Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-23
: The Little
} Pilgrimage.
7 By STEPHEN CRANE.
} Author Of "The Red Badge Of Cour.
ass." Etc. I
} Cop right 1900. by William Hpire Crane.
Cop right 1890. by William Hoire Crane.

| Nv November 1t became clear eur
10 childish minds In certain
parts of Whilomville that the
~ Sunday school Of the Presby-
terrain church would not have for the
children the usual tree on Christmas
eve. The funds free for that ancient
festival would be used for the relief
of suffering among the victims Of the
Charleston earthquake.
The plan had been born in the gen.
erous head of the superintendent OF the
Sunday school. and during one session
he had made strong plea that the
children should forego the vain pleas
ures of tree and. in glorious appli-
cation of the golden rule, refuse local
use Of the fund and will that 1t be
sent where dire pain might be allevi-
ated. At the end Of tearfu!ly elo-
uuent speech the question was put
fairly to vote, and the children in
burst Of virtuous abandon carried the
question for Charleston. Many Of the
teachers had been careful to preserve
finely neutral attitude. but even II
they had cautioned the children
against being too impetuous they could
not have checked the wild impulses.
But this was long time before
Christmas.
Very early boys held important
speech together. Huh! You amt
goIn' to have no Christmas tree at the
Presbyterian Sunday school,"
Sullenly the victim answered, mo,
we amt"
"Uuh.' scoffed the other denOmina-
ton. "We are gOin' to have the all
firedest biggest tree that you ever saw
in the world"
The little presbyterlans were greatly
dOwncast.
1t happened that Jimmie Trescott
had regularly attended the Presbyte-
rian Sunday school. The Trescotts
were consistently undenomlnational,
but they had sent their lad on Sundays
to one Of the places where they
thought he would receive benefits.
However. on one day in December
Jimmie appeared before his father and
made strong spiritual appeal to be
forthwith attached to the Sunday
school Of the Big Progressive church.
DR.. Trescott mused this question con-
siderably. "Well, Jim," he said, "why
do you conclude that the Big Pro-
grassive Sunday school is better for
you than the Presbyterian Sunday
schools"
"Now-its nicer" answered Jimmie,
looking at his father with an anxious
eye.
"HOw do you mean?"
"Why. now-some Of the boys what
90 to the Presbyterian place, they amt
very NICE" explained the fragrant jim
| mie.
Trescott mused the question consid-
erably once more. In the end he said:
"Well, you may change II you wish
this one time, but you must not be
changing to and fro. You decide now,
and then you must abide by your de-
| cision."
"Yessir" said Jimmie brightly. big
Progressive"
"All right" said the father. "But re-
member what I've told you"
On the following Sunday morning
Jimmie presented himself at the door
| Of the basement OF the Big Progressive
| church. He was conspicuously wash
ed. notably raimented, prominently
polished. And incidentally he was very
uncomfortable because Of all these vir
tues.
A number of acquaintances greeted
him contemptuously. Hello, Jimmie!
What you doin' here? Thought you
| was Presbyterian!
Jimmie cast down his eyes and made
no reply. He was too cowed by the
change. However, Homer Phelps, who
was regular patron Of the Big Pro-
| gressive Sunday school, suddenly APP
| peared and said, Hello, JIM" Jimmie
seized upon him. Homer Phelps was
amenable to Trescott laws, tribal IL
you like, but iron bound, almost COM
| pulsory.
| Hello. HOmerw said Jimmie. and
his manner was so good that Homer
felt great thrill in being able to show
his superior new condition Of life.
You amt never come here afore,
| have you!" he demanded, with new
arrogance.
mo, amt" said Jimmie. Then
they stared at each other and maneu-
vered.
"You don't know my teacher" said
Homer
"No; I don't know her." admitted
Jimmie, but In way which contended
modestly that he knew countless other
Sunday school teachers.
Better Join our class" said Homer
sagely. "She wears spectacles; don't
see very well. Sometimes we do al.
most what we like"
"All right" said Jimmie, glad to
place himself in the hands OF his
friends. In due time they entered the
Sunday school room. where a man
with benevolent whiskers stood on a
platform and said. 1--WE will now sing
No. 33--'Pull For the Shore. Sailor;
Pull For the Shore" And as the
obedient throng burst into melody the
man on the platform indicated the
time with fat. white and graceful
hand. He was an ideal Sunday school
superintendent. one who had never felt
hunger or thirst or the wound Of the
challenge OF dishonor: man. indeed.
with beautiful fat hands who waved
them in greasy victorious beneficence
over crowd OF children.
Jimmie. walking carefully on his
toes. followed Homer Phelps. He felt
that the kingly superintendent might
cry out and blast him to ashes before
he could reach a chair 1t was des'
perate journey, but at last he heard
Homer muttering to young lady
who looked ut him through glasses
which greatly magniiied her eyes. "A
new boy" she said in an oily ana
deeply religious voice.
"Yes'm," said Jimmie, trembling
The five other boys of the class scan