"
"My father is a brave man."
_Was_, oh, little Teddy!
"And the purple camels said to the angels who guarded the gate, 'We
have come because we saw the little Christ in the manger.'
"And the angel said, 'It is those who see Him who enter Paradise,' So
the patient purple camels went in and the gates were shut behind them,
and there they will live in the warm, sweet light throughout the
deathless ages."
"What are de-yethless ages, Cousin Derry?"
"Forever and ever."
"Is that all?"
"It is all about the camels--but not all about the shining souls."
"Tell us the rest."
He knew that he was bungling it, but at last he brought them to the
thought of their father in Paradise, because the dear Lord loved to
have him there.
"But if he's there, he can't be here," said the practical Teddy.
"No."
"I want him here. Doesn't Mother want him here?"
"Well--yes."
"Is she glad to have him go to Paradise?"
"Not exactly--glad."
"Was that why she was crying?"
"Yes. Of course she will miss him, but it is a wonderful thing just
the same, Teddy, when you think of it--when you think of how your own
father went over to France because he was sorry for all the poor little
children who had been hurt, and for all the people who had suffered and
suffered until it seemed as if they must not suffer any more--and he
wanted to help them, and--and--"
But here he stumbled and stopped.
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