Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre

oom, "Don't touch that, Teddy," as I was waiting for mother to come to
church with me, and I went up and looked at it. Ipse said to me, "Just put
one finger in it." And I had to fight him very hard over that, but I ran
away out of the room.'
'And do you always fight him hard?'
'No; I often forget till it's too late. Mother said I must ask my
Captain to make me remember. I do ask Him a lot to help me.'
'I don't think I like that sort of fighting.'
'Nancy, I wish you'd give yourself to God as His soldier.’
Teddy turned round earnestly as he spoke.
'I think,' said Nancy slowly, 'I like to be naughty best.' Then she
added, with quick change of tone, 'My father is coming home soon, and
he'll come to see us here. Then you'll see what a grand sailor he is. He is
much grander than your father was.'
'My father was an officer,' said Teddy proudly.
'So's my father; he is a first-class petty officer'; and Nancy brought
out the words slowly and with much emphasis.
'My father was a non-commissioned officer,' said Teddy,
determining not to be beaten; 'he was a full sergeant.'
'My father gives orders to all the sailors, and they have to do what
he tells them.'
'So did my father, and he led the soldiers through a battle.'
'My father will fight in twenty battles before he dies, and yours
only fought in one.'
'My father is in heaven, and that's the grandest place to be in.'
Coming to this climax was too much for Nancy, and the thoughts
of that place of which they had been having so much talk subdued their
rising ire.
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