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By Lois McKinney
F RECKLE-FACED Jim was wish ing he hadn’t come to the Fourth of July parade. All he could see were the tall grown-ups in front, and though he .tried again and again to zig-zag past the crowd to the edge of the sidewalk, no' one would move even an inch to let him get through. Tears began to roll down his cheeks. How he wanted to see the soldiers march ing! “What’s wrong, Sonny?” asked the very tall man behind him. Jim wheel ed around, frantically wiping his eyes with the back of his ragged shirt sleeve. The big man smiled in friendly fashion. “ I didn’t mean to frighten you, young man,” he said. “ But I won dered if you would like a grandstand seat for the parade.” “ Boy! I sure would!” Jim exclaimed. “All right, then, here we go!” The man cupped his hands like a ladder for Jim to climb to his shoulders. Jim’s cheeks reddened. “ Oh, I’m too big for that,” he protested, drawing back. “ Of course, you’re not. About nine, aren’t you?” “Yeah, I’m b ig!” “ Here it comes!” shouted someone down the street. Without more ado, the tall stranger quickly hoisted Jim to the special “ grandstand” seat on his broad, strong shoulders. It wasn’t a second too soon, either. For here came the band, resplend ent in red and gold uniforms; then hundreds of soldiers marching, march ing, marching. The cavalry, mounted on prancing white, red and palomino horses, followed, after which came all the big tanks and jeeps. Jim’s eyes were shining. “ I wish it was Fourth of July every day!” he shouted. The parade was over all too soon for Jim. The big man lowered him from his perch, but kept hold of his arm. “Would your mother care if I got you some ice cream?” he asked. “ I don’t have a mother.” “Your father?” “ Oh, Dad doesn’t care. He lets me do anything I want. I’m not a baby!” Jim straightened up. “ Let’s go,” said the new friend,
and soon they were enjoying thick chocolate malts. “ Say, mister . . . ” “ Call me Mr. Tanner.” “ O.K., my name’s Jim. Say Mr. Tan ner, do you think I could be a soldier?” “Well,” pondered the man, “no, Jim, I’m afraid you couldn’t, at least not in the United States Army. You’re too young.” “ I know.” Jim took another long sip from his straw. “ They think be cause I’m not big, I’m not brave and strong, but I’m not scared of any thing.” “ I’m sure you are, Jim, and I have some good news for you. I know just the army for you, and it will take boys, no matter how young they are.” “What army is that?” asked Jim eagerly. “Well, I suppose you could call it the Christian army.” “ Christian army? They are just a bunch of sissies—Dad says.” There was silence for a few sec onds. Then Mr. Tanner said, “Jim, if a man dies for his country, would you call him a sissy?” “Why, of course not,” responded the boy. “ He’s a hero.” “Well, then, Jim, did you know that hundreds of people have been killed because they loved the Lord Jesus?” “ They have? Jesus must have been a wonderful man if people would die for Him.” Mr. Tanner was very serious. “Jesus was much more than a wonder ful man, Jim; He was God’s own Son, yet He loved us so much that He died upon a cruel cross for your sins and mine. Wouldn’t you like to be His soldier?” “ Yeah . . . but you’d have to be just about perfect to get in that army. I’m not good enough.” “ That’s right; you aren’t, Jim. But neither am I or anyone else. That is because we are all sinners. But Jesus can wash away your sins and make your heart as white as snow.”
“ Then could I be His soldier, Mr. Tanner?” “Yes, you could, Jim,” said his friend, with a smile. “ How can I do it?” Jim demanded. “ By letting Jesus come in. When you open your heart’s door . . . ” “ Oh, I see! When I open up my heart to Jesus, He comes in and cleans it up so I can be His soldier.” “ That’s right, Jim,” said Mr. Tan ner. “Wouldn’t you like to join His army right now?” Jim almost whispered his answer. “ Oh, yes!” The two bowed their heads while Jim asked the Lord Jesus to come into his heart and to make him a Christian soldier. Then Mr. Tanner said, “Jim, will you come to Sunday school with me next Sunday?” “ I sure will,” Jim promised, and ar rangements to meet were soon made. Sure enough on Sunday morning, among the boys and girls gathered for Sunday school sat Jim in the front row, his face scrubbed and shining, and he was singing “Onward, Chris tian Soldiers” with all of his heart. New K.Y.B.C. Members LOS ANGELES, California: Billie Burrows, Teddy Borvoski, Jo-Jo Bartlate, Frank Costa, Tommy Horn, Roney Horn, Earl Cox, Dale Lum, Carolyn Lum, Eve lyn Lum, Marilyn Lum, Danny Gosandes, Radiant Scu, Pearl Erckmeyer, Tyron Kemp, Elaine Ko, De- lores Burrows, Dena Gonzales, Fredie Gonzales, Bev erly Young, Danny Howe, Wayne Howe. (Mrs. Frances Cox, Leader.)
JUNIOR MINGS BUSINESS
Martha S. Hooker
Page Twenty-eight
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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