The Blessing of Pequea Sam

The many nice and helpful notes in the book include the portrayal of the neighboring Pequea and Susquehannock Indians - in the period of the Amish settlement - as human beings. The portrayal of Amish childhood, in the example of Pequea Sam’s “heel-trotter” nephew, Sammy II, is also refreshing and pleasant, with some of the book’s action viewed through Sammy II’s growing perception of life. All this points up the importance of role models within the family, and lifelong loyalty of family members to each other – not always the case but when it happens, it is always memorable. And best of all as a character sketch of a non-Amish person is the author’s winsome portrayal of the ex-Quaker proprietress (“madam”) of Lancaster’s only colonial brothel, where one of the brothers (Pequea Sam) receives periodic mentoring with practical advice and creature comforts.