Chapter 7
The Mysterious Surprise
Friday was to be a big event at the Barton residence. The girls and Aunt Sarah had worked energetically getting everything in readiness around the house. Ben and the boys had endeavored to catch up the farm chores so that Ben could visit with their expected guests when they arrived.
There was peace and happiness on the farm since Ben and Sarah had been saved. Ben had humbly apologized for being so hateful to the children, and he had made special effort to show kindness to them since coming home from his visit with Uncle Jack.
The days seemed to pass slowly, but Friday morn dawned at last. Everyone in the Barton household was up early getting the/morning chores behind them.
"What time is the man in black coming?" asked Sue.
Sarah smiled. "Let's just call him 'Uncle Jack,' Sue, " she said. "He didn't specify what time he was coming but I feel sure it will be early."
About ten, they heard his T-Model Ford coming down the road. It was stirring up a thick cloud of dust as it came. Sarah and Ben walked to the front yard gate to meet them, but the children hung behind, timidly, not really knowing what to expect. The car stopped and Uncle Jack got out. Going around the car, he opened the door on the other side, and Aunt Mae and Bessie got out.
"That lady looks just like Aunt Sarah," exclaimed Katie.
"I wonder if they're twins." Sue was in agreement with Katie.
"If Aunt Sarah's hair was long like the lady's, they would look just like twins," Katie added.
Sarah had opened the yard gate and embraced each one, followed by Ben who heartily greeted each one.
Looking back toward the house, Sarah called, "Come here, children. Meet my folks."
The children timidly walked toward them for the introductions.
"Where have I seen these children before?" Uncle Jack looked perplexed.
"Oh, you came when Mamma died and we had to put her in a big hole," Mary piped.
"Oh yes, you're the Reid children," he acknowledged. "Reid? Jim Reid!" He turned and gave his wife a look of inquiry.
"Can it be?" she asked in astonishment.
"What are you two puzzling over?" asked Sarah.
"These children! We are fairly sure we know a secret about them," Uncle Jack replied.
"A secret about these children?" Sarah could not hide her surprise.
“Yes, but let's wait until later to discuss it," suggested Aunt Mae. "Right now we're anxious to visit and to see your farm. Hey look, Bess," she changed the subject," see the little chicks over by the fence. Aren't they cute?"
They were soon wandering all about the farm seeing the new calves, exclaiming over the new colt, inspecting the fence that the boys had helped Ben build, jumping as a mother quail flew up almost in Bessie's face, watching the large white goose taking her goslings down to the water pond, and hunting for hen eggs in the nests in the chicken house.
"I simply love it here, Sarah," Bessie exclaimed. “Every thing looks so peaceful."
"We're thankful for our farm, Bess, but it really wasn't too peaceful until the Prince of Peace came to live within our hearts." Sarah smiled at her sister.
"Come, Bessie, and I will show you the baby kittens," Mary told her.
Bessie reached down and clasped her little hand in hers. "Let's go, Mary. I love baby kittens."
All morning, the suspense as to Uncle Jack's secret about the children, was uppermost in the minds of everyone of the Barton household. What did Uncle Jack know? What kind of secret was he keeping from them? They were anxiously waiting for him to reveal it.
After the noon meal, Sarah dismissed the children so she and Ben could visit with their guests. As they settled down in the living room, Sarah could wait no longer. "Uncle Jack, I can't stand this suspense any longer," she said. "What do you know about the children?"
Uncle Jack dropped his eyes from her earnest gaze. "You and Ben love them very dearly, don't you?"
"Oh yes," she answered without hesitation, "They're almost as if they were our very own. It's so wonderful that Ben found them, for it appears to me that no one wants them. It must have been God watching over them in answer to their dead mother's prayers." Looking at Uncle Jack with tears in her eyes, she added, "Ben and I could not have children of our own, and these have brought joy into our home as nothing else in the world could, except salvation. "
"The boys are really a help to me," added Ben. "One can hardly believe Jimmie is only fourteen, the way that child works. And Jacky is no slouch himself. I was thinking of selling this old farm until they came along. With my failing health, I had come to the place where I couldn't keep it up, but now it's different. These boys have really taken a load off me. And they've never complained once. It's amazing."
Uncle Jack stood to his feet and walked over to the window. With his back toward them, he asked, "What about their daddy? Does he have any claims on them?"
"Why--uh--why, their daddy doesn't want them. He left them to starve." Sarah exclaimed. "Besides it's been almost a year since he left them and he hasn't contacted them once."
"Perhaps he doesn't know where to find them," Uncle Jack said quietly.
"Well, maybe he doesn't but it appears to me--" Sarah stopped as if something had just dawned on her. "Say, Uncle Jack, do you know anything about their daddy?"
Uncle Jack turned to face them while Aunt Mae twisted her handkerchief nervously.
"Jim Reid, the children's daddy, is a member of my church."
Sarah and Ben gasped. Slapping her hand over her mouth in unbelief, she exclaimed, "A member of your church? Are you sure it's the same man?"
"Yes, Sarah, I'm positive."
"But from what we have gathered from the children, he's a drunkard. He hardly ever stayed home and was a poor provider for his family. The children have expressed over and over how thankful they are for food--said they were always hungry when they lived at home."
"You're right, Sarah. Jim was a habitual drunkard and a poor provider, but he has changed. He's a wonderful Christian man now and has been praying night and day for God to help him find his children."
"If he's that concerned, Uncle Jack, why hasn't he made a search for them?" Sarah asked, still somewhat skeptical.
"He has made an extensive search, Sarah, but remember this place is over twenty miles from their little cabin. He asked around at all the neighbors and the only clue he got at all was that the Simmons' boy saw them going down the road one afternoon. From what Jim could figure, it was about the time he left. Sarah," he walked over and laid his hand on her shoulder, "if you only knew Jim now and could see how in earnest he is, you'd feel differently. That dear man prays by the hour about his children. He told me a week or so ago that he felt God had taken the situation in hand. He has a house rented and is believing God to work a miracle in his behalf to help him find his children."
"Sarah," Ben said humbly, "there's no wonder I've felt prayer as I have. Not only has Jack, Mae, and Bessie been praying, but the children's daddy as well. God had to get to our hearts to get us in touch with Jack, so He could answer Jim's prayers. We have no alternative, Sarah, but to let Jim have the children. They're his and God has indeed worked a miracle to get him in touch with them." He put his arms about Sarah who was weeping quietly.
"But how can I give them up?" she cried brokenly, "It will be like tearing my heart out by the roots."
"God will give you grace and strength, Sarah," Uncle Jack comforted her. "He will work everything out for His glory and honor. Let us pray just now and thank Him for answering Jim's prayers, and ask Him to reach underneath you and Ben with His everlasting arms of mercy to sustain and help you."
They fell on their knees and God met with them, melting their hearts and helping Sarah and Ben to put the precious children into the hands of God.
"May God's will be done," Sarah cried brokenly. "Though it seems it will kill me to give them up, I can truly say I'm thankful that God hea
rd Jim's prayers. How he must have suffered this past year."
The children were called in and Uncle Jack related to them what he had told Ben and Sarah.
"But we don't want to leave here," Mary sobbed.
"We love Aunt Sarah and Uncle Ben," Katie added.
"They're so good to us," Sue said, "And give us plenty to eat and Aunt Sarah makes us dresses and--"
"Now, now, girls." Sarah arose and gathered the three of them in her arms. "Your daddy's changed now," she told them. "He will make you a good home with plenty to eat and--and--now, Mary, maybe you will be able to go to school as you've longed to do for so long."
"Do you really mean it, Aunt Sarah?" Mary smiled through her tears. "When will Daddy come?"
"He's off from work on Saturdays," Uncle Jack told them. "If it's all right, I'll bring him out tomorrow. Oh, how thrilled he will be!"
That night after all were in bed, Ben called Sarah's name softly.
"Yes, Ben."
"What do you think of me selling the farm to Silas? He's offered to buy it before and I feel sure he still wants it." .
"But Ben, you love our little farm. You wouldn't be satisfied anywhere else."
"But I can't keep it up by myself after the boys leave. You know I'm not in the best of health anymore."
"But where would we move to, Ben?"
"I want to move to Batesville so we can attend Jack's church and be near the children."
"Oh, Ben, do you mean it?" she exclaimed joyfully.
"Sh-h-h, Sarah, these walls are thin. You might wake up the children."
"You said that once before, Ben," she whispered.
"Yes, I know. I didn't want you to talk to me about your newfound joy. But I'm so glad tonight that I have that same joy and peace within. Sarah, God is not going to let us down. He has control of our lives. Everything will work out for the good of all concerned."
"I believe it, Ben."
Once again Saturday morning, everyone was out of bed early, hurrying through breakfast and early morning chores. When all was in readiness, they gathered in the living room to watch and wait. Sadness was intermingled with eager anticipation.
"Uncle Ben," Jacky looked up into his face earnestly, "how will you make it without Jimmie and me here to help you?"
"Yes, Uncle Ben, I've been thinking the same thing," Jimmie echoed Jacky's sentiments. "Maybe Daddy will let me come back and help once in a while."
"We're selling the farm, Children." Uncle Ben said softly.
"Oh no," they cried.
"We feel it best, Children."
"But what will happen to old Bossy and her new calf, and Rock--and the pony--and you and Aunt Sarah?" asked Katie.
Sarah and Ben smiled at each other. "All the animals will stay with the farm, Katie, and will be well taken care of. As for me and Sarah, we plan to move to Batesville as soon as we can find a place," Ben answered her question.
"Will you live by my--my daddy?" Mary asked shyly.
"Probably somewhere near by," Sarah answered. "We will attend the same church you do."
"That's great," exclaimed Katie. All were smiling now.
"Here they come," shouted Jimmie who was standing by the window watching. Pushing open the door, they rushed out, knocking Mary down in the excitement. But she was back on her feet in a jiffy and watched the Model T slow to a halt. Uncle Jack got out on the driver's side while Daddy got out on the other side. My, what a different looking daddy, with his nice hair-cut, clean shave, and neatly pressed trousers. The children would hardly have recognized him had they not been told that it was he who was coming.
When Mary saw him, she lost all her timidity and ran to meet him. He picked her up in his arms, and with tears streaming down his cheeks, he praised God for answered prayer. When the others noticed the drastic change, they, too, followed Mary in greeting their daddy.
"Is this my boy, Jimmie?" he grabbed him in his arms. Jimmie, not being used to his daddy's affection, drew back. Jim understood and let him go. "God bless you, Son, and you, Jacky." He was attempting to embrace them for the first time in his life, except for the one time he had shown affection for Mary under the oak tree.
"Oh thanks be to God for His abundant mercy," Jim said, laughing and crying at the same time. "I'm so unworthy--so unworthy."
Looking at Sue through his tears, he exclaimed, "Sue, how you have grown. Those little cheeks look like rose buds. And look at those little plump arms. I can hardly believe you're my little Sue. And this is my Katie. Bless your hearts. I'm overjoyed. "
Sarah, too, was crying as she held out her hand to Jim. Ben followed and could not help but embrace the father of the children he loved so dearly.
Jim spoke to them in broken tones, "Rev. Delaney has told me the whole story. I don't have words to express my appreciation for what you two have done for my children. How can I ever repay you? You folks have been so good to me and to my family. Oh, may I never fail again."
Sarah invited them into the house.
"Let us get on our knees before we do another thing and thank God for all He has done," Uncle Jack suggested.
As they prayed, the Spirit dealt with Katie's heart and she slipped over to Aunt Sarah and whispered, "I want to be a Christian, too."
Sarah whispered, "Just tell Jesus you want Him to save you. Ask Him to forgive all your sins and give you peace within."
She prayed earnestly with Aunt Sarah's help, sobbing out her heart to God, and when they arose from their knees, Katie had found the peace she sought. She slipped over to Sue and testified of her
new found joy.
"I want to get saved, too," Sue told her.
Again, Katie approached Aunt Sarah. "Sue wants to get saved, too, Aunt Sarah."
When Sarah could get the attention of the others, she said, "Katie was saved while we were praying. Now Sue wants to get saved, too. Shall we pray for her, too?"
Uncle Jack looked at Mary, "How about you, Mary?"
"Oh, I'm already saved, Uncle Jack."
"Wonderful, Mary. How about you, Jacky? And you, Jimmie?"
They nodded in the affirmative so once again they approached the throne of grace. Soon, all the children had wept their way through to God. What a time of rejoicing they had!