The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-09-01
GBe planters &aulltr .
familn Reaoinas auD Mems Jtems
IhREE CALICO GOWNS.


ing out a true story. For this reason W
shall have recourse to fictitious addresses, ant
introduce our young lady acquaintance a
Miss Clara Clinton, and her father as Juds,
Clinton, of Clintonville.
Ihey-that is the people-called the Jud g
the oldest man that ever lived. Ii oddit,
consists in having way of his own, judy
Clinton was a very odd man. He would in
sist upon living in a little brown, old-fash
Toned house, without carpets upon the floors
and, what was more vexatious, he would no
allow sofa or lounge or rockAg-chair insid,
thesfour. bf0Wh walls. As he had an ide.
that the whole country was going to Tacl
and ruin, because the men wore broadcloth
ana the women wore silks, he declared h,
would wear hOmespun as long rs he lived
and his women folks should be restricted t,
calico.
AS We have nothing to do with Mrs Jud o,
Clinton, We shall not allude to the heart,
vexation with which she carried out The
WHmsical old judges domestic relations. As
She could do nothing wiser than to Gulp down
her chagrin and, woman like, pretended Il
believe, with her husband, that they could re-
form the world by making themselves coDspc-
uously mean and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo-colored
home~spun, and Mrs. Judge Clinton in nine
penny calico, when Miss Clara Clinton, hav-
ing reached the age of eighteen, and having Il
VIII of her own, (which her mother Was care
tuI to tell every body the Guild inLeIited from
inination TO 30 TO boarding school.
The judge himself had been 4 poor boz
self-educated through his own eXertionS
He was proof of his humble birth and the
difficulties he had overcome 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 in the world, and
that was a thirst for knowledge So when
Miss Clara protested that she must, and could,
and would go to a boarding school, Judge
Clinton cheerfully acquieseed and expressed
himself ready to ''cash over"
No sooner was this interesting subject
broached, however, than, to Miss Ciara's sur
prise, her father selected the most expensive,
thorough, and aristocratic institution in the
country, paid the yearly expenses in advance
and sent her at once to complete her educa-
ton, with twenty-five cents for spending
money, and three calico gowns for her ward
robe.
1t was bad enough, Miss Clara said, sobbup
all the while as if her beautiful ewes 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, 50
that her companions would think she had but
one-that was 1.-The hardest to bear of ALL
But the old Judge was incorrigible lie
had saved two shillings and sixpence by hay
ing them all alike, and he was satisfied, if his
daughter was not.
1t was a bright clear May mornin. when
Miss Clara bade adieu to the ugly brown
homestead, and her mother who wiped heI
tears on her calico apron, and the sheep that
bore the iiceces from which her fathers home
spun was made. She loved every thing
about the dun dwelling, now that she looked
back upon 1t from the coach window. But
soon the novelty of her condition oNercame
her grief, and she forgot all petty vexatsons
IN the new scenes and strange people around
her
Very weary and travel -soiled, she aliShte,l
at the end of her journey, and was shown
into the reception room, where were seated
several stylish young ladies' evidently newly
arrived pupils like herself
There was Miss June with her exquisiteiy-
hitting gray traveling-dross, who looked her
over with a quiZzicaI look in her dark eyes;
and Miss Clara felt sure that the peculiar
smile that fingered upon those sarcastic lips
owed its existence to the fact that she wore
calico"
Blushing TO her very temples, poor Char.
looked away, only to encounter the gaze Of
a,ast 4sul.I lea a.tIr-. s.-sr. Is u 81
--Sfu0yingyno payy1TMUf the PRINT. : =
Miss Gay aud Miss June exchanged glances
aud smiles. Tears wclled up from Clara's
full heart, but she was too proud to wipe
them away; one fell, then another, when a
soft voice said:
'.lou are very tired, am sure; so are We
all: but we shall be attended to seonr
Clara looked her thanks to the gentle
speaker-a girl very plainly dressed and of a
sweet, winsome cOuntenance, who, bringing
her chair nearer, asked her some trivial ques-
tionS, and related some amusing cxpcriencc,
of her own in reaching the institution
Clara felt more at ease, and, being natu-
rally vivaciOus and intelligent soon made
friends with the kind stranger, who invited
her to become her rOom-mate
The school term soon commenced and
there was little time for Clara to think OF
her homely garments. But when Sunday
came round, and she took another calico
dress from her wardrobe, exactly like the one
she had worn all the week, her room mate
said:
''Miss Clinton, beg your pardon, but
wouldn't something else do better to-day
The young ladies usually dress a good deal
here, especially the first Sabbath appearing
and am afraid you will not find it pleasant
to he SO plainly attired."
Clara blushed, but she was brave hearted
girl, and had the good sense to know that de-
ception could avail nothing. So she said
frankly:
.sThe truth is, have but three dresses in
the world, and those are exactly alike"
Miss Pleasant looked at her moment as il
she thought she must be quizzing, but, per-
ceiying the bushes and confusion of her
roommate, burst out laughing.
"Why, Clara 1t is SO comical! You must
excuse me, dear, if / do laugh little. How
does it happen you dress SO plainly~
well, my father is very odd in something's,
and it is his will that we shall all dress in
prints"
Miss Pleasant went to the closet, and shak-
ing out a plain but very prescntable black
silk said:
''Please wear this, dear Clara. Don't think
but shall love you just as well in calico, but
many of the girls won't, and you are sensi-
tive you will be wounded. l can well do
without this dress the whole term and no one
will know but it is yours"
Clara hesitated. She had always desired q
silk dress. She had been thinking all the
morning of the ridicule of her school mates
Should she accept this offered kindness |! On
would it be better to wear her own clothes
aud appear as she really was
She did not hesitate long; but putting her
arms around Miss Peasants neck, kissed her
with trembling lips, then said in quiet, firm
way:
.'Thank you, thank you thousand times
1t does not seem best. My father would not
approve it, nor do l. If You love me, that is
enough
Miss Pleasant pattcd Clara's cheek gently,
murmuring:
.sYou are right, Clara, aud you arc hand
somer in YOUR colico than the richest of them
in all their silks and 6nery.'
Nothing more was said. The two girls
went down to the assembly room when the
bell rang, aud found the people standing in
rroups waiting the appearance of the assis-
tant teacher to lead them to church.
.sLook! will YOU ~ whispered Miss Gay to
;,, ,,oxt En- har eff that Girl ism Z going I o