brown jacket on either. I guess people call these tombs eggs. Anyway, one day, in God’s time of course, that tomb split open and out hopped yours truly.” That kept Joe quiet for a day or two. But one day when all the snow had melted and the ground was soft and there was a spring smell in the air,, Joe was heard to say again, “ I tell you it’s silly, this idea of being changed. Who can do a thing like that?” “ God can,” said a wee little voice, Joe looked down, and there poking up its pretty head was a, dainty spring flower. “ I was only a tiny brown seed, and to look at me you’d never have thought I’d amount to anything. But my skin got too tight for me and I felt all tingly inside. Then I gave a big breath and started to grow, and look at me. Of course, I couldn’t do that, but God could and did. So now I believe in change— yes siree.” “ Well, I wonder,” said Joe. “ Maybe Mom and Dad are not as silly as I thought. Maybe there is something to that idea that people will be changed when the Lord comes, as the Bible says.” Just then Joe noticed the cocoon in which the caterpillar had wrapped him self. It was shaking violently, as though there was a great struggle, going on in side. Then Joe saw one end open slightly. He was expecting the caterpillar to come out, but instead, a skinny thing with wet wings was struggling for all it was worth to get out. Joe yelled, “Just a minute, I’ll help you.” But a panicky voice cried, “ Don’t! Please don’t! You’ll spoil everything. This is something that only God can do. I’ll be all right—I’m in His hands.” Joe was about to say, “ That’s silly,” but he didn’t. If that wet, struggling thing could trust God when he was hav ing so much difficulty getting out of the cocoon, Joe guessed he’d keep his mouth closed. Finally the caterpillar—no, it wasn’t the caterpillar after all, it was a butter fly—Was out and the air was rapidly drying its wings, which were becoming gorgeous shades of green, blue, gold and other colors. Then before Joe’s very eyes, the beautiful creature unfolded its wings and started flying away, saying as it left, “ Goodby, Joe. No more crawling around on cabbage leaves for me—I’ve got wings!” “My, but that butterfly’s wings made a loud whirring sound,” thought Joe. But it wasn’t the butterfly’s wings at all! It was the family alarm clock. Mom often rewound it after she and Dad were up, and put it down by Joe’s bed so she wouldn’t have to come upstairs to awaken him. “ Boy, I guess I’ve been dreaming,” said Joe. “ And what a dream! Wonder what made me dream such a sill—” but he didn’t finish the word, because he got to thinking maybe it wasn’t so silly after a^- (Continued on Page 17) *Theresa Worman, Director of Chil dren’s Work, Radio Station WMBI, Chi cago, III. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
NOT SO SILLY By "Aunt Theresa"*
I T’S silly, absolutely ,silly, -this idea of the Lord Jesus coming back to earth and people being changed.” “ Says you! I don’t think it’s silly,” said a squeaky little voice. Joe nearly jumped out of his skin. He thought he was all alone. ■ / “Who said that?” “ I did.” Joe looked all around, but he saw no one. “ Look down here, boy, on the ground.” Joe glanced down, and there standing on its tail was a big green caterpillar, looking very important. It was just like the caterpillar Joe had found in front of the Taylors’ on his way to school, one Miss Thorndyke had put in a jar with a small branch. “ Look me in the eyes, boy, while I tell you a few things.” “You can’t tell me anything. You’re only an old caterpillar.” “ That’s what I am now, but I’m going to be changed one of these days, changed into something beautiful with shimmer ing wings.” “ That’s silly.” “ There you go again with that word ‘silly.’ Can’t you think of anything be side that to say? If I could show you that I really and truly will be changed, maybe you’d believe then that it’s possi ble for something as ugly as I am to become something beautiful. Would you?” “ Of course. But I’m from Missouri-^ you’ve got to show me.” “ O.K., take hold of my hand and walk along with me.” “ Silly, you don’t have a hand.” “ Stop using that word ‘silly.’ Take hold of one of those thorny places up near my shoulders where a hand would be if I had one.” Joe didn’t know quite how it happened, but all of a sudden he was about the size of the caterpillar, which was still stand ing on its tail. And away they walked together, the boy who would not believe what he couldn’t see with his eyes, and the green caterpillar. They walked until- they came to the woods on the edge of town. Joe was quite surprised when the caterpillar suggested that they climb one of the trees. They were both pretty tired by this time, and the caterpillar said he thought he’d take off his'top coat. Joe was shocked beyond words to see him get right out of his outer garment, but he didn’t look very different underneath.
After a while Joe heard him say, “ Guess I’ll take a little nap. Ho hum, I’m so sleepy.” Joe could scarcely be lieve it, but right there in front of him that caterpillar made himself a covering. He wound it ’round and ’round him until he had the nicest little bed you ever saw. Then he fastened it so securely to a small
how much it rained or snowed. Weeks and weeks passed and there sat doubting Joe on the limb of the tree, watching the caterpillar and saying over and over, “I told him it was silly, the silliest thing I ever heard, an old cater- jnllar being changed into a butterfly. Who could do that?” “ God could,” said a red-breasted robin who had just arrived from the South. “ I trusted God and He guided me through the sky to a warm land far from here. I’d never been there before, but God showed me the way. A God that guides us birds through the skies can do anything. I’m not too bad a fellow to look at, am I?” “ I should say not,” said Joe. “ You’re pretty grand looking with that red and brown jacket you have on.” “Well, listen to this, boy: I was in the darkest tomb of a place you ever saw, believe me. I didn’t have a red and
1 JUNIOR HIND 5 BUSINESS Martha S. Hooker Page Fourteen
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter