The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-04-24
KB's BANNER

ma patt0nt mother Combed ont tl0 cur
lylocks Of her onlyson and l,eir, prepar-
atcry TO his pilgrimage 70 the Sunday
school
M. and Mrs. Judd lived ct Liza
small town in. western Illinois. They
were poor; but iinspite Of this misfor-
tune. If such il may be termed, they
were decidedly rich in the possession OF
afsmily heirloom which had been hand
ed down from generation to generation
With unbroken fifth. II was an old
saying.
n Judd family ore noted for their
extreme piety."
II was the oftrrepeated expression Of an
aged Methodist minister. q rugged pio-
neerr j the Church militant, who, in his
jo~urneyings in those early days, had oft
and again been the welcome guest at
the h~earthstone of many representa-
tive Of this remarkable family, whose
name, it seems was legion throughout
the wide scope Of country in which this
patriarch Was won't TO labor.
And this, his favorite expression, re-
peated in the experience meeting, on
the camp ground, and around the fes-
~ board, became Of history, and as the
Judd family passed from one generation
~ another this religious appellation
chung 10 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 additions with
grief, shall have reached his majority,
four score aud ten winters will have
swept the autumn leaves over that old
mans grave.
And thus, early in life, greatly to the
borrow Of his loving parents, Ike had
sounded the keynote OF revolt. He
twas Y born to go to church or
Sunday-school. either. for both were
the same to him. Both were q 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 q break in the
golden chain. Was ltpossible that Iko
Judd, sole heir to a sacred heirloom Of
generations. would cast away and ig-
more his birthright?
But Ike was . dutifuI son, and,
though he regarded Sunday-schools and
churches with terror, nevertheless at
tended with mediocre regularity.
At school he was fairly bright, sur
passing many of his older companions
ii their studies. AT work or play he
was earnest or diligent. Taking it all
in all, Ike was far from being o "bad
boy" But he was never born to go
to church,"
As he grew older his distaste in this
regard seemed to grow 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 q book from
the Sunday school library which was
80 full Of horrible stories that he could
not sleep for q whole week without hav.
ing dreadful dreams. But q too gem
erous 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 q
sor affection 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
either boys has this time come? So one
bright September evening Ike babe the
old home and his parents an affection.
ate farewell,
aYou will write to me-, Ike, and
know You will be good; but won't you
promise me- TO GO to church or Sunday
schoolsometimes 2" whispered his moth.
er.
Eyes. mother III write often, and
well, Ill 60 TO church. too. sometimes.
Good-bye!r
And he was gone, and ont into the
world.
It is needless for us to follow our he.
70 through the sundry and manifold
yicissitudes he encountered in his pil-
grimage, 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 . menial's position at q meninl's
salary; then something higher and bet.
ter, till n few short years we find tina,
Ike is an experinced telegraph Opera
tor on o great line Of railway running
through the West.
The place at which Ike was stationed
wa an important railroad centre, and
his position was n OF Importance anG
trust He soon became quite popular
with his employers, and especially will
. large number Of railroad men who
made the city of c., their headquar.
ters.
sent from honse he never forgot his mo-
ther. He often wrote to her and his as
surance that he occasionly attended di.
vine worship, together with the repor,
that he wa" doing well, filled the hearts
aof bis parents with great Joy. How littl,
did they know that their most earnes
prayers were, in time, to be answered
One bright Sunday morning, as Ike
was strolling I'VE the beautiful city
his attention was attracted to o process
sion composed of Young people. VIII,
were marching into q church near by
Their leader bore in his hands o stat
from which 1oated a gorgeous banne,
Of white silk exqnisitely embroidered
and which bore these words:aBe ye
faithful unto DEATH" ~Instinctively join
ing the throng of children that wa
pouring into tha church, Ike also en-