Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-02
IKE'S BANNER.
BY GAY DAVIDSON.

Use never born to go to church, y
tearfully exclaimed little Ike Judd. as
his patient mother combed out the curly
locks of her only son and heir, prepare
tory to his pilgrimage to the Sunday
school
Mr.. and Mrs. Judd lived at L.. a
small town in Western Illinois. They
were poor; but, in spite of this misfor-
tune, if such it may be termed. they
were decidedly rich in the possession Of
family heirloom which had been handed
down from generation to generation with
unbroken faith. 1t was an old saying:
THE Judd family are noted for their
extreme piety."
1t ives the oft-repeated expression of
an aged Methodist minister, a rugged
pioneer in the church militant, who, in
his journeyings In those early DAYS. had
oft and again been the welcome guest at
the hearthstOne of many representative
of this remarkable family, whose name,
it seems, was legion throughout the wide
scope of country in which this patriarch
was wont to labor.
And this, his favorite expression, re-
pcated In the experience meeting, on the
camp ground, and around the festal
board, became of history, and as the
Judd family passed from one generation
to another this religious appellation chung
to them, and followed the family name
like a benediction.
The grand old prelate has long since
been gathered to his fathers, and ere Ike
Judd, who, this bright Sunday morning.
is receiving his additions with grief,
shall have reached his majority, four
score and ten winters will have swept
the autumn leaves over that old mans
grave.
And thus, early in life, greatly to the
sorrow of his loving parents, Ike had
sounded the keynote of revolt. He
twas never born to 90 to church - or
Sunday school. either, for both were the
same to him. Both were a terror to his
young heart, and even as ne grew older
the feelingof aversion to places Of divine
sorship grew upon him.
Certainly, here was a break in the
golden chain. Was it possible that Ike
Judd, SO heir to sacred heirloom Of
generations, would cast away and igncr re
this birthrighta
But Ike was dutiful son. and, though
he regarded Sunday schools and churches
with terror, nevertheless attended with
mediocre regularity.
At school he was fairly bright, sur
passing many of his older companions in
their studies At work or play he was
earnest or diIigent. Taking it all in all.
Ike was far from being a bad boy. y
But he twas never born to 90 to
church =
AS he grew older his distaste in this
regard seemed TO grown upon him. He
could not bear to hear the teacher tell
the same old stories of how bad little
boys were punished, while good little
boys died early, and, of course went to
heaven. He once took book from the
Sunday-school library which was SO full
Of horrible stories that he could not
sleep for whole week without having
dreadful dreams. But too generous
portion of fruit cake may have had
something to do with them. We don't
exactly know"
The long sermons made his bones
ache. as he often said. So his parents
at last gave up trying, and Ike was free
TO 90 or not, as he chose. But il was 3
sore affection to these worthy people.
AT last the time came for Ike to leave
bis hons and seek his fortune else
where. To how many thousands Of
other boys has this time comes So one
bright September evening Ike babe the
old home and bis parents an afFectionate
farewell
You will write to me, Ike, ana I
know y0u viii be good but won't yon
promise nc 70 20 to church or Sunday
school sonetimesl" whispered his
mother
''Yes, mother. I'll write often. and
we'll, I'll SO to church, TOO, sometimes.
Good byel'
| And he was gone. and out into the
world.
| Ii isneedIess for u 10 follow our hero
| through the snndry and manifold vicissi-
tndes be encountered ID his pilgrimage.
EIa battle with the world differed little
from that IF other young men who
! started Just IS he did
] First AZ odd Job here another there