Based on his extensive writings, this true story is the heartthrob of Christian K. Nissley (1838-1867), a young man of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Even though he lived during a time when church life seemed to be at a low ebb, his loyalties remained with the (Old) Mennonite Church. Young Christian developed an outstanding spiritual character and learned to write fluently in both English and German. Christian's father was a preacher, and his family helped black people at a time when it was not popular to do so. The Civil War affected their lives, and some young men that Christian knew went into was destroyed. Family life, church life, and farm life of that era are depicted. Artwork, some photos, ten appendices, endnotes, and more are included.

One by one, Father sorted the ears of dent corn, selecting the largest ears with the deepest kernels to use for seed.

Christian ran the ears through the sheller, and then Father sorted again, this time picking out all the small or damaged kernels. "You go to a lot of effort," Christian commented.

"Why?"

"Because..." Christian answered slowly. "The seed is so important. Next year's harvest depends on the seed. If we'd use poor quality seed, we wouldn't get much of a crop."

Father nodded. "It's like life. The seeds we sow in youth determine what kind of harvest we have later."

For Christian Nissley, life is full of seeds—corn seeds, wheat seeds, and pumpkin seeds! Will he choose to sow seeds of rebellion or seeds of obedience? Seeds of pride or seeds of humility?

And he wonders, "Why the lack of seriousness among the young people? Why the difference in practice among the River Brethren, the Reformed Mennonites, and the Old Mennonites? Why the years of waiting to teach school? to begin a home of my own?"

This book includes Christian's writings about his mother's death, his conversion, and the Civil War, as well as letters from his girlfriend and his notes from two sermons by the minister Amos Herr.

Contents

• Preface
• Maps

Part 1 (December 29, 1852 - November 27, 1856)

• 1. "I Like to Go to School Very Much"
• 2. "Time, Once Past, Never Returns"
• 3. "Nor Doubt a Happy End"
• 4. "My Temper Apt to Rise"
• 5. Sowing in the Sunshine
• 6. "She... Warned Me of Pride"
• 7. "To a Land Above"
• 8. The Meaning of Seeds
• 9. The Challenge of Change
• 10. "The Lord's Great Sufferings for Us"
• 11. "Today If Ye Will Hear His Voice"
• 12. Memories in Silver
• 13. "It Depends on How a Man Lives"
• 14. "A Repentance That Is Valid"
• 15. "My Second Birthday"
• 16. "The Harvest Field, a Very Fine Place"
• 17. Fletcher's Evening School
• 18. The Clarity of Loyalty

Part 2 (December 16, 1860 - June 1867)

• 19. "United States in an Uproar"
• 20. "I Did Not Join"
• 21. "To Believe in Him As He Is"
• 22. "I Wept and Sighed"
• 23. "Having a Home"
• 24. "The Ohre Stopper"
• 25. "The Dewdrops From Heaven"
• 26. "How the Wheat Grows"
• 27. Day of Deliverance
• 28. "I Was Surprised"
• 29. "Christian Enjoyed Himself"
• 30. Inferno at Sunset
• 31. "A Wonderful Excitement"
• 32. "Time Will Tell"
• 33. "The Best Interests of the Church"
• 34. "He Is Now in the Hands of God"
• 35. "Such Worlds of Love and Warning"
• 36. "A Relief"
• 37. "He Will Try Our Faith"
• 38. "He Purgeth It"
• 39. "Short Was His Life"

• Afterword
• Photo Pages
• Family History

Appendices

• 1. Peter K. Nissley's Early Papers
• 2. John K. Nissley's Compositions
• 3. Christian K. Nissley's Poetry Collection
• 4. Christian K. Nissley's Math Exercises
• 5. Christian K. Nissley—Good Friday and Easter
• 6. Items of Interest From Christian Nissley's Trip in 1860
• 7. Writings From the Herald of Truth
• 8. Christian K. Nissley Sermon Notes
• 9. Letter From Daniel Musser to Christian K. Nissley
• 10. Selected Letters of Peter K. Nissley

• Endnotes
• Sources
• Credits
• Index