The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-08-14
LARKIN'S COAT

DAV Ii LARhlND . C(OAI
This story is as true as stories ever
are. 1t was told me by an old gen.
tleman from York State. who, incred-
ible as it may seem, is almost as truth
full at sixty as George Washington
was at six. And I-well, my memory
is equal to my imagination any time,
and am going on my memory now.
1t arose from q conversation upon
clothes, comparing the peculiarities,
especially the absurd ones, of the
present with those of the past. He
had the advantage of me, for he had
enjoyed q good deal more of the past
than had, and felt gleeful over it.
was not quite willing to give it up so,
for hadn't seen my grandmother
bonnets? ? But they were nothing to
the things had not seen, and lis
tened to one description after another
of things ugly, inconvenient or ridic-
ulous-perhaps all three-till I didn't
want any more.
Swallow-tailed blue broadcloth
came up at last, and enjoyed brief
fash of triumph, for had l not seen
my fathers well-saYed wedding suit !?
But the old gentleman soon annihi-
lated me. He brought up the iden-
teal coat that Dave Larkins wore, l
don't know how long before 1 was
born. OF course knew nothing at
all about that particular coat, and
couldn't help wanting to know. So 1
subsidized, with my best expression
OF mute attention.
Now | must admit Che never reads
papers with any nonsense in them,
and won't know it) that the old gen
| tleman can tell a story better than l
can. will, however, give it to the
best of my recollection, solemnly
aVerring that the cream at least is
genuine.
Dave Larkins was one of those un-
fortunate fellows who, they say, used
to exist a good many years ago, with
great will but small ability to be sue
cessful ladies' men. There was not a
girl in the neighborhood who had not
mittened him; some had nittened
him several times. If new girl ven
tured there he prosecuted her with at
tentions until she was half frantic
Nature had not done well by him, so
he tried to do the best he could by
himself, and dressed all he knew how,
at least whenever he expected to meet
girls.
He went to pairing bee one night
arrayed in his very best. Now the |
rest all wore only their second best at
pairing bees, or something not even so
good, and were disgusted at Dave
The idea of all the young folks in the |
community being outshone and hui |
INFLATED by Daye Larkins' Sunday |
coat. They went from disgust to in |
dignation, and their indignation was
bad for that coat. Apple-pearings be-
gan to fly quite promiscHously, and
then rotten apples; anu by some force
of circumstances, they all hit fairly on
some part of the coat. A painful
looking coat it Was-ruined ia fact
bat Dave had one cOnsolation-he had
never received SO much attention be-
fore in his life. He had a new coat
made, and wore it at meeting hope
fully. Blue cloth it was, with swal-
low tails and brass buttons, so bright
you could see your face in every one
of them.
Some of the big boys outside the
meeting house made grimaees at each
other and snickered, but what did he
care? Dewilda Cunningham, called
Wildly for short, had ridden up just
as he was tying his horse, and had ac-
I
and tie hers. This unwonted grace
had cheered his very soul. But this
was not all. As she had turned her
head to give him parting glance, she
smiled. i5I
Now he had always had a sort of
toward Wildly Cunning
ham, and she had always turned him
the cold shoulder very decidedly
An uncommonly smart, capable, good
looking girl she was, so that his lean
ing in that direction was no wonder,
if she had not been the greatest mis-
chief in the neighborhood, and famed
far and WidesfOr her pitiless practical
Jokes. Young men who did not hold
themselves towards were afraid of !.
Wildly.
But 'sfools rush in where angels fear
to tread" as has been written and
quoted few hundred times before, I
believe. Emboldened by that smile
and that coat, Dave resolved to try
MS chances once more.
Wildly kept house for an old couple
who were both deaf as--no. l won't
say deaf as post-find a comparison
yourself, please, and let me go on.-
Dave Larkins came along that even
ng just as she was going to milk
She greeted him so cordially that his
courage rose still higher. He went
with her to milk aud helped her carry {
IN the pals. How chattyNa and sociable
'he was. 1t really seemed to him as
# he might possibly have chance of
the smartest and thriitiest !.
girl in the settlement after all-he, !
Dave Larkins. What success that |
would be, and how some fellows
would envy him. i.
lie helped her down cellar with the l
milk, and stood watching while she /,
strained it, she talking away gayIy l.
With him all the time. She took up
he empty pals and hesitated mo-
nent. {
Here Dave" she said suddenly, f
you stay here moment till go up b
o the kitchen for o bowl" 7
She tripped lightly up the steps, and a
II second the trap door on the porch a
" which they had gone down was !,
lint, and he was in Egyptian dark
less. 55
Wildly slipped the bolt, and then,
unning into the kitchen, fastened the r
las -