Read Online Pages of Promise by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online Page B

and stayed a day with Lylah,” Owen said, speaking of his older sister. “You know, it’s a marvel. Out of our whole family, we’re all still living. Not many families have lived through two wars and have all the brothers and sisters still alive.”
    They were walking along the beach, and the water wrinkled and flashed at their feet catching the glints of the late sun. Seagulls followed them, circling, crying harshly. A majestic great blue heron crossed their path with precise steps. It turned one eye toward them, considered their approach, then made a few steps and took to the air, sailing away to light on top of a scraggly tree above the beach.
    Owen stopped walking and turned to face Richard. “How do you feel about going out to kill people, Richard?”
    The question was so abrupt that Richard could not answer for a moment. He picked up a starfish, sent it sailing into the water, then turned to face Owen. “They gave us a lot of lectures about that in training. How did you feel about it when you went to war, Uncle Owen?”
    “I didn’t like it. None of us did. Well, there were a few that seemed to. I always thought it was abnormal.”
    “We had some of those. They don’t seem to think of the enemy as human beings.”
    “Men never do in war. We called our enemy ‘Krauts’ and to us they were all devils wearing spiked helmets. They had bayoneted babies in Belgium and had neither honor nor decency. At least that’s what we were told, and I guess some of it came through.”
    “Well, that’s what they’ve tried to tell us, but I’ve got a feeling that when I see one I’ll see him as a man just like me.”
    “That reminds me of a poem I heard. I don’t memorize much poetry, but I memorized this one.”
    He began to speak softly. Owen had a loud, powerful voice when he needed it, filling whole auditoriums, but it was quiet and almost gentle as he spoke the words:
    “Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
    We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!
    “But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
    I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.
    “I shot him dead because—
Because he was my foe,
    Just so! my foe of course he was:
That’s clear enough; although
    “He thought he’d enlist, perhaps,
Off-hand like—just as I—
    Was out of work—had sold his traps—
No other reason why.
    “Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
    You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half a crown.
    “I guess that’s about the way it is,” Owen said. “When you take the uniforms off, we’re all just men. Creatures of God.” He turned and said, “Do you have faith, Richard?”
    “Why, yes. I was baptized when I was thirteen years old.”
    “That’s good, but there’s got to be more than that, especially where you’re going. Being put under the water doesn’t give you what you need in your heart.” Owen continued to speak for some time of the soldier’s need of God. He said, “You’ve heard all this before from your parents. They’ve given you a good foundation, but when you get out there in Korea and face the blood and the filth and the awfulness of it, don’t lose it, Richard. Hang on to your faith in Jesus.”
    “I’ll do my best, Uncle Owen.”
    Two days later, Richard stood on the dock, his bag at his feet. His family had come, and he said good-bye to each one, and it was hard. He could tell his mother was keeping tears back only by an effort, and he whispered, “Don’t worry, Mom.”
    He embraced Stephanie, and she whispered, “I love you, Richard,” then turned away quickly.
    Bobby also had a paleness in his face that was not usual. He lost all of his cockiness with the stark reality upon him of Richard’s going to war. He cleared his throat twice and said, “I wish you didn’t have to go. Take care of yourself, buddy.”
    “You watch yourself, Bobby. You’re too good a man to do anything except