Songs of the Shenandoah
Page 37
Father Quinn lifted a black leather portfolio off of a small table leaning against the wall. He unwrapped the string around it and opened it up. Then he flipped through the pages. “Do you know what these would be?”
“Those . . . those are my stories.”
“Not all, but many. We had as many clippings mailed to us as they would. Most of us have taken our turns reading them.” He leaned forward. “And regarding a few of them, we’ll have some serious questions for you later.”
“Clare? Clare?” A woman entered the door tapping her cane, her eyes clouded.
“Is that you, Fiona?” The woman had lost most of her weight since Clare had last seen her, and she obviously could no longer see, but the joy in her face remained. Clare embraced her.
“Child. You came home. You came home.”
She introduced her family to Fiona, who touched them each on their faces with the tips of her wrinkled fingers. After a few minutes, Father Quinn intervened.
“You all are mighty weary to be certain. I am going to chase all of these folks away so you can have your peace, and we’ll meet a couple houses down for our welcoming feast. You take your time and get acquainted with your new home. I hope it suits well.”
Andrew grabbed his hand and shook it firmly. “How could we ever thank you properly?”
Father Quinn looked to Clare. “By bringing her home. You already did.” He looked at all of them. “We are truly, truly happy to have all of you back in Branlow.”
He turned to go but then paused at the door. “There is something I did want to ask, and you can be kind to the old priest by giving him an honest answer.”
Father Quinn narrowed his eyes. “We must . . . we must look backward to you, after all you’ve seen.”
Clare smiled. “You are right, my dear friend. We have seen large cities. And met with presidents and dignitaries, even kings. But I can tell you plainly. There is nothing backward about this place. In fact, you may be the only ones who have it all right.”
“Ah.” Father Quinn pondered this for a moment, nodded to them, and then turned and left.
When the door shut, they were alone, their luggage piled up and taking up a good portion of the room. Clare looked to Garret and expected to see the cynicism in his face. But instead there was something else. “Garret. What is it?”
“These people.” He looked to her and his eyes were glazed. “They are so kind. No one has ever treated us this well.”
“Welcome to Ireland, son.” Clare put her arm around him, and he didn’t pull back. Instead he was her little boy again.
They pulled chairs around the fire, and Clare explained how the turf was dug out of the peat bogs, and what a tinker was, and how every Irishman fancied himself a singer and a dancer, and the difference between blarney and blather. They laughed and listened, even nearly forgetting about the feast being prepared in their honor.
And when they arrived, they were cheered and people wrestled for the opportunity to speak with the Yanks. When the fiddlers played, two of the local girls taught Garret how to step dance, and Ella befriended cousins she never knew she had.
Then, in the wee hours with their children asleep, Clare and Andrew spilled outside like restless thieves, laid a blanket on the dewy grass, and stared at the moon peering out of the low-lying fog, listening without words for a long time to the bellowing of the frogs.
Finally Clare spoke. “Andrew?”
“Yes, my love.”
“Seamus. Caitlin. Davin. Do you think I’ll ever see them again?”
“I believe you will.”
“And why is that?”
“Because Ireland is in their hearts, and America is in ours. We will all meet again. I am quite certain of this.”
“I would like that very much. Very much.”
Then Clare curled up against Andrew, comforted by the idea she was close to the soil that had been tilled by so many of her forefathers, as if she was being held by the arms of the Emerald Isle.
And as she drifted, a sweet melody arose, and she recognized it as the hymn from her music box—a beautiful song, and one accompanied by the sound of Andrew’s heartbeat.
Discussion Questions
1. What did you enjoy most about Songs of the Shenandoah? Which were your favorite characters? Why?
2. Was there a character in particular you most closely identified with throughout the story? How so?
3. What do you see as the central themes in the novel?
4. Which characters in the novel went through the most emotional, physical, and spiritual changes throughout the course of the story? How did they change?
5. When the Hanleys and Royces first reunited for Christmas at the beginning of the book, what were some of the struggles each were facing? Were those initial struggles resolved by the end of the novel? How so?
6. Seamus was disillusioned at the beginning of the book. What had caused him to be discouraged?
7. In what way did Pastor Asa help Seamus rediscover his ministry purpose?
8. What was your understanding of the “songs of the Shenandoah” as Pastor Asa described them?
9. Are there times in your life when you’ve felt out of touch with God? When it doesn’t seem as if you can hear His voice clearly in your life? What does that feel like?
10. What are ways you have used to reconnect your relationship with God?
11. Of all of the characters in the novel, the life of Colonel Percy Barlow was the most tragic. What were his shortcomings?
12. John 8:47 reads: “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (niv). What does that say about hearing God’s voice in our lives?
13. Jeremiah 33:3 reads: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (niv). What does this passage say about the role we play in hearing God?
14. How would you describe the marriages of Clare (Andrew) and Seamus (Ashlyn)? What made them persevere despite facing such difficult times?
15. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (niv). How would this verse apply to marriage?
16. What role does the Holy Spirit play in a marriage?
17. Have you read all three books of Heirs of Ireland series (Flight of the Earls, In Golden Splendor, and Songs of the Shenandoah)? How would you describe the separate themes of each novel? What about overall message for the series?
18. Have you ever wished to have a stronger relationship with God? To be able to hear His voice clearly? Have you ever asked for forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ? Would you like to do so now? If so, follow along with this prayer (or something similar in your own words):
Father, I believe You are an awesome God and that You always have the best in mind for me. I want to hear Your voice clearly in my life. But I also know I have made mistakes that keep me separated from You. I have tried to find my way out of the despair and darkness through my own strength and know now that this path only leads to conflict and loneliness. I know that Your Son, Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life so we may all be saved and that He is the only true eternal path to forgiveness. It is only through surrendering my life to Him that I can be forgiven and spend the rest of my days with You. So I ask now to receive Jesus Christ in my life, not only for the purpose of forgiveness, but also so He will guide and lead my steps for all eternity. Amen.
Contents
Songs of the Shenandoah
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Discussion Questions
Guide
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