The Angel

By Marjorie Lund-Fontaine

The Angel was written as a fairytale, but contains elements of truth, in the way God may possibly use angels in people's daily lives. This idea comes directly from scripture as written throughout the Bible, in which angels appeared to people, prophets, and animals. In this tale, the angel and animals are able to speak to one another and conversations flow freely. The book traces the activities of Dionysius, an angel, as he orchestrates the lives of those God entrusts to him. The story begins by explaining who Dionysius is and commences with the peculiar way in which he meets the main characters. His somewhat humorous encounter with Hercules, the large shire-horse, and Phinehas, the mastiff dog, takes place on a farm belonging to old Ma Bond. After questioning the animals, Dionysius finds the old lady and her granddaughter, little Rosie, are living in very dire circumstances. The angel, seeing the predicament, takes charge. After receiving instructions from God, he begins to arrange events to benefit Rosie, who is soon unfortunately orphaned by her grandmother's demise, her parents being deceased. The story details the incidents after her grandmother's death, introducing two more very important characters, a husband and wife, Sam and Beverly Harris, who have been praying for a child. As the tale progresses, more characters enter who help the little girl. Having no family alive and nowhere to call home, Rosie is forced to stay at the local orphanage, where she makes friends. During this time, a terrible fire disrupts life at the orphanage. Will Rosie find a new home, and will Sam and Beverly get the child they have been praying for, or will the difficulties be too great? Throughout the book, horses, dogs, and cats play an important role alongside the people, and the mastiff, Phinehas, remains Rosie's faithful companion and guardian. The angel, Dionysius, plays a vital role in everyone's lives, weaving in and out of the story at intervals, following God's instructions. The book concentrates on love, healing and forgiveness, repentance, and the salvation message, as explained in the Bible in the gospel of John, Chapter 3, where Jesus explains "....unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781681975757

Book preview

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The Angel

MARJORIE LUND-FONTAINE

with Illustrations by 

MARJORIE LUND-FONTAINE AND LUDWIG LUND

ISBN 978-1-68197-574-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68197-575-7 (Digital)

Copyright © 2016 by Marjorie Lund-Fontaine

Front cover background painting by Ludwig Lund

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

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

Epilogue

About the Author

To my daughter Megan Kathryn and my two

granddaughters Jenna Rose and Kylie Ann

Introduction

Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.

—Matthew 18:5

I wish to let the reader know that nowhere in the Bible does it mention that angels have wings. They are depicted in scripture as large, supernatural beings with immense power. They act as divine messengers of God, and guardians, and shape world events according to the will and instruction of God. They are mentioned all throughout the Old Testament, the New Testament, and also in the book of Revelation, which is the last book included in the Bible. It is recorded that they appeared to many prophets and people throughout scripture and also an animal, namely a donkey that belonged to Balaam (Numbers 22:21–33). It is also written in the Psalms that God cares for his creatures, the animals, and provides for them as well as for we humans.

Even though real angels are not mentioned as having wings, for this particular fairy tale, I have taken the generally accepted view that angels do have wings, as illustrated by great paintings down through the centuries. Most people who are not familiar with scripture do think that angels possess wings. I am not sure where this belief originates from, somewhere in artistic antiquity, perhaps, or folklore.

As I am writing this story for the general public, especially children, and it is entirely fictitious, I chose to let the angel Dionysius possess wings, and I also allowed him to be seen by animals and to converse with them, as Balaam’s donkey conversed with the angel. Call it poetic license, if you will.

Angels definitely possess a part in our lives, and it is written in scripture that children have their own specific angels. How many times angels have played a part in the specific events of our lives, we may never know. For one example, the accident you almost had but didn’t, etc. There have been stories recorded of people seeing angels and angelic beings protecting people from harm during extremely stressful events, such as war or natural disasters. The Bible even mentions that we may have entertained strangers who were angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).

I have written this story not only to entertain the reader but to instruct him or her in the way angels may possibly be used on occasion unbeknownst to us. I certainly do not have a direct pipeline to God, no more than anyone else does except through prayer, or do I claim to know any more about angels other than what is written in scripture. I merely wrote this story to show the loving way God may work at times to rescue us from dire circumstances, to protect us, and to order the events in our lives to shape us and mold us into the people He wants us to be. This story has a bit of an evangelistic touch, which I wrote on purpose, to attract the reader to God and His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. As well as having a great love for children, I also have a great love for animals, whom God has given to us to protect and take care of. We, humans and animals, are all God’s creatures, and not one of us will fall to the ground (specifically die) without God’s knowledge (Matthew 10:29–31). That certainly shows that God cares for all of His creatures. What a loving God we have! And what an amazing one! Just think of the whole of this created world, not only we humans whom He created in His image and animals, but also all the vegetation, insects, birds, fish of the waters, mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, continents, etc. And think of the heavens—all the created planets, stars, and galaxies. There is no numbering them all! It is truly amazing; mind-boggling. What a wonderful God we have!

Throughout the writing of this fairy tale, I have prayed every step of the way for the right words to shape the scenes and events. I have committed the writing of this work to God, hopefully to be used for His purposes. I hope and pray this story will have an influence on people’s minds, thoughts, and emotions that will draw them closer to God. The creation and unfolding of this tale has actually been a prayer to God to bring others closer to Him or to introduce them to a loving Creator who cares for them and every detail of their lives intimately.

For those who don’t know the Lord but wish to, I hope it will pique their curiosity to search for God and His Son Jesus Christ by perusing the scriptures. I sincerely hope and pray this book will fulfill its purpose.

Chapter 1

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful angel who served God. He was a very tall angel, with a fine athletic build, and had large white wings like a swan. His hair fell in ringlets to his shoulders and looked like spun gold. His eyes were the bluest of blues and often had a kind twinkle in them, which grew to a merry sparkle when he laughed, which was often. He was born of God, and God had created him for His own purposes. One of the purposes God had created him for was to assist humans in need. The angel, whose name was Dionysius, often flew over the world to see where he could be most useful.

One night, as was his usual custom, Dionysius set out on his travels to see what he could see. It was a crisp, bright, starry night in mid-winter. He decided to fly in a northern direction in North America, because he hadn’t been that way in a while, and it was a beautiful region. He was enjoying himself immensely, spreading his wings and gliding in the air. He swooped up and down and did a few somersaults, laughing quietly to himself. He had a very kind, happy disposition and loved being an angel because he loved serving God and helping people.

Everything seemed to be in perfect order, he observed, as he looked toward earth. The towns and villages were resting quietly for the night, and everything appeared ordinary and uneventful. The farms and hills of the countryside were peaceful also. Occasionally, he would fly closer to the earth to get a better view, but nothing in particular attracted his attention. Dionysius flew on at a rhythmical pace for quite some time. As he flew, the sky began to cloud over with thick gray clouds, and it began to snow.

Oh dear! he thought. Now I shall have hard going, and it will take me twice as long to fly north. I may not even get there at all tonight. Perhaps I will even have to take shelter somewhere.

Now God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways. That goes for angels too since they, although they are divine beings, are just ministering spirits sent to help God’s children in need. With the onslaught of the snowstorm, which was getting thicker, more blustery, and colder by the minute, Dionysius’s wings were beginning to coat with ice, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to fly.

Ah, well, he thought, I suppose I must find the nearest shelter I can and wait out this storm. He began to fly closer to the ground. As the snow was now falling very fast and thick, it partially obscured his vision, and he almost didn’t see the great gray wall of the large barn in front of him. He came to an abrupt halt, just as he was about to crash headlong into it.

Whew! he thought. That was close! There were no lights anywhere. All was still, dark, and cold. Upon closer observation, the barn loomed overhead like a giant, eerie edifice, a mass of darkness in the snowstorm. Spying a door in the side wall, Dionysius lifted the latch and quietly let himself in. With a quick whirring sound, he shook the ice off his wings and folded them neatly behind his back. He ran his fingers through his wet hair and brushed the snow off his white garments. As his eyes became accustomed to the dark, he was able to focus on an enormous shire horse in a stall directly across from him. The horse was staring at him with a wide-eyed, nervous expression and had begun to snort and paw the ground with a gigantic hoof. He was visibly trembling and appeared quite frightened.

Shhh, whispered Dionysius in a calming manner. Don’t be frightened. I mean you no harm. I have just come in out of the storm for shelter for the night. There really is quite a tempest out there! I cannot fly anymore as my wings are icing up. I hope I am not disturbing you, or that I am an imposition. I am on my way north. I shall just find a little place to rest for the night and be gone at first light, if it is all right with you. Dionysius looked at the horse with a clear, honest, open expression on his face, a half smile curving his mouth upward, and a soft look in his blue eyes.

My name is Dionysius, and I am an angel, laughed the angel, introducing himself. I am on a mission from God. I have been sent to help those in need. All looked quiet here, and I would have flown on, only the storm changed my plans. Dionysius shook his wings again. They had a considerable span, and they glistened white in the darkness of the barn as did the rest of him. The nervous horse stepped back a foot or two.

I say! he snorted.

Don’t be afraid, Dionysius reassured him again. Believe me, I mean you no harm, only good. What is your name, where am I, and who does this barn belong to? asked the angel all in one breath, smoothing his feathers.

Ah… well… snorted the horse uncertainly. My name is Hercules… ah… ah… because I’m so big, I guess. He pawed the stall floor and appeared to blush, if horses can blush. Obviously, his size was a definite embarrassment to him. Looking at Dionysius, he went on, You are in the t-t-township of Hertford in the c-c-county of Englesworth, and this barn belongs to old Mrs. Bond and Rosie, her g-granddaughter. Hercules tossed his head, glad that was over. He moved back in his stall as if trying to become invisible in the shadows.

Suddenly, a dog growled and barked outside. The next thing Dionysius heard was a frantic scratching and panting at the barn door he had entered a few minutes ago. The dog whined and barked again, and by the sound of its deep, throaty voice, it appeared to be large. Dionysius looked at Hercules questioningly. The horse snorted again. That’ll be Phinehas, the m-mastiff, he said. He’s heard us t-talking and is curious to know what’s going on. For the first time, the horse let down his guard a bit. He looks t-t-tougher than he is, so don’t worry.

Worry! Dionysius ejaculated, laughing. Angels don’t worry about dogs or anything else except displeasing God. I could make myself invisible in a minute, and Phinehas wouldn’t even know I’m here!

Dionysius admonishes Phinehas to be still while a nervous Hercules looks on

Drawing by Marjorie Lund-Fontaine

Photo by Howard Goodman

The horse eyed the angel with even greater respect. At that moment, the barn door swung open, and Phinehas tumbled in, out of breath. He was a large mastiff all right, light brown all over, with floppy ears and a long sinewy tail that seemed to have a life of its own. His long pink tongue was flapping out of his half-opened mouth, and he ran right up to Dionysius, encircling him and sniffing him all over with no sense of fear whatever. He let out little growls under his breath. Dionysius put out his hand and touched the dog lightly on the head, smiling as he did so. Immediately, Phinehas stopped his frantic circling and sat down, a picture of obedient stillness. The sinewy tail thumped once on the barn floor and was quiet. Phinehas lifted his big brown eyes to Dionysius’s face and blinked, taking in this apparition.

Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you or anyone else. I mean no one any harm, Dionysius said again for the second time that night. My name is Dionysius, he said, looking at the dog. I am an angel of God, and I am on a mission of mercy to help those in need. I was flying north when I was forced to take refuge in this barn because of the snowstorm. I don’t mean to trouble anyone, and I will be gone as soon as the snow stops. He looked kindly at the mastiff, and the dog seemed to visibly relax, all the fight in him disappearing. Hercules hung his head over the stall, taking it all in.

I’m Phinehas! panted the dog, looking into the angel’s kind blue eyes.

I know, replied Dionysius, Hercules told me.

The three stood contemplating each other for a few minutes. Then turning toward a bale of hay that was coming loose in an empty stall, Dionysius said, Excuse me if I sit down, won’t you? I’m tired and wet. Yawning, he collapsed on the soft hay and began to arrange it comfortably around himself, breathing a sigh of relief.

You certainly are bright! panted Phinehas boldly. I’ve never seen an angel before. You glow in the dark! The mastiff moved closer to Dionysius and hesitatingly put out a paw, patting at his white robe. As he touched it, a little tingly shock went through him. Ouch! What was that? he barked, backing off quickly.

Dionysius smiled and said, That’s what you get for trying to touch me! You’re not supposed to touch an angel!

You stupid dog! snorted Hercules, coming out of retirement in the stall. Don’t you know any better? Who ever heard of being bold with an angel? D… d-don’t you know they h-h-have the p-p-power to strike you down? Be careful! Hercules pawed the floor of his stall, dancing a four-step this time and whinnying loudly. He swished his tail as if he was sweeping the floor.

No, no! remonstrated Dionysius. Don’t frighten the dog, Hercules. I’m a good angel, not a fallen one. I’m only allowed to do good, not evil. It is the fallen or evil angels you have to watch out for. They are wicked because they don’t serve God. I belong to God and do what He says. Because of that, I can only do good not evil.

Oh! exclaimed Phinehas, visibly relieved. Then why did I get a shock when I touched you?

Because you aren’t supposed to touch me unless I allow it. I’m not human flesh and blood, you know, although I can appear to be at times, when it serves a purpose. Dionysius sat cross-legged in the straw, looking at Phinehas as if he could see right through him.

Oh! I see, said Phinehas, who did not see. Well, since I can’t get too close to you, I might as well sit over here. The dog plopped himself down opposite the angel and watched him out of the corner of his eyes, his large pink tongue lolling in and out.

Relax, Phinehas. That little shock was all the harm you’ll ever come to from me, comforted Dionysius. The beautiful angel, whose eyes were now thoroughly accustomed to the dark, began observing everything around him. He saw that there were no other animals in the barn, and that it was quite empty of everything except for some farm implements against a wall and the moldy hay pile in which he was sitting. All looked bleak, cold, and forlorn.

I say! began Dionysius with a frown, things don’t look too prosperous around here, do they?

Th-th-they’re n-n-not, answered Hercules. Old Ma Bond has lost e-e-everything. She c-c-can’t make ends meet anymore. Sh—she lost her husband some time ago, and he l-left her in a p-p-pile of debt. The bank is about to foreclose on this p-property. The shire horse sniffled, and a tear began to roll out of one large, gentle eye down his long brown and white nose. He paused, pawing the ground. "She’s g-g-good folk. She and her g-granddaughter Rosie are the k-k-kindest owners I’ve ever had, and I’ve passed hands quite a few times! It breaks my h-heart to see this happen. Her husband meant well, b-b-but money slipped through h-h-his fingers like w-w-water. He had no more of a business head than that b-b-barn door there and c-c-couldn’t farm worth a nickel. They were always poor, and now it’s c-c-curtains! She’s sick as well. If it weren’t for poor little Rosie, who remembers me every d-day, I’d starve to d-d-death in here. I haven’t seen old Ma in almost a week, and that’s unusual. I’m w-worried!

I’ve whinnied, snorted, and tried to kick through this darn stall, but it’s built solid, and I c-c-can’t budge the door. All my noise gets me is a ‘shhh’ from little Rosie. I wish she knew I could understand what’s going on. L-lately, all she does is give me a mouthful of hay and water, see that I’m okay, and w-walk out! I can see she’s been crying, and she l-looks so thin! She doesn’t have enough to e-e-e-eat either. I hate her being all the w-w-way out here in the middle of nowhere, miles from any help! There’s got to be at least fifty a-acres on this farm, and we’re so isolated. Cars very seldom c-c-come by here. There’s not even a working phone in the house. The man from the b-bank used to come by every couple of w-weeks, but he hasn’t been here lately. I’m about ready to g-g-go crazy with w-worry! The good-hearted horse stomped his big feet and shook his long brown mane into his watery eyes. I wish there was something I could do! he vociferated, kicking the back of his stall.

This is all true! chimed in Phinehas. I’m not getting much to eat lately either. And I’m never allowed in the house anymore, only on the porch. I always used to be allowed in the house and spent many pleasant evenings by the fire. The house smells funny too! Something’s wrong. I know it is.

The dog and the horse looked at each other anxiously. It was apparent to Dionysius that they loved the old sick woman and her granddaughter and would do anything to help them. It was also apparent that they were noble souls, who would be ready to help if necessary, at all costs to their personal safety. They were to be counted on in an emergency. Perhaps this was just such an emergency.

Well! exclaimed Dionysius. Perhaps it wasn’t an accident I almost crashed headlong into this barn. Maybe this is where God meant for me to come in the first place. Dionysius twisted a ringlet of damp golden hair around his fingers. Often with Him, you don’t know what the plan is until it unfolds. Well, well! He got up and began pacing the barn floor in front of Hercules’s stall, the animals looking on in wide-eyed wonder. Suddenly, he stood still.

I think we should try and get into the house somehow, he said. Phinehas, you must know a way to enter the house from the outside. Indeed, I can walk through walls, but Rosie won’t be able to see me or hear me, for it is very seldom that angels reveal themselves to people. I wouldn’t be able to do her any good at the present moment, but you, Phinehas, could assess the situation since you know them and live with them. If necessary, perhaps you could run to a neighbor’s house and try and get help. You, Hercules, he said, addressing the shire horse, I’m going to let out of this stall. I’ll prop the barn door open so you can come and go as necessary. We can always use the help of a strong beast of burden.

As he finished saying this, he crossed to Hercules’s stall and unlatched it. Then he opened the barn door and peered outside. It’s still snowing heavily, but it won’t blow in as far as your stall. You’ll be all right. You have a good thick coat, he said reassuringly to the horse.Come! he commanded. Let us see what we can do. Lives may depend upon it!

Phinehas, without further thought, bounded out into the snowstorm, racing ahead of Hercules, who lumbered awkwardly to the barn door and stood still, blinking and looking all around, his gentle face wet in the oncoming snowflakes. With a quick neigh, a stomp of his heavy foot, and a tossing of his long brown mane, he started after Dionysius. He seemed relieved to be out of the barn at last.

The mastiff skidded down the track to the old farmhouse. He turned, panting and wagging his tail in front of the porch door, waiting forever, it seemed, for Hercules. He gave a deep-throated bark, which echoed strangely in the quiet, soft white of the storm. The horse ambled carefully up the slippery path to the porch, and the two stood, awaiting further orders from Dionysius.

Ma Bond’s farmhouse and the row of old trees

Drawing by Marjorie Lund-Fontaine

Photo by Howard Goodman

Meanwhile, the angel had circled the house and peered into all the windows. Ma Bond and Rosie are on the second floor in what appears to be the old lady’s bedroom, Dionysius explained, stopping in front of Phinehas and Hercules. Ma Bond is in bed, and Rosie is sitting, half-asleep or in a faint—I don’t know which—in the rocking chair in the corner. All is dark, and there is no fire in the house. It must be frightfully cold inside. Phinehas, said Dionysius, looking straight at the dog, can you get in and see how they’re doing?

I’ll do my best! barked Phinehas, and with that, he began pawing, pushing, and shoving at the screen door with his nose until it opened. He scratched furiously on the front door and tried to bite the door handle to make it open. His attempts were unsuccessful. I’ll have to go around to the cellar door. All shut here, he barked. He pushed his way back out the screen door into the snowstorm and ran around to the side of the house. He ran down several steps and pushed again on a smaller door, low to the ground. This time, the door creaked open, and Phinehas slipped in.

You wait here, Hercules, we may have need of you, Dionysius said to the horse. I’m going in. With that, he disappeared right before Hercules’s eyes, and next thing the horse saw was the white light of the angel in the upstairs front bedroom window.

Well! I’ll b-b-be! whinnied the horse, wide-eyed. He stomped his feet and shivered, but not with the cold.

When Phinehas reached Ma Bond’s bedroom, panting and out of breath, he found the angel already there and bending solicitously over the old lady.

She’s barely breathing, Phinehas, he said. It appears to me she may have pneumonia. It could be a heart condition. I don’t know. At any rate, she’s in bad shape, and little Rosie is very weak and exhausted from tending her. She seems to have passed out in the chair. Dionysius nodded his head toward the child slumped ungracefully in the large rocker. A half glass of water and a straw, a plate with the remains of some toast, and a fever thermometer lay on the bedside table. An old, worn Bible lay open on the coverlet, within reach of the old lady’s hand. The reading was the gospel of John 14. The room was neat and orderly as was the house in general, Dionysius observed. Ma Bond was meticulous and seemed to have taught her granddaughter well.

At that moment, little Rosie began to stir. Phinehas! she called softly. What are you doing here? How did you get in?

The dog went to his small mistress and nuzzled his face in her lap. Then he sat at her feet and whined, looking uneasily at Dionysius, then at her. He had forgotten momentarily that she couldn’t see or hear the angel.

What’s the matter, boy? she asked. Are you worried about Grandma too? She brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. I don’t know what to do, Phinehas. She’s so sick! If I leave her to go look for help, she may die while I’m gone, and I can’t go out in this bad storm. I’ll lose my way. What good would I be to her then? Another tear coursed down her cheek, and little Rosie twisted a long strand of straight dark hair around and around her finger. What good would I be to myself if I got lost? You know the nearest farm is seven miles away. I can’t walk that in a blinding snowstorm. Oh dear! Oh dear! What shall I do, Phinehas? What shall I do? Rosie started to cry in earnest now. I love her so, Phinehas! She’s always been so kind to me, especially after Mom and Dad… Her voice faded away to a gentle sob, and she sat, weeping quietly. The mastiff licked her hand reassuringly and wished she could see the angel and hear him. What could be done?

This is so sad, thought Dionysius, looking at Rosie in the corner chair. Indeed, what could be done? What should he do now? What did God want or expect him to do? The angel