The colored patriot., 1882-05-25
NO. 6.
His Coat.

A good deal of amusement has bean
caused in dry goods trade circles durinc
the past few days by the leaking out "a
a little story at the expense Of two
young gentlemen who are widely and
favorably known in the trade. The
father of these young men is promi.
nent Market street merchant, noted fo,
his large wealth, shrewd business ahili.
ty and great economy. particularly IN
the matter of wearing apparel. The
ons, who are models of elegance and
taste in dress, have for a LONG time
borne particular antipathy To \ certain
venerable coat which has clung 10 thei,
respected parent for many years. and
often tried by persuasion to induce him
TO sell it TO the rag-man and buy new
one. but the old gentleman's invariable
reply was: - You poys shpend money
enough for clothes for one family. Dis
goat is good enough for me- Al
length, knowing their fathers fondness
for a bargain, they thought Of a ruse by
which TO induce him to lay Off the old
garment and get q new one. Takino
the coat which the father had worn they
went 10 their tailor and instructed him
to take II as n pattern as 10 size and 10
Tit and make the finest coat he could.
1--WE viii" said one of them. "rel
father down here on some pretenso o,
other and then you must sell him that
coat. No matter what he offers, YOU
take it and we'll pay You the balance y
In due time the sons received word that
the coat was finished-price eighty dol,
lars. The next morning at breakfast
the eldest son casually remarked: ia.
ther, you will DC going near the tailor's
to-day. and | wish you would stop and
tell him TO be sure and send home nv
new coat to-day for / have party tc
attend to tonight"
Very veil, my son, viii do so, but
| don't see what you poys want with SC
many goats"
The old gentleman delivered his mes.
sage, and the tailor's opportunity had
come. lingering the venerable garment
he remarked, persuasively: You
ought TO have n new coat. Ii is shame
for rich man like YOU to wear such an
old garment as that"
Tank you very much; but this goai
is good enough for me-"
4 have got something" persisted
the tailor. "that believe will fit you,
and it is the greatest bargain that yoC
ever heard of. | made it for Gus.
toner. but it was a mistit. The price
of that coat" said the tailor. producing
the garment, ais eighty dollars, but II
won't fit the man made it for, and I'll
let YOU have it for next 10 nothing. Try
it on"
The coat was tried on, and proved >
perfect fit.
You'll never get such bargain
again if YOU live n hundred years" said
the tailor. "You may have that coat
for forty dollars.
"rll giff you twenty-five" said tho
old merchant, who knew cloth when be
saw it.
Take il"
Carving his old coat in a bundle. tn,
purchaser went ont arrayed in the eighty
dollar coat.
AT supper that night he appeared ir
the familiar old coat and in excellent
good humor. To his sons he said: -
made n nice little thing to-day. Ven
vas at the tailor's | bought goat-s
nice. fine goat. The price vas eighty
dollars. but got it for twenty-five dol
lars put it on and had not gone .
square pefore met a friend lie no
ticed my new goat and sphoke about Il
and | told him about how | got II so
sheap He offered me thirty dollars fol
the goat and | took it--made five dol
lars in fife minutes"
Yes said the sons. dolefnlly. In
chorus, you've made five dollars. and
we have lost forty-tye." Then they
explained. MY gracious! that j. pad.
said the old man. when he compre-
hended the situation: "but let dis b.
lesson to YOU, my shildren- Never drs
to deceive your fader. 49, Philadelphia
Yyg,Yrs