“I’ve heard papa speak about it,” said Jem.
“Yes, it is one of papa’s favourite themes. I have often heard him,” said David.
And then they went back to the discussion of old Mr Strong again, and then of others; and there was scarcely one of their acquaintances but they discussed in the new character of a soldier. Sometimes they went quite away from the subject, and sometimes they said very foolish things. It is not to be supposed that boys like them would judge very justly, or discuss very charitably the character of people with the outside of whose lives they were alone acquainted, and besides, as David at last gravely acknowledged they could not understand all that was implied in “warring a good warfare,” not being soldiers themselves.
There was silence for a good while after this, and then they went on again, saying a good many things that could hardly be called wise; but the conclusion to which they came was right and true in the main. It was against ‘the world, the flesh, and the devil’ that Christians were to fight, and victory meant to become like Christ, and to win over others to be like him, too. That was victory here, and afterwards there would be glory, and the crown of righteousness that Paul spoke about, in Heaven. They were all very grave by the time they got thus far.
“Nothing else in the world seems worth while in comparison, when one really thinks about it,” said David.
“The only wonder is that there are not more soldiers, and that they are not more in earnest,” said Frank.
“All may be soldiers of Christ Jesus,” said David, softly.
“Even boys?” said Frank.
“Papa says so. Boys like you and me and Jem. Papa was a soldier in the army of the Lord, long before he was my age. He told me all about it one day,” said David, with a break in his voice. “And he said the sooner we enlist the better ‘soldiers’ we would be, and the more we would accomplish for Him.”
“Yes,” said Frank, “if one only knew the way.”