A TROOP of boys were on a camping trip. Already they had pitched their tents and, climbing into their sleeping bags, were preparing to settle down for the night.
Leslie, the tall patrol leader and veteran of many expeditions, was about to hit the sack when he found himself looking into an eager young face and heard a boyish voice saying, “Please, would you be good enough to do me — a — favor?”
Billy was a newcomer but already he and his leader had become staunch friends.
“Well, sonny, out with it. What is it you want?”
“Well, I’ve got to sound the reveille at 5:30 tomorrow morning, and I’m afraid I won’t wake up. Mother says I’m an awful sound sleeper, and I wondered if you would wake me.”
“And supposing I don’t wake up myself; what then?” inquired Leslie with a twinkle in his eye.
The boy’s face fell. “I never thought of that,” he said with dismay.
“Never you fear,” smiled his friend. “You leave it to me. I’ll wake you at 5:15.”
With this comforting assurance the small boy trotted off and was soon asleep.
But when Leslie turned in he began to feel a little uneasy. He was a sound sleeper himself. Suppose he did not wake in time to rouse the little bugler!
However, Leslie was a Christian and loved His Saviour. He believed that nothing was too small to pray about, and so when he kneeled down that night he spread the matter before the Lord, asking Him to undertake for him and his young friend. It is written, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.... He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him.” Psa. 145:18,1918The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 145:18‑19).
Leslie lay down near the entrance of the tent and was soon fast asleep.
The next thing he knew was that he was awakened with a start and felt as though a pail of water had been dashed in his face! Thinking someone was playing a joke on him, he jumped up just in time to see a big cow disappearing outside the tent door. Then in a flash it came to him what had happened.
Someone had left a wash basin full of soapy water at the door of the tent. An inquisitive cow, strolling around in the early hours of morn, had poked its inquiring nose into it, but finding the soap not quite to her taste, had promptly snorted it into the face of the slumbering Leslie.
Recovering from his surprise he instantly remembered the promise he had made to his young friend, and on looking at his watch he saw that it was exactly 5:15. Then he understood. Rising with a prayer of thankfulness to God who had answered his request of the night before, he went across to rouse the little bugler for his duty.
When the other boys had heard the story they all had a hearty laugh and wondered why Leslie had been singled out for such attentions! But at breakfast, as Billie and his leader looked across at each other, a smile of understanding passed between them, for Leslie had not lost the opportunity of telling his young friend how that he had prayed the night before and the Lord had answered his prayer. And so it was the Lord received all the praise.
ML-01/23/1972