Dawn of the Golden Promise
Here’s what they’re saying about BJ Hoff’s The Emerald Ballad series
Book 1 Song of the Silent Harp…
“All the color and imagery of a film enliven this story…Rarely has a novel captured so authentically the enduring faith of the Irish peasant…”
EOIN MCKIERNAN, FOUNDER, IRISH AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
Book 2 Heart of the Lonely Exile…
“…A brilliant picture of the excitement and drama of life in New York City a century ago.”
IRISH BOOKS AND MEDIA
“These are people to admire and care about, people who have struggled with the demons of sickness, death, and despair, and have survived because of their strong faith and trust in God.”
OHIOANA QUARTERLY
“A captivating, faith-filled saga as exuberant, lyrical, and spirited as the Irish themselves…A historical saga so rich, so vivid, and so riveting you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time.”
GUIDEPOSTS BOOK CLUB
Book 3 Land of a Thousand Dreams…
“A big, colorful novel, full of the type of upbeat Christian values to be found in much of Hoff ’s fiction.”
IRISH ECHO
“…captures the melodic vernacular of the Irish world through a myriad of complex characters in a sweeping story of the battle to survive, on both the peasant lands of the Emerald Isle and on the uncertain streets of New York.”
WEST COAST REVIEW OF BOOKS
Book 4 Sons of an Ancient Glory…
“Hoff tells a number of striking stories, all involving characters we come to care about immediately. She clearly knows her history, her religion, and her audience, and does a fine job of presenting the first two to the third. This is a series that deserves a lengthy run.”
WEST COAST REVIEW OF BOOKS
RECIPIENT OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY’S CRITIC’S CHOICE BOOK AWARD, FICTION
Book 5 Dawn of the Golden Promise and the entire Emerald Ballad series…
“Hoff is a master at sustaining interest in her characters over the long haul…and has a gift for writing about day-to-day spirituality. Hoff writes with imagination and, in some cases, compelling suspense. Her love of family and reverence for the past shine on every page.”
KAREN PALMER, MANSFIELD NEWS JOURNAL
“…Hoff has reaffirmed some of our most cherished myths about our nation—that America is a land of opportunity where hard work is rewarded, one melting pot under God. Couple that mythos with some likable characters and strong narrative, and it is no wonder these books enjoy such a vast readership.”
ELIZABETH CODY NEWENHUYSE IN CHRISTIANITY TODAY
“I was so surprised at this ending and I was also quite sad that it was over! This is literature at its best by an author that deserves the awards she’s been receiving. Your knowledge will be increased, your faith strengthened, while being entertained immensely at the same time. Highly, highly recommend!”
AMAZON.COM REVIEWER FROM OHIO
Dawn of the
Golden
Promise
THE EMERALD BALLAD
BJ HOFF
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
With the exception of recognized historical figures, the characters in this novel are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cover photos © Thinkstock; iStockphoto
BJ Hoff: Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Agency, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.biz.
DAWN OF THE GOLDEN PROMISE
Copyright © 1994 by BJ Hoff
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hoff, B. J.
Dawn of the golden promise / BJ Hoff.
p. cm.—(The emerald ballad ; bk. 5)
ISBN 978-0-7369-2796-3 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-4163-1 (eBook)
1. Irish Americans—Fiction. 2. Ireland—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.034395D38 2011
813’.54—dc22
2010047303
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 / LB-NI / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ABOUT BJ HOFF
BJ Hoff’s bestselling historical novels continue to cross the boundaries of religion, language, and culture to capture a worldwide reading audience. In addition to the Emerald Ballad series, her books include such popular titles as Song of Erin and American Anthem and bestselling series such as The Riverhaven Years and The Mountain Song Legacy. Her stories, although set in the past, are always relevant to the present. Whether her characters move about in Ireland or America, in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements or in coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
A direct descendant of Irish ancestors who came to this country before the Revolutionary War, BJ brings a decade of historical research and strong personal involvement to the Emerald Ballad series. Her understanding of the Irish people—their history, their struggles, their music, their indomitable spirit—lends to her writing all the passion and power of her own Irish heritage. BJ and her husband make their home in Ohio.
BJ enjoys hearing from her readers. You may write to her in care of:
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Acknowledgments
My warmest thanks and appreciation to Harvest House Publishers for publishing this new edition of Dawn of the Golden Promise, the fifth book of The Emerald Ballad series, and for their ongoing support and encouragement of my work.
Contents
Here’s what they’re saying about BJ Hoff’s The Emerald Ballad series
About BJ Hoff
Acknowledgments
Principal Characters
Glossary
Prologue • The Heritage
PART ONE
THE PROMISE REMEMBERED • HOPE IN THE STORM
1 Dark Terror
2 Foreshadowings
3 House of Hope
4 Young Dreams
5 A Hardhearted Woman
6 Of Age and Time
7 Uneasy Nights
8 A Casting of Shadows
9 A Birthday at Nelson Hall
10 The Storm Closes In
11 Long-Buried Secrets
12 Brady of Broadway
13 Unwelcome Arrivals
14 Bearers of Good and Bad Tidings
15 Feeble Breath of Hope
16 Child of My Heart
17 The Sound of a World Ending
18 The Worst Deceit of All
19 Confrontation
PART TWO
THE PROMISE FULFILLED • HOPE FOR THE HELPLESS
20 Dark Corner of the Mind
21 In the Vale of Love
22 Preparations for the Journey
23 Dark Forces
25 Night Terrors
26 Echoes of a Nightmare
27 Dread and Despair
28 Battle to the Death
29 Secret Pursuits
30 Travesty of Justice
31 Abandoned
32 Justice or Mercy?
33 A Well-Intentioned Deception
PART THREE
THE PROMISE RENEWED • HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
34 Nation of Exiles, Land of Liberty
35 Welcome to New York
36 A Time for Sharing
37 Letters
38 Begin to Live
39 The Abomination of the City
40 An Encounter in the Park
41 The Surgeon and the Seanchai
42 In the Garden
43 A Gathering at Bellevue
44 For the Helpless and the Hopeless
45 These Bright and Shining Gifts
46 Morgan’s Star
Epilogue • One Faithful Harp
A Note from the Author
Principal Characters
IRELAND
Morgan Fitzgerald: (the Seanchai)
Poet, patriot, and schoolmaster. Grandson of British nobleman Richard Nelson. Formerly of County Mayo.
Finola Fitzgerald:
Wife of Morgan Fitzgerald.
Annie (Aine) Fitzgerald:
Belfast runaway adopted by Morgan Fitzgerald.
Gabriel Thomas Fitzgerald:
Son of Morgan and Finola.
Sandemon: (the “West Indies Wonder”)
Freed slave from Barbados. Hired companion and friend of Morgan Fitzgerald.
Sister Louisa:
Nun employed as a teacher by Morgan Fitzgerald for his new Academy.
Tierney Burke:
Rebellious son of Michael Burke. Formerly of New York City.
Jan Martova:
Roman Gypsy who befriends Tierney Burke.
Lucy Hoy:
Friend and nurse to Finola.
AMERICA
THE KAVANAGHS AND THE WHITTAKERS
Daniel Kavanagh:
Irish immigrant, formerly of Killala, County Mayo. Son of Owen (deceased) and Nora.
Nora Kavanagh Whittaker:
Irish immigrant, formerly of Killala, County Mayo. Wife of Evan Whittaker. Mother of Daniel Kavanagh.
Evan Whittaker:
British immigrant, formerly of London. Superintendent of Whittaker House, a home for orphaned and abandoned boys in New York City.
Theodore Charles Lewis Whittaker (“Teddy”):
Son of Evan and Nora.
Johanna Fitzgerald:
Irish immigrant adopted by Evan and Nora Whittaker. Niece of Morgan Fitzgerald.
THE BURKES AND THE FARMINGTONS
Michael Burke:
Irish immigrant, New York City police captain, formerly of Killala, County Mayo.
Sara Farmington Burke:
Daughter of shipbuilding magnate, Lewis Farmington. Wife of Michael Burke.
Lewis Farmington:
Shipbuilder, Christian philanthropist.
Winifred Farmington : (“Aunt Winnie”)
Wife of Lewis Farmington. Evan Whittaker’s aunt, formerly of England.
THE DALTONS
Jess Dalton:
Mission pastor, author, and abolitionist, former West Point Chaplain.
Kerry Dalton:
Irish immigrant, formerly of County Kerry. Wife of Jess.
Casey-Fitz Dalton:
Irish immigrant orphan, adopted by the Daltons.
Amanda Ward:
Orphan living with Jess and Kerry Dalton.
OTHERS
Patrick Walsh:
Irish immigrant, formerly of County Cork. Crime boss.
Alice Walsh:
Wife of Patrick. Mother of Isabel and Henry.
Billy Hogan:
Fatherless Irish immigrant, formerly of County Sligo. Resident of Whittaker House.
Quinn O’Shea:
Newly arrived Irish immigrant with troubled past. Formerly of County Roscommon. Employed by the Whittakers.
Denny Price:
Irish immigrant, New York City police sergeant, formerly of County Donegal.
Nicholas Grafton:
New York City physician.
Jakob Gunther:
Viennese surgeon now practicing in New York City.
Glossary
a gra
my love
alannah
my child
aroon
my dear, my love
bostoon
a worthless fellow
glunter
a stupid person
gorsoon
boy
gulpin
a clownish, uncouth person
macushla
my darling
ma girsha
my girl
mo chara
my friend
Seanchai
storyteller
For no matter how many promises God has
made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:20
PROLOGUE
The Heritage
This heritage to the race of kings,
Their children and their children’s seed
Have wrought their prophecies in deed
Of terrible and splendid things.
JOSEPH PLUNKETT (1887–1916)
Killala, County Mayo, Ireland
December 1818
The winter’s day was cold and grim, damp from last night’s rain. Owen Kavanagh stood silently at the graveside of his two brothers: Owen’s twin, Brian, seventeen, and Baby Dominic, scarcely a year. Both had been victims of the raging typhus epidemic claiming countless numbers throughout all Ireland.
Their wee Dominic had been a surprise to them all, born late, the last of six children. Of the six, Owen was the only one left.
In the village these days, voices hushed at the mention of Peg Kavanagh and the six sons she had birthed, only to bury them all, except for Owen. The deadly typhus had claimed Peg’s three sons by her first husband, as well as two sired by her second man, Dan Kavanagh.
It would be up to Owen now to keep the birthright for the family and guard the Harp of Caomhanach—the Kavanagh Harp—for future generations. By rights the harp had belonged to Owen’s twin, Brian, the eldest by no more than a minute. But with Brian gone, the harp now passed to Owen.
He knew what was said about him in the village, Owen did. That he was as unlikely an heir to the ancient harp as could be found anywhere in the family tree. The villagers knew, as he did, that the Kavanagh harp would not sing again for who could say how long a time. For in truth, Owen Kavanagh took after his father, Dan, who had not a note of music within him, not a note. Indeed, neither of the two had been able to manage the traditional lament over the graveside this day. Instead, they had sent for Tom O’Malley from Kilcummin to come and play.
Owen had known since he was but a lad that he was not suited for graceful things like music and books and conversation. Like his da, he knew only the land, its strengths and its weaknesses, its defiance and its fickle ways. He was a long-legged, long-armed ploughboy who could figure simple sums and write the family names in the Holy Bible, and little more.
He was nothing like his twin, Brian, who had a voice that would charm the birds from the bushes and the bees from their hives. Brian, quick-witted and nimble-footed, who would dance at the crossing until daybreak, just as his uncle, Brian the Older, had been known to do before his hanging.
It would seem there had always been a branch of the bard and a branch of the farm boy in the Kavanagh tree, and there was no doubting which branch Owen had sprung from. But even though he could not pluck the strings and make the harp sing, he expected he was man enough to guard its legacy. And so he would.
One day, perhaps, he would have sons of his own, and when that time came, the eldest would inherit the ancient harp. Owen hoped he would have himself at least
one boy from the same branch that had produced merry lads like his brother and his uncle. He thought it would be a fine thing indeed to have a son who could make the Kavanagh harp sing again in his own lifetime.
As he stood now between his parents, his father’s hand upon his shoulder and Owen’s arm about his mother to steady her in her grief, Owen shed his farewell tears for his two brothers. Even though it was another who strummed the harp and sang the lament which for generations had concluded the burial services of Kavanagh males, Owen reverently voiced each word in his heart:
“My harp will sing across the land,
across the past and years to be.
No loss or grief nor death itself
will still its faithful melody.”
Owen felt his mother’s thin body threaten to slump, and he tightened his grasp to support her. At the same time, his father increased the pressure of his hand on Owen’s shoulder as the last strains of the Kavanagh lament rose and drifted out, across the graveyard:
“To sing the presence of a God
who conquers even exile’s pain—
Who heals the wandering pilgrim’s wound
and leads him home in joy again.”
PART ONE
THE PROMISE REMEMBERED
Hope in the Storm
The promise is for you and your children
and for all who are far off…
ACTS 2:39
1
Dark Terror
For hope will expire
As the terror draws nigher,
And, with it, the Shame…
JAMES CLARENCE MANGAN (1803–1849)
Near the coast of Portugal