The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-02
THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.

THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.
ministers sons are very apt to turn out
badly" said to the gentleman who sat next
to me in the car. We had met in the train,
bound for Chicago, and had struck up an ac-
quaintance. He stopped me with his hand
on my arm, and with an earnest look which
I shall never forget. Ipaused at oncei in what
I was saying, and it seemed for moment
almost as if the rushing train had stopped
to listen, too.
'Let me tell you story" he said. II
know it is common belief that ministers
SONS are wild, but that is because people
talk about the bad ones, while those who
turn out we'll are taken as a matter of course.
found that out Of one thousand sons of min
listers there were very few who did not grow
vp useful and industrious men,
But what is your story?" I asked
"Well," said he, lit begins with class
supper in Boston a dozen years ago. A
number Of old college friends had gathered
in the evening for their annual reunion.
Among them was the rich merchant, J. E.
Williston-perhaps you have heard Of him
and a poor pastor of country church in
Elmbank village, out in western Massachu-
sets, whose name was Blake. A good many
Of the class had died, and the dozen OF SO
elderly men who were left felt more tender
than ever toward each other as they thought
of the bright old days at Harvard, and how
soon no one would be left on earth who
shared in that happy time. The dishes
came and went, the lights glowed brilliant
~, and at last the friends grew quite gay.
But the tender feeling have spoken Of
would come uppermost, now and then: and
in one of these musing moments Williston's
eye was attracted by something glistening
about the coat which his friend Blake, who
sat next to him, had on. He looked closer,
and saw that the black cloth of which the
coat was made had been worn so thin that
it was shiny.
"'Well, Blake said he suddenly. taking
hold of his friends arm cordially (Which he
somehow hadn't thought Of doing before),
how has the world gone with you, lately?
''Blake had naturally sad and thought
full face, but he looked around quickly, with
a warm smile.
g No need to ask he said laughing.
You can read the whole story on my back.
This old coat is sort of balance sheet,
WA4Cu SuOWb LILY 1lltluCIh1 COuulIlOu IOH l..
''Then he spoke more seriously adding:
country parson. don't complain of my
lot, though sometimes I'm distressed for my
family. The fact is, this coat I've got on is
hardly fit for man Of my profession to ap-
pear in, but I'm going to send my boy Sam
to Harvard this year, and must pinch here
and there to do it. really ought to be
thankful, though, that can get such ad-
vantages for him by few little sacrifices at
personal appearance and convenience,
Don't you give thought to your coat,
old fellow returned Williston. Nobody
who knows you will ever imagine that the
heart inside Of it is threadbare, however the
garment may look
"Blake was pleased with this kindly ex-
preston, and both men after that exchange
of confidence felt happier. But, among the
various incidents Of the evening, this one
almost passed out of the minister's mind
by the next day, when he started for Elm
bank. Speedy as his return was, however,
something meant for him had got to his des-
tination before him. It was letter. Taking
it up, he broke open the envelope, and found
inside few words from Williston, with a
first years college expenses of his old class
''You are stranger to me, SIR" said my
travelling companion at this point, ''but I
think you will appreciate the feeling with
which poor MIR. Blake stood in his bare and
dingy study in the old farm parsonage,
holding that letter in his hand, and lifting
his faithful eyes in thankfulness to God. "
EYES," replied. ''Williston did just the
right thing, too. And how was it? Did the
son show that he deserved the help?"
My acquaintance looked away from me at
the rich country through which we were pass
ing. Then he said: ''Sam Blake was good
natured, obedient fellow enough, and was
greatly pleased to have the expense Of his
first college year taken off his fathers Shout
ders; but his sense of duty didn't go very
far. Rev. Mr.. Blake bought a new coat, and
Sam entered Harvard that fall; and there
matters stopped for a while.
"a freshman has a great deal to learn, as
you know; but think the chief thing Sam
learned that term was the great difference
there is between Harvard and little village
like Elmbank, and the great difficulty of
working and playing at the same time. Here
he had society meetings to attend, and rooms
of his own, with a chum, where good deal
Of smoking was done by himself and his
friends. And then there was base ball, into
which it appeared indispensable for the