The Healer's House

Samuel noticed the little white building long before he reached it.

Unlike the brickworks, there was no ringing of hammers.

Unlike the sawmill, no whine of blades.

Unlike the creamery, no turning churns.

The building simply stood quietly beneath two large maple trees.

Its white clapboard siding gleamed a warm aura.

A wide front porch stretched across the front with several sturdy rocking chairs waiting in the shade.

Window boxes overflowed with lavender and chamomile while neat beds of peppermint, sage, comfrey, echinacea, yarrow, and dozens of other herbs surrounded the building in every direction.

Even before Samuel reached the porch, he caught their fragrance on the morning breeze.

He smiled.

"I believe healing has a smell."

Sarah Hostetler opened the screen door.

"It surely does."

"Come in."

The room felt peaceful.

Filtered light streamed through lace curtains.

Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling.

Hundreds of carefully labeled jars held dried leaves, flowers, roots, and berries.

Bundles of herbs hung from the rafters drying slowly in the warm air.

A kettle simmered gently atop a small wood stove.

The entire building seemed to invite people to slow down.

Dr. Collins looked up from a wooden examination table.

"Morning, Samuel."

"Morning, Doctor."

Samuel removed his hat.

"I've never been in a doctor's office that smelled this pleasant."

Dr. Collins laughed.

"Neither have I."

Sarah handed Samuel a steaming cup.

"Peppermint tea."

He took a careful sip.

"I believe Rebecca has competition."

Sarah smiled.

"Oh no."

"Rebecca feeds the body."

She looked around the room.

"We simply help it remember how to heal."

An elderly gentleman sat quietly in one of the rocking chairs while Sarah wrapped fresh comfrey leaves around his aching knee.

Dr. Collins listened to his heartbeat before smiling.

"Everything sounds just as it should."

The old fellow grinned.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Sarah adjusted the bandage.

"And I was hoping you'd stay off ladders."

The room filled with quiet laughter.

Samuel looked around the room.

"I've noticed something."

Sarah smiled.

"What?"

"I don't see an old folks' home."

She looked almost surprised.

"Why would we have one?"

Samuel didn't answer.

"Our older folks already have homes."

"They have families."

"They have grandchildren."

She smiled toward the old gentleman.

"And they have stories worth hearing."

Eli rocked gently in his chair.

"When I was your age..."

The apprentices laughed.

Sarah raised one finger.

"Listen."

"They've already made half the mistakes you're about to make."

Eli chuckled.

"And a few you haven't even imagined."

Dr. Collins carefully returned his stethoscope to his worn black medical bag.

"I know surgery."

Sarah nodded.

"I know herbs."

Eli smiled.

"I know what it's like to live eighty years."

Samuel looked thoughtfully at all three.

"It appears every one of you is practicing medicine."

Dr. Collins smiled.

"In different ways."

A little girl came running onto the porch carrying a scraped knee.

Before she could say a word, Sarah knelt beside her.

"Let's wash that."

Dr. Collins looked over.

"No stitches."

Sarah smiled.

"No tears either."

The little girl accepted a peppermint candy and skipped happily back outside.

Samuel watched her disappear across the yard.

"That was quick."

Sarah laughed.