Soldiers of the Great King
by Mary Wingfield Bell

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Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Chapter 7	Chapter 8	Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12

CHAPTER 3

 

Dalthea, Mrs. Van Upper’s granddaughter said that soldiers of the king could meet at Mrs. Van Upper’s house on the next Saturday.  But first, she wanted them to come early and do her a favor.  The woman wanted the children to rake her yard and put the leaves in a bin in her backyard..  Then the boys and girls could gather in her house for a meeting.

 

On Saturday each of the older boys brought a rake.  Janet and Maria each brought a broom to sweep the veranda and walkway.  The younger children had buckets to fill with leaves and take them to the bin.

 

“Look, kids,” said Janet.  “We are dong this work for King Jesus.  So, everyone do your best job and it won’t take long to make Mrs. Van Upper’s yard look real nice.”

 

Mrs. Van Upper came out to see that each child knew what to do.  The children could tell that she was a good lady because she spoke softly and kindly to them.  She told each child where to rake.

 

Soon they were all busy as honey bees.  They sang as they worked.  They sang old songs like Oh, Su Sanna, Old MacDonald Had a Farm and John Jacob Jinglehiemer Smith.  The work was more like playing a game because it was fun to be together helping Mrs. Van Upper and doing their best work for King Jesus.  In a short time the whole yard was raked clean.  The veranda and walkway were clean, also.

 

Janet had told Lorena where Mrs. Van Upper lived, but she was so busy making a gift for each child that she forgot to watch the time and she was a few minutes late.  She had made crosses for everyone painting Popsicle sticks with flowers and gluing them together.  She was glad to let the others know that she wanted to be their friend.

 

“How lovely,” said Maria.  “And did you cut the short sticks that cross the long sticks?  That must have been hard to do.”

 

“I got help for that,” said Lorena. “Aunt Ruth cut the sticks for me.”

 

“This is my new friend, Lorena,” Janet said to the others.

 

“Right this way,” said Mrs. Van Upper leading the children to a large room in the house.  “There is a seat for each of you.  I do thank you children for the good job you did on my yard.  It looks splendid.”

 

“We had fun,” said Trilby.  “It’s not hard work when you work with others and do your best work for the king.”

 

“He is so right,” said Elmer.  “Now we are ready for a good meeting.  What’s next, Janet?”

 

“First, let us hear some bible verses,” said Janet.

 

“I’ll tell my verse so I do not forget,” said little Mrs. Cho.  “It is Psalm 118:24, ‘This is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.’  Tim has a verse.  ‘Say your verse, my child.’ ”

 

 

“Forever, Oh Lord, they word is settled in Heaven,” said Tim Cho.

 

“Who else has a verse?” asked the leader.

 

“Our help is in the name of the Lord who made Heaven and earth.  Psalm 134:8.” Said Donald.

 

“How about this verse?” asked Richard.  “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18: 24.”

 

When most of the children had given their bible verses, it was time to hear reports from the children who promised at the last meeting to tell someone how to know Jesus as their best friend:

 

“I will give my report first,” said Janet because I want my new friend to tell you what helped her when she was so sad.  I found her sitting by herself on the pump house at school and she was crying.  She told me that her mother had died not long ago.  She was afraid to be alone in her house at night when her father was gone.  I invited her to stay with me that night.  She did stay in my house.  I told her how Jesus could be her best friend and help her so she would not have to be alone.  Jesus would always be with her and help her with any problem.  She wanted to know how she could have Jesus as her friend.  I told her how to pray and ask Jesus to come into her heart and take away her sins.  Now Lorena will tell you what happened next.”

 

“Yes, I am glad Janet found me sitting on the pump house.  She helped me so much.  I could not sleep in my house.  I was afraid every night.  The house was so dark and cold.  I heard noises.  It was awful until I learned about King Jesus.  When he came into my heart everything changed for better.  It was like Jesus wrapped me in love and I did not feel afraid.  The next day after school I went to my house.  I saw a woman in the yard next door.  She talked to me.  Her name is Miz Lizzie Hall.  She has a bid dog.  The dog’s name is Whopper.  I could see that Whopper was a friendly dog.  The woman is nice.  She asked me to have supper with her.  I did.  Now I have a good neighbor who will help me.  Knowing Jesus sure changed things for me.  When Daddy came he brought Aunt Ruth.  It’s so good to have her with me.  Now I won’t go home to an empty house.  I’m glad Janet helped me to know Jesus.”

 

“Lorena, you told your story so well,” said Mrs. Van Upper.  “I think my granddaughter has a report, also.”

 

“Dalthea, let us hear your report” said Janet.

 

“I went to see this girl, Pearl, who lives down by the railroad.  She comes to school with a dirty neck and her dress looks dirty, too.  I carried a bar of soap in my dress pocket.  She wanted to know why I came to see her because no one else ever did.  And I said, ‘I noticed that your neck is always dirty and I brought you this soap so you can wash your neck.’  She began to cry and said, ‘I don’t want my neck to be dirty but we do not have a basin for water and if I wash under the pump I get wet and cold all over.  Then I shiver.  I don’t like to shiver.  That’s why my neck stays dirty.’  I felt sorry for Pearl.  I told her that I would find a basin for her.  Grandmother, don’t you have a wash pan you hardly ever use that I can give to Pearl when I go to see her again?”

 

“Yes, dear, you can give her that old pan in the pantry.  It’s beat up but it doesn’t leak,” said Mrs. Van Upper.

 

“I told Pearl about Jesus who is God’s son,” said Dalthea, “and about him being born in a stable.  I told her that he grew up to be the most important person in the world.  He was a good man who loved children and he healed all that came to him for their healing.  Then I told her how wicked men put him to death on the cross and the way he hung there between two thieves.  And I told her he died on that cross so all people could be forgiven and have a home forever in Heaven.  I told her Jesus was put in the grave but he only stayed there three days.  He arose and went up to Heaven.  People watched him go up in a cloud.  I said the bible tells that Jesus is coming again and all who believe in him will arise and go with him to Heaven.  Then Pearl wanted to know how she could be one of them that go to Heaven.  I prayed with her and she accepted King Jesus.  Now she wants to be a soldier, too.  I will help her to know more about the king when I see her again.”

 

“Why did you not ask her to come to our meeting?” asked Elmer.

 

“I did, but she said, ‘maybe later when I get clean.’”

 

“Dalthea, you are a good soldier,” said Janet.

 

“I’m going to be the best soldier,” said Dalthea.

 

“And Donald, did you go to see Mr. Ray Downer?”

 

“Yes, I did and he was friendly as always but he stumbled about his house.  I think he was drunk.  I told him I came to tell him about King Jesus.  He said, ‘I heard about Jesus when I was a lad your age but I don’t think I want to know him.  He let my father die and I grew up without a dad to help me know how to live.’  Then I said, ‘Did your father know Jesus?’  He answered, ‘Yes, he loved Jesus.  He always sang songs about him and Heaven.’  Then I said, ‘Mr. Ray, don’t you want to see your father someday?  I think he is in Heaven!’  He said, ‘Sure I want to see my old man but I can’t go to Heaven because I am just an old drunk.  I never go to church.  Church people don’t want a drunk around.’  Then I said, ‘Mr. Ray, you don’t have to be a drunk.  Jesus will forgive your sin if you ask him!’  Then he said, ‘I don’t think I can give up the bottle but I tell you what, Lad, you pray for me.’  I said, ‘Mr. Ray, pray after me the words I say: God forgive me.  I am a sinner.’  Mr. Ray prayed, ‘God forgive me a sinner.‘ And I prayed ‘Come into my heart.  I want to live for you.  I believe Jesus died for my sins and he arose from the grave and went up to Heaven.’  Tears fell on Mr. Ray’s face and he smiled.  ‘Son,’ he said.  ‘I am saved now.  I will never take another drop of that stuff.’  The man was happy.”

 

“What a good report, Donald,” said Mrs. Van Upper.

 

“Mari, do you have a report about telling your uncle about Jesus living in his heart?” asked Janet.

 

“Yes, I wrote my uncle a letter.  I love him very much.  I told him how all my family had accepted Jesus as our best friend.  I told him our home is peaceful now.  Father doesn’t yell so much.  I said, “Uncle Caesar, I want you to know King Jesus.  I told him how to pray the sinner’s prayer so he could love the king as his best fiend and helper.”

 

“Did he want to know the great king?”  asked Janet.

 

“He wrote back saying, ‘It’s nice of you to think of me.  I will give the idea much thought and sometime you may hear that I have taken your advice for my soul.”

 

“Now he knows what to do,” said Janet.  “Mrs. Cho, did you talk to your brother about Jesus?”

 

“I talked to my brother, Lee,” replied Mrs. Cho.  “I tell him not follow Buddha.  He is dead.  Follow King Jesus.  He is alive.  He say, ’Our family follow Buddha for many generations.  How come you not follow Buddha?’  I say, ‘I told you Buddha is dead.  He cannot answer prayer but Jesus can.  He is much alive!’  Then he said, ‘I think about this one you call Jesus!’  Now I pray for him.”

 

“Excuse me,” said Mrs. Van Upper.  “Someone is knocking on the door.”

 

The children heard her say, “Come in, James, and see my friends.”  James was a neighbor from the street behind her house.  He came into the sitting room and sat down on the carpet.  The chairs were all taken.  “Do you know these boys and girls?” asked Mrs. Van Upper.

 

“Yes, most of them I see at school,” he said.  “These kids are happy all the time.  I wanted to know why they are happy.  That is why I came to your house.  I saw them coming earlier when I was on an errand for my father.  I am sorry to be late.  Can I belong to this group?”

 

“Yes,” replied Donald.  “The reason we are so happy is because we have Jesus as our best friend.  But to be a real soldier of King Jesus you must ask him to come into your heart.”

 

“How can I do that?” asked James.

 

Donald gladly told the boy about Jesus who lived and died on the cross because cruel men put him there.  He could have come down because he was the Son of God, but he gave himself to die for the sins of the whole world.  Donald told how Jesus was buried in the tomb and arose on the third day.  He went straight up to Heaven.  A cloud took him out of sight.  Jesus is coming again to take those who believe and serve him to Heaven.  “James, repeat after me,” said Donald.  “I am a sinner.  Jesus come into my heart and forgive me of my sins.  I will serve you as long as I live.”

 

James repeated the words that Donald said and he accepted Jesus as his savior and friend.

 

“Great!” said James.  “I feel great.  What can I do as the King’s soldier?”

 

The children were eager to tell James how to be a good soldier.

 

“You can study hard and make good grades,” offered Maria.

 

“That is going to be a different me,” returned James.

 

“You can do your best work for King Jesus when you help others like your parents,” said Trilby.

 

“Obey your parents,” said Janet.  “God wants us to obey our parents.”

 

“You can tell the king when you have a problem,” said Dalthea.

 

“You can give your time to the king by praying and reading the bible,” said Janet.

 

“You can behave in school and church,” said Maria.

 

“I think you can chop wood for some old person,” said Donald.  “When it snows, old people need to be warm.”

 

“The best thing soldiers of Jesus can do is to tell someone how to know the great king,” said Richard.  “And you can pray for someone who needs to be healed.  That is why I am here.  Donald prayed for my foot to be well and Jesus healed me.”

 

“Did you guys clean this yard today?” asked James.  “It sure looks good.”

 

“That’s because we do good work for the king,” said Elmer.  “He expects his children to do good work.”

 

“We are glad you are now a soldier of King Jesus,” said Janet.  “Jesus will always be with you.  He will never leave you.  When you have a problem or need something, tell Jesus.  He is your best friend.”

 

“Let’s clap our hands for nice Mrs. Van Upper,” said Mrs. Cho.  “She gave us a nice place to meet.”

 

The children clapped their hands loudly and wildly.

 

“I am glad you came here today,” said Mrs. Van Upper.  “I am thinking that the junior classroom at the Methodist Church will make a nice meeting place.  More children may come there.  Would you like to meet there?”

 

“That will do fine,” agreed Donald and the others said yes.

 

“I will talk to Reverend Always tomorrow,” said Janet.  “He will be pleased.”

 

“I can play the piano in the junior classroom,” said Dalthea.  “We can do a lot of singing.”

 

“Maybe Manie will come,” said Janet.  “She does like all of you and maybe she will bring teacakes.”

 

“She makes great teacakes,” said Elmer.

 

“Now I think our meeting is over today,” said Janet.

 

“Don’t leave yet,” said Mrs. Van Upper.  “I have some refreshments.”  The woman served popcorn, cookies and cocoa.

 

“Hooray for the queen of this house,” said Richard.  “I was hungry, now I am not.”

 

The boys and girls thanked Mrs. Van Upper for being nice to them.  Then she gave each child a nickel and thanked them for raking her yard.

 

Lorena asked Janet to come to her house to play with new paper dolls that her father had bought for her.

 

First go with me to ask my mother,” said Janet.

 

Mrs. Cubber told her daughter that she could stay for two hours, but to come straight home when the time was up.  Janet and Lorena skipped all the way to Lorena’s house where Aunt Ruth was waiting for Lorena.

 

“I’m glad Lorena has found a good friend,” said Aunt Ruth.  “I think I will like this town of Whatknot.”

Chapter 1	Chapter 2	Chapter 3	Chapter 4	Chapter 5	Chapter 6
Chapter 7	Chapter 8	Chapter 9	Chapter 10	Chapter 11	Chapter 12