Page 61 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

God's Choice
to the prevalent custom, her parents could only pray and grieve, still fearing to bring her home lest they sin by breaking her father's vow. Denied the one thing she wanted most in the world, Erkenesh whimpered sadlyin lonely moments, "If only I could go home."
Tamru, her oldest brother, took matters into his own hands. He took her away from her inconsiderate masters and brought her to his home in Haghere-Selam, Sidamo, where he taught in a Norwegian Lutheran mission. The misty, cold climate contrasted sharply with the sunny, warm lowlands, and Erkenesh lost weight as she suffered from a continual cold. Saddest of all, the demands on her exceeded even those of the missionaries in Arussi.
Though only eleven, Erkenesh received several more proposals. Alarmed by the ever-present threat of abduc tion, her brother sent her to stay with a couple he had known during his school days who lived in the capital city of Yirga-Alem.
Her situation deteriorated from bad to worse. She could not do enough work to please her guardians, who treated her cruelly and refused to give her food. Too shy to confide her troubles to anyone, Erkenesh wouldhave starved had not her classmates and perceptive neighbors occasionally shared their meals with her.
"If only I could go home." The lament beat in her mind as a dirge, until in desperation she chopped her feet with an axe while she cut wood. She thought surely her parents would take her home if they saw her wounded. Blood streamed from the deep cuts as she struggled to the house, where she fainted and lay helplessly on the kitchen floor.
No one cared enough to ask what had happened, much 59