The Old Brown Coat
I am an old brown coat. I am shabby and patched. But there is something special about me.
I used to be owned by Tom Porter. He wore me for years, as he carried goods through the streets of the town.
One day Tom said to his wife Sue, “My brother John has given me another coat. My old coat is so threadbare that I’m ashamed to wear it any more. I think I’ll just throw it on the fire.”
Sue answered, “Now don’t be hasty, Tom. I’ll patch the worst holes, and then I’ll try to sell it on my vegetable stall at the market on Tuesday. If anyone will buy it, then good. If not, then into the rubbish it’ll go.”
Well I didn’t like the idea of being burned up! So I was happy as Sue patched my holes, and put me on her stall on Tuesday morning. But it was not a happy day. People poked fun at me, saying “Who would buy such a tatty old thing?” One woman said she would sew me up and use me as a potato sack - but she didn’t want to pay anything for me. I lay there unwanted the whole day.
Then, just as the market was closing, there was a stir of excitement, and a sound of horses and different voices. A man in rich clothes was visiting the market and looking around. He spied me on the table and said to my owner, “Woman, how much for that old coat?”
“Oh, your Highness,” she said. My buttons trembled. “Take it, sir. It’s just an old rag I was going to put in the fire. I wouldn’t dream of asking a noble personage like you to pay for such a worthless item.”
“No, but I will pay the full price. What is it?”
Tom’s son spoke up. “Sir, mum was hoping for half a shilling?”
The rich man said to his astonished servant “Pay this woman on my behalf - the full price - and put this garment aside. I have an idea how it may be used.”
A few days later the Prince, for that is who he was, called for me. The servant brought me, and the Prince put me on! He said to the servant, “Keep quiet about this. I’m going to walk through the streets of the city. I want to know the true state of my people. When I went in rich clothes, they hid things from me. But wearing this old coat, no-one will notice me. I can buy some other clothes too, as disguises.”
So if you see a man walking along, whether in a shabby old coat like me, or in better clothes, just think carefully. Some have been surprised to see, under my shabby exterior, a glimpse of gold, and the noble appearance of a Prince.
- © 2000, Barry McDonald, Albany, New Zealand
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