The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-14


tended church. and once in awhile
would visit the Sunday schools.
One Sunday morning, as he was
strolling along, his attention was at
tracted to a procession composed Of
Young men who were entering church
near BY. One of their number carried
a staff from which foated beautiful
banner of white silk, and upon whose
folds were these words: ''Be Ye Faith
full Unto Death" Instinctively joining
the throng of children, he entered the
church and took quiet seat in the cor
ner. The exercises of the Sunday
school were of no unusual interest tc
Phil. he thought, and he was glad when
| the last hymn had been sung. He was
on the point of leaving the church, when
a Especial announcement" from the
Superintendent arrested his attention.
1t was as follows:
"My dear children: The monthly Of
ferings 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 Glass, whose leader still proudly
carried the banner, Phil noticed 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 EMISSION 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
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 year.
"Oh! | wish we could get the ban
ner." said little Amy Moore, a sweet
child, "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 vet win the banner
Phil returned to his room with the re-
solve that the Infant Glass should have
the banner. 1t was 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 day
as explained by Carrie to her class.
Phil was learning to love the Sunday
school, if not that Infant Class, 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 crisp bank note.
For the Infant Glass. To go 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 Glass were awarded the banner.
1t was great surprise to the school,
especially the Bible Glass. Not to be
outdone they doubled their contribu-
ton. But in some way the banner was
thereafter carried by the Infant Class.
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 tie contributions of the Infant Glass
anil It's friend. But the reader must
not imagine that Phil alone was making
this large contribution, individually,
each week. Knowing that the EMISSION
Fund" which was fund toward the
erection of a home for friendless chill
dren in that city, was 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 '.the
boys" "Phil's Phund," and the con-
| tributionS came in from many sources.
As the story spread among the railroad
men, one at a 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's 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 sPhund should come in good use.
Little Amy Moore fell very i'll. Her
parents were poor, and could lily bear
the expenses of a competent physician.
Phil heard of little Amy's illness
through Carrie Lee, and at once called
to see her. She was delirious with
fever.
"Have you had no physician, Mrs.
Moore?" asked Phil, anxiously.
"Yes, we called in DR.. 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-