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 4

 

Soldiers of the king had gathered in the junior classroom of the Methodist Church to have their meeting.  Mrs. Cho sat in the teacher’s chair.  She was happy that Janet asked her to be on the program.  “I’m new at a job like this,” she said.  “But you children can help me.  What do you think about this room?  Do you like this room?”

 

“I don’t think it is a pretty place,” replied Dalthea.  “These brown walls look dirty.”

 

“I think we can do something to make the room look better,” said Maria.  “Do you think we could paint this room another color?”

 

“I not know,” said Mrs. Cho.  “We can find out where we can get money to buy the paint.  Do any of you have idea where we get paint?”

 

“We can ask the merchants if they will pay for the paint,” said Richard.  “I think my father will give some money.”

 

“Maybe Mr. Papper will give a dime,” suggested Trilby.

 

“I think it is best if we work for someone and make money to buy paint for this room,” said Janet.

 

“Good idea,” said Mrs. Cho.  “Best idea yet.”

 

“Let us all see what we can find out about getting the paint this week,” said Donald.

 

“Anything else that can be done to make room look better?” asked Mrs. Cho.

 

“I like to sew,” said Lorena, the new girl in town.  “I will make pretty curtains out of cretonne for that window.  We have cloth my mother never used because she got sick and died.  The cloth has blue and white flowers on it.  Do you think that will be alright?”

 

“Very alright,” returned Mrs. Cho.  “I know all of you will be good today while we have meeting and leave room looking good for Sunday school class.  Now I ask Janet to come and tell anybody here, who not know Jesus as friend, how to know him.

 

Janet stood by Mrs. Cho and said, “I see we have a visitor today.  I will tell her how to know Jesus. What is your name?”

 

“My name is Myrtle Lee.”

 

“We are glad you are here,” returned Janet.  “Let’s all give her a welcome.”  The soldiers of the king clapped their hands and smiled at Myrtle.  Myrtle smiled back at them.

 

“Myrtle, do you want to know Jesus and have him live in your heart?” asked Janet.

 

“Yes, that is why I came today,” replied Myrtle.  “I heard about you children and I want to be a soldier of the king, too.”

 

“What do you know about Jesus?”  said Janet.

 

“I know that we celebrate his birthday on Christmas.  I don’t know much more.”

 

“We will tell you about the great king,” said Janet.  “Donald will you tell Myrtle what you know about the life of Jesus?”

 

“Well, Myrtle,” began Donald.  “Jesus is the Son of God.  He was born in Bethlehem.  His mother was Mary.  His earthly father was Joseph.  His father was a carpenter.  He grew up to be a good man and a teacher.  He healed many people and delivered others from demons.  He raised the dead and turned water into wine.”

 

“I never heard of anyone like him,” said Myrtle.  “I want to know more.”

 

“Dalthea, will you tell Myrtle what happened to Jesus?” said Janet.

 

“Sure,” said Dalthea.  “There were people who did not like Jesus and planned to kill him.  They did kill him and hung him on a cross where he died to save us from our sins.  He was buried in a tomb and he arose on the third day.  People watched him go up into the sky and a cloud took him out of sight.  Someday he will return and take his children home to Heaven.  I will be one of those who go to Heaven.”

 

“Thank you, Dalthea,” said Janet.  “Myrtle, come up here by me.  I will tell you how to know Jesus.  You will love him so much and he already loves you.  He died for you and me and everyone.  All you have to do is repeat after me the words I say: ‘Lord Jesus, forgive me of my sins and come into my heart.  I will live for you while I am on earth because you died for me.  One day I will live with you in Heaven.’”

 

“I do feel different,” said Myrtle after praying with Janet.  “I know now that Jesus lives in my heart.”

 

“And Myrtle, you can tell someone how to know our best friend Jesus.  He is the best friend you will ever have.  You can tell him anything.  When you have a problem, he will help you solve it.  King Jesus will never ever leave you.  He will always be there.”

 

Myrtle sat down smiling.  She had never been as happy in her life.  Janet took her seat, also.

 

Mrs. Cho spoke again, “Who wants to tell what the king is doing for you?”

 

“I will tell,” said Richard.  “Jesus has shown me that I should not be selfish.  I always wanted the best of things for myself.  I thought about me.  Now I think of others and I do more to help other people.”

 

“Good!” said Mrs. Cho.  “You make great change.  Who talks next?”

 

“I will,” said Dalthea.  “I, too, was selfish and I had a mean heart until Jesus changed all of that.  Now I try to help people.  I gave this girl, Pearl, a bar of soap and a wash basin so she can keep her neck clean.  I must find out why she did not come today.”

 

“Who is next to tell what happened when they know the king?”

 

“I will tell again how Jesus helped me when I was so sad,” said Lorena.  “I did not know what to do.  Jesus came into my heart and he is making me happy again.”

 

“Myrtle, do you have a bible?” asked Mrs. Cho.

 

“My aunt has a bible,” answered the girl.

 

“Will you read her bible?” asked Mrs. Cho.  “It tell all about King Jesus.  Go to Sunday school and church.  You learn much about the king.”

 

“I will read the bible and I will go to Sunday school,” said Myrtle.

 

“Good,” said Mrs. Cho.  “Janet know much.  She will answer your questions when she can.”

 

“When are we going to paint this room?” asked Elmer.

 

“Next meeting, I think,” said Mrs. Cho.  “We get paint.  You take turns painting this room.  Wear old, old clothes, not mess up good clothes.”

 

“Can we sing now?” asked Maria.  “I like to sing.”

 

“Yes, we sing now,” said the woman.  “What song do you want to sing?”

 

“Let’s sing Jesus Loves the Little Children,” said Tim.  Joyfully soldiers of the king sang that song.

 

“What else you sing?” asked Mrs. Cho.

 

“Do you know the song, This Is My Father’s World?” asked Lorena.

 

“I don’t think we know that song,” said Janet.  “Will you sing it for us?”

 

“Sure,” and Lorena stood up and sang in her soft velvet-like voice the song, This

Is My Father’s World.

 

“So beautiful,” remarked Mrs. Cho.  “We will learn that song.  Do you want to sing

another song?”

 

“Let’s sing Jesus Loves Me,” said Dalthea.

 

Everyone knew the song and sang gladly because they knew that king Jesus

loved them.

 

“Now let’s leave the room clean and go outside,” said Mrs. Cho.  “We sing a

marching song, Onward Christian Soldiers.  The children loved to sing this song

as they marched twice around the church yard.

 

“That’s fun,” said Joy Cho.

 

“We have food,” said Mrs. Cho.  “Janet’s mother send teacakes.  Each child

received a big teacake.