Posted in The Inheritance by Christoph von Schmid

We find Clara still sad over the death of her father. And of her mother also. Her Aunt sends her to the Von Hugel's with some cloth, and there she meets Julia and her mother, who are kindred spirits to Clara. God has placed her there at just the right time, and she finds a sister in Julia. Clara recounts all about her father and mother to them, and they cannot help but remember their own loss of a husband and father.

  As is life and the enemy of our souls, Clara has found a like-minded dear friend who will spur her on in her faith and piety, and the next chapter leads her to a wealthy family, highly desired by the world, but lacking piety. Clara's ears are tickled at what the young man has to say to her, and she is swept into a fancy, frivolous lifestyle and thought life, as well as amusements that draw her away from what the Lord has given her in her parents and her friend Julia. She has forgotten the admonitions of her father and her mother.

At first it seemed that she was not impressed with the folly and talk of the sisters, but when the brother came in and exclaimed of her beauty, as she has been given attention by such important people, she was then taken with all of the folly and vain words they said to her following. She was moved by the vanity that her father and mother both warned her about, yet she seemingly has completely forgotten what they said its effects would be.

I had thought from the beginning of this story, when Clara went to live with her aunt, that her aunt was a good Christian woman, but did not really have understanding of life. I thought she was a pious woman and a caring woman, but I was not sure she had understanding to apply in such situations, and it proved out in the case when Clara was going to go to the ball. If not for her friend who reminded her in the deepest way she could, she would have denied everything her parents tried to make real to her and warn her of and her life would have probably come to ruin.

We see the full circle of the red and white roses and the contrast her father made of them to impress upon her heart and memory to keep her pure and attentive to God's purpose in her life and to keep her from the worldly snares of vanity and vain flatteries. I was impressed that after Julia practically begged her to not go but to stay in her piety and away from the worldly folly of the Von Winnigs, that even though Clara refused her, she stayed faithful to her friend. It was a brilliant testimony to love, friendship and discernment that Julia recalled what Clara had spoken to her about the memory of the red and white roses. Upon seeing the red being replaced with the white, all of the words of her mother and father came pouring back into Clara's heart. 
Rachel was reading to us, and when I heard the red roses were white, I could not imagine how. What a sweet treasure to hear that Julia was there, waiting on her friend to be brought down into despair and remember who she really was and how far she had removed herself from it.
It is a sad realization when we find that we have strayed from the words we have heard from the Lord and the path we were on in our walk with Him.

And, though her aunt was unhappy with her at first that she didn't keep her friendship with such a wealthy family, it was proven out to be the right path when the Von Winnigs lost their standings due to the folly and bad judgment of the children and a father who was more interested in his own games and folly than his own children and teaching them. Unfortunately, they learned well the lessons of their father.

There are several themes in this little story. One is that this is is a true testimony of real friendships. It is in the fact that sometimes friendships, though they may be beneficial to each party, and they may reflect a concern for the other, that is not the true test of friendship. True friendship is true. It is honest and leads you to better yourself in the Lord. I have come to be of the belief that any relationship that does not do this is not friendship as God intended it.

Blessings~
Jacque
Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths Homeschool


 I am glad to see that joy did come back to Clara in the form of Mrs. von Hugel and Miss Julia. It is wonderful that Clara found kindred spirits in them. I am so encouraged to see them. I would love to have friends, especially a mother and daughter like them. It was great to see that they could relate to each other so much and glorify in their joy!

 What a wonderful life Clara must have felt when she found a kindred spirit in both Mrs. von Hugel and Miss Julia! I bet she was just so happy to be able to relate and talk about her sorrows with them. It is really great to see that joy came back to Clara.

Her Aunt really puzzles me. She seems like a wonderful Aunt who will watch out and really loves Clara a lot, but she is somewhat clueless. I really can't believe that she just let Clara go off with these two girls. It seems she doesn't know very much about them. There is no way I would ever to that with my children, let alone my nieces and nephews.
 It is very good to see that even though Clara spent a lot of time with the von Winnig girls that their horrible traits and bad habits did not rub off on her.

  Although when Mr. Edward von Winnig flattered her, she did lose some of her innocence. It says, "Young Edward was now her only thought.", she let him take precedence and let a lot of other things slip. She took too much care about her appearance, spent too much time with her new friends, and lost touch with the one friend who truly cared about her!

 How unfrequent it is to find an older woman who will actually take the time to mentor you! Mrs. von Hugel was more of a motherly figure to Clara than her Aunt. Mrs. von Hugel is really something. I know it is really rare when I find an older woman who will tell me what I need to hear in a loving manner. I am glad that Mrs. von Hugel felt comfortable telling Clara what she needed to hear. I am also glad that she followed through on her conviction that she needed to tell Clara what she did.

 She did it in such love and admonishment that with Clara's gentle spirit, I can't believe she didn't heed it for more than she did. Of course, that is how satan works. When we hear what we need to, or something that convicts us and we start to get back on that path, he will bring in a distraction and take our minds off of it and put it back onto our sin path.

 What a awesome friend Julia was to Clara! I am so happy that Julia was that concerned for her friend that she redid the bouquet of roses with white and red. What a smart girl Julia is! That is a true friend. Someone who knows you so well that even when you aren't listening or paying attention to them, they find some way to reach out to you in your dark hour! I am thankful I have a friend like that in Jocelyn!

 It is so good to finally see Clara open her eyes and see the roses! haha! No, really I am very glad that she finally woke up to what her mentors had been telling her and actually had no distractions this time! God will always try again.

 I think Clara's Aunt is just too worldly and materialistic. She really didn't see the value of not being friends with the von Winnigs, until after they went bankrupt. At least, she realized that Mrs. von Hugel knew what she was talking about and knew that she was right in what she was doing. I am glad to see that Aunt is grateful for Mrs. von Hugel's interference.

 As we end this tale, what a beautiful ending it is! How sweet that they did get men who had very high integrity! How sweet that they always remembered the lessons of the white roses, and yet combined them with the red! Wisdom and beauty!
 This was such an encouraging story! What a blessing to take and learn some lessons from. It was such a beautiful story!
 
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Comments

Posted by schomeschoolmommy

I sure hope the rest of the story is a little more cheery than the beginning. Wow, what a sad story of a precious little girl. She lost her mom at about the age of 10. Then she loses her dad at the age of about 12. The ending of Chapter 5 twisted my heart in a knot...."I have but one wish, to die". Wow, I sure hope Chapter 6 turns things around for little Clara.

Well, I see that I posted my comments for Chapters 1-5 on the wrong spot. But I have finished the rest of the story now. So I will add my comments for the last half.


How blessed Clara was to have a friend like Julia. Julia shared her pain in the loss of a loved one. She shared Clara's love for the Lord. She shared Clara's desire to live a Godly life. When Clara got in with the wrong crowd, Julia stood beside her and encouraged her to stay true to the Lord. When Clara refused to listen, Julia didn't give up on her. Julia stayed true to her friend and didn't give up on her. The white roses spoke to Clara's heart in a way that nothing else ever could have. I will never look at a white rose the same way again.


Edited by schomeschoolmommy on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:40 PM

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Posted by drewsfamilytx

That was a quick, sweet story!

Oh, if only we could all have a true Christian friend like Julia! Even though she was forgotten and forsaken for these other friends, she still went out on a limb and made an effort to remind Clara of the virtuous path. So many people would be bitter or offended and give up on their "friend." But TRUE friendship includes love... and when you love someone, you sacrifice your relationship and get out of your comfort zone just to show them how far away from God they are straying.

I think this book also sent a message that even "very good" girls will struggle to stay on the straight and narrow. Being a Christian does not guarantee a perfect life nor a life without temptation. We have to choose Christ daily.

I will never look at a white rose the same way again!

Edited by drewsfamilytx on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:46 PM

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Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

Amanda, I agree with you about the aunt. I was concerned from the beginning for Clara to be with her. I think she knew the Lord and the Word a bit, but not really in application of the worldly temptations of the open wounded heart of a young lady. Another thing I want to point out is that a lot of times, I feel that 'things were different then", but I think things have always been pretty much the same. "There is nothing new under the sun."

KD, I totally agree how sad the story is at the beginning. What a sweet story of a young mom and her daughter, then the tragedy was really unbelieveable. I mean, I could believe she lost her mother, but her father too?? That was very unexpected. I hated stopping there, but I am sure you will be happy with the way Clara's life turns out!

Oh Marshie, your words are like gold! Yes, a true friend sees these things and finds a way to express them in love to their friend, bearing her sin with her, showing her the light of God's word. Julia was very fortunate that Clara did accept what she told her and did not shun the truth of what she said, too.

"Being a Christian does not guarantee a perfect life nor a life without temptation. We have to choose Christ daily. " Absolutely. Totally. A daily choice to put into action.

All in all, I love the contrast of the red and white roses, and I agree Marshie!! I will never look at red or white roses the same way again!

~Jacque

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Posted by Jeannie

Thats it the LIterary Club is going to be part of my Tackle it Tuesday project I will prevail and get caught up with you all...

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Posted by quietcajun

My first thought about this story was about the very name Clara. Clara means Clear and Bright. I hoped right off that the character of Clara would portray this meaning well and overall, she did. However, she needed the guidance of Godly family and friends to keep her on the true path.

White roses are my favorite flower! I have purple roses on my blog b/c purple is my favorite color and roses are my favorite flower, but I have always LOVED white roses. They are a symbol of purity and their usage in this story is so sweet!

Clara’s mother’s death was so sad and it broke my heart that her father had to send her away… just at the time when they needed each other the most. How much more tragic when he also died.

I felt like Clara’s flirtation with the world was, in part, the fault of her guardian. She should have kept Clara closer. Her excuse (or the implied excuse) was that she was inexperienced as a parent. Well, aren’t we all? It is a blessing for the character of young Clara that there were a few with wisdom in her life because the Aunt surely failed her niece at this point!

Another striking point that I have been considering is that sometimes having more means we come to expect to deserve more. The more pleasures and treasures Clara was afforded the more selfish and vain she became. She fancied herself as special to the arrogant Mr. Von Winnig and allowed his flattery to disarm her. Herein lies a common stumbling ground for young women. This is even more reason guardians need to carefully guard the hearts and minds of their young charges. Certainly, her aunt also considered it a flattery that the rich young man would notice her niece, but she SHOULD have been considering the known character of this would-be suitor.

The imagery of the white roses was more powerful than any words or warning at the end of the story. When used right away and consistently words will produce a better effect, but by the time Clara’s heart was so far wooed from truth that words alone fell on deaf ears… it was then that her true friend found the inspiration that would be the saving grace of Clara’s purity.

Julia was a true friend. Instead of pacifying her friend or joining the flattery game, she chose to speak the truth. Julia also carefully and wisely chose HOW to speak in a way that she knew Clara would really HEAR! In order to be this kind of friend (or parent) we must intimately know the intended listener. If Julia’s previous conversations with Clara had been self-serving, she might not have heard deeply enough to understand what the imagery of the white roses would have done. The impact would have been lost.

What lessons can we glean? As parents, do all we can to know our children well. To speak to them truthfully and consistently. Avoid indulging them and flattering them or allowing others to do so to extreme. I am not saying that they do not need encouragement, but never in a false and self-exalting way. May we also, never use inexperience as an excuse not to fulfill our duty to our fullest.

As friends, we need to listen with our hearts. We need to be willing to lose a friendship, if necessary if deception and flattery are the ingredients for preserving the relationship. We need to be truthful, but wise in the administration of truth. We need to be gentle, but as honest as possible.

I have often said that I would rather be wounded with the truth than be kept blissfully and ignorantly (and falsely) happy with a lie. This story is a perfect illustration of the dangers of false friendships. It has many applications, but these were just a few that intrigued me.

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