The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-03

LE NO VAN
were marching into a church near by.
Their leader bore in his hands a staff
from 7ghich loated o gorgeous banner
OF white silk exquisitely embroidered,
and which bore these words "Be We
faithful unto death" Instinctiyely Join
ing the throng of children that was
pouring into the church, Ike also en-
tered and took @ quiet seat in a corner.
The exercises were of no unusual in
terest to him, however, and he was
rather glad when the closing hymn was
sung. He was about to leave the church
when an announcement from the super
'ntendent arrested his attention. 1t
was this:
my dear children, the monthly offer
lngs OF the various classes have been re-
celyed and counted. Once again does
the Bible class receive the banner, hav.
ing made the largest contribution to the
missionary fund. God bless them, they
ore doing a noble work. But, little
children of the ether classes, do not be
discouraged. BE ye faithful and you
may yet receive the beautiful banner
With this the school was dismissed.
AS the children crowded out, following
the Bible class, whose leader still proud
ly carried the banner, Ike noticed a
group Of little children standing near a
young lady, watching the banner with
longing eyes. This was the infant class
with their teacher. Oh, how hard had
these little ones tried to earn that ban
ner. Their pennies, many no doubt
the fruit Of self-deniai, had gone toward
the cherished object. Not that they
would not have given them for for chart
ty as willing, but, OIL they longed to
possess that beautiful banner. And
had never succeeded.
ooh, dear" sighed one little cherub.
eve have tried and tried to earn that
banner. I don't believe well Ter get
it.n
Don't be envious, dear" said Stella
c., their teacher, " 'be We faithful, and
we may win it some day."
Ike was an interested listener t. this
conversation. 1t set HIM to thinking.
He went to his room. Then he said to
himself: The infant class shall have
the banner"
Knowing that the rule was that the
class contributing the most money to-
ward the missionary fund during the
month was entitled to carry the banner
for the ensuing month, he betook him
self to ascertain how much the Bible
| class were in the habit Of contributing
each week. This he learned by calling
on the superintendent, whom he hap
pened to know. 1t was two dollars pei
week. The young men composing the
class had had the banner almost
all that year. Sometimes they did not
attend regularly, but would always make
their contributions. The infant class
were aiwaysin full attendance with their
lessons learned and their pennies ready,
but each succeeding month doomed
them to disappointment.
Next Sunday Ike was at the church
and took his seat behind the infant class,
although the superintendent invited
him to "come up higher" Perhaps il
was a better seat there, or perhaps there
was q charm in the deep blue eyes Of
Stella C, the teacher of the infant
elass-we will not attempt to guess.
When the hour for sealing up the
money envelopes came, Ike leaned over
to the seat where Stella sat, and hand.
ing her a crisp bank bill, whispered
"To go with the contribution of the IL
FAINT class toward securing the banner
Then he was rome. The next month
our infant class were awarded the ban
ner. The surprise of the school, espe-
ciaiIy the Bible class, was nothing COM
pared to the Joy of those little ones.
But Ike did not cease his visits to the
Sunday school. In time he learned to
know each little one of the infant class
by name, and more than that, became
the warm friend of their teacher.
As before stated, Ike had many friends
among the railroad men, and to them
he confded his secret of the banner. 1t
at once took like wild-fire among them.
Rough and strong as they were, the story
of the little infant class and the ban.
ner touched them.
"Let's keep the banner In that class,
boys said Ike. 1t was the signal OF O
grand donation. Ike was made treasur-
er of likes Banner Fund, and the con-
tributions were liberal. Occasionally
a railroad man, who had heard of the
matter from some friend, would say to
Ike, Heres q sinner for the fund,
Ike"
"The fund" grew, and as it required
but a small stipend weekly to keep the
| infant class ahead in contributions, the
treasury was always quite full.
One day death invaded that infant
class. 1t was a sad death. Little Amy
Moor's parents were very Ioor-she was
the Joy Of that humble aome.
Ike heard of this sad event and the
circumstances of the parents through
Stella. and he decided that this was 9
time when aThe Fund" should be drawn
upon. And it was. After that sad fu-
n Il. I44Ia urhitn nnHin had