and a night for us to come unto Pittsburgh. Pilgrims 7:17 And in that city we ceased from our journey by rail, and took passage upon a steamboat. And moving with the current of the Ohio River, yet through its upper reaches, which were still wild, we made no great speed, but advanced as at a steady and moderate pace. Yet in this manner of travel there was greater comfort than before; for there were cabins upon the upper decks wherein we might lodge. And the women were set apart toward the stern. Pilgrims 7:18 And we were not so poor as to be constrained to lie upon the lower deck among the bails of wool and cargo, as did many who came aboard without prior arrangement, and we took our meals aboard ship. Pilgrins 7:19 So for many days the members of my flock did look out with contentment upon the passing scene, as the river wound its way through wooded hills. And at times the vessel did make halt in small settlements that seemed carved precariously in the green hillsides. There passengers would embark or depart, and fuel and water was taken aboard for the boiler, which did labor noisily beneath the wooden decks, to the unease of us all. Pilgrims 7:20 And when we came unto Cincinnati, we departed from the boat and resumed our journey by rail. For the river had borne us through an odd corner of the country where the lines of the railroad were not yet made complete.
Pilgrims 7:21 And again, at East St. Louis, we did cross over water by boat; for at that time there was no bridge over the Mississippi save far to the north. And when we were come safely unto the western shore, we again took passage by rail, again upon a train of the General Materials company; and now we did make greater speed than before. Pilgrims 7:22 For the rails laid across the state of Missouri were of Bessemer steel, whereby the train might travel more swiftly, even unto forty and five miles in an hour. And there were fewer halts in that place. And the line did end a little distance beyond the town of Independence. Pilgrims 8:1 And as the train did yet slow upon its approach, I beheld a woman standing upon the platform, and I knew her at once to be of the House of Haivri. For she was of a stature even greater than Ariel, standing a full head above most of the men that were gathered there. And she wore not the garments of a woman as was customary, but was arrayed in armor of leather, fashioned in scales of red and black, and set with ornaments of brass, from her neck even unto her feet. Pilgrims 8:2 And Ariel descended from the train, and did embrace her kinswoman; and their embrace endured for a long space, for there had lain between them much distance and time. Pilgrims 8:3 And Ariel said, Lailah, I doubt not that Michelle did prevail upon thee to adorn thyself for this occasion. And Lailah sighed, and said, Nay, Ariel; for I was required to bring these wagons hither one by one, and I did fly back unto the farm to fetch more. And Ariel said, Then let us hope that none did see thee.
Pilgrims 8:4 Now the valley of the Blue River, where it entereth into the Missouri, doth lie between the towns of Independence and Kansas City. And with seven wagons of mud, Lailah did lead the remnant up along that valley, passing by many small farms, and crossing the river at times, until we came unto a great structure set hard against the western side thereof. Pilgrims 8:5 And the name of this place was Big Blue; and it was built of great stones of limestone, fitted one unto another without mortar, and laid in a single story. And the house did appear strong, and was well covered; yet I thought within myself that it might be made fairer with a coating of whitewash. Pilgrims 8:6 And it stood within an enclosure, being fenced about, wherein there was a small herd of oxen. And the beasts had eaten the grass even unto the roots, and were sustained thereafter only by the hay that had been laid up for them. Pilgrims 8:7 And the men and the elder boys did unharness the fourteen horses that had drawn us from the station unto that place. And Ariel led them into the pasture, that they might mingle with the oxen, and did set before them alfalfa in abundance, which they did consume with great eagerness, as though it were a sweetmeat. Pilgrims 8:8 And following after Lailah, we being thirty and six pilgrims, did enter in through the great double doors of the house which was called Big Blue, to behold the interior thereof. And we saw within a great bay, wherein stood ten prairie schooners yet unfinished, the bows of their coverings rising nearly unto the ceiling.
Pilgrims 8:9 And at one end was a place prepared for the taking of meals in common. And along the walls were set chambers of divers sizes, appointed for the several families among us. And Lailah spake, saying, I bid you all welcome unto this place which we have made ready for you. There is much that ye must learn before ye shall be prepared to complete your journey. Pilgrims 8:10 And by the time ye are so prepared, it shall be too late in the year for you to reach your destination and make all things ready before the coming on of winter*. Therefore are ye welcome to abide here until the spring. Pilgrims 8:11 Now Lailah considered that those under her charge ought to be called by some name less cumbersome than the Remnant, or the followers of Lange; for even the name Root of Jesse Fellowship did seem unwieldy unto her. Pilgrims 8:11 And it came to pass, in the weeks that followed, that a child among us, whose name was Linda Bergin, did learn that certain oxen were not easily turned by the goad, but were called stiff-necked. And from this she came to understand the saying oft found in the scriptures, wherein the children of Israel are described as a stiff-necked people. Pilgrims 8:12 But Lailah did teach that such steadfastness was not altogether ill, but might be a virtue, if a people were minded to press forward toward a single end, and not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left. And from this did the child begin to call us Stiffnecks; and the name did spread quickly among us, and was taken up by many. * The pilgrims reached Big Blue in August of 1863.
Pilgrins 8:13 The Stiffnecks were not entirely destitute, nor wholly dependent on House Haivri for all their worldly goods. Once a month during our sojourn at Big Blue we rode to Kansas City on an overnight trip, to purchase with our own money such baubles and sundries as we could carry in the prairie schooners to our final destination. Pilgrimns 8:14 The company of stiffnecks grew by two while we wintered at Big Blue. The first to arrive was baby Megan, born unto Gary and Marge bergin in the fall. The second was miss Tamara Brannen, who came by to be wed to Lee Henry in the twilight days of the year. Pilgrims 9:1 It was not until the following spring, when the roads, having been knee-deep with slushy mud all winter, had hardened enough to bear travel, such that we were able to resume our pilgrimage westward. It fell upon a Sunday that the Stiffnecks spent our last full day with Lailah, and for the final time she did worship with us, though she had often found our practices strange, and frequently so remarked. Pilgrims 9:3 Some of the Stiffnecks, even at the end of the interlude at Big Blue, said that this made her appear even more heathenish than her raiment already suggested. But Lailah answered, “Have we not shared our meals together thrice each day, and offered praise and thanksgiving unto God Most High on each occasion?" Pilgrims 9:4 At the close of the service, Lailah rose and spake a few words from her heart unto the people she had dwelt with and humbly served as though she were but a common servant for many weeks.
Pilgrims 9:5 She said You should have no illusions, for tomorrow ye shall begin the most difficult undertaking ye have ever known. But fear not! The Lord Yeshua taught men to dwell together in peace, and in the very beginning it was so. With your great labors ye may help make God’s rule present in this world once more as we draw near unto the very close of the age." Pilgrims 9:6 Now it took all the next morning for twenty oxen to labor but three miles up a ravine feeding the Blue River, until the trail intersected the infant Oregon Trail somewhat to the east. There the beasts that had drawn the wagons were unburdened, and the twenty oxen that made a leisurely walk out of the Blue River valley were again put to harness. Pilgrims 9:7 After another eight miles the Oregon Trail bent sharply from its southerly course to the west, and in half a mile more the Stiffnecks halted for the night. And whenever the wagon train paused, it was the duty of each family head to raise his wagon with a jack, remove a wheel, and smear the hub with a mixture of pine tar and tallow carried in a bucket slung from the rear axle. This was to be done as a solemn ritual, before evening meal, on a rotating basis, servicing one wheel each night as Lailah had instructed. Pilgrims 9:8 In the months that followed we learned that our winter encampment had been the site of the Battle of Bryam’s Ford, which some have called the Gettysburg of the West, though it exacted far fewer lives. The battle settled the war west of the Mississippi River, and though it occurred many months after our departure from Big Blue, the knowledge that it had happened in that very place gave every pilgrim pause, as calamity, near or far, seemed to follow in our footsteps.
Pilgrims 9:11 When we attained the highlands near Lawrence the Stiffnecks dipped into our secret stores of salt pork hidden beneath a false floor in our wagons, and ate it with dried peaches. Pilgrims 9:12 To cross rivers, the bottoms of our wagons were smeared with tar to make them waterproof, and they were floated across once our animals had reached the far bank. Pilgrims 9:13 By and large we made good time, but a sudden afternoon storm would halt our progress, and we were forced to huddle for hours beneath the shelter of our wagons. Yet the spirits of all of us remained high. Pilgrims 9:14 Most of the younger children rode two at a time upon the backs of the horses, while the adults and older children walked beside the oxen, leading them along at the stately pace of two miles per hour. No one rode the wagons except the infirm; the jolts were too harsh for comfort. Pilgrins 9:18 And behold, there appeared a war party of the Pawnees, numbering two hundred, who crossed the trail from the south and passed by our company, even by chance. And most of the plains folk understood that the settlers upon the Oregon Trail were merely passing through, and in general they sought not to provoke them, lest wrath from the United States Army befall them. Pilgrims 9:19 Wherefore I spake unto my people, saying, Make ye no threatening gestures, and trust in the Lord to protect us. And the Pawnees came about our wagons out of curiosity, inspecting the hatchets and mallets we carried.
Pilgrims 9:20 And they lay upon our feather-beds, one by one, yet took neither food nor tobacco. And they looked upon the weapons stowed within, yet touched them not. Pilgrims 9:21 And some of them gazed closely upon the women, perhaps seeing white women for the first time in their lives, yet they kept their hands to themselves. And if such were the will of their chief, verily they were a disciplined host. Pilgrims 9:22 And it came to pass that when they mounted their horses again, the chief did scan the scene, and drew himself up in his full panoply, and crinkled his face, and plugged his nose. And the braves laughed heartily, and rode away. Pilgrims 9:23 And when it was made manifest that they would return not, I led the congregation in prayer, giving thanks unto God Most High for His protection and mercy. Pilgrims 10:1 And after we had passed by the place where the town of Kenesaw should in time be built, the trail drew near unto the Platte River, being some seven miles further. And the scent of the cottonwood trees did fill the air. Pilgrims 10:2 And the water thereof was thick with silt; yet when it was left to stand in a bucket for the space of an hour, it became clear. Nevertheless, the oxen regarded it not, but drank freely. Pilgrims 10:3 And at length we came unto Fort Kearney, being the last civilization we should behold before we were to build a settlement of our own. And there some among us did send messages by telegraph unto their kindred who remained behind.
Pilgrims 10:4 And we did exchange our wearied oxen for others that were well rested. And at the general store we obtained more chickens, and replenished many of the sundries we had consumed upon the journey, though the prices thereof were dear. Pilgrims 10:5 And we tarried in that place for the space of two days, taking our rest. And we beheld other wagon companies passing through, even as we had done. Pilgrims 10:6 And the smiths, being willing to labor upon the Sabbath, did set new shoes of iron upon the hooves of our horses and oxen. Pilgrims 10:7 And it came to pass that while we abode at Fort Kearney, the nature of our journey seemed to be changed for a season, from continual toil unto a brief and almost timeless ease, even a retreat from the quiet dread which had followed us since the days we departed from Big Blue. Pilgrims 10:8 And it came to pass in the week following that we journeyed upon the trail, and passed to the south of the place where the town of North Platte should in time be established. Pilgrims 10:9 And there I did lead the company northward, departing wholly from the well-traveled path. And soon we came unto a vast sea of sand hills, anchored by grass, and set about with innumerable small lakes of fresh water. Pilgrims 10:10 And there was abundance of green pasture for the beasts; nevertheless the way was slow. And it came to pass that even as one among our party did wonder whence the waters came, we were visited by a great rain, being the first of many storms.
Pilgrims 10:11 And our path wound among the hills; yet Vretiel's map gave no counsel. And at times there rose before us great ridges, even twenty miles in length and some two hundred feet in height, lying athwart our course, so that we were constrained to toil up and over them. Pilgrims 10:12 And in the low places we encountered thick brush and woody growth, which we did cut away with axes and with scythes, that the wagons might pass. Pilgrims 10:13 And it came to pass that we spent as many days laboring in these sandy hills as we had spent upon the trail itself. And it seemed unto me that we had been consigned unto that joyless purgatory of which the Papists do speak. Pilgrims 10:14 Nevertheless, Ariel had committed the Song of Remembrance unto memory, and she did rehearse it unto me. And I did write her words, even the three books of Covenants, in the Printer’s Manuscript; and by reason of these nightly labors I did not lose account of the days. Pilgrims 10:15 And at length we came unto that place which, by the strange map of Vretiel, was shown to be the bed of the Pison River in its season. And we rejoiced, for we turned again unto the west, following the scattered ponds and the oxbow lakes toward the source thereof. Pilgrims 10:16 And it came to pass after some days that the Stiffnecks beheld warriors in strange raiment drawing nigh; and fear took hold upon many, insomuch that some among us seized their rifles and made ready, pointing them toward the approaching company.
Pilgrimns 10:17 But the man who led the band looked steadfastly upon me, whom he had known in years past, even three years before that day. And his countenance was changed, and he smiled. And he came down from his horse, and removed the headdress from upon his head, and stood forth openly. Then I knew him also, and my heart was stirred within me. Pilgrimns 10:19 And Jashen, on a time known as Shy Bear, then spoke, saying: We meet again, Joshua Lange, even as my wife Running Star once foretold. And when these words were heard among the pilgrims, there arose a murmur of great astonishment and exceeding joy; for they remembered the sign that had been given unto them before, even as when Lailah met us upon the train platform in Missouri and greeted us, whereby their hearts had been strengthened. Pilgrims 10:20 And it came to pass that I caused this wagons to halt, and leapt down with haste, went unto Jashen, and embraced him, and called him by name, and I spake also the name of his wife, even Vretiel, whom I had known in Kemen. Pilgrims 10:21 And when the people beheld this, their fear departed from them, and they lowered their rifles, and hid them from sight, being no longer minded to make war. And I lifted up his voice, saying: Behold, we have reached the place appointed for us. And I rejoiced greatly, and gave thanks unto God in the sight of all the people, forasmuch as not one among my flock, being thirty and three souls, had been taken by sickness nor by misadventure in all our journey. Pilgrims 10:22 And there was peace between the two peoples in that hour.
A8
AR
Terminal Cruise 