"Chummy" Smith was a soldier of the old-fashioned rollicking kind, apparently without a care or fear. He was very popular in his regiment because he had an excellent voice and a quaint way of singing comic songs. One night he was standing on a table in a canteen where his regiment was stationed, entertaining the men as usual, when the sound of singing was carried into the place on the evening air. Not far away a little band of Christian soldiers were pouring forth their joyous praises to God.
The singer of comic songs on the canteen table stopped and listened intently. Suddenly he said: "The Christians are happier than we, and I can't sing any more."
His friends urged him to go on, but it was useless. He had sung his last comic song. Crying like a child, he rushed to the barrack room.
I was unconverted at the time and could not imagine what was wrong with the mirth-maker of the company. I thought that he must be drunk; but I began to understand when "Chummy" went to the prayer meeting instead of the canteen, and returned to the barracks a saved man.
Chummy's conversion may be attributed to the happy singing of a few Christian comrades. The Holy Spirit may well use such as instruments to tell out God's love and grace. But Chummy's life subsequently bore fruit in telling out the Christian's true Source of joy and the reality of the happiness which he could never have known as a comic singer.
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." 2 Cor. 3:2.