Hello! My next book being reviewed will be a Lamplighter book. As a reminder, Lamplighter is a company that republishes old books. This story is about a knight and his family and is set in Germany.
Title: The White Dove
Author: Christoph Von Schmid
Published: Originally printed in 1841 and re-printed by Lamplighter in 1999.
Background Information: Lamplighter has republished many of Christoph Von Schmid's works, most notably would be "The Basket of Flowers." This is another quick and easy read book, has just under 80 pages. The Lamplighter website recommends this book for girls and boys ages 6-11. However, as with all of their books, they are great for any age! Also, as a reminder, it was written awhile ago, and so you do have to get used to the "old fashioned" flavor of it! :-)
The White Dove...
The dove soon becomes an excellent object lesson for the Countess Othilia to teach her daughter lessons. When the dove wakes Agnes up early, her mother points out the importance of rising early to her, when the dove obeys Agnes, her mother notes how Agnes must always be prompt to obey her, when Agnes notes how clean the dove is, her mother uses that to emphasise the importance of Agnes keeping tidy. Another lesson, Agnes notes how grateful the dove is for the food she gives it, her mother points out that in turn, Agnes must always be grateful to God for His blessings.
One day a widow of a knight, Rosalind and her child Emma, come to Falkenbourg to seek the assistance of Knight Theobald. Rosalind tells how two other neighboring knights are coveting riches and are trying to rob her. When she finishes explaining the issues to Knight Theobald, he is very silent thinking on the matter. Agnes, misunderstanding his silence begs her father to help them, and reminds him of what her mother told her when they first saw the dove. She says:
"My dear father, have pity upon them. See! when my dove, flying from the talons of a bird of prey, came and put itself under my protection, my mother said to me: 'We must not drive away the unhappy who come to put themselves under our protection,' and she rejoiced on seeing m mercy towards the poor little creature. And this child and her mother, do not they deserve still more compassion and pity than a dove? Save them from the clutches of these worthless knights." (p 21)
Her father being moved, tells her that with God's help he will assist them, and explains that his silence was not from hesitation, but trying to determine the best way to help them. Knight Theobald confronts the "worthless knights" and gives them warnings to leave Rosalind alone, or he shall go to war against them. Knight Theobald returns and tells Rosalind and Emma that they can now safely return home. Before they leave, Agnes presents Emma her dove as a gift. At first Emma insists she should not be given the dove, but Agnes persists and Emma happily takes the dove home.
Agnes is a little sad after parting with her dove, and wonders if she should have given Emma something else. Her mother encourages her act and says: "The greatest and most noble gifts are those that come from a pure and sacrificial heart. It is always better to give than to receive my child. Though it is not always easy, it is always best." (p 26)
Rosalind and Emma return home, and after awhile some "pilgrims" come to visit them. (note to readers: when they say pilgrims, they do not mean our traditional American view of pilgrims. It's a little hard to explain, but it is more like someone who was visiting the Holy Land and they wear plain clothes etc. Hope that helps some!) These pilgrims tell Rosalind and Emma of their travels, and then before they leave ask for directions to Falkenbourg to see Knight Theobald and family. Rosalind tells them how to get there and sends a servant boy Linhard with them.
As these two pilgrims and Linhard travel, the pilgrims begin speaking in Italian. (they do not know that Linhard was originally from Italy and knew what they were saying) Linhard learns that these "pilgrims" are actually robbers in disguise and plan to kill and steal from the Knight Theobald and his family! Linhard is alarmed, yet pretends he does not know what they are saying, he also learns that they are going to kill him too when they get near a cliff. Linhard when they get to the bridge near the cliff pretends fright and insists that he return back. The robbers reluctantly agree, and after Linhard leaves, they tear the bridge down so no one can get to them. Linhard runs back to tell Rosalind the news.
Rosalind is distraught with the news, encourages her townspeople to help Knight Theobald and warn them. However, it is getting late, and they realize no one can get there in time. Emma remembers the dove, and they come up with the idea to attach a note to the dove and have it fly back to tell Theobald and the family.
This works! Agnes gets the note and her father immediately sets about to trap the "pilgrims" when they come. The robbers are shocked to find out that Theobald know everything, one robber is mostly angry, and the other bemoans about how he listened to him about how they could easily get rich. This robber is very repentant at having listened to him and knows that God will be punishing him. More traps are set for additional robbers who were going to assist the two traveling "pilgrims."
The story ends cheerfully, Rosalind and Emma come to Falkenbourg to celebrate with Theobald and family and they begin "toasting" Emma, and then through that course, realize that they should also toast Linhard, Emma's father who took Linhard in, and at the end they all agree that ultimately it is God who worked out the whole situation!
Knight Theobald also tells Linhard that he will take him in as a page, and Linhard encourages them to be a little kinder to the repentant robber, they all agree.
Othilia presents Emma with an olive branch in gold, that she has always used for her hair, and tells Emma "Let this olive branch, the glorious symbol of our safety, be to you, my dear Emma a feeble testimonial of our gratitude" (p 71).
The book ends with Othilia quoting these lines:
"Child, put thou in God above,
All thy faith and all they love.
Raise His temple in they heart;
From His Worship ne'rer depart.
Should the hour of danger lower,
Fear not then its threat'ning power.
Gathering tempests do not dread;
He shall always guard thy head.
Child, put thou in God above,
All thy faith, as in the dove."
Title: The White Dove
Author: Christoph Von Schmid
Published: Originally printed in 1841 and re-printed by Lamplighter in 1999.
Background Information: Lamplighter has republished many of Christoph Von Schmid's works, most notably would be "The Basket of Flowers." This is another quick and easy read book, has just under 80 pages. The Lamplighter website recommends this book for girls and boys ages 6-11. However, as with all of their books, they are great for any age! Also, as a reminder, it was written awhile ago, and so you do have to get used to the "old fashioned" flavor of it! :-)
The White Dove...
The Knight's name is Theobald, his wife is the Countess Othilia, and they have an eight year old daughter named Agnes. They all live in the castle of Falkenbourg. The book begins by introducing the characters and the various kind things they do for others.
One day, Agnes and her mother are outside and they hear a noise that startles them, Agnes is afraid to look up and see what it is. Her mother assures her, and they realize it is a dove. Her mother then suggests that they roast it for dinner. Agnes is horrified at the thought and says that the bird has put itself in their protection and that they shouldn't harm it. Her mother is pleased with her response and tells her that she is right and that she was testing her. Agnes is allowed to keep the dove as a pet, eventually it is tamed, and can the dove does not have to be kept in a cage.
The dove soon becomes an excellent object lesson for the Countess Othilia to teach her daughter lessons. When the dove wakes Agnes up early, her mother points out the importance of rising early to her, when the dove obeys Agnes, her mother notes how Agnes must always be prompt to obey her, when Agnes notes how clean the dove is, her mother uses that to emphasise the importance of Agnes keeping tidy. Another lesson, Agnes notes how grateful the dove is for the food she gives it, her mother points out that in turn, Agnes must always be grateful to God for His blessings.
One day a widow of a knight, Rosalind and her child Emma, come to Falkenbourg to seek the assistance of Knight Theobald. Rosalind tells how two other neighboring knights are coveting riches and are trying to rob her. When she finishes explaining the issues to Knight Theobald, he is very silent thinking on the matter. Agnes, misunderstanding his silence begs her father to help them, and reminds him of what her mother told her when they first saw the dove. She says:
"My dear father, have pity upon them. See! when my dove, flying from the talons of a bird of prey, came and put itself under my protection, my mother said to me: 'We must not drive away the unhappy who come to put themselves under our protection,' and she rejoiced on seeing m mercy towards the poor little creature. And this child and her mother, do not they deserve still more compassion and pity than a dove? Save them from the clutches of these worthless knights." (p 21)
Her father being moved, tells her that with God's help he will assist them, and explains that his silence was not from hesitation, but trying to determine the best way to help them. Knight Theobald confronts the "worthless knights" and gives them warnings to leave Rosalind alone, or he shall go to war against them. Knight Theobald returns and tells Rosalind and Emma that they can now safely return home. Before they leave, Agnes presents Emma her dove as a gift. At first Emma insists she should not be given the dove, but Agnes persists and Emma happily takes the dove home.
Agnes is a little sad after parting with her dove, and wonders if she should have given Emma something else. Her mother encourages her act and says: "The greatest and most noble gifts are those that come from a pure and sacrificial heart. It is always better to give than to receive my child. Though it is not always easy, it is always best." (p 26)
Rosalind and Emma return home, and after awhile some "pilgrims" come to visit them. (note to readers: when they say pilgrims, they do not mean our traditional American view of pilgrims. It's a little hard to explain, but it is more like someone who was visiting the Holy Land and they wear plain clothes etc. Hope that helps some!) These pilgrims tell Rosalind and Emma of their travels, and then before they leave ask for directions to Falkenbourg to see Knight Theobald and family. Rosalind tells them how to get there and sends a servant boy Linhard with them.
As these two pilgrims and Linhard travel, the pilgrims begin speaking in Italian. (they do not know that Linhard was originally from Italy and knew what they were saying) Linhard learns that these "pilgrims" are actually robbers in disguise and plan to kill and steal from the Knight Theobald and his family! Linhard is alarmed, yet pretends he does not know what they are saying, he also learns that they are going to kill him too when they get near a cliff. Linhard when they get to the bridge near the cliff pretends fright and insists that he return back. The robbers reluctantly agree, and after Linhard leaves, they tear the bridge down so no one can get to them. Linhard runs back to tell Rosalind the news.
Rosalind is distraught with the news, encourages her townspeople to help Knight Theobald and warn them. However, it is getting late, and they realize no one can get there in time. Emma remembers the dove, and they come up with the idea to attach a note to the dove and have it fly back to tell Theobald and the family.
This works! Agnes gets the note and her father immediately sets about to trap the "pilgrims" when they come. The robbers are shocked to find out that Theobald know everything, one robber is mostly angry, and the other bemoans about how he listened to him about how they could easily get rich. This robber is very repentant at having listened to him and knows that God will be punishing him. More traps are set for additional robbers who were going to assist the two traveling "pilgrims."
The story ends cheerfully, Rosalind and Emma come to Falkenbourg to celebrate with Theobald and family and they begin "toasting" Emma, and then through that course, realize that they should also toast Linhard, Emma's father who took Linhard in, and at the end they all agree that ultimately it is God who worked out the whole situation!
Knight Theobald also tells Linhard that he will take him in as a page, and Linhard encourages them to be a little kinder to the repentant robber, they all agree.
Othilia presents Emma with an olive branch in gold, that she has always used for her hair, and tells Emma "Let this olive branch, the glorious symbol of our safety, be to you, my dear Emma a feeble testimonial of our gratitude" (p 71).
The book ends with Othilia quoting these lines:
"Child, put thou in God above,
All thy faith and all they love.
Raise His temple in they heart;
From His Worship ne'rer depart.
Should the hour of danger lower,
Fear not then its threat'ning power.
Gathering tempests do not dread;
He shall always guard thy head.
Child, put thou in God above,
All thy faith, as in the dove."
Hope you enjoyed this review! It's a great story and a good teaching tool for children to realize God's Sovereignty and how He is involved with even the smallest things, like a dove, in our lives!
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