The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-07-30
ITO BE Continued
The Minister'S old Coat.

'.MiuiSters' sons are very apt to turn
ont badly said I to a gentlenan who
SAT- next to me in the Car. We hal 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
l la.!srd at once in what [ 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. Il
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 matter of
course. gathered statistics about them.
once. and found that out ola thousand
sons of ministers, there were very few
who did not grow up useful and industri-
ouS men,"
But what is your story - I asked,
settling back in MY seat.
Well said he. lit begins with Il
class supper in Boston. n dozen years ago.
A number OF old college friends had gather
Ell in the evening for their annual reunion.
Among them was the rich merchant. J.
Z WilliStoa-peThaps you have heard of
him and a poor pastor of Il country
church In Elinbank village. out in Wes
tern Massachusetts, whose name was Blake.
good many of the class had died, and
The dozen or 50 elderly men who were
left felt more tender than ever toward
each other as they thought OF the bright
days ut Harvard. and how soon one
would be lett on earth who shared in that
happy time. The dishes came and went,
the light gowetl brilliantly. and at last
the friends grew quiet gay. But the tend
feeliBg have spoken of would come
uppermoSt, now and then and III one OF
these musiug moments WiIliston's eye
was attracted by something glisteniug
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 and smooth that it was very shiny
".WeIl. Bake said he. suddenly.
taking hold OF his friends arm cordially
(which he somehow hadn't thought ol
doing beforel. how has the world gone
with you, lately ?''
BLAKE had naturally sad and thought
FIJI face but lie looked around quickly
with a warm smile.
mo need TO ask, he said. Iaughingiy.
You can real the whole story on my hack.
This old coat Is sort of aiance- sheet.
Elt III To
To
''Then he spoke more seriously, adding :
1T is 4 pretty harl lite. Wiliston. that
OF n country parson. don't complain of
my lot, though sometimes I'm distressed
fnr my family. The fact is. this coat I've
got on i hardly fit for man of my pro-
f.sSion 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 tor him by a
few little sacrifices of personal appearance
and convenience
Don't you give thought of yonr
coat. old fellow returned Wiiliston.
Nobody who knows yo.i will ever i'm
agine that the heart inside of it is thread
bare. however the garment may look
'sBlake was pleased with this kindly
expression AMI both men. after that ex-
change of confidence. felt happier. But,
among the various Incidents of the even
lug. this one almost passed out OF the min
ister's mind by the next day, when he
started foT Elnhank. Speedy as his re-
turn was, however, something meant for
him had 90. to his destination before him.
It was a letter Taking it up he broke
open the envelope, and found inside few
words from Wiliston. with check for
$500 to defray the first years college ex-
penses OF his old classmate' $ son.
You are a stranger to me, sir. said
my travelling companion. at this point,
ssbut think yon will appreciate the fazl-
ing with which poor SIR. Blake stood In
his bare and dingy study in the old farm
house parsonage, holding that letter in
his hand, aud lifting his faithful eyes in
thankfuness TO Cod
'sYes." | replied. .sWilliston did just
the right thing, too. And how was it ?
Did the son show that he deserved the
help %
Ny acquaintance looked away from me
at the rich eannfry through which we
were passing Then be said 'sSam