Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre
Teddy loves to tell the story of how his father heroically died on the battlefield and guards his button jealously. But this brings contention and strife when a new girl comes to town. Teddy begins to learn what it means to be a soldier under Christ, his Captain. Here is a story that will open a child's understanding of the spiritual battle within as Teddy learns that he is his own worst enemy. As a stubborn boy and girl refuse to back down from their selfish pride, one of the many lessons they learn is that they cannot win battles by force and hate, but by carrying the banner of love. Through this charming story, Amy Lefeuvre helps children to understand the spiritual battle that rages in their soul, and that parents and children are on the same side.
Teddy loves to tell the story of how his father heroically died on the battlefield and guards his button jealously. But this brings contention and strife when a new girl comes to town. Teddy begins to learn what it means to be a soldier under Christ, his Captain. Here is a story that will open a child's understanding of the spiritual battle within as Teddy learns that he is his own worst enemy. As a stubborn boy and girl refuse to back down from their selfish pride, one of the many lessons they learn is that they cannot win battles by force and hate, but by carrying the banner of love. Through this charming story, Amy Lefeuvre helps children to understand the spiritual battle that rages in their soul, and that parents and children are on the same side.
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A Recruiting Sergeant<br />
It was Sunday morning. Along a sweet-scented lane, with shady<br />
limes overhead and honeysuckle and wild roses growing in profusion<br />
on the hedges at each side, walked <strong>Teddy's</strong> mother, holding her little son<br />
tightly <strong>by</strong> the hand. The bells of the village church were ringing out for<br />
the service, and groups of two and three were passing in at the old lych<br />
gate. Mrs. John was talking in her sweet clear voice to her boy, and he,<br />
letting his restless blue eyes rove to and fro, noting every bird on the<br />
hedges and every flower in the path, kept bringing them back to his<br />
mother's face with a dreamy upward gaze. 'I will try, mother, I really<br />
will. I will keep my hands tight in my pockets, and my feet close<br />
together; I will pretend I'm going to be shot <strong>by</strong> a file of soldiers, and<br />
then I really think that will help me not to fidget. I promise you I'll be<br />
good to-day.’<br />
And having received this protestation from him, Mrs. John passed<br />
into church with a relieved mind. <strong>Teddy's</strong> restless little body was a sore<br />
trial to any one who sat next him in church, and many were the lectures<br />
that had been bestowed on him <strong>by</strong> Sunday-school teacher and pastor,<br />
besides the gentle admonitions of his mother.<br />
As Teddy quietly perched himself on the seat beside his mother,<br />
he murmured to himself, 'Twenty soldiers in front of me, twenty rifles<br />
pointing—I shall stand like a rock—I'll set my teeth, and I shan't even<br />
blink my eyes. Now I see the officer coming—he's going to say,<br />
"Present!" I'm not moving a muscle. Five minutes more they'll give me<br />
—‘<br />
His active brain here received a check. There on the opposite side,<br />
facing him, was Nancy, seated between her mother and old Sol. She was<br />
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