Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-01-23

III all lHese years thft hii uau Occu
absent from home, he never forgot the
parting promise TO his mother. He
often wrote to her, and his assurance
that he kept the pledge, together with
the report that be was "doing we'll, I"
filled the hearts Of his parents with
great joy.
During the few months that Phil had
been in c., he had occasionally at
tended church, and once in awhile
would visit the Sundsy-schools.
One Sunday morning. as he was
strolling along, his attention was at
tracted to procession composed Of
young men who were entering church
near by. One OF their number carried
a staff from which ioated beautiful
banner of white silk, aud upon whose
folds were these words: "Be Ye Faith
ful Unto Death" InsIinctively 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 To Phil, he
thought, and he was glad when the last
hymn had been sung. He was on the
point of leaving the church, when u
Especial announcement" from the su-
perintendent 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 Glass won the banner. They
are doing noble work. But be not dis
couraged, 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 a group
of little girls standing near a young lady
watching the banner with longing eyes.
This was the Infant Glass, and the
young lady standing near them was
Carrie Lee, their teacher.
Oh! how hard haG these little ones
tried to win that banner. Their little
mite each week had gone toward secur-
ing the prize, but always to no avail.
! The rule was that the class contributing
the largest amount of money toward the
J EMISSION Fund" each month should be
entitled to carry the banner for the en-
| suing month. 1t did seem hard to Phil
| thpt the pennies OF these little ones,
many, no doubt, the fruit OF earnest
self-denial, should be for naught In this
UNEQUAL contest, for he had learned from
! n scholar In another class that the young
men of the Bible Class gave certain
sum each week, whether present or not,
! I'm order to keep the banner, and that
they had carried it almost year.
"Ohi wish we could get the ban
ner," said little Amy Moore, - sweet
child, ''but we have tried and tried, and
| have given up all hope"
Don't be envIOus. doars," replied
Carrie Lee, "let us 'bs faithful, and
we may yet win the banner"
Phi. returned to his room with the
resolve that the Infant Class should
have the banner. 1t WAS busy week
with him, but he never forgot his re-
| solve, and when the next Sunday came
Phil was at the church and took his
seat behind the Infant Glass. And
! somehow lie became 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 perhaps It's teacher, too.
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 teach
er, and she was about to seal the enVei-
ope when Phil leaned over the seat and
handed her a crisp bank-note. 'For
the Infant Glass. To 90 toward 'ecur-
ing the banner" This was written on
n slip of paper aud pinned to the Dill.
Before she conlG thank him, Phil was
gone. The next month our Infant Class
were awarded the banner. IL was a
great surprise to the school, especially
TO the Bible Glass. Not 10 be outdone,
they doubled their contribution. But
I'm some way the banner was thereafter
carried by .he Infant Class.
How was it done?
Phil had by this time learned to know
the little class, each member by herself,
AS we'll as their teacher. The latter
gladly aided Phil in ascertaining about
how much the Bible Class contributed
each week, so thar II could be exceeded
by the contributions OF the Infant Class
and its friends. But the reader must
not imagine that Phil alone was making
this large contribution, individually
each week. Knowing that the mission
Fund" which WAS a fund toward the
erection Of home for frieHdless chill
dren la that city, was 4 laudable effort,
Phil, who was very popular with the
railroad men, told them the secret OF the
banner. 1t "took" among them like
wiId-iire, aud every one wanted 10 sub
scribe toward "Phil's Banner" So q
fund was established called by "the
boys" "Phil's Phund," and the contri-
buttons came In from many sources.
As tie story spread among the railroad
men, one at time they would drop into
Phil's Office, aud throwing down some
money would say: There, Phil, that's
for the 'Phund y"
So by this means the banner was kept
In the Infant Class. But as there was
a,,,,.h mora than anouuh n,nnav in thf