Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-14
STORY OF AN OLD COAT.
ADreadful and Yet q Blessed Thing
to Happen.

''What in the world is that queer
looking old thing hanging out IN the
yard?" asked Ned.
The dining-room in which the Ware
family were seated at breakfast COM
manded view of little, green
sodded back yard, which on this
morning presented striking appear
ance. Carrot and closets had been
emptied of their contents. and every
thing in the way of woolens. clothing.
or bedding, new or old. good, bad, or
hands to take q bath of the streaming
sunshine.
(Which queer-looking thing do you
mean?" asked his sister Pearl. 1.-The
whole yard looks like crazy-quilt,
I'm sure
Like crazy-quilt struck by light
ming, should sayr" said Ned. but
mean that old coat with tn e streaks
and spots all over it,
THAT old coat?' His father looked
out BLESS my heart. Aunt Mar
garet, is that my Washington coat?"
Yes. my dear. indeed it isl
81 thought it had gone the way of
all Goals many year ago-if. indeed.
thought of it at all. All. Aunt Mar
garet, to think of your setting ME to
play Gaors Washin gtonr'
.'You did it we'll. my DEAR" said
the sweei-faced little old lady. with an
affectionale smile at the handsome mid
dlt-aged man which told that she still
regarded him as her boy.
Ned had run out, and now came in
wearing the coat, the long collar and
the buttons of which were cover ed
with faded yellow satin, while the
skirts were ornamented with reverse
of the same.
you don't look as your father did
in it," said Aunt Margaret, eying him
critically.
''Oh. of course not" said Ned. put
ting on an abused air. Nobody ever
looks like father. When you and fa-
Their begin TO hold a session of your
admiration society no one else has u
chance"
But" said Pearl. curiously exam
lining the old coat ''do tell us about
it. Who wore it? If Ned hadn't such
a green look himself he would look as
if he had stepped out of an old pict-
ure''
go on. go on!' said Mel. H as
any one any more complimentary re-
marks to make about me?"
II wore it." said his father. ''but
was not the only one. more's the pity.
Dear me, Aunt Margaret! how il
brings the old time back! Do you re-
member your good old father that
night?"
s.What dreadful thing to happen!
But what a blessingr' said Aunt Mar
qaret, with laugh and q shake Of
the head.
"a dreadful thing and blessingr'
exclaimed Pearl. do some body &C
on and tell Is it your story oil
fathers. Aunt Margaret"
Both, think" said her father.
1.-THE coat in its present shape frs
saw the light when was n sub-fresh
man in college-let me see. twenty
three years ago-living with Aunt
Margaret and her father the old doc
tor we BOYS called him. How we
all loved the good old man! ID, was
really no relative of mine. for Aun
Margaret. you know. was only my
mothers half-sister; but no one coule
be kinder than he was to me. He hae
had a professorship in the college FOL
many a year. but in those times wa:
getting very old. and his duties hao
been assumed by one of the younger
professors, but so gradually that
had taken him good while to realize
that he was receiving salary with
out performing much duty. Then al
of sudden he resigned. There was
Quite a fuss about it. for the college
dignitaries had intended to keep hin
in office until he might be called t.
a higher place. but he would not heal
of it. 1t left him very poor for M
had always been too liberal to nave
saved much. But in these stirring
days of money-getting and money
spending it is always refreshments tt
me to look back upon such picture
of the beauty and sweetness and dig
nifty of honorable poverty"
How did Aunt Margaret look il
those times. fathera" said Pearl pat
ting her great-aunts face.