Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-03
IKE'S BANNER.
BY GAY DAVIDSON,

oA bAl OAN 1DSONs
"Pse never born to go to church, ="
tearfully exclaimed little Ike Judd, as
his patient mother combed out the curly
locks OF her only son and heir, prepara-
tory to his pilgrimage to the Sunday
school.
Mr. and Mrs.: Judd lived at l., q
small town in Western Illinois. They
were poor; but, in spite of this misfor-
tune, II such it may be termed, they
were decidedly rich in the possession of
family heirloom which had been handed
down from generation to generation with
unbroken faith. 1t was an old saving:
''Ihe Judd family are noted for their
extreme piety."
1t ives the oft-repeated expression of
an aged Methodist minister, rugged
pioneer in the church militant, who, in
his Journeyings in those early DAYS, had
oft and again been the welcome guest at
the hearthstone of many a representative
OF this remarkable family, whose name,
1t seems, was legion throughout the wide
scope of country in which this patriarch
was wont to labor.
And this, his fayorite expression, re-
peated in the experience meeting, on the
camp ground, and around the festal
board, became Of history, and as the
Judd family passed from one generation
to another this religious appelaton clung
to them, and followed the family name
like benediction.
The grand old prelate has long since
been gathered to his fathers, and ere Ike
Judd, who, this bright Sunday morning,
is receiving his ablutions with grief,
shall have reached his majority, four
score and ten winters will have swept
the autumn leaves over that old mans
grave. .,,.
..." And thus, early in life, greatly to the
sorrow of his loving parents, Ike had
sounded the keynote of revolt. He
''was never born to go to churchw or
Sunday school, either, for both were the
same to him. Both were terror to his
young heart, and even as he grew older
the feeling of aversion to places of divine
worship grew upon him.
Certainly, here was break in the
golden chain. Was it possible that Ike
Judd, soc heir to sacred heirloom of
generations, would cast away and ignore
this birthright9
But Ike was dutiful son, and, though
he regarded Sunday schools and churches
with terror, nevertheless attended with
mediocre regularity.
AT school he was fairly bright, sur
passing many Of his older companions in
their studies. At work or play he was
earnest or diligent. Taking it all in all,
Ike was far from being "bad boy"
But he twas never born to go to
church" :" . :
AS he grew older his distaste in this
regard seemed to grown upon him. He
could not bear to hear the teacher tell
the same old stories of how bad little
boys were punished, while good little
boys died early, and, of course went to
heaven. He once took book from the
Sunday school library which was so full
of horrible stories that he could not
sleep for whole week without having
dreadful dreams. But o too generous
portion of fruit cake may have had
something to do with them. We don't
exactly know" ...''
The long sermons "made his bones
ache" as he often said. So his parents
at last gave up trying, and Ike was free
to go or not, as he chose. But it was a
sore af11iction to these worthy people.
At last the time came for Ike to leave
his home and seek his fortune else
where. To how many thousands of
other boys has this time Gomez So, one
bright September evening Ike bade the
old home and his parents an affectionate
farewell
"You will write to me, Ike, and |
know you will be good; but won't YOU
promise me to go to church or Sunday
school sometimes'" whispered his
mother
eyes, mother, I'll write often, and
well, I'll go to church, too, sometimes.
Good byem
And he was gone, and out into the
world.
1t is needless for us to follow our hero
through the sundry and manifold vicissi-
tudes he encountered in his pilgrimage.
His battle with the world differed little
from that of other young men who
started just as he did.
First, an odd job here; another there
then a menials position at menials
salary; then something higher and
better, till in few short years
we find that Ike is an expert
enced telegraph operator on a great line
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. IEe soon became quite popular
with his employers, and especially with
large number of railroad men. who
made that city, c., their headquarters.
In all these years that Ike had been
absent from home he never forgot his
promise to his mother. He often wrote