Grantville Gazette, Volume 59 by Paula Goodlett Read Free Book Online

that, and I particularly want to hear from you. If we can't fix the worn-out lock on the back door, we can at least put a bar on it, and one thing we should probably do is find a couple of good dogs and train them to keep watch for strangers. The detective said as much."
    John nodded. "I wondered that the farm had no dogs already."
    Al massaged his forehead for a moment. "It's partly because of what Old Joe said, I suppose. He didn't get a new dog when the last one died. He said it's hard enough when you outlive them, and worse when you worry about what will happen to them if they outlive you. But I suppose we don't need to worry about that now, there will always be people living here, as long as we're an institution.
    "Anyway, here's the main point. No matter what else we might lose, the one thing that would hurt us the worst is the books. There'd be no replacing most of them, and that would cripple the college. It's just not good to have the only copy of some of those works. As far as I can see, the only sure way to protect them is to get them published, as fast as we can. After last night, I believe that's part of our mission in this world."
    "Funny that you should say that." He passed across an unfolded sheet of paper with a broken seal. "Here's another letter from the Button family, those English Anabaptists stopping in Hamburg. They want to come to Grantville and study with us, and guess what their trade is? They're printers. It seems to me Divine Providence has taken a hand."
    Al thought about that as he picked up a sandwich, and nodded. "Maybe so. Well, then, we should respect that, eh? The sooner we see them, the better." He threw John a quick smile. "Why don't you send them a telegram and tell them we eagerly await their arrival?"

    Some days later
    John's remark the week before was going around in Colm Donnelly's head, as he started across the dooryard to the shed to fetch a hoe. The Lord certainly had some mysterious ways of providing, at times. He was just about to go inside, when William Button came trudging up the hill with his three sons and the older daughter in tow. They looked exhausted, as well they might after praying all night at the hospital. Not that they'd been the only ones praying, not by a long shot. But Claudette Green's phone call an hour ago had said William's wife Melisa was out of danger, and her premature infant Providence seemed to have turned the corner during the night.
    Colm turned in his tracks. "Come in, come in. We'll find you a place to sleep and show you where to wash up. Brother Green will talk with you about your work and studies when you've had some rest."
    William raised his eyes from the ground in front of his feet. "I thank you. It's beyond me to express my gratitude, to all of you in this place. Whatever we can do, we shall do."
    Colm smiled. "Well, I hold a hope that this fair day will bring less excitement than the one just past. Never before did we rush anyone down to the hospital in the moment of arrival, with hardly more than a word of welcome and a handshake. But I hear you were in time." As he led them in through the rambling farm house's door, he called toward the kitchen, "Sister Friedeberger, they're back. What have you got back there, besides a stale crust of bread?"

    The following morning
    Al Green laid down his fork. "You feeling a little more like yourself today, Brother Button? Seriously, I'm happy you've enrolled with us, though I didn't really expect any of you to do anything yesterday but catch up on your sleep. You surprised me. You and the boys were a big help getting the chicken coop closed in before the rain hit. I know working with rough-sawed lumber is no fun."
    "How could we not? Your letter told us of the seminary's Rule—that all share in the work and all share in the bounty. We are beyond grateful at being received so."
    "Well, we're no monastery, so we can afford to make a few allowances, especially for something like what happened. By the way,