"If we don't remember what we read, Andy, it doesn't do us much good," Lizzie told her son.
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"Well, I can't read or understand the German too well, so sometimes I switch over to the English. Is that letz (wrong)?"
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"No, it's not, but we must not forget our mother tongue. The Deitsch (Pennsylvania German) helps to hold us together. For generations our people have tried to preserve it and keep the plain Christian life. Some even gave their lives for it. They were burned at the stake, beheaded, thrown to the lions, and"
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"Oh, now I remember," Andy interrupted. "I read the story of Daniel in the lions' den. That's what made me think of the cave. Now may I go?" He wondered how asking for hiking permission brought on such a conversation.
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"What do you say, Mom?" Jake asked his wife.
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She wished that he wouldn't leave the decision to her. "Ach, ich weese net (I don't know). Are you sure you'll be back by chore time?"
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"Take Shep along, then," his dad advised, "and don't go too far into the cave. Be sure the flashlight has new batteries."
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"Ya, Dad," Andy agreed. Yet he was thinking, They act like I ' m a child . After all , I ' ll be sixteen in a few months .
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Before leaving, Andy made sure he had some food to take along. He made a few sandwiches and took some meat scraps out for Shep. The dog wolfed them down, then stood looking inquiringly at his master.
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"Come on, boy," Andy called. "You and I are going exploring."
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