The War Romance of the Salvation ArmyHill, Grace Livingston
History
The War Romance of the Salvation Army
Hill, Grace Livingston
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Salvation Army
“I don’t know what you mean,” responded the lassie pleasantly, “but
when we are tired we look at the boys drilling in the sun and working
early and late. They are splendid and we feel we must do our part as
unreservedly as they do theirs.”
“No wonder my men have so many good things to say about the Salvation
Army!” said the Captain, turning to his companions. But as he went out
into the night his voice floated back in a puzzled sort of
half-conviction, as if he were thinking out something more than had
been spoken:
“It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like
that!”
These same girls were commissioned also to make frequent visits to the
hospitals and talk with the sick soldiers. Often they read the Bible to
them, and many a man through these little talks has found the way of
eternal life. This in addition to their other work.
One night after a meeting in the hut a lad wanted to come into the room
at the back and speak to one of the women about his soul. They knelt
and prayed together, and the boy when he rose had a light of real
happiness on his face. But suddenly the happiness faded and he
exclaimed:
“But I can’t read!”
“Read? What do you mean?” asked the lassie.
“My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can’t read my Bible
like you said in the meeting I should.”
The lassie thought for a minute, and then suggested that he come to the
hut every morning just before first call and she would teach him a
verse of scripture and read him a chapter. This meant that the lassie
must rise that much earlier, but what of that for a servant of the
King?
Just a month this program was carried out, and then came marching
orders for the boy, but by this time he had a rich store of God’s word
safe in his heart from the verses he had memorized. The last night when
he came to say good-bye he said to his teacher:
“Your kindness has meant a lot of trouble for you, miss, but for me it
has meant life! Before, I was afraid to fight; but now I don’t even
fear death. I know now that it can only mean a new life. Thank God for
your goodness to me!”
There was one soldier who went by the name of Scoop. He had been a
reporter back in the States and learned to love drink. When he joined
the army he did not give up his old habits. Whenever anybody
remonstrated with him he invariably replied gaily, “I’m out to enjoy
life.” On pay-days Scoop celebrated by drinking more than ever.
One day he happened into the Salvation Army hut. Whether the pie or the
doughnuts or the homeyness of the place first attracted him no one
knows. He said it was the pie. Something held him there. He came every
night. The spirit of the Lord that lived and breathed in those
consecrated men and girls began to work in his heart and conscience,
and speak to him of better things that might even be for him.
When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his
money to the girls to keep for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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