The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-04-07
would be late for church, before he was

| per-" called the father. Another long
delay, and then Jim came downstairs
without it.
81 tell you it's on one of them pegs
in our Closet" said Mrs. Bingle, g I'll
go myself. It's dark and he can't see;
but it's there, for put it there myself''
"No," said Mr. Bingle, calling after
her, " it's in the spare chamber closet.
put it there"
She was heard stepping briskly from
one room to another, then back, and
then back again. Then downstairs,
when she stood in silence, on her face
blank CONSERVATION, and on her arm
the old overcoat.
"When did you put it there?"
"I d'know. The day after it came, L
guess. The old one always hung there,
so l took it down and hung the new one
there"
Mrs. Bingle sank into her chair.
IT'S gone"
"Gone to Parson Gravesl" 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 counsel" 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.
" 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 a 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
a word of that service through which
he sat trying to bring himself into some
friendly recognition 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 country parson
having such a coat?'
"Jings! Don't he look fine, thought"
calculated Sam, as Mr.. Graves came
down the aisle.
And don't Mrs. Graves look set
up?" said jim.
Enough to make any woman hang
on to piece of cloth like that" said
Mrs. Bingle.
Mr.. Bingle 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 fine lookin' fell
low 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, as
its wearer came to meet him with out
stretched hands and a few quiet, though
very earnest, words of acknowledge
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 minister's dignifed bear
ing, and in the scholarly face above it
something which stirred up a feeling
in many members of the congregation
that this servant of the Lord had not
hitherto been clothed in a fashion
worthy of his high office.
"That's shabby old hat to wear
with it," said one of the village store
keepers. I'll see about that before
:. another Sunday 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
o performing. For 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
q with deeds of kindness to bless those
who have given not grudgingly but
their whole selves to the Masters
service.
81 feel like liar, yes, dol" said
3 Mr.. Bingle to his wife, with an energy
which startled her, as they rode home.
o To have that man shakin' me by the
y. 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 grudgin', tight-tisted old tell
4 you whatp'-he gave his horses such a
= vigorous cut with the whip that Jim and
i Sam, on a backless seat of the bob
. sleigh, nearly went over backward into
y the snow" I've got to get even with
myself somehow, but l don't know just
:, how YETI
: 1t was astonishing what commotion
! Farmer Bingle's gift created in the
parish. Not one eye had failed to mark
Il VIC JuStiCc uOue ny NIL bldNcS Soouly
i figure to the goodly garment, and with
y an awakening pride at the possession
of such fine looking pastor came a
- desire to see him thoroughly WELL
. equipped. This desire found express
. ion at the parsonage as had never be-
=, fore been dreamed of. Cheap goods
8 and cast-offs were ignored in the gen.
- erous supply of winter comforts which
= each giver made sure should be in keep
- ing with the new overcoat, and the
~ wives and mothers had seen to it that
II Mrs. Graves and her children should
- look fit to walk beside that tailor-made-
- up piece of cloth.
II Mr.. Bingle had smiled with light in
= his eyes, which came up from some
4 where 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 backyard of the parsonage firkin
70 of butter, the same of lard and six bar
~ rels of apples packed for market.
~ GA good forty-five dollars worth il
~ I'd carted it half mile further" he
# said to his wife, with face which