The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-03-21
DiyE L1RKINs' coat.
BY NiAICELLA.

This story Is as True Us SIN4 lSS ''ti ''-N'
1t was told me by an old gcmtcma" I'0l"
York State, who IS, incredible rs Ii may
seem, almost as truthful at sixty "S oe''
Washington was at six. And " 0''' ''''
memory is equal t" my mag '''"'''' '''S
time. and am going on my memory nov
= oro., rr,rm a conversation on clothes,
.,,,,,,,i,,,r the IcculiaIiticS, especially the
aI,s,Ird ones Ct the present with those Of
+I,o mast. He had the advantage of me,
for he had enjoyed a good deal more past
than had, and felt gleeful over it. "as
not quite willing to give itup so, for hadn't
I seen my grandmother's honncts? Eut
they were nothing to the things / had not
seen: and listened TO one description al
ter another of things ugly, inconvenlcht OF
ridiculous-perhaPs all thTee-till o'"''
want any more.
SwaIlow-tailcd blue br"adcloth came up
at last. and [ cnioyed brief flash OF tn
nmDh. for had not seen my father well
saved wedding suit? But the old Gchiie-
man soon annihiJatcd me. He brought up
tba identical coat that Dave LaIllirS wore,
don't know how long before | was born
Of course knew nothing at al about that
particular coat, and couldn't help wanting
70 know. So | subsided, with my best eX-
preston Of mute attention
Now I must admit lhe never reads pa
pers with any nonsense i'll them, and won
know itl. that the old gentleman can tell Il
story better than l can. l viii, however,
give it to the best Of my recollection sol
emnly averring that the cream at least Is
genuine.
Dave Larzins was one of those unfortu-
nate fellows who they say, used to exist
good many years ago, with great will but
small ability to be successful ladies' men.
There was not girl in the neghborhood
that had not mtteucd him some had nit
tened hin several times. If new girl
ventured there he presented her with at
tentions until she was half frantic Nature
had not done well by him, 50 he tried to do
the best he could by himself, and dressed
all he knew how, At least whenever lie ex-
pccted to meet girls.
lie went to Il pairing bee one night arrayed
i'm his very best Now the rest all wore
only their second best at pairing bees, or
something not even so good, and were dis
eusted at Dave. The idea of all the young
folks in the community being outshone and
humiliated 10y Dave Larkins' Sunday coat.
They went from disgust to Indignation,
and their Indignation was bad for that
coat. Apple pariugs began toiIy quite pro
n.iscuously, and thenrotten apples and by
some force of circumstances they all hit
fairly on some part Of that coat. \ pititul
looking coat it was-ruincd in fact but
Dave had one consolation-he had never
received SO much attention before III his
life. He had new coat made and wore it
to meeting hopefully. Blue cloth it was,
with swallow tails and brass buttons 50
bright that you could see your face in every
one of them.
Some of the big boys outside the meeting
house made grimaces at each other and
sniclered but what did he care? DcwilGa
Cunningham, called Wildly for 81 + had
ridden up just as he was tying his horse,
and had actually permitted him to help he"
of and tie hers. This unwonted g.ace had
cheered his very soul. But this was not
all As she had turned her head to give
him parting glance, she smiled.
Now, he had al Ways had n sort Of iucIi-
nation toward Wildly Cunningham. ard
,,,,a,-,.,..,,
u'' 'o'S - -, >
Sl'''' ~ I,,9,, ,,,,,.,ta't
- ~ =, t,,a UafaT,t,a,bood on5 c,r,a1
-. ~, ,l,I -
9 NV W., ,'T''' '''0'''' q %
% | w., 3.,, - "',clS ''',s 1' '''' ~
h,n1,l 49, tir,os lar.a - ''';' 49, ~
- .1,-.
,..-sT...(3
VIII Ir,t ho,,. f. ,i,, I,I a,,,e
I.'.,, -. d.,fo.- ro ,,,,,,,,+ cav doof
,,o.+ f,l . cor,,,o,is,, ,,,,rso1f