THE i, boys and girls! Well, here we are again. It’s time - once more for us to gather around our campfire while we read another wonderful story out of that good, old Book, the Bible. My, oh, my, I can hardly wait. This one is found in Matthew, the 18th chapter, verses 11 to 14. This portion of Scripture tells us that Jesus really loves children. Of course, He loves everybody, but this story tells us especially how much He loves children. He is not willing that even one boy or girl should go astray. That’s why He told us this story about the sheep. You know what? Speaking of boys and girls going astray and being lost brings to my mind something that hap pened when I was out on the western plains. It was late in the spring, and it looked as if it might rain. That time of the year rain can turn to snow without much trouble. Grass was beginning to green-up everywhere. Once in a while a wild flower could be seen peeking out from behind a bunch of grass. I had spent the winter on one of the big ranches down in southern Texas, and I was on my way up into what is known as the panhandle. My horse was getting tired - and so.was I. I’d been through that country a couple of years before. I recalled that I had stayed at a ranch on Owl Creek and that the folks were really fine and had asked me to stop by again anytime. With that thought in mind I urged my horse, Deerfoot, into a trot telling him that if he hurried we’d soon be through for the day. How little I realized at the time what a long and hard night was ahead of me! Although Deerfoot kept up his trot and once in a while broke into a gallop, it was after dark when we got to the ranch. I surely was glad. For the last hour or two I’d been thinking of the nice dinner that I was going to have soon as we got there. I knew Deerfoot would enjoy being tied to a manger full of fine hay, as well as the shelter of a bam, especially if it stormed. Already a cold rain was beginning to fall. That ranch was one of several that belonged to the Rio Grande Cattle Company. Their Home Ranch was about 50 miles away and was called the Hub because it was located in the center of their ranch and was like the hub of a wheel. The other ranches sort of sur rounded the Hub. I guess that was why the whole outfit was known as the Wagonwheel. Well you know, I no more than rode up the side of the barn and got off my horse than a woman came running out of the house. Not far behind her were three small children. I couldn’t imagine what was wrong, but I was pretty sure that something was. “ Oh,” she said, all excited, “ am I ever glad to see you.” By then her children crowded close to her side and looked at me curiously through the darkness. It was evident they were not used to strangers. But she recognized me, and that put a note of hope into her voice as she continued. “Why, you’re Mr. Texas. I remember when you stopped here before. What an answer to prayer to have you come back at this time.” “What’s the trouble, and what can I do to help?” “ It’s my little Annie,” she cried. “ She’s gone. Disap peared.” “ Disappeared? What do you mean?” I questioned. “Well, this afternoon, late, I let her go to the upper THE KING'S BUSINESS
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