Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

The sound of the vacuum pump humming is a part of life on the farm. It's normal and usual. We take it for granted, never thinking twice about the motor that produces vacuum to milk our cows. But obviously I always listen for it, subconsciously, because on Sunday morning I listened for it in vain. Early rising was to no avail because replacing an unwilling, smoking motor took expertise that needed time to arrive. The worn out motor greedily wolfed up our leisure Sunday morning time and put a sort-of-substitute breakfast on the road to church. But we made it just in time. My husband looked on...