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J U N I O R K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
The California Adventure by Betty Bruechert
S Y N O P S I S
Eleven-year-old. Lollie and nine- year-old Kippy Rogers, whose mother, a widow, worked in an office to sup port them, had a wonderful surprise in the gift from an uncle who lived in California. He sent the round-trip fare for the children to travel to his California ranch-home for a month, to which their mother happily agreed. She suggested that they learn the traveller’s Psalm — the 121st — on the train; and that they witness faith fully by word and deed to these gen erous relatives who were not Chris tians. So the children had a mission to perform, as well as fun and ad venture to look forward to. It was hard for them to part with their pets, Lollie’s cat Snow-White and Kippy’s dog Prince, and even harder, when the time actually came, to say “good bye ” to their mother from whom they had never been parted before. They
surprised her by repeating the 121st Psalm even before they got on the train. They went to the station late in the evening and after a few words with the conductor and fond admoni tions to her children, Mrs. Rogers walked with them down the darkened aisle of the Pullman to their double berth, already made up by the porter, kissed them and returned to her lone ly little house where the dog and cat greeted her with licks and purrs, As she prayed for the safety of her chil dren, she asked the Lord to use them for His glory. Lollie and Kippy enjoyed their first night in the Pullman and their break fast in the dining car; ’then in the afternoon they made friends with a lady and her little children and were able to witness to them before they had to separate when Mrs. James got off at Cheyenne.
with a smile, “That reminds me of something the dining room steward told me to tell you children if I saw you. Remember you left a little folder on the table for the waiter?” “Yes,” answered Lollie, “a tract with some Scripture verses on it. Wasn’t that all right” she said anx iously. The tall man laughed. “Of course it was all right. In fact, it was so all right that the steward said all of the waiters would like one if you children could spare them.” At the sound of voices Kippy woke up, rubbed his eyes, and joined in the conversation. “I have a bunch of them in my case!” he said. “Fine!” said the conductor, “Take them when you go in for dinner — I think they have already had the
“TTTTow a r e y o u enjoying yourtriD?” -ICJl. asked a friendly voice. Lollie, trying to write a letter to her mother on the bumpy train, looked up into the face of the tall, gray-haired con ductor. Kippy was asleep on the op posite seat so Lollie was happy for company as the uniformed official sat down beside her. “Oh, I like it a lot!” replied Lollie, “But it is getting rather long.” “Well, you have one more night and in the morning you’ll be in Los Angeles. Your mother said you had never been to California and you’ll have a great time,” said the conduc tor cheerfully. “Yes,” said Lollie, “It’s the first time we ever rode on a train. We love sleeping and eating while we are moving.” “Oh, you do?” said the conductor
third call — and by the way, could you spare one for me too?” “Oh, sure!” said Lollie, reaching into her case for a brightly-colored, attractively - illustrated Gospel tract. “Are you a Christian?” she asked timidly. The conductor smiled broadly, “I certainly am, my dear. My three children go to Sunday school regular- ly but my hours keep me away from church at lot.” “I’d like to be a railroad man,” said Kippy, “especially an engineer.” T h e conductor laughed again. “Well, with diesel engines it isn’t the exciting job it used to be, and the hours are long. Now I must look after the new arrivals.” The steward was pleased with the tracts. As Lollie and Kippy selected their dinner from the menu, the wait-
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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