Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-02

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We find that Ike is On expert
enced telegraph operator on great Inc
Of railway running through the West.
The place at which Ike was stationed
was an important railroad centre, and
his position was one OF importance and
trust. He soon became quite popular
with his employers, and especially with
large number of railroad men who
made that city, G =, their headquarters.
In all these years that Ike had been
absent from home he never forgot his
promise to his mother. He often wrote
to her, and his assurance that he occa.
sionally attended divine worship, to-
gether with the report that he was do
ing well, p 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, bis
attention was attracted by q procession
composed of young people, who were
marching into church near by. Their
leader bore in his hands a staff from
which fioated a gorgeous banner OF white
silk exquisitely embroidered, and which
bore these words: 'sBe We faithful unto
deathp Instinctiyely 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
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 couKted. 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 a noble work. But, little
children of the other classes, do not be
discouraged. BE We faithful, and you
may yet receive the beautiful banne=.n
With this the school was dismissed
AS the children crowded out, following
the Bible class, whose leader still proud
~ carried the banner, Ike noticed
group of little children standing near
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, manv 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. don't believe we'll ever get
it"
''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 to this
conversation. It set him 80 thinking.
He went to his ROOM Then he said to
himself: 1.-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
better seat there. or perhaps there was a
charm in the deep blue eyes of Stella
c., 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: ITO 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 schooI. In time be 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
confided his secret Of the banner. It at
once took like wildfire among them,