The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-11-15
THREE CALICO GOWNS.

They-that is, the people-ealled the
Judge the eldest man that ever lived.
II oddity consists in having way OF
his swn, Judge Clinton was q very odd
man. He would insist upon living in
little, brown, old fashioned house, with
out any carpets upon the floor, and,
what was moro vexatious, would not
allow q sofa, or lounge, or rocking
chair inside the four brown walls. As
he had An idea that the whole country
was going to wreck and ruin, because
the men wore broadcloth, and the
women wore silks, he declared he would
wear homespun as long as he lived, and
his women folks should be restricted to
calico.
As we have nothing to do with Mrs.
Judge Clinton, we shall not alldde to
the hearty vexation with which she
carried out the whimsical old Judges
domestic relations. AS she could do
nothing wiser than to gulp down her
shagrin, she did gulp it down, and,
woman like, pretended to believe, with
her husband, that they could reform the
world by making themselves cohspicu-
ously mean and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo
eolored hOmespun, aud Mrs. Judge Gin
ton In nine-penny calico, when Mrs.
Clara Clinton, having reached the age
of eighteen, and having a will of her
own (Which her mother was careful to
tell everybody the child Inherited from
her father announced her determine
ton to go to boarding school.
L.. -
boy, self-educated through his own e1-
ertions. He was proof OF his humble
birth and the difficulties he had over
come at Brundery. He had read virgil
by the aid of pine knot, and Greek by
the aid of penny candle, and solved
the problems of Euclid by moonlight.
He respected but one desire i'll the
world, and that was thirst for knowl.
edge. So, when Miss Clara protested
that she must aud could and would go
To a boarding school, Judge Clinton
cheerfully acquiesced, and expressed
himself ready to leash over"
No sooner was the interesting subject
preached, however, than, TO Miss Clara's
surprise, her father selected the most
expensive, thorough aud ariStOcratic
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 her
wardrobe.
1t was bad enough, Miss Clara said
sobbing all the while as if her beautiful
eyes had really been liquid fountains,
to be obliged to dress in calico; but to
have three calico gowns all alike, from
the self-same piece, so that her COM
panions would think she had but one
that was 1.-THE hardest to bear of all"
But the old Judge was incorrigible. He
had saved two shillings aud six pence
by having them all alike, and he was
satisfied, if his daughter was not.
1t was a bright, clear May morning
when Miss Clara babe adieu 20 the ugly
brown homestead, and her mother, who
wiped her tears Oh her calico apron, aud
the sheep that bore the fleeces from
which her fathers homespun was made.
She loved everything about the dun
dwelling, now that she locked back
upon it from the coach window. But
soon the novelty OF her condition over
came her grief, in the new scenes and
strange people around her.
Very weary and travel seiled, she
alighted at the end of her journey and
was shown into the reception room,
where were seated several sty lish young
ladies, evidently newly arrived pupils
like herself.
There was Miss JUICE with her e1quis-
itely hitting travelling dress, who looked
her over with q quissical look in her
dark eyes; aud Miss Clara felt sure that
the pecuhar smile that fingered upon
those sarcastic lips owed it's existence
TO the fact that she wore calico"
Blushing to her very temples, poor
Clara looked away, only 70 sncornts
the gaze of Miss Gay, who, reol;ning
upon the sofa in the most faultless at,
tire, seemed absorbed in studying the
pattern of the print.
Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged
chances and smiles. Tears welled up
from Clara's full heart, but sle was toe
proud to wipe them away; one fell, ther
another, when soft voice said:
"Yeu are very tired, | am sure; so ar,
We all; but We shall be attended L
soon"
Clara looked her thanks to the gentl,
speaker-a girl very plainly dressed
sAN VI % o"CCb W lhSOluC
who, bringing her chair nearer, asked
her some trivial questions, and related
some amusing experiences of her owl
In reaching the institution.
Clara felt more at ease. and. being
naturally vivacious and intelligent
soon made friends with the kline
stranger, who invited her to become he,
room mate.
The school term soon commenced am
there was little time for Clara TO tbisl
Of her homely garments. But wber
Sunday came round, and she TOOL an
other calico dress from her wardroha
exactly like the one she had worn al
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 here, especially the first Sab
bath of appearing, and l am afraid yo
VIII not ind 1t pleasant to be so plainl
attired."
Clara blushed, but she was a bray
hearted girl, and had the good sense t
know that deception could avail moth
ing. So she said frankly:
The truth is have but three dresse
IN the world, and these are exactl
Mlss Pleasant look cd at her momep
as IL she thought she must be quizzip.