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 11

 

“Janet, I have never known children like your friends, soldiers of the king,” remarked Viola.  “They know God and more about him than anyone I have ever seen.”

 

“That is because they love Jesus and read their bibles often,” explained Janet.  “I learn much about him because I love him and he is my sviour and king.”

 

The day came for Viola to ride the bus back to her hometown.  She said that she would really miss Janet and her mother.

 

“I hate to see you go,” said Janet.  “We have had good times together but I know that you miss your mother.  She will be glad to see you.”

 

“Viola, it has been nice having you here and really getting to know you, “ said Mrs. Cubber as she hugged Viola goodbye.

 

Viola got on the bus and waved until the bus pulled out of sight.

 

“What am I going to do without Viola?” asked Janet.

 

“Dear, do as you did before she came,” said Manie.  “I have to admit I will miss her, too.”

 

“Well, I can still see Maria everyday,” said Janet.  “I am so glad her family moved next door.  And I’m glad that she asked Jesus to come into her heart.”  “It makes me happy that the children living in our neighborhood love the Lord,” said Janet’s mother.  “I am blest to have a daughter who does a good job, telling stories of Jesus.”

 

“I like to talk about our king,” said Janet.  “That is when I am happiest.”

 

Every day Janet walked to school with Maria.  She and Lorena had good times together.  One day Lorena asked Janet if she could spend the night at Janet’s house because her aunt had to go out of town to visit a sick relative.

 

“I am sure Manie won’t mind if you stay at my house,” said Janet, “And I will be glad for you to stay.

 

“First I must go home after school and tell Aunt Ruth that I will spend the night with you,” said Lorena.

 

That evening Lorena went to Janet’s house and took her paper dolls to play with.

 

“Homework must be done first,” said Mrs. Cubber,  “Then you can play.”

 

Maria came in and the three girls did their lessons.  After they finished the homework, Maria had to leave and take care of Lolita while her mother prepared supper.

 

Janet and Lorena played with the paper dolls, sending them to school and having them do homework.  They dressed them in their pretty clothes to attend parties and concerts.  So much fun the two friends had

 

“I wonder if Katie Oaks likes to play with paper dolls,” said Janet.

 

“Do you think she would know how to put on their clothes?” asked Lorena.

 

“I don’t think so,” returned Janet.  “She is still like a two year old but we pray for her.  Dalthea thinks God will heal Katie if we never stop praying for her.”

 

“It would be nice for her to get well,” said Lorena, “And act like an older girl.”

 

“I’m glad that I don’t have a slow brain,” said Janet.  “I hope Katie will get well.”

 

The girls were having fun and bedtime came too soon.  It’s bedtime, girls,” said Manie.  “You can play another day.”

 

Next morning Maria walked to school with Janet and Lorena.  On the way to school they saw one of the boys who had locked up Janet, Viola and Maria.  He was walking alone so the girls were not afraid of him.

 

“I wonder who he is,” said Maria.  “He did a mean thing but I never told my parents, did you tell your mother?”

 

“Not yet, but I think I should tell her,” replied Janet.  “I don’t feel right not telling her.  I am waiting to tell her when I think it is the right time.”

 

“I am scared to tell my father,” said Maria.  I don’t know what he might do.”

 

Janet had told Lorena about the three boys and Lorena thought it was an awful thing that the lads had done.  “I think we should pray for the boys,” said Lorena.  “They need to know Jesus, our king.”

 

“Yes, I must pray for them,” agreed Janet.  “They can change when they know our saviour and king.”

 

The strange lad went on his way, giving no thought to the girls and the girls went to their classrooms at school.  It was a regular school day with nothing bad happening.

 

Janet never saw the boy again until the next Sunday when she was sitting in church with her girl friends and in walked Ssiter Ellie and the boy who had mistreated her.

 

“There he is,” she told Dalthea.

 

“Who is he?” asked Dalthea.

 

“He is the boy who locked me up in a shed and left me there with Viola and Maria,” said Janet.

 

“What is he doing with Sister Ellie?” asked Maria.  “Sister Ellie has no children.”

 

“Maybe they are related,” offered Dalthea.

 

The boy followed Sister Ellie up the aisle and they sat down near the front of the building.  When he saw Janet and Maria, his face turned white.  He looked very uncomfortable as if he wanted to run away but Sister Ellie was a stern woman so he remained with her.

 

Janet was not the least bit afraid but she felt a bit uncomfortable herself.  To be in the same room with the one who had held her prisoner disturbed her peaceful mind.  She wished he were not there but she knew it was wrong to think that way.  Being in church might even cause him to change.

 

The service began with the congregation singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus.  Janet was thinking Jesus is the best friend I have.  I can tell him anything.  Many thoughts were going through her mind.  Why is that boy here with Sister Ellie?  Am I going to talk with him?

 

“Do we have any visitors?” asked Reverend Alway.

 

Sister Ellie spoke, “This is my nephew, Willie Mack.  He will be coming regular because I am now his guardian.”

 

“Good,” said the preacher.  “I expect he will get acquainted with the fine children we have here in the church.”

 

After announcements, the people sang several songs.  Then Katie Oaks played her harp with her mother playing the piano.  Janet and her friends watched every move Katie made, hoping that they would see Katie healed.

 

Then Reverend Alway preached about the love of God.  He said that God loved people so much that he gave his only son to die for their sins.  And the heavenly father wants his children to be good and not have the trouble of sin in their lives.  Then if anyone has done wrong the Father in Heaven will forgive the one who sinned and he can be a child of God.

 

At the end of his sermon he said, “Does anyone here want God’s forgiveness?  Please come to the altar and make it right with God so you can have a home in Heaven.”

 

Willie Mack made his way to the altar, knelt down there and prayed.  Sister Ellie knelt beside him to pray.  When Willie arose, he was smiling because he knew God had forgiven him.  He had asked Jesus to live in his heart.

 

Janet was surprised but she was happy that Willie made the right choice to live for the great king.

 

“Willie, do you have anything to say?” asked the preacher.

 

“Yes, Reverend, I have been a mean boy but I will no longer do the mean things.  I want to do good so Aunt Ellie will be proud of me.  I am glad Jesus has come to live in my heart.”

 

“Welcome to the family of God,” said Reverend Always.  “Let us everyone give Willie a welcome handshake.”

 

Janet and her friends moved into the line with the other people and went forward to shake hands with Willie.

 

“I’m sorry,” Willie said in a low voice when Janet shook his hand, “That I helped the boys lock you and your friends in the shed.  I will never treat you badly again.”

 

“I forgive you,” said Janet.

 

“I, too, forgive you,” said Maria.

 

“Dear, what was that about?” asked Manie on the way home from church.

 

“When Viola was here, three boys locked us up in a shed when we were on our way to school.”

 

“What!  Why did you never tell me?”

 

“I did not want you to worry,” replied Janet.  “We were not hurt.”

 

“Was Willie one of the boys?”

 

“Yes, but today he said he was sorry.”

 

“That is probably true but don’t you keep things like that from your mother.  Parents want to know what takes place in the lives of their children.”

 

“You won’t say anything to him, will you?” said Janet.