The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-06-19
THREE CALICO GOWNS.
A Short Story for Girls.

" sCG Ollc HdLle III pf1Ilt, III Is not al
lowable to print names, especially when
writing out true story. For this rea-
son we will have recourse to fictitious
addresses, and introduce our young
lady acquaintance as Miss Clara Clinton
and her father as Judge Clinton, Of
ClintOnville.
They, that is the people, called the
Judge the '"oddest man that ever lived
If oddity consists in having a way OF
his own, Judge Clinton aCaS very odd
man. He would insist upon living in d
little, brown, old fashioned house, with
out carpets upon the floors and what
was more vexatious, he would not al
low sofa or lounge, or rocking-chail
inside the four brown walls. AS he had
an idea that the whole country was 60
ing to rack and ruin, because the men
wore broadcloth and the women wore
silks, he declared he would wear home
spun as long as he lived, and his woman
folks should be restricted to calico.
AS we have nothing to do with Mrs
Jadge Clinton, we will not allude 10 the
hearty vexation with which she carried
out the whimsical old Judges domestic
regulations. AS she could do nothing
wiser than gulp down her chagrin, she
did gulp it down, and woman-like, pre-
tended to believe, with her husband
that they could reform the world b.
making themselves conspicuously meal
and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo-col
! ored hOmespun, and Mrs. Judge Gin
ton in ninepenny calico, when Mis-
Clara Clinton, having reached the age
of eighteen, and having a will of hel
own, (Which her mother was careful t.
| tell everybody the child inherited from
her father) announced her desire anC
determination to go to boarding school
The Judge himself had been pool
boy, self-educated, through his own eX
ertions. He wasaas proud of his hum
bic birth and the difficulties he had over
come as Brunderby. He had read Vir
gil by the light of pine knot, anG
Greek by the aid of penny candle, anG
solved the problems of Euclid by moon
| light. He respected but one desire il
the world, and that was a thirst fol
knowledge. So when Miss Clara pro
tested that she must, and could and
would go to boarding-schOOl, Judge
Clinton cheerfully acquiesced, and eX-
pressed himself ready to leash over"
No sooner was this interesting sub
ject preached, however, than, to Miss
Clara's surprise, her father selected the
most expensive, thorough and aristO-
cratic institution in the country, paid
the yearly expenses in advance, and sent
her at once to complete her education
with twenty-five cents for spending
money and three calico gowns for heI
wardrobe!
1t was bad enough, Miss. Clara said
sobbing all the while, as if her beauti-
full eyes had really been liquid fOunt-
aims, to be obliged to dress i'll calico
but to have three calico gowns all alike
10 cnlf hot hnV
companions would think she had but
one, that twas the hardest to bear of all. ,
But the old Judge was incorrigible
He had saved two shillings and six
pence by having them all alike, and he
was satisfied if his daughter was not.
1t was bright CHEEKY May morning
when Miss Clara babe adieu to the ugly
brown homestead, and her mother, who
wiped her eyes on her calico apron, and
the sheep that bore the f1eeces from
which her fathers homespun was made
She loved everything about the dun
dwelling, now that she looked back up
on it from the coach window. But soon
, the novelty of her condition oyercame
her grief, and she forgot all petty yeX'
ations in the new scenes and strange
people around her.
Very weary and travel soiled she
was shown into the reception room
where were seated several stylish young
ladies, evidently newly arrived pupil:
| like herself.
There was Miss June, in her eXqul
sitely fitting gray travelling dress, who
| looked her over with quiZZing look IL
her dark eyes: and Miss Clara felt sure
that the peculiar smile that fingered up
or those sarcastic lips owed its exist
ence TO the fact that she wore calico.
Blushing to her very temples, poo
! Clara looked away only to encounte
the gaze of Miss Gay, who, reclining
upon the sofa, in the most faultless at
tire, seemed absorbed in studying thu
pattern of her print.
| Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged
chances and smiles. Tears welled III
from Clara's full heart, but she was too
proud to wipe them away; one fell
then another, when soft voice said:
You are very tired, / am sure; 81
are we all, but we shall be attended t.
soon."
Clara looked her thanks to the gentl
speaker, girl very plainly dressed, ant
of a sweet winsome countenance, who
bringing her chair nearer, asked he
some trivial questions, and related SOM
amusing experiences of her own IL
reaching the institution.
Clara felt more at ease, and bein;
naturally vivacious and intelligent, sool
made friends with the kind stranger
who invited her to become her room
mate.
The school term soon commenced
and there was but little time for Clar
to think of her homely garments. Blu
when Sunday came round and sh
took another calico dress from he
wardrobe, exactly like the one she ha
worn all the week, her roommate said
miss Clinton, beg your pardon, bu
wouldn't something else do better to
day? The young ladies usually dress
good deal there, especially the first Sab
bath of appearing, and l am afraid yo
will not find it pleasant to be so plainl
attired.'
Poor Clara blushed, but she was
brave-hearted girl, and had the goo
sense to know that deception coul
avail her nothing, so she said frankly:
''The truth is have but three dresse
in the world, and those are exactl
alike"
i Miss Pleasant looked at her a me
{ ment as if she thought she must b
quiZzing, but perceiving the bushes an
: confusion of her roommate, burst OF
: laughing.
why CIarai 1t is so comical! Yo
: must excuse me, dear, if do laugh
little. How does it happen you dre'
SO plainly ?"
@Well, my father is very odd in SON
things, and it is his will that we a
= dress in nF-ints y