The following week went by with much the same routine on school days. Jenny went to school each day and arrived home before her mother. Jason's day was spent at the Wee Day Care Center. Jenny always had the table set before Mama came in. Sometimes she peeled the potatoes.

Nowadays, Mrs. Spruce was happy and healthy. She talked about the day's happenings at the family's evening meal when Mr. Spruce was in a mood to listen.

Jenny and Kelli spent so much time together. They were almost like sisters. They usually did their homework at Kelli's house because it was quieter there.

The girls saw Jamie often on the school ground, but he was with other boys. Usually they exchanged a hello greeting. Jenny and Kelli had other girl friends.

On Saturday Jamie's grandmother called Mrs. Spruce to ask if the girls could come to play again. Jamie was lonely. His other friends had things to do and Hangar was out of town.

Jenny and Kelli were happy to go to the quaint house at the edge of the woods.

When Mrs. Rosella opened the door, the first thing that caught Jenny's eyes was the old grandfather clock with its pendulum swinging behind a tall glass door.

"Do you want me to show you everything in this old house?" asked Jamie who was waiting there by the clock that stood on the floor.

"Sure," replied Kelli. "We think your grandmother has the neatest place around."

The boy showed them the loom and the bear chair that the girls had seen before. There was a table and on the table was a little windmill, a lighthouse and a clipper ship. Jamie went from room to room explaining where the things had come from or who had made them. He showed them beautiful paintings and tapestries on the wall.

The children had enough of looking at the old house and its contents, so they went into the kitchen where Mrs. Rosella was working with a big mound of sweet dough.

"I want you three to help me make doughnuts," the woman said and she handed Jenny a rolling pin.

To Kelli and Jamie she gave each a doughnut cutter, which was really a biscuit cutter having a hole-maker in the center. The woman went about putting measuring cups and spoons in the kitchen sink, putting the flour and sugar away and cleaning up bits of flour she had spilled.

Jenny rolled out the pile of dough on a big dough board. Jamie cut out almost half of the doughnuts and Kelli cut out the rest.

Jamie's grandmother took three large cookie pans out of a cabinet to place the doughnuts on. When the youngsters had filled the pans she told them to roll the scrap dough into snake-like pieces and twist for frying.

Mrs. Rosella's work table was a large one near her kitchen stove and the children had plenty of elbow room, which was good.

The woman filled a big, deep frying pan half-way up with cooking oil and dropped as many doughnuts as possible in the deep hot fat. The doughnuts rose quickly and floated to the top. When the bottoms of the sweets were brown she turned them over with a long fork and browned the other side.

The children pulled long strips of paper towels across the table. When a platter was full of doughnuts they laid them carefully on paper towels to soak up excess grease.

"Yum! Yum!" said Jenny.

"Good! Good!" agreed Kelli.

"Granny's doughnuts are the best," declared Jamie.

"Yes, but only one apiece now," the cook returned. "I was thinking that you kids might like a picnic in one of the grassy spots along the road. I'll make a thermos of tea and sandwiches to go along with a bag of doughnuts."

"Great!" exclaimed Jenny.

"I know just the place not far from here," offered Kelli.

"Me, too!" said the boy. "Grandma, you sure are swell."

"Thank you for being so nice to us," Jenny said as politely as she knew how.

The Spruce girl carried the sandwiches in a basket. Kelli took the plastic container filled with doughnuts and Jamie took charge of the iced tea jug. They walked toward their picnic place and began to look for the spot where they had entered the woods on the day that Number Four had been discovered. The children studied the area before them and believed it to be the entrance as some branches were broken where Jamie had made a way to get through the underbrush.

"This is it!" he called. "Here is the end of the track."

The youngsters found it a bit harder to climb over the rocks and tangled weeds, with the food they carried. Still they continued to follow the railroad track. In the clearing at the end of the track was the green caboose that had been there many years. Everything there looked the same as it had on their earlier discovery, except the field grass was higher and more wild flowers were blooming.

Jamie and the girls chose the porch of the green caboose as the place to share their lunch. They all ate heartily, talked, laughed and were having a wonderful time.

When the meal was finished, Jamie said, "My hands are too sticky."

"Get a piece of ice from the jug," suggested Jenny. "Now rub it between your hands; the sticky will go. I've done that. Say, give me a piece of ice. The doughnuts are good but they make hands awful sticky."

"That's a good idea, Jenny," joined Kelli. "I might as well wash my hands."

The three wiped their hands on paper napkins. Jenny put the crumpled napkins in the basket so the caboose would not look all messed up. Now they were ready to explore the surroundings.

Butterflies fluttered about as the children walked through the tall grass. Jamie tried to catch one of the many-colored butterflies, but failed.

In the edge of the heavy grass was a ground nest with a deep hole. It was lined with grass and wads of fur which made the nest soft.

"What kind of nest is this, I wonder?" asked Kelli.

"When I was on the farm, Grandpa told me that rabbits make those nests and even pull out fur from their own bodies to make the nest soft and comfortable for their baby bunnies," informed Jenny.

Frightened by the youngsters, a squirrel scampered up a nearby tree and out of sight.

"I wonder what is over this way," said Jenny, pointing.

"Maybe we will find something like a beautiful rock," said Kelli.

"Let's go see what is there," suggested Jamie.

About a hundred yards into the brush beyond the clearing they stopped.

"Listen!" said Jenny.

"I hear water running," stated Kelli.

"Hey!" Jamie was excited. "Let's find the creek."

Suddenly they saw where the water was. There was no creek, but clear sparkling water was coming out of a crevice in the rock and falling into a thin stream.

"Oh!" cried Jenny. "It is a rock spring. Grandpa has one on his farm and the water tastes so good and cool. The water is piped into the house, but he carries spring water to the pigs and cows."

"Good cold water," declared Jamie as he cupped his hands and drank from the spring.

The girls tried it and agreed that the water was good.

"Picnic's over," announced Jamie. "Let's go to the house."

"Yes," Jenny agreed. "I have to get home. My parents don't like for me to be gone long, especially Daddy."

With a last look at Number Four the children went back to Mrs. Rosella's house, but the girls stayed only for a few minutes. The woman gave each girl a small bag of doughnuts to carry home.

"Thanks, you are very nice," said Kelli.

"Kelli is right," said her friend. "I am so glad we stopped by one day to see your house and got to meet you. It is always fun to come here. Please visit us."

"I probably will come very soon," returned Jamie's grandmother. "I have thought about it."

"Wasn't it fun seeing Number Four again," Jenny said to Kelli as the two were riding toward home on their bicycles.

"Yeah, sure is a fun place out here where there isn't much noisy traffic," joined Jenny. "How good just to see the squirrels, rabbits, birds and butterflies."

Coming down Main Street about two blocks from their home the girls saw an old man and woman lying on the sidewalk. The old man was asleep. The woman with gray, uncombed hair looked all about her surroundings as if she was afraid someone would come to scold her and send them away. Two dirty cloth bags lay beside them. It was a sad sight, for the elderly ones looked tired and weary.

When the girls came near them the woman began to tremble with fright.

Jenny and Kelli stopped their bikes. It seemed the right thing to do, to stop and talk to the poor woman.

"Hi there," Jenny smiled. "Why do you sleep out here on the sidewalk?"

"Dearie," the old lady said and stopped her shaking, seeing that these girls were friendly. "We had to leave our house because we have no money for rent."

"Why don't you have any money?" asked Kelli.

"We are too old to get good jobs," explained the woman. "Our pension money was stopped because we have no address, no place to stay long enough to receive help. We just sleep anyway that we can find day or night. `Tis a poor way to live and we get so dirty."

"Pastor Goodman said sometimes people have very little on earth, but have a mansion waiting for them in Heaven," Kelli said, trying to cheer the old woman.

"Not knowing when or if we will get to Heaven is the problem," returned the elderly one. "By the way, my name is Claudia; What are your names?"

"I'm Jenny and this is my friend Kelli," one girl answered.

"Jenny has been to Heaven," said Kelli. "Some people said that she died, but she came back to tell people about the homeland."

"Naw!" said Claudia in disbelief. "You got to be kiddin'!"

"Really, Mrs. Claudia!" assured the Spruce girl. "A truck hit me and my bicycle. I was in the hospital with tubes in my nose and arms. I was in a coma and went out of my body and floated up to Heaven."

"My dearie," said Claudia showing much interest, "tell me more!"

"Oh, it is the most beautiful place ever," said Jenny. "The streets are all made of gold and shine like sparkling glass. It is so light there one can see much farther than here, and night just never comes. The mansions are so pretty that I cannot describe them."

"Do you think we will know our kinfolks if we get there?" asked Claudia. "I once had a beautiful child like you, but she died with diphtheria. I want to see her again."

"You will see her if you believe that Jesus died for your sins and arose again," explained Jenny. "Just pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins."

Then Jenny told Claudia about the wicked men who hanged Jesus on the cross and how He died and came out of the grave. He went to Heaven to prepare places for His saints to live.

Claudia did not know much about Jesus but she believed Jenny and she did so much want to see her daughter that died. She prayed with Jenny and asked Jesus to come into her heart.

"I know that Jesus is in my heart," said Claudia, "even though I have no home I feel good for a change."

The old man was waking up and heard the last sentence from Jenny. "Who gives a hoot about Heaven! We need a place to stay now," he said growling.

"Now, Hardin, be kind," said Claudia. "These are lovely children."

"Why are they bothering with the likes of us?" he said more softly.

"Because they care."

The woman began to comb her hair with a broken-tooth comb.

"Will you be around here tomorrow?" asked Kelli.

"We'll be somewhere in this town if we don't get run out," said the man.

"We will find you," promised Jenny. "We will get help for you and I hope a place to stay."

The girls gave the old people their doughnuts and the two elderly outcasts were grateful.

"We'll see you soon." The girls waved and went home.

Mr. and Mrs. Spruce were in the living room when Jenny came into the house.

"Mama! Daddy!" Jenny was a bit excited. "We saw an old man and woman on Manor Street."

"So," returned her father, "haven't you ever seen old people before?"

"The man was sleeping on the sidewalk and his wife, her name is Claudia, was with him," related the Spruce girl.

"They were probably just resting," offered Mama.

"Mama!" exclaimed Jenny. "They don't have a house to live in. The old woman told me so. They sleep anywhere they can, day or night!"

"That is terrible!" said her mother. "I know there are lots of homeless people, but I didn't know there were any in Fernville.

"They are very old," said Jenny. "They stay wherever they can in a town until someone runs them out."

"Danged officials!" Daddy said. "We must find a place for them to live - a house that will not cost them money. Let me think it over." Even though Mr. Spruce was a rough talking beer drinker, he had a real heart when it came to helping needy people.

"Oh, my!" Jenny was about to explode with her idea. "I know just the place, but I don't know who it belongs to. Let me call Jamie and Kelli."

Jenny called Jamie on the telephone. She told him about the old couple and suggested that maybe Number Four would make a nice home for them.

"Rats!" said Jamie at first. "I wanted us to keep Number Four a secret."

"You don't want the old people to die sleeping in the rain and snow, do you?" asked the girl.

"You're right," agreed Jamie. "It would make a nice home for them and maybe we could still play near Number Four sometimes."

Kelli was happy with the idea. She thought it was a perfect place for the old ones even if it did sit at the end of a railroad track. "And what good drinking water from the spring they could use," she said.

Kelli ran over to Jenny's house and the two girls told Mr. and Mrs. Spruce about their discovery of the old green caboose and the cool water spring nearby.

"Yes, I remember," said Daddy. "The old caboose has been there for many long years and I think old man Garry, who attends your church, owns the land. For some reason the caboose was abandoned when the railroad business left this section."

"Girls, go find the old folks," said Mrs. Spruce. "Bring them here for the night."

The outcasts spent the night in the Spruce home. Mrs. Spruce gave them clean clothes to put on after they had a bath.

"A real bed!" exclaimed Claudia. "Bless you dear folks. It will be so good."

"Yeah, thanks," agreed her husband Hardin.

The elderly were grateful for the night's lodging and the breakfast set before them the next morning.

Claudia went to church with Mrs. Spruce, Mrs. Mostly and the children.

When it was time for news and prayer requests at the service Jenny's mother rose to her feet. "My friend, Claudia, and her husband need a place to live," she announced. "They have been homeless for quite awhile."

"Anyone know where they can get a place to live?" asked the pastor. "Perhaps we can do something for them."

"Maybe they can stay in the old armory," suggested a member.

"No, we were chased away from there," said Claudia.

"Can I tell them about the green caboose?" whispered Jenny to her mother.

"Yes, I think it best that you do so now," Mrs. Spruce whispered to her daughter.

Jenny stood up and said, "I know a place where people could live."

Everyone was listening to Jenny.

"Speak louder, dear," said Pastor Goodman.

"One day Kelli, myself and two other friends were exploring and we found a nice-size green caboose on a short railroad track inside the woods. It's a good place with little windows," Jenny said.

Kelli nudged her friend, "Tell them about the spring water."

"And you know what, there is a rock spring where good tasting water comes right out of the rocks," continued the Spruce girl.

"Anyone know who owns the land?" asked the pastor.

An old white-haired man rose to his feet. "Why that is my land and I own everything on it," he recalled. "I had almost forgotten about the green caboose. Someone might as well live there."

The congregation clapped. Everyone was happy, especially Claudia. At last she and her husband would have a place to stay.

It was decided that three elders of the church would go out to the green caboose and see what needed to be done to make it liveable.

Claudia was just glad to have the promise of a roof over their heads.

After being abandoned for many years the green caboose would become home to Claudia and Hardin. Now they could have a town address and be in the position to receive a pension. They could eat everyday and sleep in the same place every night.

Hardin was very happy when Claudia came back to the Spruce home with the news.

Jenny and Kelli were delighted to have helped them.

"It's good the old people can live in the Number Four," Jenny said.

Mr. Garry was one of the men who went to the caboose and he gained much pleasure in giving the homeless a place to live. "We are here on earth to help others," he said.

The women of the church helped furnish the caboose house by purchasing rollaway beds, sheets and pillows. The young people bought a set of dishes. Mrs. Rosella made lovely white and red curtains for the small windows. She also gave Claudia a big metal tub for bathing and washing clothes. The men of the church painted the caboose inside and out, making it look new.

The old couple went to live in the green caboose. They were happier than they had been for years. Claudia hung the clean curtains. Soon the inside looked nice.

When the caboose was made a home, they started on the surroundings. With a borrowed lawnmower, the grass was cut. Claudia set out wild flowers around the caboose and put out two red rose bushes that Mrs. Rosella had given her. "Red roses at each end of our home will be pretty," she said.

Hardin cleared away the brush and overgrowth of trees around the railroad track, all the way to the highway. It took a few weeks, but when the work was finished the beautiful caboose bordered with roses and wild flowers could be seen from the highway.

As Claudia and Hardin drank their coffee at a little breakfast table, they talked of how God had delivered them out of misery and let them have this very special home.

It was so nice living out here where rabbits, squirrels and birds were neighbors. Each morning Claudia and Hardin listened to the song birds.

Mrs. Rosella lived only a short distance from them and she came for brief visits. She was happy that Claudia and Hardin lived nearby.

"New friends are God's gift to us to enrich our lives," said Mrs. Rosella one day as she was leaving the caboose.

"I don't know when we have been as contented," returned Claudia. "All the King's children are so kind, and it is so beautiful here in our little world."

Claudia and Hardin had learned to love Jesus as their Savior and serve Him as their Lord and King.

A mail box stood by the highway with the names Hardin and Claudia Hinks on it. The old people now had an address and could receive a pension. Friends in the church took turns sending greeting cards and when the members learned that Claudia and Hardin had a fifty-fifth wedding anniversary coming up, they presented the couple with a portable television set. Now the elderly ones were really a part of society. They could hear world news, weather reports and some good programs. No longer were they dirty castaways, sleeping on sidewalks and driveways. What a different way of life Jenny and Kelli had opened to them.

Jenny, Kelli and Jamie often visited the Hinks and they would sit for an hour at a time listening to tales of long ago.

Hardin told of the years he spent in the army in World War II and how the bombs fell all around him, killing some of his buddies in the trenches. God had spared his life.

When he had returned home he worked in the coal mines. Then he was on a railroad crew picking the slag and gravel. Perhaps that's why he liked to work around the track and caboose.

Claudia told of living in the country as a young girl in South Georgia. She never heard of television or automatic washing machines or clothes dryers. Her father did have an Emerson radio that all the family gathered around to listen to after a hard day's work in the field.

In the summer Claudia went out at daybreak to pick okra to sell in the farmer's market. She helped her older brother strip cane. Finally the sticks of cane were pressed and the juice was boiled in a big vat, making a very sweet syrup.

In late summer, harvest time, all the family went to the field to shake peanuts and pile them in stacks.

Claudia milked the cow and helped her mother peel fruits and vegetables to can in Mason jars for eating in the winter.

Jenny and her two friends listened to Claudia and watched as the woman fried a batch of apple fritters in the large black iron frying pan on the old stove. Mrs. Hinks served these cinnamon-flavored sweets with a cup of tea made from fresh spring water.

The children ate with delight and thanked Claudia.

As the girls and Jamie were leaving the green caboose, he said, "Isn't life fun sometimes?"

"Yes!" joined Kelly.

"You are both right," added Jenny. "It is good to live on earth, but it is so much better in Heaven. There are no sad or homeless people there. Everyone has his own great mansion to live in."

"Wow! Great!" exclaimed Jamie. "I know that I am lucky to know you because you have told us that the great King is coming. I'm not always as good as I should be, but I love Jesus. I know King Jesus will take me to Heaven with him when He comes."

"The Bible says that Jesus is coming," said Jenny. "Not everyone reads the Bible to learn this truth. I must tell many people. I must pray. I must pray until Daddy gets to know Jesus. He must know the great Savior and King. He just has to go to Heaven!"