South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-03-12
The Minister'S Old Coat.


out badly said ], to the gentleman
who sat next 70 me In tho car. 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 /
shall never forget.
paused at once in what was say
ing, and it seemed for q moment almost
as If the rushing train had stopped 10
listen. too.
Let me tell you story he said. q
know 1t Is common belief that uiniss
ters' sons are wild, but that is because
! people talk about the bad ones. while
those who torn ont well arc taken as a
matter Of course. gathered statistics
about them once, and found that out OF
thousand sons Of ministers, there
were very few who did not grow up use
full and industrious men,
But what is your story?' asked,
settling back in my seat.
We'll, said he, st begins with a class.
supper in Boston dozen years ago.
A number Of old college friends had
gathered in the evening for their annu.
al reunion. Among them was the rich
merchant, j. f. Neutrality-suspicious. you
have heard Of him and poor pastor
OF country church in Elmbank village,
out in 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 ten.
der than ever toward each other, as they
thought Of the bright old days ut Har-
ward, and how soon no one would be
left on Garth 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 ten
der feeling 1 have spoken of would
come uppermost now and then; and i'm
one of these musing moments Willis
toms eye was attracted by something
glisteniEg about the coat which his
friend Blake, who sat next to him,
had on.
lie looked closer, and saw that the
black cloth of which the coat was made
had been worn so thin and smooth that
it was very shiny.
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 latelyp'
Blake had naturally sad and
thoughtful face; but he looked around
quickly with warm smile.
NO need to ask. he said, laughincly.
You can read the whole story on my
back. This old coat is a sort of bal.
ancc.sheet, which shows my financial
condition 10 T.
Then he spoke moro seriously, ad.
ding: 1T is pretty hard life Williston,
that of country parson. 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 for
man OF my profession 20 appear in;
but I'm going to send my boy Sam TO
Harvard this year, and must pinch
here and there to do it. l really ought
10 be thankful, though. that 1 can get
such advantanes for him by a few lit
tie sacrifices of personal appearance
and convenience.
Don't you give thought to your
coat, old fellow returned Williston.-
Nobody who knows you will ever i'm
agine that the heart inside oft is thread.
bare. however the garment may look.
Blake was pleased with this kindly
expression 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 ministers 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. II was q letter.
Taking it up, he broke open The enve-
lope, and found inside few words from
Williston, With check for FIVE hundred
dollars to defray the first years col.
lcge expenses of his old classmates
son.
You arc n stranger to me SIR said
my travelling companion, at this point;
but think you will appreciate the
feeling with which poor Mr.. Blake
stood in his bare and dinqy study in the
old farm parsonage. holding that letter
in his hand. and lifting his faithful ewes
in tbankfulness 30 God
Yes replied. 'Williston did lust
the right thing, too. And how was itp
Did the son show that he deserved tho
helpf'
Ny acquaintance looked away from
me at the rich country through which
we we're passing. Then he said
Sam Blake was a good-natured obo.
dent fellow enough, aud was greatly
pleased tn have The expense Of his first
college year taken Off his fathers shoul
ders but his sense Of duty didn't 90
very far. The Rev Mr.. Blake bought
a new coat. and sam entered Harvard
that fall and there matters stopped for
whilo.
a freshman has great deal TO learn,
"a you know; but think the chief
thing Sam learned, while there, was the
great difference there is betWee Harys
ard and little village like Elmbank.
and the great difficulty Of working and
playing At the same time.
'pere he had society meetings to at
tend, and rooms Of his own, with chum
Il -