Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-08-29

Was lllC Otu ObhL lOu AOi A'Ai, "'N
OF course he'll change back"
But the farmer shook his head ruefully.
"No, that won't do. It's done, and it
can't be undone," he said with = groan.
Don't one of you ever let on about IT'S
being mistake.
The family and the old coat wero late at
church, thus missing the sight of the en-
trance OF the new coat, but il lay over one
arm Of the sofa in the pulpit. And farmer
Bingle never could recall word Of that
service through which he sat trying to
bring himself into some friendly recogni-
ton of the fact that he had presented his
minister with forty-five dollar overcoat,
which he could not hope to have count at
| ANYTHING near its full value on his yearly
assessment, for who ever heard of = coun-
try parson having such coat?
"Jings! Don't he look fine, though" "
calculated Sam, us Mr.. Graves came down
| the aisle.
"And don't Mrs. Graves look set up?"
said Jim.
Enough to make any woman hang on
! to a piece of cloth like that, " said Mrs.
BinSlc.
Mr.. Bingle was unhtching his horse ms
Mr.. Graves came out of the church door,
and did not at first raise his eyes rs he
listened to the remarks passing around.
Bless me. What fine lookin' fellow
our parson is, anyhow! Where on earth
did he get that coat?'
"Must had fortune left him"
Mr.. Bingle could not help feeling that
| the coat had been well bestowed, rs its
wearer came to meet him with outStretch-
ed hands and few quiet, though very
earnest words of acknowledgment Of his
! gift. The coat had fitted the farmer well,
! but there was something more than the
mere filling out of good cloth in the min
! ister's digniiied bearing, and in the schol-
arly face above it, something which stir
red up feeling in many members Of the
congregation that this servant Of the Lord
Lad not hitherto been clothed in = fashion
worthy of his high Office.
"That's shabby Old hat to wear with
it," said one Of the village slorekeepers.
"I'll see about that before another Sunday
comes round"
As Mr.. Bigle felt the grasp Of the pas
tors hand he began almost to be glad he
had given the coat; and then, rs the fact
of his having given it was whispered
/ about, to feel ashamed OF receiving so
much credit for an act which lie never
would hayc thought Of performing. For
/ an honest and really warm nature lay un-
| derncath the crust of parsimoniouS sell
fishness 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 mas
ter's service.
81 feel like liar, yes, do" said Mr..
Bingle to his wife, with an energy which
startled her, rs they rode home. "ro have
that man shakin' me Ly tho hand, and
talkin' about my generosity, and his wife's
| eyes beamin' up at me, and me not able to
right and tell 'em Pm a grudgin', tight
| fisted old tell you w-he gave his
| horses such a vigorous cut with the whip
that Jim and Sam, on backless seat Of
the bob-sleigh, nearly went over back
ward into the snow-"I've got to get even
with myself somehow, but 1 don't know
! just how yet"
1t was astonishing what commoton
Farmer Bingle's gift created in the par
ish. Not one eye had failed TO mark the
justice done by Mr.. Graves goodly figure
to the goodly garment, and with an awak-
cning pride ut the possession of such n
fine-looking pastor came desire to see
him thoroughly well equipped. This de-
sire found expression ut the parsonage as
haG never before been dreamed Of. Cheap
goods and cast-ofs were ignored in the
generous supply of winter comforts which
each giver made sure should be in keep
ing with the new ovcrcoat; and the wives
and mothers had seen to II that Mrs.
Graves and her children shouln look fit
TO walk beside that tailor-made-up piece
of cloth.
Mr.. Bingle had smiled with n light in
his eyes, which came up from somewhere
under that broken crust, at the set OF furs
which his wife carried to Mrs. Graves
that night. But in the early gray Of the
wintry morning after, he, with Sans
help, quietly unloaded in the back yard Of
the parsonage a firkin of butter, the same
OF lard and six barrels OF apples, packed
for market.
"a good forty-fye dollars worth if I'd
carted it half mile further" he said to
his wife, with a face which shOne as he
sat down to breakfast.
"And not 4 soul heard u.s." said Sam,
rubbing his hands in great glee. "Wish
could sec 'em when they find it out"
"Now I'm even," said the farmer.
"And I'm blamed if it wasn't the best
days work ever did when gave away
that coat by mistake" -s1
breaking IL Gently
Young wife-"My dear, you were the
stroke oar at college were YOU not ~