303
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
August, 1939
Junior King's Business By Martha S. Hooker
MICKEY’S FIRST CAMP By. J anet W heeler
M ICHAEL (“Mickey”) O’Brien came bounding up the steps and d i s a p p e a r e d noisily books on the table he rushed into the spotless kitchen from which came the delicious fragrance of fresh ginger- bread.. - Glancing around the room, he helped himself to a large piece of gingerbread which had been left cooling on the table, and at the same time called ex citedly, “Mother, where are you?” “Here, Mickey, my boy, on the sun porch.” ■“Mother, please say I can go. I can, can’t I, Mother? It will be such fun, and we’re going tomorrow.” "Hold on a minute—not so fast! You’ll have to begin at the beginning now and explain.” “Well, Mother, do you remember Mr. Oberlin, Paddy’s Sunday-school teacher at Seaside Chapel? I saw him on my way home from school today; and he asked me if I wouldn’t like to go to Seaside Chapel Boys’ Camp. I told him I would because all the other fellows were talking about it, and getting ready to go. Mr. Oberlin said if it was all right with you, for me to meet him at the Chapel tomorrow morning at seven- thirty. Please, Mother, say ‘Yes.’ I’ve never gone to anything like this, and all the other fellows say it’s great. Just think—a whole week!” “Mr. Oberlin was here this morning, Mickey. I think it will do you good to be in the mountains for a vacation, so I told him you could go.” "Oh, thank you, thank you, Mother.” Jumping up, Mickey threw his arms around his mother’s neck and kissed her. “Now listen to me, Mickey. Before any camp comes work. So out with you and mow the lawn.” Whistling lustily, Mickey left the room, his mind full of thoughts of the camp. Passing the kitchen table, he took another piece of gingerbread, and left the house, slamming the door behind him. While eating his supper that night, Mickey could talk of nothing but camp. “I wonder where we’ll sleep and eatt. What will the woods be like ? What will we do all the time?” These and a con stant stream of other questions poured forth. Bedtime came, and Mickey went to bed only to dream that he was al ready at camp.
After about four hours of traveling, the scrub oaks and dwarf pines began to appear, With every bend in the road the feeling of excitement and anticipa tion rose higher and higher. One of the boys called out, “This is the last curve; in just a minute we’ll see the lake.” And sure enough, there was Sky Lake, perfectly representing its name, for truly it was just like a piece of blue sky. Then for some time the lake was lost to view as the road wound back into the woods. Before long, however, the road turned, and once again they drove beside the lake for about two miles, By this time, most of the windows of the bus were occupied with many happy faces excitedly watching for the first glimpse of the camp. Soon the buildings began to appear—the mess hall, cabins, and the auditorium. As the busses came to a stop, the boys poured out. Mickey looked with wonder at the great trees, camp buildings, streams, and the lake. Never before had he been in such a strange and beautiful place as this one. It was so large it almost frightened him. From somewhere a bugle sounded. Hearing running feet, Mickey turned to see Paddy running toward him. “.Come on, Mickey, I’ll race you to the mess hall.” Breathlessly and at the same time they bounded in. As the clatter of dishes finally began to cease, Mr. Oberlin took his place in the center of the room. “First of all this noon we want to introduce those who are with us for the first time. Will those boys please stand?” Mickey stood with others and felt very important. ’ Later, the boys spent an hour in their cabins resting, and then for the re mainder of the afternoon they hiked, swam, rode horseback, and went boat ing. At seven-thirty that evening the boys gathered in the auditorium where for fifteen minutes they sang heartily as only a group of boys can sing. The song service closed with a favorite selection, “I ’m So Glad I ’m Acquainted With Jesus.” Mickey wondered what that meant, “acquainted with Jesus.” But his thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Ober- lin’s voice saying, “For a little while tonight, I want to talk with you about ‘Friends.’ ” Then for a half-hour they thought together about “friends”—those
Bright and early the next morning he awoke, dressed quietly and slipped down stairs and out the door. There on the step was his bed roll which he gave a pat, then looked at the sky. Not a cloud, and clear as a bell—a perfect day! * By this time Mrs. O’Brien was pre paring breakfast, and soon the smell of bacon reached Mickey and he realized he was hungry. Breakfast finished, he looked at the clock." “It’s seven o’clock,"Mother. 1 must' go this minute. Good-by.” ' “Good-by, Mickey, have a good time. And remember—you’re an O’Brien.” Swinging his bed roll oyer his shoul der, this happy ten-year-old Irish boy disappeared down the street, whistling as usual. ' Near the chapel, he heard the clam or. of many excited voices as some' fifty or more small boys waited im patiently for the signal to get in ‘the buses. Excitedly, Mickey hurried toward the group and was greeted by Mr. Oberlin and Paddy. Suddenly a shrill whistle brought silence to the group, and Mr. Oberlin stepped to the center of the group. "Let’s bow our heads for a word of prayer before we start, shall we?” he said. So with bowed heads they asked the Lord Jesus for guidance and pro tection and a wonderful week at camp. Once again the whistle sounded and the group of campers-to-be scrambled on board. The two large busses were soon speeding along the highway.
through the front door. Throwing his
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter