Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-14
The Minister'S Old Coat.

"MinisprS' SONS are very apt to
turn out )adly," said |, to the gen.
tleman WHO sat next TO me in the
Car. We had met in the train,
bound foi Chicago, and had struck
mp an acquaintance.
He stopped me with his hand
on my am aud with an earnest
look which | shall never forget.
paused M once in what ! was
saying, and it seemed for a moment
almost ~ if the rushing train had
stopped tG listen, too.
Let me tell you story" he said.
81 know il is Il common belief that
ministers sous are wild, bnt that is
because people talk about the bad
ONES, Will, those who turn out well
are taken ~ u matter at cOnrsp. ]
gathered statistics about them once,
and found that out of thousand
sons of ministers, there were very
few who did not grow up useful
and industrious men,
"But what is your storyr | asked,
settling lack in my seat.
"Wrll.' said he, "it begins with
class supper in Boston a dozen
years ago. A number of old col.
lege friends had gathered in the
evening for their annual reunion.
Among them was the rich merchant,
}. +. Williston-perhaps YOU have
heard of him-and n poor pastor of
Il country church in Elmbank vii.
lsge, ont in Western Massachusetts,
whose name WAS Blake. \ good
many of the class had died. and
the dozen or 81 elderly men who
ware 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 I've lett
on earth who shared in that happy
time.
"The dishes came and went, the
lights glowed brilliantly, and at
last the friends grew quite gay.
But the tender feeling | have spo.
ken of would come uppcrmost. now
and then; aud in one of these mus
ing moments WillistOn's eye was
attracted by something glisiening
about the coat which his friend
Blake, who sat next to him. had on.
Ale looked closer, and saw that
the black cloth OF which the coat
was made had been worn so thin
and smooth thai it was very shiny.
"'Well, Blake said he. suddenly
taking hold of his friends arm cor
daily (which he somehow hadn't
thought of Miore), 'how has the
world gone with You. latelyF
"Blake had "a naturally sad and
thoughtful face; but he looked
around quickly, with n warm smile
"'No need to ask he said, laugh
ingly. 'You can read the whole
story on my back. This old coat
is a sort of balance. sheet, which
shows my financial condition to q
t.
"Then he spoke more seriously
adding, at is n pretty hard life
WillistOn, that of country parson
| don't complain of my lot, though
sometimes rm distressed for IN,
family. The fact is, this coat Eve
got on is hardly fit for man OF m,
! profession to appear in; but In
going to send my boy Sam to Har
ward this year, aud must piuch her'
and there to do it. really ough
to be thankful, though, that | cal
get such advantages tor him by ;
few little mcrifiers ct personal ap
pearance and convenience
"'Don't you give Thought Il
your coat. old fellow returned vii
liston. Nobody that knows yol
will ever imagine that the heart in
side of it is threadbare, hOweve
the garment may look
"Blake WAS pleased with thi
kindly expressions; and both men
after that exchange Of confidence
felt happier. But, among the Va
rious incidents of the evening, thi
one almost past out Of the minis
tiers mind BY the next day, wheI
he started for Elmbank.
"Speedy as his return was, how
ever, something meant for him hal