Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-01
THE MlNlSTeR'SOLD COAT.

ministers sons very apt to turn
out badly" id to the gentleman who
| sat next to me in the car. We d me
in the train, bound for Chicago, and hao
struck up an acquaintance. He stopped
me with his hand on my arm, and with a Il
earnest look which | shall never forget.
| paused at once in what | was saying,
and it seemed for moment almost as il
the rushing train had stopped to listen
too.
''Let me tell you story he said. 81
know 1t is a common belief that ministers
sons are wild. but that is because people
talk about the bad ones, while those who
turn out well are taken as q matter oil
course. gathered statistics about them
| once and found that out of one thousand
sons of ministers there were very few who
| did not grow up useful and industrious
men.
But what is your storye" I asked set
| Ting back In my Sc t.
WELL" said he. at begins with class
supper in Boston q dozen gears ago. A
numbe of old college friends had gathered
in the evening for their annual reunion
Among them WAS the rich merchant, j. E.
WIliston-perhaOs you have heard of him
and poor pastor of q country church in
FL bank Village. out in Western Mas
achusetts, whose name was blake. A
good many Of the class had died, and the
dozen or sa elderly men who were left felt
more tender than ever towards each other
as they thought OF the bright old days a,
Harvard. and how soon no one would be
lett on earth Who shared in that happy
lime. The dishes came and went, the
Ii hts glowed brilliantly, and 1T last the
friends grew quite gay. But the tender
feeling have spoken Of would come up
NJ in Of
| musing moments Williston's eye was at
tracted BY something glistening about the
coat which his friend Blake, wno sat nexl
to him, had on. He looked closer and saw
that the black cloth of which the coat was
made had been worn 50 thin and smooth
that j. WAS very shiny.
Well, Blake said he, suddenly, tax.
which be somehow hadn't thought OF
doing before,) how has the world gone
with you lately2
"Blake had naturally sad and thought
fnl face, but he looked around quickly
with warm smile.
No ueed to ask said he laughingly.
You can read the whole story on my
back. This old coat is sort of balance
sheet which shows my financial condition
to a t.
Then he spoke more seriously, adding
1t is pretty hard life, Williston, that Of
a country parson. don't complain of my
lot, though sometimes Tn distressed fol
my family. The fact is, this coat I've got
on is hardly at for q man Of my profession
70 appear in. but I'm going to send my
ooy Sam to Harvard this year, and mus
pinch hero and there to do it. l really
oa a, INTO to be thankful, though, that car
{ ge1 suen advantages for him By few lit
a as ssci,nees of personal appearance and
Dont you give thought of your
coat old fellow, returned Williston
Nobody who knows You will ever iman
inc that the heart inside of it ia threadhsrs
however the garment may look
| Blake was pleased with this kindly sx
preston. and both men after that excbano,
of confidence felt happier. But anon.
| the various incidents Of the evening thii
one almost passed cut of the minister
mind by the next day when he started 70
Elmbank. Speedy as his return was, how
4 ever, something meant for him had got t
1 his destination before him. It was Q let
ter. Taking it up be broke open the en-
velope and found inside few words from
! Williston with . check for $500 to defra,
the frat years college expenses Of his oil
classmAte's son. '.''''
"You are 3 stran ger to me, SIR" said m,