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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'That may be. I would only ask you to watch a boy, as I have, from<br />
the start, and see what kind of a man he grows into after having spent<br />
most of his early youth in the Service. There are exceptions, I know, but<br />
precious few, as far as my experience goes.'<br />
Teddy did not understand this conversation, but he gathered from<br />
the major's tone that he did not approve of him.<br />
'Do you think I'm too small to be a soldier?' he asked.<br />
The major laughed. 'Don't bother your head about your size,' he<br />
said; 'you'll grow, and there's plenty of time before you.'<br />
'I don't want to be a drummer,' said Teddy earnestly; 'I'd rather<br />
wait and be a proper soldier—a soldier that fights.'<br />
'A capital decision—stick to it, little chap, and you have my hearty<br />
approval.'<br />
'You have your father's blood in your veins,' said the colonel,<br />
laughing; 'meanwhile, I suppose you try your hand on the village boys,<br />
to content your fighting propensities.'<br />
'No,' said Teddy, a grave look coming into his sunny blue eyes. 'I<br />
don't fight with anybody but Ipse now; he keeps me always busy.'<br />
'Who is Ipse?' asked Mrs. Graham.<br />
'He's my own enemy; Mr. Upton told me about him. You see, I<br />
belong to God's army. He takes very little soldiers. I've been enlisted for<br />
months and months, and Ipse is just another part of me—the bad part!'<br />
There was silence on the little company for a minute, then Major<br />
Tracy said with a laugh, 'What an original little oddity it is!—quite a<br />
character!'<br />
And then Teddy was dismissed. He flew down the avenue home as<br />
fast as he could go. Snow was falling, but he heeded it not, and burst<br />
into the kitchen a little later in a breathless state of excitement.<br />
His mother knew already, so was prepared for his news, but she<br />
was not prepared for the handsome adornment now on her boy's coat,<br />
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