This book is about an illegitimate girl whose mother died when she was born, and no one knows who her father is. She grows up in an orphanage, and she goes through many hardships and is treated poorly because she is illegitimate. The few people she loves are taken away from her. Because of all her trials, she thinks God is against her, and so, in rebellion, she refuses to go to church or pray. However, the prayers of an old man who loves and prays for her are answered, and she realizes that everything she went through was meant to mature her for God’s purposes.
“ . . . in her was suddenly a great trust. It was the peace of the child of a mighty King. She now knew her way clearly. She would go home and say, ‘I have sinned’ . . . ” (p. 179)
When she meets her father, who is not a Christian, she realizes that,
“ . . . she, the daughter of a man of the world, was allowed to become a child of the highest God, brought up by His Word, called to His light. And that light she must now carry to the dark night of this man’s life, who was her father.” (p. 179)
It is a wonderful story.

Although life in the orphanage was becoming unbearable for Arriaantje, one bright spot remained for her: the school. She was among the best of the students and took home proof of that. It gave her confidence that later on she would be allowed to go to college.
Arriaantje did not understand it was out of concern for her that a decision was made that for the time being she would be working in the orphanage. She thought it was to save in a maid. But the reason was, she was getting older, and with that came the danger that she would lose her decency. That was why she was to be kept inside the safety of these walls as much as possible. Later, this decision could always be reconsidered.
But in the child’s big blue eyes a longing glowed which became stronger and stronger as she heard of the things that were happening beyond the gate. Then she begged one more time.
“Please, send me to the home economics school, Mother, I will really do my best. Didn’t I bring home an excellent report card?”
Even though it broke the house mother’s heart, the answer remained, “No. It’s better this way, Arriaantje. Later you will understand. Now you may help me.”

A moving story of a girl who is searching for answers about the mystery of her life.

Source: The Sentinel

Arriaantje, later known as Arri, grew up in an orphanage. Her unmarried mother died shortly after her birth and her father was unknown. Her caretakers thought she might have problems in later years because she was presumed to harbour the seeds of her mother’s sin.
Arri grew up into a moralistic, stratified Dutch society. She was known as a girl with deep blue eyes and great intelligence and skill. She was denied the possibility of attending college because, well you know, after all . . .
She struggled to womanhood against social pressures and discrimination. As a maid in the home of a Dutch schoolmaster, she knew oppression. But besides those who took advantage of Arri were also a few people of gracious heart, including a retired, widowed director of the orphanage and an elderly pastor. The major concern of those whose love upheld her was whether, after all she had endured at the hands of Christians, she could come to a true Christian faith and receive “the crown of honour.”
Although I don’t often read moralistic novels like this, I became interested in the characters and the story as I read along. It’s a strong story of another century. I imagine that our Dutch parents and grandparents grew up with this kind of story. I’m not sure whether it ought to have been translated and published today. The book is attractively produced, except that the translation should have been edited by someone who knows the English language well.

Source: Calvinist Contract, April 19, 1991

The title might suggest that the book is about a Christian martyr. Although this description fits the central character of this book, the story is pure fiction. It does describe actual social conditions as they existed in nineteenth century Holland, however. At least, this is what the setting seems to indicate. The central character is Arriaantje, a young teen, who not only is an orphan, but who also is an illegitimate child. This makes her predicament all the greater because there was no social assistance from the government and the poor were looked down on and were at the mercy of those who took pity on them. As the book describes, sad to say, the church of this time acted much the same way as the society it was part of. When they did help the poor, it was in a condescending manner. Not only did many Christians look down on such unfortunate children, but they were treated shamefully. The treatment given to Arriaantje in the Christian orphanage and later as she lived with a Christian family, reads like a Dickens tale.
Looking from our twentieth century perspective which is coloured by human rights, it is difficult to comprehend that such disgraceful treatment could be meted out in the name of Christianity. Those who are familiar with the social conditions of that period in history know that Christians often had the same attitude towards the poor and downtrodden as non-Christians. Thankfully there were some Christians who did show kindness and compassion to this poor orphan and who did not conform to the spirit of that age.
This book, although fiction, can be a reminder that too few Christians stand up against the spirit of their age. This book also makes very interesting reading. It is not for the squeamish, because it describes extreme mental, psychological and physical cruelty, so that at the beginning of the book I was rather shocked to read in some detail of the attempted suicide of young Arriaantje. All ends well, however, and like much Christian fiction of this period, everything turns out well. Most of the main characters are wonderfully converted and therefore the ending is rather unbelievable.
It does make for interesting reading and keeps the reader spell-bound until the very end. If you want a book for “light reading,” with a Christian moral, this is a clean, entertaining story. The translation is somewhat wooden but readable.

Source: The Messenger, March 1991