John sat all alone in the parlor most of the time. He was slightly hunchbacked, and he had trouble with his spine, which would not allow him to play actively as most of the boys in the orphanage. He could not read much, for his eyes were weak, so mostly he just sat and thought about the times when his big strong father had carried him about when his bac hurt, and read to him when he was tired.

All this happiness was in the past, though, for father had died, and mother had to work away from home and could not care for him, so she had placed him in the orphanage. She came to see him whenever she could, but that was not often.

The boys pushed him around in his wheel chair some, but they were in school and out playing, so John sat most of the day just doing nothing.

One day some boys from a club came to visit the orphanage. They played games with the other boys out in the yard for a while, then they came inside. John had watched them through the window as they played outside. Then as the boys came in, one of them spied John. "Hey," he called, "why didn't you come out and play? Did you have to stay in because you've been bad?" He didn't notice John's wheel chair, or his crooked back. One of the orphanage boys whispered quickly to the nwecomer, "He can't. He's crippled."

The boy's face flamed red and he began to apologize to John.

"I'm so sorry I said what I did." John felt bad to see him so embarassed.

"Don't be," said John. "I've always been lame, and I'm used to it."

"Say," said the boy, "you have lots of time to read, don't you? boy, I'd like that. I never get time to read as much as I'd like to."

"Can't," said John. "Eyes won't take it."

"What do you do, then"?

"Nothing, mostly."

Said the boy, "You need a radio to listen to. Don't have have one?" He looked around.

"No, we don't," said John.

"Oh." The boy was silent for a moment, then he bade John good-by. "I'll see you again sometime."

On the way home those boys talked the matter over. "Say, fellows," said one, "I think John ought to have a radio. He has nothing to do. A radio would be a wonderful help to him. Can't we save our money and get one for him? It wouldn't cost much if we'd all help."

The boys were enthusiastic. They began a campaign of saving. And before many weeks passed they had enough money to buy a small radio to John. They took it out to the orphanage, where the news spread like wildfire. In a moment the parlor was buzzing with boys. With his face shining, John tuned in his radio and they all sat and listened.

From then on John was no longer such a lonely boy. His radio brought him contact with the world that he had never had before. While the boys were away from the orphanage he had something to do. And when the boys were there, one or more often joined him in listening to the little radio. John now had what he had so longed for -- something to do.

Again God had provided for the needs of one of His children through the loving-kindness of friends who felt pity for one who was afflicted.