JUNIOR KING'S BUSINESS
California
Train
Eleven-year-old. Lollie and nine- year-old Kippy Rogers, whose moth er, a widow, worked in an office to support them, had a wonderful sur prise 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 they learn the traveller’s Psalm — the 121st on the train; and that they witness faithfully by word and deed to these generous relatives who were not Christians. So the children had a mission to perform, as well as fun and adventure, 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 “ Goodbye” to their mother from whom they had never been part ed before. They surprised her by re peating the Psalm to her; they had not waited until they got on the 'J; train to memorize it. They went to the station late in the evening and, after a few words with the conductor and fond admonitions 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 re turned to her lonely little house where the dog and cat greeted her with licks and purrs. As she prayed for the safety of her children, she also asked the Lord to use them for His glory.
by Betty Bruechert
L o l l ie w h is p e r e d , “ Are you nearly ready for bed?” “ Yep,” replied Kippy, ||| even brushed my teeth — just have to put on my pjs!” “ Me too,” said Lollie, “ I even put up my hair under this scarf. My washroom is much closer than yours!” she pointed out. A little ladder stood beside the berth. “ I don’t need that to climb up to that upper berth!” Kippy said scornfully. Just then the smiling por ter came along and heard him. “ Just tonight, son,” he said, “ Tomorrow morning you can jump down if you want to.” When the children were settled in their beds, Kippy leaned out and whispered, “What’s this lit tle hammock for? It’s too little for me!” Lollie laughed out loud, then clapped her hand over her mouth. Other people were trying to sleep. “ Silly, it’s for your shoes or socks or whatever!” In a short time Kippy’s snores indicated that he was asleep, but Lollie lay awake a while, think ing of her mother’s kindness, and all she did to make them happy. She
wondered what her cousins Alice and Jimmy would be like, for she had not seen them since they were very small. They were almost the same age as she and Kippy, only the boy was older and the girl younger. “ I do hope Jimmy won’t think Kippy too young for him to play with,” she worried, but soon the swaying of the train soothed her weary little mind and body to rest and she slept. What a strange awakening that was next morning — on a moving train! Kippy dressed in a jiffy and jumped to the floor, but in the washroom he felt lost and uncomfortable among all the men who were shaving, smok ing and talking so loud. When he got back to the berth, Lollie was dressed and sitting on the edge of her bed, removing her curlers. “The washroom was so crowded I thought I’d fix my hair right here,” she said. “ Kinda hard with people going by, isn’t it?” asked Kippy, “ Boy, I’m glad I’m not a girl! When can we eat breakfast?” “Just as soon as we’re ready. I heard
the man calling ‘First call to break fast!’ ” replied Lollie, “ There! Do I look all right?” “ Sure, let’s hurry,” and the two children hurried to the diner. What a thrill that was, with the big black waiter in the white coat smiling so pleasantly at them, and seating them at the table covered with a snowy cloth! Very ceremoniously he handed the pad and pencil to Kippy. Although the children had been advised of these details in ad vance, it was quite startling to Kippy to be treated so much like a man. “You do it!” he said to Lollie, who was quite accustomed to having re sponsibilities thrust upon her, “ be cause you are older, you know.” But she refused. “No! He gave it to you!” and she became very grown-up as she consulted the menu. “ I’ll take the Special No. 3,” she decided, “ Hey!” Kippy objected, “That’s $2.00!” Lollie was nonplussed. “I didn’t notice, make it No. 1,” she said, “ and I want pineapple juice.” “ Oh, that’s a
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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