Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-03-04
THE MINISTER'S OLD COAT.

The MlNlS LEAG> y ULD OUAIS
ministers sons are very 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 Chi
cago, and had struck up an acquaint-
ance.
He stopped me with his hand on my
arm and with an earnest look which l
shall never forget.
Ipaused at once in what was say
ing, and it seemed for a moment almost
as if the rushing train had stopped to
listen, too.
"Let me tell you a story" he said.
"I know it is common belief that
ministers sons are wild, but that is be-
cause people talk about the bad ones,
while those who turn out well are taken
as a matter of course. | gathered sta
tistics 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,"
"But what is your story?" asked,
settling back in my seat.
"Well," said he, SIT begins with a
class supper in Boston, dozen years
ago. A number of old college friends
had gathered in the evening for their
annual reunion. Among them was the
rich merchant, j. E. Williston-per-
haps you have heard of him-and
poor pastor of country church in Elm
bank village, out in Western Massachu-
setts, whose name was Blake. A good
many of the class had died, and the
dozen or so elderly men who were left
felt more tender than ever towards
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 happy time.
"The dishes came and went, the
lights glowed brilliantly, and at last the
friends grew quite gay. But the tender
feeling | have spoken of would come
uppermost, now 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
it was very shiny.
"'Well, Blake said he, suddenly,
taking hold of his friends arm cordial
ly (Which he somehow hadn't thought
of doing before), 'how has the world
gone with you, latelyP'
"Blake had a naturally sad and
thoughtful face; but he looked around
quickly, with a warm smile.
"'No need to ask, he said, laugh
ingIy. You can read the whole story
on my back. This old coat is a sort of
balance sheet, which shows my fnan-
cial condition to T.
"Then he spoke more seriously, add
ing: 1T is pretty hard life, Willis
ton, that of country parson. | don't
complain 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 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. Ireally ought to be
thankful, though, that can get such
advantages for him by few little sac
rifces Of personal appearance and con-
venience.'
"'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 of it is
t6readbare, 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 minister's 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. Itwas letter.
Taking it up he broke open the envel-
ope, and found inside few words from
Williston, with a check for $500 to de-
fray the first years college expenses of
his old classmates s son.
You are a stranger to me, sir, - said
my traveling-companiOn, at this point,
" but l think you will appreciate the
feeling with which poor Mr.. Blake
stood in his bare and dingy study in
the old farm parsonage, holding that
letter in his hand, and lifting his faith
full eyes in thankfulness to God"
"Yes,' l replied. "Williston did
Just the right thing, too. And how
was itP Did the son show that he de-
served the helpP"
My acquaintance looked away from
me at the rich country through which
we were passing. Then he said;
''Sam Blake was a good-natured,
obedient fellow enough, and was great