This week just got away from me and since Mama and Dad went to seem Fireproof yesterday, I wasn't able to get my discussion up even though I had it written out! So today I am sharing my discussion... Are you ready? :)
Chapter 4: Debt and Dishonor
It is so encouraging to read how Enoch is enjoying his work. Many boys didn't and still don't now. I am sure if I was working with books and such all the time I would be really happy too!
I think it is so wonderful that Esther takes such an interest in Enoch and his job and how she gives him tasks she knows he would like. Lucy is such a great friend! I think the girls consider Enoch their brother and are making him a part of the family. I think its great!
Lucy's study sounds so quaintly beautiful! I can just picture Enoch and Lucy sitting at the table and Lucy teaching Enoch his Latin.
It is so sad that now Mr. Drury has come to realize that he was not faithful in having done everything he was supposed to to pay his debts. It is sad and hard when we find ourselves in that position.
It is very upsetting that the people who bought and worked at the Shawbury News would talk so rudely of their employer. When something like that happens is when we find out who our real friends are!
Poor Lucy! All I can say is how sorry I am for Lucy and especially Esther who tried so hard to make sure they didn't go under. I wonder what Lucy is going to do. If I know her character and her sister's, I would assume she is going to sell her treasures to get the money! It makes me wonder why they hadn't already sold some books to pay off the debts in the first place.
Of course! Sweet Lucy would give up everything she owned to help her father! What selflessness! It makes me think if I would be able to give up everything I owned for someone else...makes you ponder and evaluate.
I could never understand why ladies fainted. Of course, I guess it is quite understandable in Lucy's situation, but if someone told me that Dad was going to be taken to jail, I would cry and scream and be angry, not faint! :P I am glad that Susan is able to be a mother to Esther and Lucy and comfort them.
Chapter 5: Farewell
It is wonderful that Enoch prays so hard for Lucy! I am really glad that prayer is so important to him. What a sweet reminder the sparrows bring! Isn't it great how God uses the smallest things to remind us of His blessings, promises, and Word?
I am very glad to see that Brook and the others really do care for Mr. Drury. With what they said and did last chapter I was very upset!
Mr. Drury gave such a wonderful and powerful speech to everyone. I am sorry he had to learn it the way he did though. I do hope that I can learn something from it and always remember it!
I am so happy to see what Brook said to Mr. Drury. I do believe he means what he said and I hope they will actually take what he said to heart and remember the lesson of it!
I am relieved to see that Esther saw her faults too and is not so angry anymore! She could have really been indignant and rude to her father. Instead she was humble and loving!
I do hope Mr. Drury is ok. It worries me that he is rubbing his chest. With everything going on, I am sure he has had a lot of stress!
I am very sad for Mr. Drury and I can't imagine what he is going through knowing that he has failed his daughters in being their provider.
OH MY GOODNESS! I can't believe he died! I am in shock! How horrible! Now not only are the girls penniless, but now fatherless. **CRYING**
Chapter 6: Titus Runs Away To Sea
Susan is so sweet and has a great plan. I just wish that Esther and Lucy won't have to be separated!
Titus is very bitter. I wish we knew more about him and why he is the way he is.
I feel very sorry for Susan. I hope that Titus remains safe, but I have learned when we leave the place where God has put us, we leave the protection that God has placed for us and we take ourselves out of His protection and very bad things can happen!
This week has held so many sad things in it, I hope next week will be better! You can post your discussions on your blog or in the comment section below! :)
Prayers and Blessings, The Daily Planet
We have been reading it outloud. My children are really enjoying it and are so disappointed when I put it down. Even my one son who didn't want to be a member of this club now wants in on the discussions which makes it even more enjoyable for me.
I don't see how Mr. Drury didn't see this situation coming and I don't believe that Esther helped the situation any. If she wouldn't of sold things for money before to take care of dad's problem then he would have it to sell now and make part of the money back. And talk about lack of communication! If I was selling my stuff to pay for my husband's debt I would let him know where the money came from! I think this part of the book is at least mildly unrealistic because I don't know any families, even in the worst relationships, that wouldn't of communicated part of this before now.
So, anyhow, Mr. Drury's speech and prayer did give me more respect for the character because he sees his faults, deals with them, and confesses them all with a right attitude. How many times are we, as Christians, confronted with something we are doing wrong and we get angry.
When he died we were really surprised! I thought it was doubly sad that the sisters were going to be separating....
I also wish I knew more about the character of Titus. Hopefully there will be more in the future to tell us more about him. I can say, even though it is hard because I am a mother, that if Titus' interests were in sea he should of been encouraged to do something with it. Maybe she could of encouraged it earlier and redirected it into another occupation, such as fishing. I don't think it is EVER good to hold a boy turning into a man back from his desired interests unless they are unholy. Him running off is not an answer to his frustrations and he handles himself 100% wrong. A mother's worst nightmare... or at least one of them!
The children and I were discussing the characters and we seem to agree that Titus doesn't act as a Christian... maybe he will get saved later in the book. Although, I am sure that we can't know a person's heart, many times we can have a reasonable assumption of what lies in the heart from their actions.
Those three chapters are so sad!! I could not believe that Mr. Drury died!!!! I feel so bad for Esther and Lucy. I think that Susan is really nice to take care of Lucy. I don't like Titus's attitude. I felt so bad for Susan!!!! I am really anxious to find out what will happen to Susan, Granny, Enoch and Lucy! Can I read the next three chapters? Pretty Please??
I do think that the whole situation is kinda unrealistic, because it is really hard to believe that Mr. Drury just thought the money dropped into their lives.
Why do you think he was so oblivious to their money problems? It is really hard to imagine for me.
Like I said, if I had been Esther I would have saved the money that was left from paying what needed to be so that we would have money next time.
Thanks for your discussion. I enjoyed reading it!
Miss Amanda
http://superangelsblog.com
Edited by SuperAngel on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Welcome to HSB Literary Club. Please join us in reading Enoch Roden's Training by Hesba Stretton.
As Enoch's faith is tested, will he prove that his is no mere profession, but a real, living confidence in God's love and wisdom? Through severe trials, Enoch learns much about sound business principles, sacrifice, and trusting God. If he had only said, "I am working with God…" he would never have found the work wearisome, for of all grand, and comforting, and heart-refreshing thoughts in this world, to a Christian, the greatest is the thought that we are co-workers with God. Without a doubt, after reading this book, you'll walk away a better person than when you began.
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