The Hedge of Thorns--John Hatchard Part 1

Hello! Today I am going to be reviewing one of my favorite Lamplighter books. When I first read it a couple of years ago, I was very surprised with the ending! The book has just under 90 pages, and as with most of the Lamplighter books I review, it is designed for children. However, I personally think all of the Lamplighter books are good for any age! Although it is a "quick" read, I wouldn't necessarily consider it "easy." The book is a very sobering reminder of the importance of the "hedges" God gives us.

Title: The Hedge of Thorns
Author: First published by John Hatchard and rewritten by Mark Hamby
Originally Published: In 1819 and reprinted by Lamplighter in 1999

Background Information: The background on this book is a little confusing. The book could quite possibly be based on a true story, and was originally published in England. The Editor's Note has this to say: "It appears that the factual accounts of this story were first recorded by John Carrol and completed by John Hatchard. It is possible that the manuscript was then written in book form by Mrs. Mary Sherwood."

The Hedge of Thorns...

The main character in the story is John Carrol and he is the one writing/narrating the book. We learn in the first chapter that his father is a gardener and both his parents are Christians and strive to apply Proverbs 22:6 with their children. When John is four, his sister Anna Bella is born. John calls her Bell and is glad when she is old enough to play with him. :-)

When Bell is four, a Mrs. Waring opens a school to teach the poor, and John's mother takes in "extra washings" to help pay for her two children to go to school. Along with their schooling, Mrs. Waring teaches them to memorize the Bible. We learn at this point the Carrol's don't own a Bible. However, shortly after this, John's father sells two cows so he can purchase a Bible.

The book goes on about a hedge of thorns that John and Bell see on their way to school. Soon John is wondering about these hedges and the wonderful things that could be behind them. Although, he knows that he isn't allowed to go there, the temptation is too much for him, and he begins making plans to find out what is behind them.

The day finally comes where John and Bell go to find out what is behind these hedges and John has Bell go first since she is smaller. Bell is afraid, but after some persuading, she goes. John begins to get impatient with her slow progress and pushes her. He stops however, when Bell cries out in pain--"My brother, my brother! The Thorns, the Thorns!" (p 26) John is alarmed by her cries and helps pull her out. He is horrified to see that "many large thorns that had pierced her face, head, and the sockets of her eyes" (p 26). (all parents, and probably the average reader feel equally horrified at this point in the story, in my opinion)

John is very frighted now, and watching the blood, begins crying louder than his sister. He picks her up and starts heading home. His mother hearing their cries, comes running, and takes Bell from him and goes to the house.

Mrs. Carrol takes out the thorns, cleans the blood up, and then asks John what happened. John explains what happened, and his mother knowing that the sight of his sister is punishment enough says:

"I shall inflict upon you no other punishment, than to look at your sister's bleeding and scarred face, and to consider that she is scarred and does bleed for your disobedience; and remember also, that this sin of disobedience to our heavenly Father, and the wicked wish of breaking the bounds appointed by Him, is the very crime that made it necessary for the Son of God to lay aside his crown of glory, and put on one of thorns." (p 28)

John is left to think about this, and when his father returns home, he writes how his father doesn't say a word but "looked so sorrowfully that it pierced my heart and hurt me more than if he had said a great deal to me." (p 30)

The next day, John's father wakes him up early, and takes him back to the where the hedge of thorns are at. His father then tells him of God's plan of salvation and they discuss it at length. John understands some of what his father says but still feels a little confused. His father then tells him:

"Our heavenly Father, having pity on His poor creatures, and having provided for them a means of salvation, disposes their affairs in life in that way which he sees will best work towards the attainment of this blessed purpose, that is their salvation; He knows the way they ought to go, and He puts, as it were, a Hedge on this side and on that side, to keep them on the path of righteousness. Some are hedged in by careful and vigilant parents, some by strict or hard masters, some by dying friends, some by unkind relations, some by the frown of the world, and some by the infirmities of their own minds." (p 37-38)

John's father goes on some more and then says...

"the thorns in the Hedges placed on each side of us by our Almighty Father are seldom felt by those who patiently walk in the paths appointed them, without attempting to break from them, either to the right or to the left; on the contrary, these fences often abound with fragrant flowers and pleasant herbs, which do greatly refresh the pilgrim as he passes between them in his way to everlasting glory. It is only when one grasps the stem of a rose that he becomes injured. Its thorns are actually a blessing in disguise for it requires its beholder to gently approach its beauty. Otherwise its petals would be destroyed by a careless and thoughtless traveler." (p 38-39)

Hope you enjoyed and were sobered by the first half of this book. I will review the next half tomorrow. Have a great day!