The White Dove || A Review

The White Dove was written by Cristoph von Schmid. (Author sound familiar?) It was published by Lamplighter Publishing and was copyrighted in 1999. The White Dove can be found on the Lamplighter Publishing website at lamplighter.net.

This story takes place in Germany during the Middle Ages. It mostly occurs in two castles, Falkenbourg Castle, which is along the Rhine, and Hohenbourg Castle.

Falkenbourg was home to the knight Theobald, who was a generous, brave, and kind protector of those in his domain. His wife Othilia was wise, kind, and generous, and ever a benevolent friend to the poor. Theobald and Othilia had one daughter named Agnes, who followed her parents’ examples, and, from a very young age, found it to be her greatest pleasure to make others happy. She also became characterized by her innocence.
Hohenbourg was home to Rosalind, the widow of a brave knight who had died in battle, who seeks refuge at Falkenbourg. Rosalind also has one daughter, Emma, a sweet girl who becomes good friends with Agnes.

The story begins at Falkenbourg castle. The noble family who lived there always had an open hand, offering relief to the poor and refuge for those without defense. God blessed their generosity, and they were never without want. One afternoon, as Othilia and Agnes were in the garden, fashioning an outfit for a poor orphan girl, there was a sudden rustling near the place they were sitting. A hawk flew up and, upon seeing them, flew away. The object of the hawk’s prey, a little white dove, had hidden behind Agnes to escape. Agnes took the bird in and cared for it until it was quite loyal to her, even returning to her when called, and finding great distress in the absence of her mistress. Agnes found much joy in the dove and learned many lessons by its example.

A band of robbers had been spreading terror throughout the country, and Theobald thus went out to subdue them. After meeting with success, he returned home and began to tell Othilia and Agnes tales of his mission. He spoke of how he had handed the robbers over to the law and scattered the rest so that they could no longer trouble the land. Othilia and Agnes listened with upmost attention, and the hour grew late as he continued his narrative. Here the widow Rosalind and her daughter Emma entered, seeking refuge from two knights which were persecuting them, desiring to seize all that which they owned.

Theobald, Othilia, and Agnes welcomed them, and Theobald set off to defend her cause before her enemies. Rosalind and Emma remained at Falkenbourg until his return. Agnes showed Emma her room, the garden, her wardrobe, and her dove, and in a short time, Emma and Agnes became great friends. In a few days, Theobald returned with the good news that Rosalind’s enemies had renounced their claims, and would do her no harm. Rosalind was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, and prepared to return to Hohenbourg. Agnes and Emma were much saddened that they would be separated, and Agnes then remembered, as was custom then, to give her friend a token of remembrance. As Emma had often spoken of her desire to own such a gentle and docile dove as Agnes, Agnes gave her own to her friend, though she knew she would greatly miss it. Emma at first refused, but after a loving argument with her dear friend, she accepted. Theobald instructed Emma not to let it free for a few days, or the dove would surely return.

Soon after Emma had gone, Agnes wished she hadn’t given her dove away, and thought that she should have given some other gift instead. Her mother assured her that she had chosen well and that God would indeed bless her generosity.

After Rosalind and Emma returned to their home, two pilgrims, in full robes and hats of their pilgrimage to the Holy Land, arrived at Hohenbourg for rest on their return travels home. Rosalind welcomed them to be rested and fed, and they told great stories of the Holy Land to Rosalind and Emma. They also spoke very highly of Theobald, and expressed their great desires to visit him, if he only lived nearby and was at home. Rosalind assured them that he was indeed at home and that Falkenbourg was near the road they would be traveling. The pilgrims were much pleased and thus began making plans to visit Theobald. Rosalind understood by their speech that they were not well acquainted with the way, so she assigned Leonard, a young orphan boy whom her late husband had rescued in Italy and allowed to work at Hohenbourg, to lead the pilgrims in their way, much to Leonard’s pleasure. Rosalind and Emma sent the pilgrims on their way with good tidings to Theobald and his family.

The first part of the way was spent in silence, but then the pilgrims began to converse in Italian. Although Leonard had learned to speak in German, he had never forgotten the Italian, and was about to express his joy at hearing his native tongue when he heard what they were saying. He found out that they were really plotting against Theobald and his family, and intended to kill them and to burn the castle that night. Leonard was thus forced to pretend not to understand them, and only able to listen in shocked silence to the men revealing who they really were and discussing their plot with one another. One of the men stumbled and fell and his robe slipped up, revealing his sword. Still Leonard acted as if he had seen and heard nothing, but the man began to suspect him. The three came to a mountain ravine, at the bottom of which was a swollen torrent of waters. The only crossing for miles was a smoothed tree which served as a bridge. The man informed his suspicions of the boy to his companion, and suggested that they throw the boy down the ravine, that he could not uncover their plot to anyone, and also to break the bridge, that no one could come to Theobald’s aid. Leonard was very much frightened, but still had to conceal that he knew what they were saying.

Would Leonard be able to escape and to notify Rosalind and Emma? Even if he did, would there be any way to send help to the kind-hearted Theobald, Othilia, and Agnes before night fell?

The most important lesson that the dove taught Agnes was through its innocence. Othilia pointed out this characteristic when she spoke to Agnes and said, “The beautiful white dove is a lovely emblem of innocence. It has no guile and no deceit. Our Redeemer included these qualities in his words, ‘Be simple as doves.’ Ever aim at that noble simplicity; avoid guile, deceit, and all sorts of evil. God grant that it may one day be said with truth, ‘Agnes is as innocent as a dove.’” (pgs. 16-17) I found The White Dove to be a book which portrayed well the innocence of godly youth, and the ability to obtain resolution to conflict in an innocent and peaceful manner. It showed the goodness of such resolution without violence, and the sweetness of true friendships, which are bound in godly love and support for one another. I would highly recommend this book!

Blessings and Love,

Georgie Grace