The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-11-13

terlngS OF the various classes have been
received and counted. Once again has
the Bible Class won the banner. They
are doing a noble work But be not
discouraged children. BE faithful and
you may yet win the banner. =
Then the school was dismissed. As
the children crowded out, following the
Bible Class, whose leader still proudly
carried the banner, Phil noticed a group
OF little girls standing near young lady
watching the banner with longing eyes.
This was the Infant Class, and the young
lady standing near them was Carrie
Lee, their teacher.
OH how hard had these little ones tried
TO win that banner. Their little mite each
week had gone toward securing the
prize, but always to no avail. The
rule was that the class contributing
the largest amount of money toward
the mission Fund each month should
be entitled to carry the banner for the
ensuing month. 1t did seem hard to
Phil that the pennies of these little ones,
many, no doubt, the fruit of earnest self
denial, should be for naught in this I'M
equal contest for he had learned from
a scholar in another class that the
young men of the Bible Glass gave a
certain sum each week, whether present
or not, in order to keep the banner, and
that they had carried it almost a year.
Oh! / wish we could get the ban
ner," said little Amy Moore, a sweet
child, Il" but we have tried and tried, and
| have given up all hope"
Don't be envious, dears, replied
Carrie Lee, " let us be faithful, and
we may yet win the banner"
Phil returned to his room with the re-
Il IL 1
the banner. 1t was a busy week with
him, but he never forgot his resolve, and
when Sunday next came, Phil was at
the church and took his seat behind the
Infant Glass. And somehow he be
came interested in the lesson that dav
as explained by Carrie to her class
Phil was learning to love the Sunday
school, if not that Infant Glass, and we
may include its teacher, may we not?
Each class took up its collection in a
small envelope which was then handed
to the Superintendent. The Infant
Class handed their pennies to the
teacher, and she was about to seal the
envelope, when Phil leaned over the
seat and handed her a crisp bank note.
." For the Infant Class. To 90 toward
securing the banner" This was writ
ten on slip of paper, and pinned to
the bill. Before she could thank him,
Phil was gone. The next month our
Infant Class were awarded the banner.
1t was a great surprise to the school,
especially the Bible Class Not to be
OutdOne they doubled their contribu-
ton. But in some way the banner was
thereafter carried by the Infant Glass.
How was it done?
Phil had by this time learned to know
the little class, each member by herself,
as well as their teacher. The latter
gladly aided Phil in ascertaining about
how much the Bible Glass contributed
each week, so that it could be exceeded
by the contributions of the Infant Glass
and its friend. But the reader must
not imagine that Phil alone was making
this large contribution, individually,
each week. Knowing that the mission
Fund, ~ which was fund toward the
erection of home for friendless chill
dren in that city, was a laudable effort,
Phil, who was very popular with the
railroad men, told them the secret of
the banner. 1t ''tOok' among them
like wild-fire, and every one wanted to
subscribe toward ''Phil's Banner" So a
fund was established called by 1.-The
boy" "Phi's Phund,n and the CON
tributions came in from many sources.
As the story spread among the railroad
men, one at time they would drop
into Pills Office, and, throwing down
some money, would say: %There, Phil,
that's for the 'Phundr "
So by this means the banner was kept
in the Infant Glass. But as there was
much more than enough money in the
Phund' treasury than was required
for this purpose, Phil very wisely de
cided to use a part in charity, when an
occasion offered. or to donate it entire
to the mission cause. But an OPP
pOrtunity soon presented itself whereby
the " Phund should come in good use
Little Amy Moore fell very i'll. Her
parents were poor, and Gould lily bear
the expenses of a competent physician.
Phil heard of little Amy's illness
through Carrie Lee, and ut once called
to see her. She was delirious with
fever.
Have you had no physician, Mrs.
Moore?" asked Phil. anxiously.
Yes, we called in DIR. B yester-
day, but he says he ought to have been
called two days sooner. We did not
think she was so bad"
All! yes, it was too late. Poor little
Amy was even then. nearing 1.-the deep
and dark waters that roll round all the
world, and, that night, amidst an
gushing sobs of father, mother, class
mates and friends, her little soul was
waited out upon the bosom of those
waters, toward eternity
All! that sad funeral will long be re
membered. The little white coffin was
lowered into the tiny grave that had
been made bed of flowers, and then
'ashes to ashes.
Al. AL r Al ri
wept as they gathered round that new
made grave-and under their banner
draped as it was. BE We faithful unto
deathi'
Can YOU imagine how Pills fund
could now be drawn upon?
The weeks passed by, and one Sun
day morning it was announced that the
Sunday-school should have a picnic the
next Saturday.
Saturday dawned bright and clear,
and hardly had the old sun gotten fair
ly out of bed when load after load of
happy children and their teachers were
hurrying to Smiths Grove, a beautiful
resort some miles from town and near
the railroad.
Phil was on hand early to see them
off, and was helping one little tOddler
into the wagon when Carrie Lee accost-
ed him:
Il suppose you win be too busy to
come down this morning Phil; but can't
you come down at noon and take lunch
with us?''
Yes, Carrie, I'll ride down with
Jack on No. 5, and he will let me off at
the big bridge
'All right; we win meet you at the
bridge at noon. Good-byeTH
And the load drove off, the banner
waving proudly in the breeze.
No. 5, brave Jack Smiths engine.
came laundering into the depot half