Ha, We Got One!

Heidi enjoyed going to the sweet Anabaptist meetings all that long fall and into the winter. Eventually she was less fearful as she crept off late in the evenings, but she was always cautious. Heidi felt she knew so little about the Lord’s way, but what she did know, especially the wonderful Bible stories, she would share with her two children.  It wasn’t long before she was willing to take the courageous step of being baptized. The minister solemnly reminded her of the risks of having a second baptism.

               “I was too young to understand what I was getting in to, as an infant,” she responded quietly. “Now I have had my sins forgiven and am washed by the blood of the Lamb and I want to follow Jesus’ teaching come what may.”

               “Even though it may mean persecution and perhaps death,” someone asked? It was no idle question, and every solemn listener knew it.

      
        “Yes.”

               The officiating minister poured a small amount of water on her head. While everyone was still kneeling, he prayed a blessed on her and the rest of the small assembly. When she rose to her feet, he shook her hand and blessed her then his wife greeted her with a kiss of charity.  Soon the meeting was over, but before everyone dispersed into the darkness, she was warmly greeted with the holy kiss by all the sisters, and many of the brethren came and shook her hand, while wishing her God’s blessing.

               Heidi hungered and thirsted after righteousness and longed to know more about Her loving Savior and how to follow Him more closely.

               “ Ha, we got one! You are Heidi, the drummer’s wife, are you not?”

               “Aye, sir, that is my name.”

               “Where is thy husband?”

               “I know not. He has been gone these many months.”

               “I believe you, you wench. He was too afeered to face the consequences of his foolish yattering. But no matter, we will get him, yet. But it is you we are after, now. Complaints have gone up of thy conduct.”

               “My conduct!” Heidi gasped as she meekly submitted to a chain being bound around her wrists.

     

       “Ha, ha! Think you not that your misdeeds would become well known? Your young daughter has been prattling tales of so called Bible characters that are lies, outrageous lies in the ears of the bailiff’s daughters.”

               By then they had reached the gates of the prison yard and were allowed admittance. How many times have I looked pityingly at these awful walls and longed to see the faces of one of our fellow believers, and now it is I that has been captured. Oh, Lord, how long will it be before the others find out? May they plead earnestly for my soul and my safety.  When the first skimpy meal of dry bread and water was offered, Heidi was too nervous to finish it. She prayed earnestly that her dear Heavenly Father would protect and guide her. Heidi was to learn that her dear friend Elizabeth was nearby, but they were not allowed to see, let alone speak with each other.

               It wasn’t long after that she was ushered, hand-cuffed, into a stately room and told that on the morrow would begin a long and very thorough inquisition covering many religious topics.

               Heidi’s cheeks went pale as she was lead back to her chamber. As soon as she was left alone she most earnestly entreated her loving Heavenly father to look pityingly upon His humble servant.

               “I know not how to either read or write,” she wept softly, while she knelt in the dirty straw. “There is so much I do not know about thee or thy ways. Pity me oh my Lord. I want to be faithful, but how can an ignorant wench like me answer those educated leaders?” Thus prayed the frail, humble servant of the Most High as the night wore on.

               “Heidi.”

The young woman looked up, wondered who would be speaking to her at this late hour. She saw no one.