Chapter 9
The Birthday Party
Time seems to pass swiftly when all is going well and everyone is happy, therefore a year soon flew by. The girls had been enrolled in school, but Jimmie and Jacky had begged Daddy to let them get a job instead of enrolling in school. They were embarrassed because they were so much older than their classmates. Jim again felt keenly his past failures in not seeing that his children were properly educated, but he could not help but be sympathetic with his sons. He sought out Uncle Jack for council and was advised to consider a tutor coming to their house to teach them. They could just pick up where they had left off in school if they decided to follow that course. Jim thought that would be the solution.
The girls were overjoyed in being able to attend school in spite of the disadvantages. Katie had attended school part-time while Mamma was living, therefore, she was soon adjusted, but Mary and Sue had never attended. Upon learning of the situation their teacher was very kind and understanding and spent extra time with them. She explained to their classmates that they had lived in a rural area and had not had the opportunity to attend school regularly. Their classmates, as a whole, were kind and made them feel welcome. The girls learned eagerly and quickly, and with the extra tutoring from their teacher, they did amazingly well in school.
With Daddy's help, Katie was soon reading portions of the Bible. They thanked God daily for bringing them together again and allowing them such wonderful opportunities.
One day Katie asked Daddy about their cousin, Alice. "Do you know where she is, Daddy?"
"I'm sorry to say, Katie, but I don't know. I haven't heard from her in quite a while. I ran into her husband once at the--uh--I ran into John in town once, but that's been possibly two years ago. I've been praying for her and John. I trust we can find them one of these days. Dear Alice! We're all the family she has. We need each other."
Bessie came every day to clean house, wash, iron, and do the other household chores. The girls were lots of help when at home, but they were in school most of the day and had home-work to do after they came home in the afternoons.
Bessie enjoyed her work and, like Sarah, she became very attached to the children, and they to her.
"You are so much like Aunt Sarah," Mary told her. "When will Aunt Sarah and Uncle Ben move into Batesville? I miss them terribly," Mary said tearfully. "Except for coming to church a time or two, they have come to see us only once or twice since we moved."
"It won't be long now, Mary. They finally sold the farm. It took a long time because Mr. Silas had to raise the money. But now that it's sold, they'll move just as soon as they can find a place here. Uncle Jack is helping to look out for a house."
There was someone else the children were very fond of, and that was Alton. He visited Jim and the children often and expressed his love for them in various ways. The children felt indebted to him for helping their daddy.
"How about going to church with us, Alton?" Sue approached him one day.
"Someday I will go with you, Sue, but not soon. Thanks for inviting me." He smiled down at her.
"I appreciate your concern, Sue," Daddy told her later. "Keep praying for Alton and invite him once in a while, but don't pester him."
"But Daddy, if Alton should die, he'd go to that bad place called 'hell'. I remember Mamma telling us about it just before she died, and Daddy, 'I can't bear to think of Alton going to that awful place."
"You said Mamma told you about hell?" The expression on Daddy's face changed to sadness. "What made her speak of hell?"
Jimmie, overhearing the conversation, came into the room and seated himself on a chair near the window.
"She said her grandmother was a Christian and she took her to Sunday School," explained Sue. "In Sunday School she learned about hell and she said she was scared to die and go there."
"Poor Mamma!" Daddy took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes and blew his nose. "Guess she didn't have a chance. If only someone could have won her to Christ before she passed away. I don't like to think of it because it torments me when I get it on my mind. My dear Lola, if only she could have been saved."
"But, Daddy, she was saved," Jimmie and Sue replied in unison.
"What? You can't mean it. Tell me about it. Oh, can it possibly be true? Tell me quickly, children."
Together Jimmie and Sue related the testimony of their dying mother. Jim was overjoyed at the news of his dear wife's conversion.
"And Daddy," Jimmie looked directly at his Daddy, "Mamma left a message for you which I've never told you. I thought I never would because I didn't want you to blame Mamma for anything, but things are different now."
"Mamma left a message for me, Son? What was it? I'm very anxious to know."
"Yes, Daddy. She said, 'Jimmie, if I don't make it 'til Daddy comes, tell him I'm sorry for my part in making our lives together so miserable."
"Did she say that after the terrible way I lived?" He bit his lower lip and his eyes filled with tears.
"Yes, Daddy, those were her last words."
"My dear Lola, you died with a forgiving heart. It's too wonderful to be true," Jim said with a far-away look in his eyes. Then smiling through his tears, he exclaimed joyfully, "Children, Mamma is waiting for us in Heaven. Praise the Lord! We have a goal to work toward now, more than ever. We can't afford to miss Heaven."
"Mamma said she asked God to save all of us so we could meet her in Heaven," Sue told him. "It must have been her prayers that caused us to get saved."
"No doubt it was, Sue. Bless her memory. I am so happy to know that we will be reunited some day. I trust that somehow she knows her prayers have been answered and that I'm living for God and am trying to make a decent home for you children now. Maybe somehow, Jesus will let her know," he said wistfully.
Later, after all had retired for the night, Jim slipped out of bed and got on his knees. "How excellent is thy loving kindness, oh God," he quoted from the Psalms, "Surely thy mercy endureth forever."
One morning, some months later, Daddy found Mary up earlier than usual. "And what is my fair lassie doing up so early this morning?" he asked wonderingly. "You could have slept thirty minutes longer."
"I want to ask a favor of you, Daddy."
"And what kind of favor do you want to ask of me, my little girl?"
"May I have a birthday party? My friend, Ruby, at school, said her mother let her have one. She invited her friends, and had a cake, and played games, and had a great time. We could invite our friends. There's Aunt Mae, Uncle Jack, Bessie and Alton. Also, Bessie told me that Aunt Sarah and Uncle Ben have found a house and will be moving into Batesville right away. They are our friends, so they could come, too. And Alton's sister, Rachal, has moved back home. She can be our new friend. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Greene can come. Bessie can bake a cake and we can sing and pray. Maybe it will help Alton. We can't get him to go to church?"
"Mary, you make it sound interesting. If you want a party so that we can have a little church service to try to help Alton, how can I refuse you? You go ahead and talk to Bessie about it and if she's agreed, then you have my permission. If Bessie is willing to bake a cake, then I'll certainly be willing to help eat it." There was a mysterious twinkle in his eyes as he patted Mary's head. "Now run, hop back in bed and wait until it's time to get up. O. K?"
"Thank you, Daddy. Thank you so very much. I know we will enjoy my party. I can hardly wait."
As Mary had expected, Bessie was pleased with the idea of a party, so the plans were made. It was to be Mary's ninth birthday. Excitedly, she helped Bessie clean house and prepare the refreshments.
When the special night arrived, Mary was almost beside herself with eager anticipation. Uncle Jack, Aunt Mae, and Bessie arrived first. Shortly afterwards, Alton and his sister Rachal came. Though his parents had been invited also, they declined the invitation, since Mr. Greene was not well. Uncle Ben and Aunt Sarah came next; and when the children saw them, they flew into t
heir arms. There were tears of joy at the happy reunion.
"We'll see you more often now, children," Aunt Sarah told them. "My, it's been lonesome without you."
"How did you manage the farm without me and Jimmie?" Jacky asked.
"Silas and his boys helped," Uncle Ben answered. "It was to his advantage to keep everything up, since they were buying it."
After Mary had opened her gifts, which consisted of a blue head scarf; a jump rope; a pair of mittens; some ribbons for her hair; and a comb, brush and mirror set, the refreshments were served. Then someone suggested a song.
"Bessie, how about you singing?" Jim suggested. "Sing the one you sang Sunday."
"No, let's all sing together. It's hard for me to sing without music," she protested.
But the others joined in with Jim, insisting she sing alone. As her melodious voice rang out, her eyes shone with the love of Christ for whose glory she sang. As usual, her listeners seemed intrigued, one, more so than the others. Alton turned pale and dropped onto a chair.
"That voice--" he mumbled, "that's the voice--and--and the song--the very same song--I could never forget it. But--but--it's impossible. I--I--must be dreaming." He mopped his brow with his handkerchief and trembled noticeably.
Jim saw him first. Rushing to his side and catching hold of his arm, he asked, "What's the matter, Alton? Are you sick?"
"That voice--that's the voice, Jim," he stammered.
"The voice? What voice are you talking about, Son?" Jim looked alarmed. "Are you sure you're not sick? Maybe I should call a doctor."
By this time, Alton's peculiar behavior had attracted the attention of the others. Bessie cut her song short and everyone gathered around Alton.
"Help me to get him to bed, Brother Jack. He's sick," Jim suggested.
"No, no, I'm all right. It's just that voice. I'm so shocked. " Turning to Bessie, he asked in a trembling voice, "Did you ever sing in a building on Elm Street?"
"Why yes, about four or five years ago." Her mouth gaped open in surprise at his question. "We held a series of services there trying to reach some of the down and outers."
"Suppose you tell us about it," suggested Uncle Jack in amazement.
"Yes, please do," others begged. So Alton repeated a portion of the experience he had once related to Jim. All were deeply touched. Rachal, especially, was greatly affected by her brother's story.
"I promised Jim that if I ever found the church where you sang, that I would attend." He smiled warmly at Bessie. "So I guess you folk will see my smiling face in church Sunday."
"Wonderful!" was the exclamation that followed his announcement. God was moving in answer to prayer once again.
Noticing how quiet Rachal was, Jim tried to draw her into the conversation.
"It's quite warm tonight, isn't it, Miss Greene" he commented, not knowing anything else to say.
"Quite," she answered, "but please just call me Rachal. All my friends do." She smiled as she spoke.
Alton joined them, and suddenly realizing the two were nearly the same age, he couldn't resist an urge to tease. Smiling at Jim, he asked, "Don't you think my sis is pretty?"
Rachal blushed as Jim answered, "So she is, Alton, Very pretty. I must admit she doesn't favor her brother in any respect, though." He slapped Alton on the shoulder and laughed.
The mint green dress Rachal wore seemed to make her dark eyes even darker, and her shoulder-length hair glistened as the light shone on it. Turning to look at Alton, she said, "I'm glad to hear you say you're going to church Sunday. I'd like to go along, too. I attended a little church a few times at Cypress Hills, and I enjoyed it. Will you let your sister go along?"
Alton patted her shoulder and then leaned over and kissed her cheek in a brotherly way. "Glad to have you come along, Sis. We will both be in church Sunday." He smiled broadly at Jim.
And he was as good as his word. Both Alton and Rachal were in church Sunday. Bessie had never sung more beautifully, and Rev. Delaney's message was full of wonderful truths.
"Christ is the answer for every problem," he was saying. "To the hungry, He is the Bread of Life; to the thirsty, He is the Living Water; He is a physician for the sick and He brings pardon to the condemned. He is a Rock in a weary land and a Shelter in the time of storm. He is altogether lovely, The Rose of Sharon, the Bright and Morning Star. Christ is all and all. He's calling you unto Himself. On earth, He called the humble fishermen and despised tax collectors as His disciples. He still calls today. 'Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely.' He wore a crown of thorns that we might wear a crown of life. He took our place on earth that we might share His place in Heaven. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief; and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all--He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. He intercedes just now for you, my friend. Won't you come to Him, repenting of your sins and seeking His forgiveness? He loves you and bids you come. Are you cumbered with a load of care? Come to Jesus. He will lift your load and give you joy and peace within. He beckons just now. Will you come to Him while we sing a song of invitation?" Glancing in Alton's direction, Rev. Delaney recognized that Rachal was convicted of her sins. He waited a few minutes, hoping she would come to the altar to pray, but when she failed to make a move, he walked down from the platform, and back to her.
"Miss Greene," he addressed her kindly, "God is speaking to your heart. He wants to save you this morning. Won't you come and kneel at the altar and seek His pardon?"
"I'd like to, Preacher, but there's something in my life that I'm afraid God won't forgive," she told him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"God forgives all sin except blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and I feel sure you're not guilty of that. Come, and let God have His way in your life." She walked down the aisle and knelt at the altar.
"How about you, Alton?" Rev. Delaney invited, "Don't you want to join your sister at the altar?"
"Not today, Sir. Maybe some other time."
Rachal was sobbing and confessing her sins to God. She prayed for forgiveness but could not seem to believe God. Aunt Mae knelt in front of her to try to counsel her, but she kept her head on her arm on the altar sobbing brokenly. After some time had elapsed and Rachal still had not prayed through, Rev. Delaney thought it best to dismiss the service. He told Alton he and his wife would drive his sister home later. Then he joined his wife at the altar to pray for Rachal.
"What's wrong, Miss Greene? Why can't you believe God forgives your sins? Do you want to confide in my wife and I about your problem? Everyone is gone except us."
Rachal raised her head and looked back at the empty pews. Her eyes were red and swollen and on her face was a look of utter hopelessness.
"God loves you, Miss Greene," Aunt Mae told her. "No matter what you've done in the past, He will forgive. He tells us in Isaiah 1:18 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow--.' Why don't you just confess your sins to Jesus and trust Him to forgive?"
"But I've been so wicked." She sobbed out her guilt and shame, confessing her wrong-doing to Rev. Delaney and wife.
Mrs. Delaney put her arms around her. "God knows how sorry you are for your sins. Of course, what you did was wrong and sinful, but God said if we would confess, He would forgive. He tells us in Proverbs 28:13, if we cover our sins, we shall not prosper, but if we confess and forsake them, we will find mercy. You have confessed, so let us pray again that God will extend His mercy and forgive you."
Again, they agreed in prayer, praying for God to give Rachal the assurance that her sins w
ere forgiven since she had confessed and forsaken them according to the Bible command. In a few minutes, she was smiling through her tears. The work had been done. God had met her need, forgiven her sins, and saved her soul. What a happy young woman went back home to her parents and Alton that day.
Alton continued to bring Rachal to church, and, though at times, it was evident that the Spirit was dealing with him, yet he never made any move toward God. But much prayer was going up in his behalf. Knowing that there is no case too hard for God, his friends fervently believed that God would eventually answer prayer on Alton's behalf.
In the meantime, other thoughts were filling Alton's mind. When Bessie sang, his eyes never left her face. But it was not the message of the songs that gripped his being as had once been the case, but the girl herself that began to possess his every thought. Her shining blond hair, her blue eyes, her vivacious smile all blended together in one harmonious whole that made her utterly irresistible to Alton. He found himself lingering after church for a few words with her. And something about the way she studiedly avoided him unless he approached her directly made him think she was not oblivious to his charms.
It was maddening to Alton to watch her care for Jim's children as if they were her own. And Jim seemed to take so much for granted--casually walking her over to the parsonage at every opportunity. What could the man be thinking? Alton wondered. Surely he knew he was too old for Bessie!
But Jim didn't know he was too old for Bessie. And he, too, forgot to listen to the words of the songs while he watched the pretty singer.