The Forrest City times., 1893-04-07

coat. And how long do you suppose he wore that overcoat?"
 She turned triumphantly to Mrs. Mersey.
 Three years, perhaps?" inquired the lady, feeling almost as if she were insulting the family. "It was quite worn out, wasn't it, dear?" She ap- pealed to her distinguished husband.
 Il don't think I recall the giving of the overcoat," he said smoothing the rim of his hat.
 You don't mean that?" The minis ter's wife looked quite hurt Why, it was such a fine overcoat, My husband wore it six years and then, l must say, it began to look little shabby, didn't it, Mir. Jaclzson?"
 Mr. Jackson nodded vigorously.
 ''Then I set my wits to work, and found way out of the trouble. 1 told him l would rip the seams and turn it, and put it together again, and then, as the material was so fine, it would be as good as new.
 But suppose you can't fit the pieces together, said be. then l shall be without any coat
 You give me the coat and just trust me, said l. So l ripped it up, and cleaned it, and sewed it together, and, sure enough it was almost as good as new. put on it new collar and new buttons 1 declare it made the good man quite too vain to live, for Deacon Garvin said to him:
 Where did you get your new over L.. .1r St 1,,.l,4 ming of the Locd struck your house?'
 '' It has, he said. The Lord has given me powerful wife. It's the same old overcoat of Senator Mersey's, turned inside out.
 Ut was such a beautiful material, you see, Mrs. Mersey. And he wore that coat for five years more.
 Now, says he, wife, l suppose l shall have to throw Senator Mersey's overcoat away. It's getting almost too shabby to wear
 And l had to confess that it was pretty bad all stained and colored with age. But 1 thought it over for week. It was of such nice material and had been so handsome that it real ly seemed a shame to throw it away.
 
 ing when I was a-washing, it occurred to me, Why, it can be dyed. It is such good stuff it will take the dye nicely Surely the Lord sent me that thought.
 ''So ripped it up again, and dyed it, and got a quarter of a yard for a new collar, and new buttons and for less than two dollars he had such good looking overcoat that it was, l am sure, almost the envy of the country Brother Garvin would have liked to have seen it, but the good man has gone to glory"
 She stopped for breath. while Sem ator and Mrs. Mersey looked from one to another with the smiles that border on tears.
 "Well, do you know. my husband wore that coat for five years more" she began, in a quieter tone. ''The first two years the dye held it's color very well. Then it of course faded and looked scedy, and l must say, toward the end, it was very shabby indeed Then my husband was ashamed to wear it. and I had mended it all l could, and 1 was ashamed to have him. We both felt badly about if.
 "'You can do nothing more with it. I've worn it inside and outside, and I reckon now I'll have to go without. My husband said this. I knew it was true, and 1 went into the bedroom and had good cry. l reckon 1 must have prayed right smart over it, for one night the inspiration from on high came to me-why not make it over for coat for Jimmy? He needs an over coat. The Lord surely sent that thought to me.
 Jimmy was just ten years old then; that was four years ago. So ripped it up and cut off the worst parts and made very good-lookfng coat for Jimmy You see, it was such fine ma Lord told me.
 You ought to have seen Jimmy strut around with that coat on. He thought it was the finest coat in town, and so warm"
 She stopped and looked at her hus- band and wiped away turtive tear while she stifled cough.
 Where is Jimmy" asked Mrs. Mer- sey, choking. II should like to see Jimmy with the overeoat on."
 "He died two years ago." came the low reply. '.The Lord took him. I'm sure he's better off with Him than with us.
 The mother broke down. She went over to her dusky husband and took his hand and put it on her cheek and