"Let's go play on the hill that I saw in my dream!" invited Jenny, closing the book she had been reading.

"That's a good idea," agreed Kelli.

The youngsters ran downstairs quickly in their bare feet and were going out the door when Grandma noticed that they were not wearing shoes.

"Come back here," she called. "Put on your sneakers. You must not play outside bare-footed. You could step on a nail or some other dangerous thing.

" Jenny and Kelli always listened to Grandma and did as she told them to do. They knew that she was a wise old woman and really loved them. Up the stairs they went and put on their shoes.

"All set, Grandma," Jennie said. "We are going to the hill over there to play."

"Take Hyatt along," said Grandma. "He likes to romp on the hills."

"O.K," said Kelli.

"We'll take a ball to throw," said Jenny. "Hyatt likes to chase balls."

"Have a good time, girls," called Grandma, as they ran toward the hill. "I'll be watching from the porch now and then."

The old woman's eyes were focused on them until they reached the top of the hill. The girls now looked more like paper dolls playing with a tiny dog.

Hyatt ran and ran on the hill. The children ran after him. When Kelli or Jenny threw the ball the dog always found it even when it landed in the bushes.

"I'm kind of breathless," sighed Jenny. "Let's sit and rest."

The dog lay down by the girls as they sat in the grass watching lazy clouds float across the bright blue sky.

"Isn't it nice out here on the farm," said Jenny.

"Yes," agreed Kelli. "This sure would be a nice place to play tag if there was someone else here. It's not so much fun with just two kids."

Suddenly Hyatt stood up, barking and wagging his tail.

Only a few feet away a young boy was coming toward them. Neither Jenny nor Kelli had seen him coming over the hill and they were somewhat surprised. The blond-haired boy dressed in white shirt and slacks just appeared from out of nowhere.

"Hello," the blond-haired lad said.

"Hi," the girls said at once.

"Where did you come from?" asked Kelli.

"Over there," he answered. "My name is Zion and I would like to play with you."

"This is Kelli," one girl said. "My name is Jenny."

"I know," returned Zion. "I heard you talk in church today. And you were good!"

"I did not see you anywhere in that little church," remarked Jenny.

"I was there," declared Zion.

"Kelli was wishing that there was someone here to play with us," said Jenny.

"You be tagger," suggested Zion.

"O.K." returned Kelli.

The fun began. Jenny ran down the hillside. Zion ran across the ridge. Finally Kelli tagged Jenny. Jenny chased their new friend Zion. His legs carried him fast like the wind. Hyatt ran along beside him. After much chasing, the girls caught Zion.

The three played several games, including racing across the ridge.

From the house Grandma looked to the hill and was much surprised.

"Come here!" she called to Grandpa.

He came out on the porch and looked.

"How unusual," said the old man. "I don't know any boys that size who live near the farm. Perhaps he walked a long way through the woods."

"Maybe a new family has moved near," the woman said.

"On the hill Jenny and Kelli were ready to rest, but Zion wasn't the least bit tired.

"Do you like to sing?" asked Zion.

"Sure," said the girls, "but we are out of breath now."

"I have a song I can sing to you," suggested Zion.

"We are listening," returned Kelli.

Zion sang a song that the girls had never heard. His voice was beautiful and seemed to echo lightly across the hills as he sang:

Chosen Children

We are the chosen children,

The end-time generation,

The King's special little friends

Who come from every nation.

Soon King Jesus will return

For the children are His prize.

Of heaven they all must learn,

Eternal homeland in the skies.

Dear friends to the children run.

Do not miss a child I say.

Tell all of God's only son.

King Jesus could come today.

"Great!" exclaimed Jenny as she and Kelli clapped hands.

"Please sing the song over and over until we know it," said Kelli.

Zion sang a verse. Then the girls sang it. The children did this routine three times with each verse. Now the three could sing together.

Deep inside of Jenny she felt something special there on the hillside. Maybe it was because they were singing about the King.

"It's getting late and I'm thirsty," said Jenny. "Zion, come go home with us and meet Grandma and Grandpa."

"No, my friends, I must go also, "Zion said as he waved. Then he was out of sight.

"Where did he go?" asked Kelli. "He just vanished."

"How odd!" joined Jenny. "He did not walk away. He did not go in any direction."

"Yes!" said Kelli. "And he appeared all of a sudden."

"Let us go tell my grandparents," said Jenny.

Grandma was on the porch waiting.

"Grandma, we had a nice time on the hill," related Jenny, "and there was this nice boy playing with us."

"We know," said the woman. "Grandpa and I could see from the porch."

"He was a neat kid," said Kelli. "But he was different."

"What do you mean?" asked the old man.

"He just appeared from nowhere," offered Jenny. "We did not see him come up the hill or across the ridge. Suddenly he was just with us."

"And he taught us a new song," added Kelli.

"How unusual!" exclaimed Grandma.

"Did he give you his name?" asked Grandpa.

"Yes, his name is Zion," said Jenny.

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed the grandmother. "I believe our farm has had a heavenly visitation."

"Know what else Zion said?" returned the granddaughter. "He saw me speaking in church today and said I was good."

"There was no kid in that church today by the name of Zion," declared old Mrs. Spruce.

"After all you children have told us, I believe Zion was there," said Grandma. "I believe that there are angels around us many times. We just aren't aware of their presence because we don't see them. This is good. I must tell Edna Benwell the next time she calls."

"Now sing us that song," requested Grandpa.

The girls sang so well that there were tears in Grandma's eyes.

"Why do you cry, Grandma?" asked Jenny.

"Because the song is beautiful and you girls are wonderful," she explained. "I'm blest! I'm blest."

"Do you really think Zion is an angel?" asked Kelli.

"Who else?" asked Grandma.

"What a day!" exclaimed Jenny. "What a day!"

"It has been a good, good day," joined in Kelli.

Later in the bedroom Jenny and her friend talked about the words in the song Zion had given to them.

"I believe it is a message from God," said Jenny. "We can sing it for people when we go to church again.

"Good!" said Kelli. "I'll go to the platform with you."

"I'd like that," said her friend.

"Jenny, this is all good to talk about," remarked Grandma, standing in the doorway, "but there are chores to do. You and Kelli gather the eggs and clean them while I prepare a light supper for us."

After supper and chores were finished everyone went to bed. They did not go out to church at night. Grandpa's eyes bothered him when he drove in the dark, so unless an emergency came up, he did all his driving in the daytime hours.

All awakened early on Monday morning. The girls fed the lambs, swept the floors, cleaned the upstairs bathroom and gathered baskets of little crab apples that had fallen under the tree for Grandma to make preserves.

In the afternoon Jenny put out cracked corn and oyster shells for the chickens. A white leghorn rooster chased her to the gate and she got out of the chicken yard just in time. That rooster was not to be trusted. Once he had scratched Grandpa on his forehead and the scar was still there.

The rest of the afternoon the two girls were free to do as they pleased. Resting in their room at Grandma's house, they found much to talk about.

"Jenny, do you ever think about how much your life has changed since you had that special dream?" asked Kelli. "It used to be that we just went to school, did homework or went to the mall with our parents. Life is exciting now."

"Oh, yes," returned Jenny. "After the accident and my visit to the homeland, Mama is happier most of the time. She was always so sad before she knew Jesus. Daddy behaves better since he had a fight with Mr. Packet and went to jail. I keep praying for Daddy. I talk to God about him when no one else knows."

"I'm glad that my mother and father are both Christians," said Kelli. "I'm going to pray for my father's business trips to be close to home so we can go to church together."

"I will be happy to get back to Fernville," said Jenny. "I want to tell Jamie and the others what happened yesterday on the hill. I think Jason is too little to understand. I love him, miss him and wonder how much he misses me."

"Even I miss him," added Kelli. "Wish I had a brother, or a sister would do."

The girls talked until Kelli fell asleep, then Jenny slept.

Late in the evening there was a call from home. Coming down the stairs Jenny heard her Grandpa's voice. "Oh, they are fine," he said. "We enjoy having them."

He handed the telephone to Jenny and she talked to Mama, Daddy and Jason.

"I have a lot to tell you when I get home," said Jenny. "Oh, sure, Kelli is right here."

Mrs. Mostly was at the Spruce home and wanted to speak to her daughter.

"It's lots of fun here," said Kelli, "but we work, too, helping with the chores."

It was good to hear from home and the rest of the evening was nothing but happiness for the girls.

On Tuesday, as usual, the girls did their morning jobs. They helped Grandma make oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies and were allowed to eat two cookies while they were still warm.

Grandpa asked a farmer friend to send his boy over with a pony in the afternoon. The boy, 12-year-old Mike, came on his beautiful black pony. He rode the gentle pony with the greatest of ease.

"Get on," he said to Jenny.

Jenny climbed up behind Mike, and Kelli watched them ride over the hill and across the ridge several times. Then it was Kelli's turn to ride over the hill and across the ridge.

Finally, each one took a turn riding alone. All went well until the pony started to gallop while Kelli was on him. Kelli was thrown from the pony and landed in a pile of dirt. The girl was a bit shaken, but unhurt as she stepped out of the soft dirt. Mike and Jenny ran to her.

"Are you O.K.?" asked Mike.

"Sure, but I'm not clean," said Kelli, bewildered.

"What got into that pony?" asked Jenny.

"Once in a great while, he gets a little wild," remarked Mike. "I'll go get him."

"Come on up to the house," said Kelli. "I have to clean up."

"What happened?" asked Grandma, seeing the girls coming.

"The pony went too fast all of a sudden," Jenny explained for Kelli.

"You must get a good soapy shower ," said the woman. Wash that dirt out of your hair, too."

"I know," sighed Kelli. "I have never before been this dirty."

When Kelli was clean again, Grandma served the three youngsters milk and cookies in the kitchen. Then they watched cartoons on television.

"I gotta go," said Mike. "There's my evening chores to do."

"Thanks for letting us ride," said Jenny.

"I thank you, too." joined in Kelli. "It wasn't all bad."

"Oh, that's O.K.," returned Mike. "Maybe I'll come again sometime."

"Every day can't be perfect," said Grandma. "We might not be thankful for the good days."

On Wednesday, Grandma's friend, Edna Benwell, came and the girls were asked to sing the song that their mysterious friend, Zion, had taught them.

Edna was all ears. She wanted to know everything about Zion.

"I have never known anyone by that name," she said. "The song is really grand."

"These girls seem to have everything but a dull life," said Grandma. "So much has happened in such a short time for them."

"Life is exciting!" said Jenny to Edna.

"Yes," added Kelli. "We found an old green caboose and cleaned it. Our friends Jamie and Hangar helped. Then we found a man and woman sleeping on the sidewalk because they had no house to live in. Now they live in that green caboose. It's really nice there."

"How very interesting!" exclaimed Edna. "It would be great if all homeless people met helpers like you two girls."

"It made us very happy to tell them about Jesus," recalled Jenny. "They are so happy now!"

Soon Edna Benwell left.

"She didn't stay very long," said Jenny's grandmother. "Edna probably wants to call her sister and tell her about Zion."

On Thursday Grandpa took the girls fishing in the creek at the north end of the farm. The children did not catch any fish. Grandpa caught four medium-size fish, just enough for Grandma to fry for supper.

Although Jenny and Kelli caught no fish, the afternoon was fun listening to Grandpa tell about the things he did as a child. On the way home they followed behind him, trying to step in his tracks and the girls had to take giant steps to make it.

On Friday, Grandpa took eggs, butter and vegetables to town to sell to stores. Kelli and Jenny went along for the ride. When they came home, they went to the bedroom to make birthday cards for Grandpa while Grandma baked a big chocolate cake. Including the outdoor chores, it was a busy day.

On Saturday afternoon, both grandparents and the girls went to town. Grandma bought T-shirts for Jenny and Kelli and a small-size T-shirt that Jenny would take home to Jason.

Sunday came and everyone in the Spruce home in Velvet Hills went to church. It was plain to see that Edna had spread the word of Zion's visit on the hill. The small church was again filled to overflowing. The villagers seemed to sense God's blessing on their community and they were very happy about it.

The service began with the singing of an old familiar hymn. After the second hymn the song leader spoke. "I have heard that a new song has been given to our little visitors by a mysterious friend; I believe Zion is his name. Jenny and Kelli, would you sing that song for us? Tell us how you met Zion."

"You first, Kelli," said Jenny.

"We were playing on a hill at Spruceland," Kelli said. "A boy appeared there. We didn't see him come from anywhere. He told us that his name was Zion. He played tag with us."

"He asked us to sing with him," said Jenny. "We had to rest and get our breath. So he sang a beautiful song that sort of echoed across the hills. We had not heard it before."

"We asked him to teach us the song, "Kelli continued. "He did and then he soon disappeared. He just vanished in the air; he never went in any direction."

"Now Kelli and I will sing `Chosen Children,'" said Jenny. "And, oh yes! He said that he was here in this church last Sunday and heard me speak."

This latest information touched the congregation. Many smiled. Some praised God. Others shivered at the thought of being watched by the invisible.

The girls with their lively voices sang as if Zion were there listening to them:

We are the chosen children,

The end-time generation,

The king's special little friends

That come from every nation.

Soon King Jesus will return,

For the children are His prize.

Of Heaven they all must learn,

Eternal homeland in the skies.

Dear friends to the children run.

Do not miss a child I say.

Tell all of God's only son.

King Jesus could come today.

Jenny and Kelli left the platform smiling. They could tell the people were pleased by how long they clapped their hands. Jenny thought that Zion, wherever he was, liked their singing too.

The Sunday noon meal was the children's last meal of their vacation on the farm. All shared how much they had enjoyed each other and Grandpa blessed each one seated at the table, including himself.

In the afternoon, an automobile drove through the gateway of Spruceland and on to the white farmhouse with the red trim. Kelli's father, Mr. Mostly, had come to take the girls to Fernville. They saw him coming and ran out to meet him. He gave them each a big hug.

"Ready to go home, girls?" asked Mr. Mostly. "Your mothers have really missed you, also Jason and Mr. Spruce. Everyone is anxious to have you home."

"Boy!" said Kelli. "Have we got things to tell you!"

"I can hardly wait to talk with my family," Jenny said.

Grandpa brought the luggage to the car. A tear slid from each of his eyes as he hugged the girls. "I love you," he said.

Grandma wanted to cry, but held back the tears. "Jenny and Kelli, you have made us happy. We are proud of you."

Mr. Mostly shook hands with Grandpa and Grandma. Then he and the youngsters headed for Fernville.