The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-04
And thes Tt6i,,,, 81 INV cl,ildrenr, sslI,ree
-
THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.

IT, o. ministers sons are very apt TO turn
out badly, said 1, to the gentleman
who sat next to me in the car We
chad met in the train, bound for Chi
cago, and had struck up an acquaint-
ance.
He stopped me with his hand on my
arm and with an earnest look which I
81 shal never forget.
paused at once in what was say
iDS,and seemed for moment almost
= as if the rushing train had stopped to
listen, too @asS f'.+
"Let me tell you story he said.
81 know it is common belief that
I, q ministers sons are wild, but that is be-
cause people talk about the bad ones,
while those who turn out well are taken
3 Statistics about them once, and
found that out of a thousand sons of
ministers, there were very few who
did not grow up useful and industrious
men. 5 s-Aa 5.
"But what is your story?" asked.
i settling back IN my seat
"Well," said he, sit begins with
class-supper IN Boston dozen wears
ago. A number of old college friends
hadgathered in the evening for their
= annual reunion. Among them was the
rich merchant, J. E. Williston-perhaps
- you have heard of him-and poor pas
tor of country church in Elmbank
q village, out in Western Massachusetts,
8 whose name was Blake. A good MANY
q 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 hap-
Ply time. aH et,f"
= y. The dishes came and went. the
& lights giowed brilliantly, and at last the
friends grew quite gay But the tender
feeling l have spoken of would come
uppermost, row and then; and in one
OF these musing moments Williston's
eye was attracted by something glisten-
ing 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
1T was very shiny.
ss Well, Blake said he, suddenly,
taking hold of his friends arm cordial
y (Which he somehow hadn't thought
OF doing before), chow has the world
gone with you, lately?'
blake had naturally sad and
~thonghtfui face; but he looked around
quickly, with warm smile.
Ono need to ask he said, laughing
ly. You can read the whole story on
- my back. This old coat is a sort of
balance sheet, which shows nv financial
condition to T
"Then he spoke more seriously, add
ing, 1t is pretty hard life, Williston,
that OF a country parson. don't COM
PLAIN OF my lot, though sometimes I'm
distressed for my family. The fact is,
this coat Ike got on. is hardly. fit for
man OF my profession to appear in; but
m gong to send my boy Sam to Har-
ward this year, and must pinch here and
there to do il. really ought to be
s9 thankful, though, that can get such
for him by few little sacri-
flces OF personal appearance and con-
venience' -
- Don't You give a thought to your
coat, old fellow returned Williston.
NOBODY who knows you will ever
imagine that the heart inside of it is
threadbare, however the garment may
look
Blake was pleased with this kindly
expression; and both men, after that ex-
change OF confidence, felt happier. But,
among the various incidents of the even
ing, this one almost passed out of the
i minister's mind by the next day. when |
E he started for Embark.
"Speedy as his return was, however.
something meant for him had got to his
destination before him. 1t was letter.
Taking it up, he broke open the en-
velope, and found inside a few words
rom Williston, with a check for five