Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre

Matter-of-fact Nancy sees with surprise that Teddy's eyes are
filling with tears at the thought.
He went on softly, 'I think He takes me up in His arms then,
because I'm very tired, and He carries me into the most beautiful garden
you ever saw in your life, and He takes me to father, who is waiting
there.'
'Tell me what the garden's like.'
Teddy does not speak; he is full of the meeting with his father, and
Nancy waits a little impatiently.
'The garden is lovely,' he said at last, drawing in a breath of delight
at the thought. 'It's always sunny and warm, the grass is very soft and
green, and there's every flower in the world all bunched up together.
The seats are made of roses, and if you want to go to sleep, the pillows
are made up of violets; there's a beautiful river, and trees full of apples
and oranges, and plums and pears; the banks are red—they're made of
strawberries.'
'Oh,' gasped Nancy, 'how lovely!’
'There are summer-houses, and little white boats to row on the
river, and gold harps hanging up on the trees; and then I think, I hope,
there are lots of dogs running about, and then you can ride all day on
lions, and tigers, and bears, and they won't bite you, but lick your
hands.'
'Go on. What else?'
'Then we stand up and sing hymns when my Captain comes by,
and we play on the harps, and blow the trumpets as much as ever we
like. I think my Captain sometimes comes and sits down and talks to us
and tells us stories.'
There was silence; then Nancy said, 'Is that all?'
'That's enough for you,' said Teddy, a little condescendingly. 'I
think and make believe a lot more.'
70 of 95