The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-05-05
Selerf1 Stury.
IKE'S BANNER.
BY GAY DAVIDSON.

Use never horn to 60 to church. y
tearfully exclaimed little Ike Judd as his
patient mother comhed ont the curly
locks OF her only son and heir prepara.
tory 10 his pilgrimage to the Sunday
School
Mr.. and Mrs, Judd lived at l., q
small town iu Western Illinois. They
we're poor, but in spite OF this mistor.
tune, II such it may be termed, they we're
decidedly rich in the possession of q
family heirloom which had eeen handed
down from generation to generation
with unbroken faith. 1t was an old say
ing:
The Judd family are noted for their
extreme piety
II was the oft-repeated expression of
an aged Methodist minister, q rugged
pioneer of the church militant who In
his journeyings in those early days bad
oft and again been the welcome guest at
the hoar,bstone OF many representative
of this remarkable family, whose name,
it seems, was legion throughout the wide
scope of country in which this patriarch
was wont to labor.
And this, his favorite expression, re-
peated in the experience meeting ON the
camp ground aud around Il e festal
hoard. became Of history, and as the
Judd family passed from one generation
SC another this religious sppellation
clung to them a.. d followed the family
name like benediction.
The grand old prelate has long since
been gathered to his fathers, and ere Ike
.'udd. who this bright Sunday morning
is receiving bic ablutions with grief,
shall hsve reached his majority, four
score and ten winters will have swept
,he autumn leaves over that old mans
grave. :
And thus early in life, greatly to the
sorrow Of his loving parents, Ike bad
sounded the key-note Of revolt. He twas
never born to go to church!" or Sunday
School either. for both we're the same to
him Both were terror 10 his Young
heart, and even IS be grew older the feel.
ing OF aversion TO places Of divine wor-
ship grew upon him.
Certainly here was hreak in The gol-
den chain. Was it possible that Ike
Judd, sole heir to sacred heirloom Of
generations. would cast awsy and ignore
this birihright7
But Ike was dutiful son and. though
he regarded Sunday Schools and church.
es with terror a vertheless attended with
mediocre regularity.
At school be was fairly bright, surpss
sing many of his older companions in
their udies A. work or play be wss
earnest or diligent. Taking it all in all
Ike was far from being q "bad bow but
he "was never bern to 60 to church"
As be grew older bis taste in this re-
gard seen ed 70 grow upon bims he could
not bear to hear the teacher tell the same
old stories of how had little boys were
punished. while good little boys died
early srd of course went to heaven. He
once took q hook from the Sunday
School library which was so full Of hor-
rible stories that he could not sleep for a
whole week without having dreadful
dreams. But 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 at las, bis
parents gave up trying and Ike was free
to 90 or not, as he chose; but 1t wss
sore a ction to these worthy people.
At last the time cs.ne for Ike to leave
his home and seek bis fortune else " here
To bow many thousands Of other hoys
bad this time Gomez So one bright
September evening Ike bade the old
home aod his parents an sfdectionale
fare well.
You will write to me. Ike, and know
you will he good; but won't YOU prom,
ise me to go 10 church or Sunday School
81 melimes ?" whispered his mother.
Yes, mother, III write often, and -
we'll, I'll 90 to church, too, sometimes.
Good by"
And be was gone, and out into the
world.
1t is needless for us TO follow our hero
out through the sundry and manifold vi
cissitudes be encountered in his pilgrim
age. His battles 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 meuial's
salary; then something higher and bet
Ter, till in few short wears we find ,ha,
Ike is an experienced telegraph operator
on great line Of railway running
through the west.
The Place at which Ike was stationed
was an important railroad center aud 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, c., their headquarters.