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The Gold Thread: And Other Stories of Young Faith

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Even though our culture seems to have outgrown the word, if the idea of a noble young man has appeal to you, then you will be drawn to this book. In this allegory of the Christian life, first published in serial form in England in 1860, you will meet a noble young man named Eric, son of the King. In his failures and victories as he follows his gold thread through the forest back to his father, you will find a pure literary model of youthful nobility, an antidote to the spirit of cynicism and commonness that pervades our ignoble culture. Volume 2 in the WholeHearted Family Classics Collection."

The gold thread / by Norman Macleod --
The rose child / by Johanna Spyri --
The five happy weeks / by Margaret E. Sangster --
The four happy days / by Frances Ridley Havergal --
Stories from the land of faith / by George Critchley

200 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2008

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About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the goodreads data base.

Reverend Norman MacLeod the younger was a Scottish clergyman and author. He was one of the founders of the Evangelical Alliance in 1847. In 1849 he became editor of the Edinburgh Christian Instructor. MacLeod won many adherents by his practical schemes for social reform. He instituted temperance refreshment rooms, a Congregational penny savings bank, and held services specially for the poor. He was soon known as one of the most eloquent preachers in Scotland, and in 1857 was appointed chaplain to Queen Victoria, with whom he became a great favourite. In 1858 the University of Glasgow conferred on him the degree of D.D.

Good Words, a monthly magazine mainly, although not exclusively, devoted to religious topics, was established in London in 1860, with MacLeod as editor, and quickly achieved success. He wrote for it many papers, stories, and sketches, which afterwards appeared in book form. In 1864 he was appointed convener of the India mission of the church of Scotland, in which he had for years taken a deep interest. In the same year he made a tour in Egypt and Palestine, of which he published an account in 1866, under the title Eastward.

MacLeod's literary work, nearly all of which originally appeared in the pages of Good Words — sermons, stories, travels, poems — was only a by-product of a busy life. He was an unstinting champion of the Highlander and his most substantial work was his Reminiscences of a Highland Parish (1867).

MacLeod was one of the most notable ecclesiastics that Scotland has produced, an eloquent preacher, an earnest philanthropist, a high-minded patriot, a man of broad and catholic spirit, a writer of no mean order, and a genial friend. Several monuments were raised to his memory.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,934 reviews1,436 followers
July 20, 2016
The title story is good, four stars, but the most memorable by far has been one of the other stories in this collection, Johanna Spyri's sweet "Rose-Resli." Each family should own a copy of this vintage story collection.
39 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2022
My 8 year old particularly enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. It's only 5 short chapters and is like a simpler Pilgrim's Progress. The lesson is we can and should always trust and obey the Lord with more than what our eyes can see.
Profile Image for Addie.
900 reviews
May 10, 2017
A wonderful book that inspires! Loved it!
Profile Image for Andrew Ives.
Author 8 books9 followers
April 16, 2019
(c1927 edition) A rather short, simplistic, 'Happy Wanderer' sort of tale, set in the middle ages with a hint of Grimm/Scandinavian style about it. The version I read has 102 pages, a blue cover, retold by Amy Steedman with about half a dozen, rather nice Art Nouveau b&w illustrations. The story itself is a very easy read, suitable for children of about 6-8 years old, which essentially tells the tale of Eric following the gold thread over hill and dale back to the palace, making a few friends along the way and trying not to stray from the path of the righteous. It's kind of weird really, but a very simple bedtime story. There are no great surprises along the way, so even though it's a very quick read, it's not wildly exciting. 3.25/5
Profile Image for Angie Thompson.
Author 50 books1,112 followers
April 13, 2024
A short and sometimes poignant allegory for children, although I think I would have liked a bit more of the obvious allegory in the first chapter, since it started out more like a regular story of a boy lost in the woods, with the more explicit lessons coming later. The only other trouble I had was that the numerous poems tended to take me out of the story, but that's me. ;)
Profile Image for Paula.
55 reviews
January 6, 2016
A story to help young men know what God calls them to

I loved that this book helped my son relate to another young man whom loves and serves God. About an hour read-aloud. Adventure with a reminder to seek and follow God in all.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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