The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-26 00:00:00

THE THREE BLUE COATS:

A CHRISTMAS

'The story which T am going to tell to you was not told to
me by a story-telling aunt who had nothing better to do;
nor by one of a party of snowed-up travellers; nor round the
table of a ship's cabin to relieve tile tell um of a dreary
(trishaws night at sea. The narrator was a mail in the
prime of life a gentleman of fortune, and we. the listeners,
were Christmas guests at his hovitahle onomma.
A. pleasant house to via •t was "Tile Retreat " at Waltham-
stow, and a pleasant host was Miffs Leslie It 'alai not be-
cause there was a lack of entertainments that we were driven
On this night to story telling. but we had exhausted very
many of the onlinary chris mas amusements ; roc wanted
re+t m the thawing, tont we were in that peculiar stage of
hobbletlylutyhmsi which is very notch asharued ol doing any-
thing elation. Tterefore somebody proposed that we should
do as the Cluistmas an tuts suggested that everybody did,
and 30 story telling se, mcd rather a pleasant, and in ,eed
dignified meltu lof spending an hour, that somebody was at
„lire liii d a- a public benefactor. Unfortunate), our in-
vention wasSl t equal to our ambition, and our to ky idea
was very nearly proving a failure, when our hoot came to

_
our I esue. thie In some one.'
"if you don't know et win," said he, " make them. I shall .. , And why
give you a subject. You saw that old chest which stands beside Leslie, ametly.
choose me for your confidant; asked Beatrice
the window in the library : guess the history of it if you can. o . Because I thought you were interested in him. If I
if you do not succeed I shad 1,01 you afterwards what it am mistake., forgive an old woman for vexing you with her •
contains, aunt the life story which attaches to the contenta." Bono% s, and forget what I have said
The box in question w. a queerly-shaped chest, anti o But such things are not easily forgotten. Beatrice
althoueh etch of us as had seen it f requently hail ceased to Leslie pondered them, and spoke about them to her lover.
remark in it anything peculiar , yet a strange r could not fail o Harry Camidge could not deny that he sometimes did
to notice it, and to think it on ugly is suite to a bandsonelY as his fellow officers did That on occasions tliey drahk a
,arnislual library. That there was a reason for itr presence good deal of wine, that sometime& they visited a gaming.
Ii that lenticular spot, none of us doubted, and that a stm.y house; hat that they played low, and did not frequent bad
did alt ,Ch to it was equally certain, but all our secret in- compaitty. But, worst of all, he demanded the name of his
merles and pen remarks had failtd to elicit it. Borneo( us, malign.,
therefore, stay have guessed wide of the mark through a
desire to satisfy curiosity and to learn a family secret. " Beatrice Leslie was satisfied with his defence and his
promise of amendment. and saw 110 reason why he should
The chest was shaped precisely like the rough boxes in
not set himself right with his aunt also. In consequence,
wh ch sailors carry their clothes. Like them it had eloping
!tarry Camichse went straight to his aunt, and reproached her
std, s, end two rope handles ; but, unlike them. it was made
it solid mahogany, and was unskilfully embellished with wi.th calumiliating him.
brass headed nails. A ship'. carpenter hail evideidly beeu 51,... tyuham 'amidge stood upon her dignity, and
appealed to bar husband to defend her front his abusive
the architect, but •' Chips " had worked at a disativ..ntage.
Ismaili ge, and to her husband Harry Camidge declared that
Ills ',impose had been to make a trinik fit for a eentleman,
he int:iself would go. lie went, and poured iorth a flood of
but he had worked with unusual materials, had been unable
investivo+ against the mistress of ' Eagle House ' into the
to abandon c..nventional designs, and had only constructed
a handsome sailor's chest. astonished ears of his patron, mitt William Coolidge sternly
cominautied Insu to be silent and remember to whom he
lair guesses were, then fore. nautkal, and somewhat wild.
Some sold that It had hi gritoti ot:entail] Kidd , mid had been , spoke. lu the heat of his posaiiin Barry refueed, for the
: first time in his life, to obey his uncle's orders : he declined
the exchetmer of the bold bucaniers. Some pronounced it ' to explain the evil reports alto. concerning him, and boast-
the fruit of the leisure hours ot a secoutl
Some, that it was the solitary remeiubranc Robisison Crusoe.e
of a sireat snip- •
I fully exaggerated the worst deeds attributed to him, until
William Coolidge ordered him from his presence.
wreck ; and one young lady tom Inured that it might, have „
listened to the love vows of England's Sailor King. In anger he rejoined his ship, sod went headlong to
ruin. Ile was timt ill every deliaueh, and in every wicked-
" Well, you are all wrong," said Harry Leslie, when we had nese. Ile spent his allowance, anti wrote to his uncle
finished. "and 1 Intuit tell you the true story, which Is scarcely alnuist denianding money In reply, he received a note
so romantic as any ooe otiour suppositions. Will two of you from the old cashier enclosing a cheque for the amount
lads loriag the box here I' which he demanded, and informing him that Mr. Cartilage
The box was very speedily brought and placed on the , would still give him three months of probation in which to
hearthrtig. ' reform and apologise, and that according to his conduct
"Now," said our host, "this chest helonged to • sailor, 1 during that time, so wonld be his decision respecting him.
and, sal shall show you, it contains Three Old Blue Coats." I " Apologize because belted been foully slandered ! Neveis
With these words he unlocked the lid, and pulled out tint , He would go on as he had liegun. Ito would show his uncle
a thick pilot jacket, such as coastguard men usually wear, that he was a nuts of independent spin
t.
next ati undress naval surtout, 111111, last Of all, a lung " Meantime, Beatrice Leslie pined in secret and Ralph
dark blue garment like a dreseing gown. Reid plotted Its secret also. Ile hadsbeell foiled in every
, attempt to approach the banker's daughter. she had actually
" You stare at these old clothes," continued he, " but there spurned his advances, and revenge was added to greed to
Is a story attached to thein—a story In which sin and sutler- stimulate him to effect Henry Catuitige's ruin.
lug. anti good fortune, and happiness, all have a place. I
"At last the crash came. The throe prolationary months
Atoll begin with this peculiar piece of arparel, which none of
had almost finished, whetsßalph Reid received two chetptes
you recoguire, although you see similar coats every day. If
on Leslie's bank. is pay menvof some money which Harry bad
I were to put a pair of yellow stockings and a red belt
beside it, you would say at once that it was the tonic of a borrowed front him. They were dishonoured ; and Ralph, in
Blue Coat boy. And so it is. My hero was educated at the duty bound, informed his uncle of the fact. A day or two
achad in Nevrgate-street
lat. r, Mr. Leslie himself called to inform Mr. Utunidge that
several more of Lieutenarit Coolidge's cheques had omit) its.
"Bolero very many of you were horn, there was in Shad well Still later, a forged cheque._ bearing William casuidge's own
a large sugar refinery, known as ' Camidge's Sugar House,'
and at the foot of this building there was found on a eertain
evening the dead body of a Wall. It was evident that he had ,
1 ,i I name,w aw: 1
oPt rot, ... eii t e d all paid—and paid to o mats who
LieUten int Camidge's handwriting, on the
fallen tram the top of the honse. Ile was fearfully snimined ; 1 floor.'' Of course such open rascality conld not be tolerated, and
but when the watchman came to look at hirn closely, he
the li t l't s written to, and informed that his infamy
discovered that the corpse was that ..f Henry Cantidge, the
brother of the sugar refiner. His duty had been to visit the 1 was kietu 'irthawta for theduture he must consider himself as
d penii'wit i'in his'oivn resources', that, nor the honour of the
works Is ice during the night, anti swine strange fatality had
firm the resent che jue would be paid, but, that any sunder
on this night lett him out on the fiat roof. His foot hail '
slipped, he had fallen, and in an in taut he was lifeless. attema'alh'ould be pu'oislied.
Nothing remained but to carry hint home to his wife and "To everybody's astuaishment, Harry Camidge answered
his three children, and to go and tell his brother of the the letter in person. Ile denied that any of the cheques had
catastrophe been written by bins; but the letter which had been found
" Although Henry Carnidge hail been brother to the pro- he did not deny, nor the fact that he owed Ralph Reid some
prietor he was not a partner in the concern. He was not money. Ralph, on the other side, swore that he hail received
e ,
even foreman ; but held a subordinate Position and received the cheques from Harry, and prmluced the envelope in which
a very small weekly wage, some people wondered at this, they came. Whereupon, the lieutenant sprang upon him as
and called Will•am Caniidee a shabby fellow to treat his he stood on the office floor.
brother so ; but Wiliam Coolidge knew barer. He had ." You lying villain ''he cried, as he shook him. • This is
some to Lon ,on poor, and had made his own fortune, which 1 some devilish plot of yours. I never wrote those cheques,
he could never have done had he dragged up hie relations and you know it. I see your motive, and your greed. Take
with him. Every mm received the amount of sm cess which I the money, and welcome. But you have rohlted ine Of my
he deseed ; and if Harry was Is mr, and lived in tuba 111 I good name, mid, e a ntad foM, I have helped you to do it.
why ry
Harry did not deserve to be rish autl to live iu ' Eagle Intl shall lik
be revenged some day. ATI& uncle, watch him,
House.' for he will play you the same game some day !'
"When the old watchman drove out to' Elie. House' in the .. in a moment more he had hurled Ralph Reid senseless
early morning, he found %Vilna it Coolidge anti his wife it to the ground, NII,I Was fleeing wildly dowii the street.
breakfast. Early rising is a business-like and profitable „It was impossible for Harry Camidge W remain longer in
virtue, and William Catuidge practised it, and made his his pres,mt position. Ile sold his commission, aud placed the
household practise it too. The news WWI soon told. last naval coat he ever wore in that boa
I am not prepared to say that William Camidge was relieved
when he heard it, lila ils wife certahily heaved a great sigh
when she heard that it was only the master's Mother who had
been killed and nst the susar refinery that had been burned
down. William Coolidge was tilent for a moment or two,
anti then said—
" ' Tell the cashier that I shall he two hours later hi arriving
this morning. If Robertson's account is not paid toy eleven
o'clock let him hand it to my solicitor.'
"In private the worthy possessors of Eagle House' began to
discuss the great event of the morning.
I am isle, said Mrs. Coolidge, in a shrill voice, 'some
miefortune is always happening. Only last week that big
hay-rick sat bunted, 111141 DOW Henry has been and com-
mitted suicide, and left his wife to you to take care of. The
business can't stand it, and sou won't he such afoot as to
burden your •elf with them ! Will you, dear
"•Yt s, I will, fits,! Iliony wan my brother. Ile d INA
commit inveigle. I shall do something for his wife anti
children. and I don't want you ever to speak to me on the
subject again.'
" William Camidge's word was law to everybody connected
with IMit, and his wife did not dare to dispute his command ;
but she found a longalreaded fear elianged ton reality, and
front that moment set herself resolutely to bate Henry
Camitise's trite and family and to work them evil if she
could
•' on the other hand Williant Cantidge felt his heart stirred
with actual generosity when he stepped into his dog-
cart bettilla IliS high-stspping mare to drive to t, e city The
old tllklti WIIOII he was a child down in Lincolushire, came
back to his memory and he resolved to save his only brother's
family from all the privations which threatened them. But
the close air and the bustling strsets, and the busy scenes of
Whitechapel, had a wonderful effect on hint, and although
when he reached Shailwell he could still say 'Poor Harry !'
he coal not tiring himself to pull his pane-strings so widely
apart as he had meant to do
" When he entered the poi,rly furnished parlour, he found
histirothers wife surrounded by a host of eympathiring female
friends, who rose and left the room when the man of fortune
entered.
." Hannah,' said he, ' this is a sore blow which has fallen

. - .
lien Harry Camidge found himself adrift in London,
his first thought was bo turn his face tower Is the obi house
at Shadwell, but he bethought himself of his inability to
support himself on laid, and also of the rumours which
Ralph Reid would be certain to spread abroad affectiog his
character lie had a horror •if becoming a common seaman.
But all at once he hethoueht himself of a former friend, who
was chief officer of the coast-guard, at a station in the north
of Ireland. There, at least, he would be safe and hidden,
and could bide his time for his revenge. Ile went, anti was
warmly received by his quondam friend, who could scarcely
be persuaded to receive hint as a common coastglardeman.
However, he yielded to much persuasion, and there was not .
a better seaman in the coastguard service than liarry
Cantidge.
Ralph Relit felt thatehe had now his game, and behaved
with less caution, and /n ore arrogance, and Mrs. William
Can idge was extremely triumphant at the success of her
scheme. Her Joy was, ho *ever, doomed to be short, for an
acute Week of heart deseaee forever put an end to her
plots. The sugar-rehner, himself. was now thrown more
into the society of his nephew, and day by day felts grow-
ing suspicion of his honesty of purpose. Notwithstanding,
he gradually raised Ralph Reid in the busineae, and gave
him almost ale charge of it, but staunchly refused to make
hint a partner in it, although his nephew amain and again
hinted that such would be the case. With regard to Harry
Camidge, he preserved a strict elence, but he thought the
mire. el ally and many a time did that farewell scene, and
those farewell words, return to his memory, anti he began to
believe that the lad might not have been a rogue, after all.
More than that, he began to wish that he could find him out.
Not that lie fancied he could forgive hine for he had mallimed
his dead wife. anti had been ungrateful to himself, hut
simply that he should like to know where lie was, and, since
he had trained him as a gentleman, might start him in some
peation in life, in which he would hove a chance of retriev-
ing his character, aid using his abilities to profit. Ile never
mentioned his mune, however, until one day, when it was
found that Ralph Reid was absent front business, that he
had takett valuable securities With him that forged paper
Was in the market, and that Comidge, the sugar-retiner, was
almost ruined. Then, indeed, he said that his adopted son
had been plotted against, and had been driven to evil, anti he
we add have given the whole world to see him again, and ask
hi, forgiveness. But Harry Camidge had disappeared, and
could not be found.
" Ile was at his station, on the far-away sea, anxiously
scanning the horizon with his telescope. A hurl-tame was
raging . the white billows were breaking in foam far to sea-
• ward, and the huge rollers were dashing against the rocks,
with a monotonous anti thunderous roar. 'rhe only speck
' that was visible on the tumultuous sea was far to windward,
and from the little eleutl of smoke which surrounded it, it
was evidently a steamer struggling to make headway against
the . tempest. As the coastguardsman looked, the smoke
seenied to grow denser, and the steamer ceased to progress.
In a niomeat more she Wild diifting heplesaly before the
waves and the wind. Some of her machinery had broken,
and her destruction was certain.
"To call out the guard, and to get ready the rocket ap-
paratus, was the work of an instant. Then notuht remained
but to wait and eee where she would strike. On she c ime—
a fine paseenger ship, crowded with people. Utterly an-
manageable as she Was, the captain could do nothing to save I
her ; but, fortunately, she drifted into. sandy hay, where she
struck heavily. The coastguardsmen were there before her,
arid ere the heavy waves had thee to batter her much on the
beach a well-fired rocket was thrown over her, and commu-
nication was established with the shore. One by one, by
means of the cradle-rope, the passengers were drawn s-hore.
But the process was a slow one, and the poor creatures,
huddled together on the fore-part of the doomed ship, had
, not patience to wait their trim Many of them sprang into
I the sea, anti tried to make for shore. A few succeeded, but
' the most of them were submerged, or dashed against the
1 rocks, which projected into the water. The country people, i
anti the coastguard, stood ready to help, an far as they I
could, in snatching those driven (whore from the devouring
billows.
I "Olin man struggled Ii inc and hard with the waves, and his
agonized face could he easily seen as he tried to reach the
land. Harry Cainidge, among others, saw him and recognized
him. 'His time is conic,' said he, 'let him drown, and
expiate his crime !' And just at the moment, as if in fulfil-
ment of his wish, a hnge piece of floating timber struck the
swimmer on the head, and he sank. Once more, however,
he faintly strugeled to the surface, and a huge billow carried
him close to the beach. In an instant Harry Camidge
dashed into the foam and mixed him. With herculean effort
he held him fast against the retiring wave, and dragged him
into safety. The eyes of the rescued man gratefully turned
towards his deliverer to see an old enemy, who said 'Take
your life, and make a hotter use of it, you villain !'
"Harry Camidge had mead Ralph Roil, the runaway
• forger, list saved him only for a time. Bruised ant bleeding,
and wounded by the wood, he was carried to a neighbouring
house, where he lived for three days. Finding death draw
near, he sent for Harry Camidge anti confessed his plot and
his guilt - confessed his recent treachery, and inmlored him
to take the content% of the money belt, which he had saved
by carrying it round hie waist, and to restore them to his
uncle. 'Viii will have his friendship and his fortune, which
you might never to have lost, and I trust I shall have his
forgiveness, as I already have yours.'
"it was Christmas eve, and William Camidge was sitting
in lonelineas by his ewe fireside, pondering over the failure of
his schemen and the sorrows which had come upon him,
when the door opened, and haudsome Beatrice Leslie glided
to his side.
We haves few friends to-night, Mr. Camidgee soul she, I
' and we would fain have asked you to come and join us
But we knew that you would not, and that you would be dull,
an lleq them for a little to come and see you.'
IMH ! girl When am I anything hut "sill? I have
been thinking of those two lads, and of the way in which I
have treated them. I have driven away your lover, Beatrice,
why should you come to cheer me?'
Because you did as yeti thought right. I drove him
away also, because in his despair he became unworthy of me.
But I believe Ralph was the cause of all, and we shall see
Harry yet and tell him no.'
" at that moment the door again opened, and the man
In that coat entered.
" I need not describe the scene which followed. You can
fancy the reunion between adopted father mid restored
sweetheart, and you Citll readily believe that Mr Leslie's few
frienle were augmented ere the evening was done, and that
the Christinas thanksgivings of some of the people I have
mentioned were more then usually fervent in as far as in
their hearts there was only good-will tower& nen.
'Six n 1111 l ths later Beatrice Leslie married Harry Camidge.
Ere long Old Banker Leslie died and left his fortune to his
son-In-law, on condition that he assumed the family name.
go Harry Camidge became Harry Leslie, slid illiW he has told
you a chapter of his OWII life. Now you see why I keep the
Mil chest in the library, and why I treasure' The Three Blue
Coats.'"

upon us '
"But Liannah only answered with a groan and a flood of

tears.
"'lam very, very sorry, my good woman, and since he was
my brother I shsll not see you want.'
'1 ain not your good woman,' burst forth his bimther's
wife, ' and since he lost his life in your service I don't care
whether I want or not ' But, checking herself, she added,
Ilb forgive me what I say! I don't know what lam a .ying.
Tow won't see his children starve? Oh, William, bay you
". I have sail I won't, and an angry W 91,1 does not change
me You shall have a pound a week. and, if you are agree-
able, I shall take away your eldest boy. I shall educate him
as a gentlenian, and I may do something better for him in the
eml. Don't interrupt sue, or refuse. I give you a month to
think over it. In the meantime I shall see to all that is
necessary—and—and God bless you, Hannah, and help you in
this great distress r
"With this blight religious benediction William Camidge
took his leave, and, In due time, acted as chief mourner at
his brother's funeral. On that day lie gave the widow fifty
pounds, as the best consolation he could offer, and a mouth
later his carriage called and carried MI Harry Camidge.
Everything wad arranged in a business-like manner. The
toy was to be sent to the Blue Coat School : he was ro spend
a small proportion of his holidays with Ms mother-the rest
at • Eagle House; ' if he behaved well, he was to he considered
the adopted son of William Camidge, and would he men-
tioned in the great man's will ; but if he gave dissatisfaction
to his patrons they were to be at liberty to turn him penniless
adrift.
"So it was that Harry Carnidge entered the Blue Coat
School, and so it was that the shapelesa coat came into
the box.
• •

- .
•
•• When William Camidge said that he would bring up his
brother's son Is a gentleman, he meant what he mid, and
when William Camidge's wife mentally vowed that she
would work evil upon Henry Canildge's family, she meant

that. too.
" But, the sugar refiner, like many another man who has
risen from the ranks, had no idea that his son by adoption
should follow a business career. ' No, no! Ile hail made
more money than most folks, and the name iii Camidge
would Ike as good as the name of Cavendish yet, and the
Camidges would be able to hold up their heads with any lord
In the land.' Therefore, the boy was to become a soldier or
a sailor, and some day when William Camidge died, he would
step into a very tidy fortune and settle down as a country
gentleman.
" Meanwhile, he was kept in ignorance of the future which
was carved out for hint, mei was only impressed with the fact
that his future prospects depended upon his diligence and
obedience. N a even to his wife dill William CaMillge dis-
close his plans. Only to his cashier, who knew almost all his
secrets did he reveal them, and to him he sonletitnes talked
confidentially, and even boastfully, about his schemes Harry
was only told that he most make up his mind ti enter either
the army or the navy, and, with a boyish preference, he chose
the navy.
" But althouch Mrs. William eatable° was not absolutely
certain that her husband designed Harry as the heir of the
bulk of his fortune, she guessed his bitention, and set her-
self to frustrate it. She was a lartie-honekl, masculine woman,
with anything but a refined mind She had met her husband,
then an ordinary workman, in Antley'a Theatre, and the ac-
quaintanceship, thus accidentally formed, awl persistently
maintained, on her part, hal ended In marriage, and
affluence. Althongh herself childless, she hail scores of
nephews awl nieces, and to them she was Manly resolved her
husband's money should go. As for this brat of his brother's,
he could be klisposed of quietly, and secret tactics might
prevail, v.-here imen speech was sure to fail. Therefore,
when Harry Camidge went to ' Eagle Hotuse,' his mud treated
him with tleitionstrative affection ; she bribed him with
abundance kif pocket-nioncy, she longed for his holiday-time,
and tionitively counted the days, until Wednesday canon
and the rosy-faced lad was seen costing up the avenue. All
the oldie she plotted, and hated, and waited.
" Harry Camidge's school days came to an end, anti still
the mistress of ' Eagle House ' waited. But when a com-
mission bail been purchased for him, when he had actually
joined H. M.'s frigate Thunderer, then she kiriedher crocodile
tears, awl thought that her time had come.
"William Camidgehad come to be really fond of hisadopted
site, and, when Ike went away, he missed bun sorely. What
was more natural than that the place if the absent one
sleuth he supplied ? Mrs Camidge thought so.
•• William,' said she, 'since k air dear boy has gone away
the buss is xn I miss his handsonke young face. Don't
yin- think I should ask Ralph Reid to come and stay with its
for a while?'
"No.'
"Why, William
Because I don't like Ralph Reid, and I don't see the
use of his company here.'
I Was sure you would say that, if ally of my relations
were mentioned—quite sure. You can take care if your own
though—although I'm sure I love the dear fellow.'
Well, Sally, I believe you do. Nobody can help liking
him. Awl as for Ralph, he can come if you like; only
remember, I won't have him going almut here idling away
his time, and I don't want any such talk about either your
relations or mine.'
"lie was net likely to be troubled with it again. Her end
was doubly gained. It klph came; and to nave him tress
heist idle had a post assig led to hint in the office. Every
licit !ling he drove to the city with William Cainiklue--evely
evenekg he retailed with him. Ile was diligent in busisims,
and active and attentive in lewure time, and was so generally
useful that is a short time lie was indispensable. Still, he
did not succeed in supplanting Harry in the old man's
affections, MO stricter measures became necessary. It
was by no means frequently that Lieutenant Camidge as he
lie I come by Lida time to le-) could find an opportuni'y to
v sit his uncle, but during his rare visits he had contrived to
fall desiairetely in love with Beatrice Leslie.
" Beatri .c L. me was the daughter if a wealthy banker.
and returned the ardent affection of her youthful ailmirer
to the chagria of Ralph Reid, who fain would have been an
accepted worshieper at the same shrine Mrs. Vi illisin
Cartilage saw at a glance how waiter.; stood, and took her
rue accordingly. One evening when 'Eagle House' was full
II guesta, she called her nephew aside and sent him to the
conservatory for a camellia. He cams back with a lace as