The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-04-16

W. eAAsSy VAL ~ 0V0A0 uOys -
Ike was an interested listener *. this
conversation. It set. HIM to thinking.
He went to his room. Then he. said to
himself: The infant class shall have
the banner" .~.' ID. -:
Knowing that tho rule was that the
class contributing the most money to-
ward the missionary fund during the
month was entitled to carry the banner
tor the ensuing month, he betook him
SELF to ascertain how much the Bible
class wero in the habit of contributing
each week. This no learned by calling
on the superintendent, whom he hap.
pened to know. It was two dollars per
week. The young men composing The
class had had the banner almost
oil 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 di appointment. ,
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 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 hand
ing her q crisp bank bill, whispered:
no go with the contribution of the in
FAINT class toward securing the banner"
Then he was gone. The next month
our infant class were awarded the ban
ner. The surprise of the school, espe-
cially 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
ny 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 wild-fire among them.
Rough and strong as they were, the story
ct the little infant class and the ban
ner touched them.
Lets keep the banner in that class.
boys" said Ike. It was the signal of
grand donation. Ike was made treasur-
or OF likes Banner Fund" and the con.
tributions were liberal. Occasionally
railroad man, who had heard of the
matter from some friend, would say 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 that infant
class. 1t was 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 a
time when "The Fund" should be drawn
upon. And it Was. After that sad fu-
neral; after the little white coffin had
been buried in the grave where wilder.
ness OF flowers had been strewu; after
the earth.had been shovelled back, the
solemn company of people returned
homeward. The infant class, their
teacher, and Ike alone remained to
strew this tiny, new made grave with
flowers. And the banner was there.
"Be ye faithful unto DEATH" The
sorrowlng and poverty stricken parents
were not forgotten by likes Fund"
Our little infant class had now learn
ed to love Ike dearly, and, as for Stella.
am sure she thought very highly of
our hero.
A picnic. The Sunday-school was to
have picnic in the large grove a few
miles south of the city. The much
longed-for day dawned at last. bright
and clear, and scarcely had the sun got
ten out of bed when load after load of
happy children and their teachers were
vending their way to the grove.
"You will come down during the day,
won't you, Ike?" said Stella as the
former helped the little ones, one by
one, into the big wagon.
Eyes, I'll try to come down on No. s.
The road runs within half a mile of the
grove, and I'll ride down on the engine
with Jack, and he'll let me get off at the
big BRIDGE"
"Well, Ike, we'll meet you at the big
bridge and have lunch ready"
So they drove away, the banner float
ing proudly in tho morning breeze.
No. S happened to he late that day
and did not arrive until noon. Besides
the regular train there were an extra
number of coaches filled with excur-
sionists going west.
Jack, I want to ride down to big
bridge on the engine and get off there.
Am going to the picnic at the grove"
"All right, Ike; we've got a heavy
train, and we are an hour behind; but
l guess we can make it up"
Ike had always had desire to run an
engine, and often when riding with
some good natured engineer friend they
would allow him to "run der machine"
a few miles.
Can I handle her down to the bridge,
Jack?"
eyes, I guess so; but We must make
up time. Put on steam"
Away they flew. The long train
Numbered down the gentle declivity,
and the ponderous engine swayed and
rocked and rushed forward like the
wind.
e. Sc her little. Ike; we're nearing
the BRIDGE"
Just then, as they shot around the
curve, lke'a eye caught sight OF white
signal,
my God! Jack. see that signal?
There's danger ahead!"
Then began the struggle. Steam was
shut off and the engine reversed, as the
long, shrill whistle sounded for the ex-
ira brakes,
There on the bridge, the little chill
dren clinging to her in terror, stood
Stella, waving the banner frantically
to and fro. Onward came the train,
laundering and roaring upon them.
But there she stood, pale as death, sur
rounded by those little ones, fighting
for the lives of those on board-and for
his.
And how the heroes of the engine
worked. At last the train was under
control and was stopped at the brink of
destruction.
Two broken rails lay across the bridge.
Some williams work. Onr infant class