The Little Preacher (Elizabeth Prentiss)

The Little Preacher

God is forming little Herman into a preacher of His Word!

We also have a beautiful clothbound edition of this title, shown at the bottom of this page!

Elizabeth Prentiss, the beloved author of Stepping Heavenward, tells this moving tale about a poor family of the Black Forest in Germany, with lessons of life filling every page as she demonstrates how God fashions a man to preach the everlasting gospel. Young and old readers alike will find themselves thrilled and challenged by this timeless story.

His father wants him to follow in his footsteps, but Herman isn’t like his father. All attempts to please his father end in criticism and angry rebuke. Herman loves to be outdoors in the forest, among the chestnuts and pinecones. But God’s good plan and destiny for him is undeniable, and you will find that the story of this little preacher softens the hardest heart. If you believe that nothing is impossible with God, then this story is for you.

Hardship in The Black Forest

The mountain region of Germany known as the Black Forest is a difficult place to live especially in the bitter cold of winter. Most folks lead a hard and humble life. For Max Steiner it was no different. Despite the protests of his carnally-minded mother he he had set his eye upon sweet little Doris. He loved her and couldn’t imagine living without her. Doris and Max were quickly blessed with their first child, a son they named Herman, who grows to be an awkward, unpopular young boy who would often think of himself as a “good-for-nothing” but God has great plans for Herman. There would be significant obstacles and set backs but God would fashion him into a powerful man of God and through this unstoppable plan God would also see to softening the hard hearts of many.

From jealous neighbors, to Max’s domineering and ambitious mother, to Max himself, God would touch and even redeem some from very worldly lives. Though unable to give to Herman the treasure that Max’s rich mother could offer, Doris’s faithful mother Magdalena offers the consistent and faithful prayers that God will use to transform Herman into his champion for the gospel. She may well be the overlooked heroine of this beautiful story of faith and grace.

About the Author

Elizabeth Payson Prentiss (1818-1878) was a highly popular author of books for children and adult women.  Daughter of New England minister Edward Payson, at age 19 she opened her own school. But bad health made it impossible for her to continue.  In 1845 she married Rev. George Prentiss and served alongside him in ministry.

Even as a teenager, Miss Prentiss loved writing.  By age 16, he was already published a piece in periodicals for youth.  This was followed by her first children’s book, Little Susy’s Six Birthdays, which was a great success.  So Prentiss continued the title character in Little Susy’s Six Teachers and Little Susy’s Little Servants (1856). Eventually a book was compiled from gathering these into one volume, Little Susy Stories.  

The Flower of the Family was Prentiss’s first novel, sometimes known by the title Comfortable Troubles.  Possibly her two most acclaimed works are The Little Preacher and Stepping Heavenward.   Her books vividly portray the Christian walk, and many of them have strong elements of autobiography. Prentiss relies much on familiar reliance on scenes of everyday life that her audience could easily relate to.