Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-22

| L know. Inc DAY after 1t came,
guess. The old one always hung there,
so took it down and hung the new one
there"
Mrs. Bingle sank into chair.
g It's gone"
"Gone to Parson Gravesw The boys
stared, open-mouthed, unable first to
take in the great calamity.
" But you can get it again, " at length
said Jim, hopefully"
"Of course!" said Sam. "You can
tell Parson Graves it was all mistake,
and it was the old coat you meant for
him, and of course he'll change back"
But the farmer shook his head rue.
fully.
No, that won't do. It's done, and
it can't be undone, he said with a groan.
Don't one of you ever let on about IT'S
being mistake"
The family and the old coat were late
at church, thus missing the sight of the
entrance of the new coat, but it lay over
one arm of the sofa in the pulpit. And
Farmer Bingle never could recall q word
of that service through which he sat try
ing to bring himself into some friendly
recognition of the fact that he had pre-
sented his minister with a forty-fve dol
lar overcoat, which he could not hope to
have count at anything near its full value
on his yearly assessment, for who ever
heard of country parson having such a
coatW
"Jingsl Don't he look fine, though, u
calculated Sam, as Mr.. Graves came dowr
the aisle.
"And don't Mrs. Graves look set up 9''
said jim.
Enough to make any woman hang on
to piece of cloth like that, said Mrs.
Bingle.
Mr-1Bingle was unhitching his horse
as Mr.. Graves came out of the church
door, and did not at first raise his eyes as
he listened to the remarks passing
around.
"Bless me! What a fine lookin' fellow
our parson is, anyhow Where on earth
did he get that coat 2"
"Must had fortune left him."
Mr.. BingIe could not help feeling
that the coat had been well bestowed, as
its wearer came to meet him with out
stretched hands and a few quiet,
though very earnest words of acknowl-
edgement of his gift. The coat had
fitted the farmer we'll, but there was
something more than the mere fill
ing out of good cloth in the minister's
dignifed bearing; and in the scholarly
face above it, something which stirred
up feeling in many members of the con-
gregation that this servant of the Lord
had not hitherto been clothed in a fashion
worthy of his high office.
"That's a shabby old hat to wear with
it, " said one of the village storekeepers.
'Tll see about that before another Sun
day comes round"
AS Mr.. Bingle felt the grasp of the
pastors hand, he began almost to be glad
he had given the coat; and then, as the
fact of his having given it was whispered
about, to feel ashamed of receiving SO
much credit for an act which he never
would have thought of performing. Fol
an honest, and really warm nature lay
underneath the crust of parsimonious
selfshness which had hardened over his
heart, as it has, alas over so many which
might overflow with deeds Of kindness
to bless those who have given not grudg-
ingly, but their whole selves to the
masters service.
/" | feel like liar, yes, I dol" said Mr.
Bingle to his wife, with an energy which
started her, as they rode home. "TC
have that man shakin' me by the hand,
and talkin' about my generosity and his
wife's eyes beamin' up at me, and me not
nlNla +n frbt nd +o11 Il r,,,S
tight-fsted old tell you whatW-hC
gave his horses such a vigorous cut with
the whip that Jim and Sam, on back.
less seat of the bob-sleigh, nearly wen
over backward into the snow" I've got
to get even with myself somehow, but
don't know just how yet"
1t was astonishing what commotior
Farmer Bingle's gift created in the
parish. Not one eye had failed to mark
the justice done by Mr.. Graves goodll
figure to the goodly garment, and will
an awakening pride at the possession o.
such looking pastor came desire
to see him thoroughly we'll equipped
This desire found expression at the
parsonage as had never before beer
dreamed of. Cheap goods and cast
offs were ignored in the generous
supply of winter comforts which
each giver made sure should be il
keeping with the new overcoat; and tn,
wives and mothers had seen to it tina
Mrs. Graves and her children should
look fit to walk beside that tailor r-made
up piece of cloth.
Mr.. Bingle had smiled with q iigh
in his eyes, which came up from some
where under that broken crust, at tn,
set of furs which his wife carried t.
Mrs. Graves that night. But in th'
early gray of the wintry morning after,
he, with Sans help, quietly unloadeC
in the back yard of the parsonage
firl1in of butter, the same of lard ant
six barrels Of apples, packed TO
market
"a good forty-fve dollars worth i
I'd carted it half mile further" h
said to his wife, with face whicl
shone as he sat down to breakfast.
"And not a soul heard u.s. said Sam
rubbing his hands in great glee
"Wish could see 'em when they fnC
, it out.
''Now, I'm even," said the farmer
"And I'm blamed if it wasn't the bes
days work | ever did when | CAV
away that coat by mistake. "-Sydne
Dayre.
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A Successful Charm.