Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-01-23
PILLS BANN Err.

tearfully exclaimed little Philip Judd i,
AS his patient mother cOmbed out the
curly locks of her only son and heir
that bright Sunday morning, prepara-
tory for his pilgrimage to the Sabbath
school.
Mr.. and Mrs. Judd lived in l., Il
small town in Western Illinois. They
were poor, but in spite Of this misfor-
tune, if such it may be termed, they
were decidedly rich in the possession OF
family heirloom which had been
handed down from generation to gen
Grafton with unbroken faith.
And this precious heirloom consisted
Of an old saying, viz: "The Judd fam
lily are noted for their extreme piety."
This WAS the oft-repeated expression
of Nh aged Aethedist minister. II rugged
pioneer in the "church militant, who,
In his journeying in those olden times,
hsd oft and again been the welcome
guest Mt the hearthstone of many rep
resentative Of this remarkable family,
whose name, it seems, was legion
throughout the wide scope of country
i'm which this patriarch was wont to
labor.
And this, his favorite saying, repeat
ed 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 appellation
clung to them, aud followed the family
name like benediction.
The grand old prelato has long since
been. gathered to his IN thers, aud ere
Young Phil Judd shall have reached his
majority, four score and ten winters
will have swept the autumn leaves over
that old mans grave.
Thus, early in life, greatly to the sor-
row Of his parents, Cid Phil sound the
key-note OF revolt. lie vas "never
made to go to church." or to Sunday
school, either, for both were the same
to him. Both were terror to his young
heart. Even as he grew older the feel
ing of aversion to places of divine
worship grew upon him.
His worthy parents had fOndly cher
ished the hope that they might live to
see their only child and son minister
I'm the church. But how early, indeed,
were their hopes blasted.
Certainly, here was break in the
golden chain. Was it possible that
Phillip Judd, sole heir to sacred heir
loom Of generations, would Ignore and
east away this birthrightS
But Phil was dutiful son, and al
though never losing his dread of the
church and Sunday-school, attended
quite regularly during his earlier years.
He often tried TO become interested
in the Sunday school, but the teacher
often was wearisomc, and the long talks
by the superintendent "made his bones
ache" AS he often said. He took book
from the Sunday school library once
which was so full Of horrible stories of
deaths of martyrs and bad boys that it
made him have terrible dreams.
At last he gave up trying 10 like the
Sunday school. aud, as he grew older,
his parents, seeing that he could never
be a minister of his own choice, advised
him TO choose some occupation suitable
to his inclination.
Phil was always bright scholar, and
his education, though limited, WAS tho
rough. He had often wished to be a
"railroad man." as he called il, aud at
last determined to seek his fortune and
his idol in the far West.
1t was a sorrowful parting tor the
happy home. How many just such sor-
rowful partings have there not been!
"Good.bye, my boy" said his father.
"Be faithful, and you'll VIM
ooh, Phil! isaop yon will be good,
and you will write to me; but you will
promise not to forget the church and
Sunday-school." !"
eyes, mother, III write aud I'll not
forget. Good-bye!"
And he was gOne-out into the world.
Ii is needless to follow our hero
through the sundry and manifold vicis-
situdes of the first years OF his battle
with the world. Perhaps his expert
euces would differ but little from those
of thousands who started in life as did
he.
First, al odd job here; another there !;
then a menial's position at n menial's
salary; then something higher and bet
ter, until now we find him higher on
the ladder toward the coveted goal.
Phil is telegraph operator at c., a