Chapters 2 and 3 are here for you to read. Eventually I will start summarizing more chapters in shorter amounts, however, for the first few chapters, I want to go into more detail. :-)
Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss Published:
Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)
Background Information: See first two posts entitled "Stepping Heavenward"
Stepping Heavenward...
In June, Katy writes about how her Pastor--Dr. Cabot preaches specifically to the young people. He talks to those who--knew they did not love God, those who knew they did love God, and those who did not know what to think. Dr. Cabot feels that most of his listeners were in the third category and were not sure if they did love their Master. Katy feels she is in this category and decides to go to a class he is starting on Saturday afternoons.
She goes to the meeting (Amelia also goes), the pastor is glad to see her and asks her a few questions. He uses the example of her mother to help her see if she loves God.
After some discussion on trying to help them see if they love God, Amelia says--"Couldn't we obey Him from fear?" The pastor says "Yes; and so you might obey your mother from fear, but only for a season. If you had no real love for her, you would gradually cease to dread her displeasure; whereas it is in the very nature of love to grow stronger and more influential every hour" (p. 15).
Amelia then says--"You mean, then, that if we want to know whether we love God, we must find out whether we are obeying Him?" (p 15). The pastor says that is exactly what he means and point them to John 14:21. He invites them to come back again if they have more questions.
Amelia and Katy leave and Amelia claims that she understood everything that Dr. Cabot says. Katy still feels like she is "in a fog" but is determined that she will pray more regularly.
Due to the summer months, Katy stops going to see Dr. Cabot and even avoids him when he comes to see her. Amelia later tells Katy that she had another talk with Dr. Cabot and has become a Christian...she claims that "it is ever so easy to be a Christian!" (p. 17). Katy is frustrated that it can be so easy for her and writes--"Well, if I am destined to be miserable, I must try to bear it."
In October, school begins again and Katy writes about her studies and other things. She has more discussions with her mother and writes--"Well, I shall be young but once, and while I am, do let me have a good time!" (p. 18). In late October, her father has an accident and as a result dies from it. This is a obviously a shock for the family and Katy becomes a very serious as a result. Katy gets frustrated with people offering "comfort" and observes how well her mother holds up during the entire process. Katy's mother also mentions to her at one point that she must control herself more and not allow such "passions of grief."
Her mother also mentions that she spends too much time "brooding over my sorrow."
Her mother tells her "What you need is such a living, personal love to Christ as shall make the thought of being where He is so delightful as to fill your mind with that single thought!" (p 22) Katy wonders what "personal love to Christ" is. By January, just before her 17th birthday the family is forced to move into a smaller house. Katy's mother hopes that doing this will be able to help get James (Katy's brother) through college.
By June Katy's school days are over and that she is pleased that she can "draw and practice to her heart's content" (p 25). Her mother points out that she will not find her heart's content in these activities.
Katy's friend Amelia is now good friends with Jenny Underhill--Katy find this somewhat trying but does find Jenny to be "quite nice." Jenny lends her books to her and Katy writes that "I wish I liked more solid reading; but I don't. And I wish I was not so fond of novels; but I am" (p 25). Jenny also shows Amelia and Katy a picture of her brother Charley. Jenny tells Katy that she would like her brother because "he is exactly like the heroes" Katy admires in books. Katy is doubtful and writes that "Very few like me" Amelia says that is because Katy says "just what you think." :-) Katy is eventually introduced to Charley, and to her surprise, he likes her! She soon finds herself liking him. Amelia, Jenny, and Katy soon decide to get together to discuss books...with Charley "directing" the readings. Katy forgets to tell her mother about it and when they are getting together to meet and Katy's house, her mother finds out--and isn't happy about the arrangement.
Katy and her mother have some discussions about Charley. Katy's mother is surprised at Katy's affection toward Charley--and that she has not been consulted at all. Katy's mother soon meets with Charley and they argue about the whole matter. Soon, Charley's uncle and sister try to convince Katy's mother that it would be good for Charley to "settle down."
Katy's mother agrees that Charley and Katy can have a year's probation. Charley is allowed to spend one evening with Katy every two weeks, and Katy's mother will always be present. They are not allowed to be seen together in public or correspond. After a year, if they still want to, they are allowed to be engaged. Charley finds these constraints rather annoying.
Katy's mother still tries to convince Katy that this is not the best young man for her and says that a marriage with him would not make her happy. Katy is shocked to think about marriage...she writes "I felt a chill creep over me. All I had wanted was to have Charley come here every day, take me out now and then, and care for nobody else" (p 31).
Her mother says "Yes, marriage!...For what is the meaning of an engagement if marriage is not to follow?" She goes on about how Charley cannot be good for her and says "You are captivated by what girls of your age call beauty, regular features, a fair complexion and soft eyes. His flatteries delude, and his professions of affection gratify you. You do not see that he is shallow, and conceited, and selfish and--" (p 31)
Katy interrupts and is upset with her mother's assessment. Finally, the year's probation is up--and despite her mother's warnings Katy and Charley are engaged.
Don't you find it interesting that even a book written in 1869, the character does not think about marriage while she is "courting" a young man? (Her mother has to point it out to her!) She primarily just wants to have fun and have his primary attention directed toward her. Doesn't this type of relationship sound familiar to us readers today?
More to follow in another post!
Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss Published:
Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)
Background Information: See first two posts entitled "Stepping Heavenward"
Stepping Heavenward...
In June, Katy writes about how her Pastor--Dr. Cabot preaches specifically to the young people. He talks to those who--knew they did not love God, those who knew they did love God, and those who did not know what to think. Dr. Cabot feels that most of his listeners were in the third category and were not sure if they did love their Master. Katy feels she is in this category and decides to go to a class he is starting on Saturday afternoons.
She goes to the meeting (Amelia also goes), the pastor is glad to see her and asks her a few questions. He uses the example of her mother to help her see if she loves God.
After some discussion on trying to help them see if they love God, Amelia says--"Couldn't we obey Him from fear?" The pastor says "Yes; and so you might obey your mother from fear, but only for a season. If you had no real love for her, you would gradually cease to dread her displeasure; whereas it is in the very nature of love to grow stronger and more influential every hour" (p. 15).
Amelia then says--"You mean, then, that if we want to know whether we love God, we must find out whether we are obeying Him?" (p 15). The pastor says that is exactly what he means and point them to John 14:21. He invites them to come back again if they have more questions.
Amelia and Katy leave and Amelia claims that she understood everything that Dr. Cabot says. Katy still feels like she is "in a fog" but is determined that she will pray more regularly.
Due to the summer months, Katy stops going to see Dr. Cabot and even avoids him when he comes to see her. Amelia later tells Katy that she had another talk with Dr. Cabot and has become a Christian...she claims that "it is ever so easy to be a Christian!" (p. 17). Katy is frustrated that it can be so easy for her and writes--"Well, if I am destined to be miserable, I must try to bear it."
In October, school begins again and Katy writes about her studies and other things. She has more discussions with her mother and writes--"Well, I shall be young but once, and while I am, do let me have a good time!" (p. 18). In late October, her father has an accident and as a result dies from it. This is a obviously a shock for the family and Katy becomes a very serious as a result. Katy gets frustrated with people offering "comfort" and observes how well her mother holds up during the entire process. Katy's mother also mentions to her at one point that she must control herself more and not allow such "passions of grief."
Her mother also mentions that she spends too much time "brooding over my sorrow."
Her mother tells her "What you need is such a living, personal love to Christ as shall make the thought of being where He is so delightful as to fill your mind with that single thought!" (p 22) Katy wonders what "personal love to Christ" is. By January, just before her 17th birthday the family is forced to move into a smaller house. Katy's mother hopes that doing this will be able to help get James (Katy's brother) through college.
By June Katy's school days are over and that she is pleased that she can "draw and practice to her heart's content" (p 25). Her mother points out that she will not find her heart's content in these activities.
Katy's friend Amelia is now good friends with Jenny Underhill--Katy find this somewhat trying but does find Jenny to be "quite nice." Jenny lends her books to her and Katy writes that "I wish I liked more solid reading; but I don't. And I wish I was not so fond of novels; but I am" (p 25). Jenny also shows Amelia and Katy a picture of her brother Charley. Jenny tells Katy that she would like her brother because "he is exactly like the heroes" Katy admires in books. Katy is doubtful and writes that "Very few like me" Amelia says that is because Katy says "just what you think." :-) Katy is eventually introduced to Charley, and to her surprise, he likes her! She soon finds herself liking him. Amelia, Jenny, and Katy soon decide to get together to discuss books...with Charley "directing" the readings. Katy forgets to tell her mother about it and when they are getting together to meet and Katy's house, her mother finds out--and isn't happy about the arrangement.
Katy and her mother have some discussions about Charley. Katy's mother is surprised at Katy's affection toward Charley--and that she has not been consulted at all. Katy's mother soon meets with Charley and they argue about the whole matter. Soon, Charley's uncle and sister try to convince Katy's mother that it would be good for Charley to "settle down."
Katy's mother agrees that Charley and Katy can have a year's probation. Charley is allowed to spend one evening with Katy every two weeks, and Katy's mother will always be present. They are not allowed to be seen together in public or correspond. After a year, if they still want to, they are allowed to be engaged. Charley finds these constraints rather annoying.
Katy's mother still tries to convince Katy that this is not the best young man for her and says that a marriage with him would not make her happy. Katy is shocked to think about marriage...she writes "I felt a chill creep over me. All I had wanted was to have Charley come here every day, take me out now and then, and care for nobody else" (p 31).
Her mother says "Yes, marriage!...For what is the meaning of an engagement if marriage is not to follow?" She goes on about how Charley cannot be good for her and says "You are captivated by what girls of your age call beauty, regular features, a fair complexion and soft eyes. His flatteries delude, and his professions of affection gratify you. You do not see that he is shallow, and conceited, and selfish and--" (p 31)
Katy interrupts and is upset with her mother's assessment. Finally, the year's probation is up--and despite her mother's warnings Katy and Charley are engaged.
Don't you find it interesting that even a book written in 1869, the character does not think about marriage while she is "courting" a young man? (Her mother has to point it out to her!) She primarily just wants to have fun and have his primary attention directed toward her. Doesn't this type of relationship sound familiar to us readers today?
More to follow in another post!
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