Father and son left the room together and the poor mother sank down in an agony of prayer by the still open window, where the moonlight came in so brightly, so peacefully.
Monsieur de St. Croix hurried on without speaking, till they reached his bedroom where, unlocking one of the traveling bags, he took out a small iron box and a French New testament, which he put into his son's hands.
"Put them where you will, Aurèle," he said; "I leave them in your charge. Go to your mother when you can; I must see after the men first."
One grasp of the hand, one earnest kiss and blessing, and the father and son parted.
Aurèle rushed upstairs, where he found the boys almost dressed; Marie pale and silent, Louis crying, and Agathe chattering volubly. As soon as they were ready, he sent Agathe to her mistress; and taking Louis by the hand, he ran down the other staircase, followed by Marie and Guillaume.
Christine Farenhorst in Christian Renewal: Four orphaned children, three brothers and one sister, set out together on a journey not totally unlike that of Christian in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Their goal is to leave France and to reach the French sea coast to catch a ship for Amsterdam. Because the year is 1686, however, and the children profess to be Huguenots, their youthful days are more often than not filled with adventure and fear.
Forced at an early age to consider the gravity of life and death, the children forge a bond of loyalty that goes beyond family ties. Their unfaltering trust in God provides the 20th century child with a wonderful role model of just what it means to totally give up everything for one's faith. Well and most movingly written, this novel is heartily recommended.
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