The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-03
THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.

badly" said I, to the gentleman who sat
next to me in the Cal. We had met in
the train bound for Chicago, and had
struck up an acquaintance.
He stopped me with his hand on nv
arm, and with an earnest look which I
shall never forget.
l paused at once in what was saying,
and it seemed tor moment as if the
rushing train had stopped to listen, too.
'Let me tell you a story" he said. 81
know that it is common belief that
ministers sons are wild, but that is be-
cause people talk about the bad ones,
while those who turn out we'll arc taken
in as a matter of course. gathered STA
tistics about them once, and found that
out of a thousand sons of ministers, there
were very few who did not grow up USE
tul and industrious men,
"But what is your storY?'' asked, set
thing back IN my seat.
SWELL" said he, 'it begins with class
supper in Boston dozen years ago. A
number of old college friends had gath
cred in the evening, for their annual re-
union. Among them was the rich mer-
chant, j. E. Wllliston-perhaps you have
heard OF him-and a poor pastor Of a
country church in Elmbank village, out
lin Western Massachusetts,, whose name
was Blake. A good many of the class
had died, and the dozen or 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.
Tho 1iohoc %ho 1sc.L4 o
glowed brilliantly, and at last the friends
grew quite gay. But the tender feel
ing have spoken of would come upper
most, now and them and in one of these
musing moments Williston's eye was at
tracted by something glistening about
the coat which his friend Blake, who sat
next to him, had on.
nc locked closer, and saw that the
black cloth of which the coat was made
had been worn 50 thin and smooth that it
was very shiny.
"'Well, Blake said he, suddenly tax
ing hold of his friends arm cordially
(Which he somehow hadn't thought of do
ing before), 'how has the world gone with
you, lately?'
Blake had naturally sad and thought.
full face; but he looked around quickly,
with warm smile.
"'No need to ask, he said, laughingly.
You can read the whole story on my
back. This old coat is sort of balance
sheet, which shows my financial condl-
ton to t.
"Then he spoke more seriously, add
ing, 1T is pretty hard life, Williston,
that of a country parson. I don't COM
plain of my lot, though sometimes I'm
( distressed for my family. The fact is, this
coat I've got on is hardly fit tor man
of my profession to appear 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 advantages
for him 1y few little sacrifices of per-
ssnal appearance and convenience
"'Don't you give thought to your
coat, old fellow returned Williston.
Nobody who knows you will ever mag
inc that the heart inside of 1t is thread
bare, however the garment may look
"Blake was pleased with this kindly
expression; and both men, alters that ex-
change Of confidence, felt happier. But,
among the various incidents of the even
ing, this one almost passed out of the
minister's mind by the next day, when
he started for Elmbank
'Speedy as his return was, however,
something meant for him had got to his
destination before him. It was letter
Taken it up, he broke open the envelope
and found inside few words from Will.
liston, with check for five hundred dol
lars to defray the first years college ex.
tpenses Of his old classmates son.
''You are stranger to me, SIR" said
my travelling companion, at this point
t'but think you will appreciate the feel.
Ing with which poor Mr.. Blake stood
in his bare dingy study in the old farm
parsonage, holding that letter in his hand
and lifting his faithful eyes in thankful
ness to God.'
eyes," replied. "Williston did JUS
the right thing, too. And how was 1t
Did the son show that he deserved tn,
help2"
My acquaintance looked away from nj
at the rich country through which VI
were passing. Then he said:
Sam Blake was a good-natured obedi
( ent fellow enough, and was greatly pleased
TO have the expense of his first college
! year taken off his fathers shoulders; bu
his sensel of duty didn't go very fa1
The Rev. Mr.. Blake brough
a new coat, and Sam entered
Harvard that fall; and there matters
stopped for while.
"a freshman has great deal to learn
as you know, but I think the chief thing
sam learned that term, was the grea
difference there is between Harvard and
little village like Elmbank, and the grca
difficulty Of working and playing at tn,
same time.
"Here he had society meetings to at
tend, and rooms Of his own, with chum
where good deal of smoking was don
by himself and his friends. And thel
there was baseball, into which it appear
ed indispensable for the honor of the elias
that he should enter actively, on accoun
of his strong legs, wonderful wind an
ground batting.
"He could not refuse to go to the thea
ter occasionally with his richer compan
i ions. Sam took natural interest in tn
society of young ladies, too, and had t