The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-09
THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.

ministers sons are 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 acquaintance. He stopped
me with his hand on my arm, and with
an earnest look / shall never forget. l
paused at once in what was saying, and
Il seemed for moment rs if the rushing
train had stopped to listen too.
LET me tell you story he said. II
know it is a common belief that minis
ters' sons are wild, but that is because
people talk about the bad ones, while
those who turn out we'll are taken as
matter of course l gathered statistics
about them once. and found that out of
one thousand sons of ministers there
were few who did not grow up useful
and industrious men.
But what is your story?' asked, set
thing back in my seat.
We'll" said he, sit begins with
class supper in Boston "a dozen years ago
A number of college friends had gath
cred in the evening for their annual
reunion. Among them was the rich
merchant. j. E. Williston-perhaps you
have heard of him--and poor pastor OF
a country church in Elmbank village,
ont in western Massachusetts, whose
name was Blake. A good many OF the
class had died, and the dozen or so eld-
erly men who were left felt more tender
than ever toward each other as they
thought of the bright old days at Har-
ward and how soon no one would be left
on earth who shared in that happy time.
The dishes came and went, the lights
clowed brilliantly and at last the friends
grew quite gay But the tender feeling
I have spoken Of would come uppermost,
now and then; and in one of these mul-
moments Williston' 8 eye was attracted
by something glistening about the coat
his friend Blake, who sat next to him,
had on. He looked closer and closer and
saw that the black cloth Of which tie
coat was made had been worn SO thin and
smooth that it was very shiny.
taking hold of his friends arm cordially
(which he somehow hadn't thought OF
doing before) chow has tie world gone
with you, lately?'
BLAKE had naturally sad and
thoughtful face; but he looked around
quickly with a warm smile.
" No need to ask. he SAD, laughlngly
You can read the whole Dry on my
back. This old coat is a sort of balancs
sheet, which shows my financial condl
ton to T.
Then he spoke more seriously, add
ing; It's pretty hard life, Winston
that of country parson. don't com
plain of my lot, though sometimes 4
distressed for m family. The fact $
this coat I've got on is hardly TT for
man of my profession to appear 4, bu
I'm going to send my boy sam to Har
ward this year, and must pinch here ant
there to do it. I really ought to b.
thankful, though, that can get such ad
vantages for him by few little sac
rifces of personal appearance and con
venienee.
Don't you give thought Of you
coat, old fellow, returned Williston
Nobody who knows you will over mag
inc that the heart inside OF it ID thread
bare however the garment may look.
Blake was pleased with this kindl
expression. and both men after that s1
change of confidence felt happier. Blu
among the various incidents OF the even
ing this ons almost passed out of tn
minister's mind by the next day when b
started for Embark. Speedy as his n
turn was, however. something meant fo
him had got to his destination befol
him. 1t was letter. Taking it up b
broke open the envelope and found il
side few words from Williston with
check for 500 to defray the first year
college expenses Of his cid classmats
son.
You are stranger to me, sir, sal
nv travelling companion at this poln
but 1 think you will appreciate Il
feeling with which poor Mr.. Blake stcc
in his bare and dingy study in the o.
farm parsonage, holding that letter
his hand and lifting his faithful eyes
thankfulness to God.
Eyes, l replied. "Williston did in
the right thing, too. And how was
Did the son show that he deserved Il
help?'
Ny acquaintance looked away from L
at the rich country through which '
we're passing Then he said; ''Sa
Blake was good natured, obedient #
low enough, and was greatly pleased
have the expense Of his first college We
taken off his fathers shoulders; but
sense of duty didn't go very far. Re
Mr.. Blake bought a new coat and Sa
entered Harvard that fall and there mi
tiers stopped for awhile.
"A freshman has great deal to lear
as you know; but ] think the chef thu
Sam learned that torn was the great Il
ference there is between Harvard and
little village like Embark. and tho gre
& 4. OF