THE STORY HOUR

Bobby was excited. Never before had he been to Aunt Kethys Bible Study Hour. But this Saturday afternoon he would go, and besides, he was going to read a verse from the Bible all by himself.

When he got there, aunt Kathy was setting chairs in a half circle in her sunny front room. "Bobby, you may help me," she said. " I'm glad you're here, for you know the song I want to teach the boys and girls today."
While Aunt Kathy turned the picture roll, Bobby picked up a Bible. Aunt Kathy found the place for him, and he practised reading it again and again.
"Remember," Aunt Kathy told him, " the children who come to hear the stories do not usually go to church."
"I'll be a good example," Bobby promised.
"I know you will," Aunt Kathy said with smile.
Soon a boy came. Another boy followed him, and then came three girls. In no time every chair was taken.
Aunt Kathy prayed, and Bobby read his verse from the Bible. Then Aunt Kathy showed the children a beautiful picture.
While she told the story, some of the children sat very still. As they listened to her story, their eyes shone. Bobby listened too, but he liked to see how pleased these boys and girls were to hear about Jesus.

"How happy theses children long ago were to see Jesus Coming into the city!" Aunt Kathy said. "They thought He would be their king now. And what a kind and wonderful king He would be! They had seen Him heal the lame and the sick. They has seen Him make the blind people see again.

"I'm sure that some of these very boys and girls had been healed by Jesus. No wonder they were excited and happy. If you had been there, wouldn't you have wanted to praise Jesus?"
The boy beside Bobby squirmed. He wasn't listening. He began to whisper to the boy on the other side of him.
"It's time for us to sing now," Aunt Kathy. "We'll sing a song we have not sung before in the Bible Story Hour. You listen while I sing it."

In no time everyone was singing.. everyone but the boy beside Bobby. He was shuffling his feet back and forth on the carpet and trying to make other children look at him.

At last the story hour was over. The children repeated a prayer together. Then they said Good-Bye and left for their homes.

When everyone was gone, Bobby sat down beside Aunt Kathy on the sofa.
"Did you like the story, Bobby?" She asked him.
"Oh Yes," Bobby said. But he did not look pleased. He felt bad, that was sure
"Did you know the boy sitting by me was not quiet?" He asked.
"I know," Aunt Kathy said.
"Why?" Bobby wondered. "It was a good story."
Aunt Kathy thought a minute. "Bobby," she said, "even when Jesus talked to the people long ago when He was on earth, not everyone was glad to hear Him. What He said did not make everyone happy. In fact, some men became very angry when Jesus taught the people. But you know, there are always some who are glad to hear. Some are thankful that Jesus came to show us the happy way to live."
"Im glad," Bobby said. And he was. Why, right now, he thought he could sing as loudly as any of the children in the picture did on that day long ago when Jesus rode into the city.

The end