Peter's "The Plain People" Story.

Thursday, 22nd November 2001.

It is dark when Elizabeth wakes up.

She gets out of bed and shivers (shake) the floor is cold it has no carpet.

The Amish people are plain living people with no electric light.

For light kerosene lamps are used. No jewellery at all they do not own.

The clothes that are worn buy the Amish people are plain: black and white.

The men sometimes wear blue shirts. No cars are used. Amish people use horses and (carts) buggies.

No lounges or pictures are in their homes. They do not uses the telephone or radio. They do not have electricity.

The way of life has not changed in 300 years.

The "Amish" people are called Amish because their leader was Jacob Amman they first lived in Germany and Switzerland and speak German language now as they did 300 years ago. The "Amish people" were persecuted in Europe so about 1700 people came to the he New World.

Most of the Amish People have small farms and believe the country side is best for their families to live.

On their farms they have no modern machinery to help with the farm work.

A few years ago some Amish farmers found oil on their land this could mean they could have a lot of money out no!! They sold this land and moved away and told no one about the oil.

They did not want to be rich. The Amish people are Christians and believe we should follow the simple way of life of "Jesus".

They will not fight in wars. They will not wear clothes with buttons on because the uniforms of war have buttons on. When there is any sort of trouble they all help each other and work together. If one Amish man is sick one of the other village people will help with this farm until he gets better.

They only marry other Amish people. This could cause a mix up because many names are the same. They choose names from the Bible. To help, they give each other nick-names (this is pretend name).

People (think) wonder what life is like for the Amish and many people visit as tourists.

The "Amish" people do not like this but (put up) tolerate this because this helps people to understand the Amish way of life.

Thank you,

Peter Risby.