Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-03

gether with the report that he was do
ing we'll, " filled the hearts of his parents
with great joy. How little did they
know that their most earnest prayers
were, in time, to be answered.
One bright Sunday morning, as Ike
was strolling over the beautiful city, his
attention was attracted by procession
composed of young people, who were
marching into church near by. Their
leader bore in his hands staff from
which floated a gorgeous banner of white
silk exquisitely embroidered, and which
bore these words: "Be We faithful unto
deathw Instinctively joining the throng
OF children that was pouring into the
church, Ike also entered and took a
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
I.sung. He was about to leave the church
when an announcement from the super
intendent arrested his attention. 1t was
this:
MY dear children, the monthly Of
ferings of the various classes have been
received 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
are doing noble work. But, little
children of the other classes, do not be
discouraged. Be We 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
ncr. Their pennies, many no doubt the
fruit of self-denial, had gone toward the
cherished object. Not that they would
not have given them for charity as will
ingly, but, oh! they longed to possess
that beautiful banner. And they had
never succeeded.
"Oh, dear" sighed one little cherub
"We have tried and tried to earn that
banner. l don't believe we'll ever get
it."
Don't be envious, DEAR" said Stella
c., their teacher, "' be ye faithful, and
we may win it some day."
Ike was an interested listener to 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 per
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
always in 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 high" Perhaps it was a
better seat there, or perhaps there was a
charm in the deep blue eyes of Stella
G, the teacher of the infant class
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 handing her q
crisp bank note, whispered: "To 90
with the contribution of the infant class
/ toward securing the banner" Then he
was gone. The next month our infant
class was awarded the banner. The
surprise of the school, especially the
Bible class, was nothing compared 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
contided his secret of the banner 1t at
once took like wildfire among them.
Rough and strong as they were, the story
of the little infant class and the banner
touched them.
Lets keep the banner in that class,
! boys" said Ike. 1t was the signal of a
/ grand donation. Ike was made treas.
urer of "Ike's Banner Fund" and the
contributions were liberal. Occasion
ally railroad man, who had heard of
| ibn mo from f,fap1
to Ike, "Here's sinner for the fund,
Ike"
''The fund" grew, and as it required
but small stipend weekly to keep the
infant class ahead in contributions, the
treasury was always quite full.
One day death invaded the ranks of
that infant class. 1t was a sad death.
Little Amy Moor's parents were very
!, poor--she was the JOY of that humble
home.
Ike heard of this sad event and the
circumstances of the parents through
Stella and he decided that this was O
+ time when "The Fund.- should be drawn
upon. And it was. After the sad fu-
neral, after the little white coffin had
been buried i'll the grave where wilder.
ness of flowers had been strewn; after
the earth had been shoveled back, the
solemn company of people returned home.
ward. The infant class, their teacher,
and Ike alone remained to strew this
tiny, new-made grave with flowers. And
the, banner was there. ''Be We faithful
unto death" The sorrowing and pow
erty stricken parents were not forgotten
by "Ike's Fund"
Our little infant class had now learned
to love Ike dearly, and, as for Stella,
| am snrn che thnnnht unru hinhlu of nnr