Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-03-11
The Stary TelleF.
THREE CALICO GOWNS

Although it may be very pheasant thing t
see ones own name in print" it is not allowabl
to print names especially when writing out a tru
story. For this reason we shah have recourse t
fictitious addresses, and introduce our young lad
acquaintance as Miss Clara Clinton, and her fathe
as Judge Clinton, of Clintonvile. -
They-that is the people called the Judge to-
oldest man that ever lived. If oddity consists Ii
having way of his own, Judge Clinton was YER
odd man. He would insist upon living in littt
brown, old-fashioned house, without carpets upo1
the floors and, what was more vexatious, he woul'
not allow sofa or lounge, or rocking chair insid
the four brown wallis As he had an idea that tn
whole country was going to rack and ruin, becaus
the men wore broadcloth, and the women wor
silks, he declared he would wear homespun as lonl
as he lived, and his women folks should be restrict
ed to calico.
As we have nothing to do with Mrs. Judg'
Clinton, we shall not aude to the hearty vexatiol
with which she carried out the whimsicalold judge
domestic relations. AS she could do nothing wise
than to gulp down her chagrin, she did gulp i
down, and, woman like, pretended to believe, witt
her husband, that they could reform the world b,
making themselves conspicuousy mean and un
comfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo-colored home
spun, and Mrs. Judge Clinton in nine penny calico
when Miss Clara Clinton, having reached the agt
of eighteen, and having will of her own, (#hict
her mother was careful to tell everybody the chile
inherited from her father,l announced her desirt
and determination to 60 to boarding school,
The Judge himself had been poor boy, SEIZED
ucated through his own exertions. He was proc
of his humble birth, and the difficulties he hat
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 Euclie
by moonlight, He respected but one desire il
the world, and that was a thirst for knowledge
So when Miss Clara protested that she must, ant
could and would go to a boarding school, Judg'
Clinton cheerfully acquieseed aad expressed him
self ready to leash over"
No sooner was this interesting subject broaehed
however, than to Miss Clara surprise, her fathe
selected the most expensive thorough and aristo
cratic institution in the country, paid the yearly
expenses in advance, and sent her at once to com
plete her education, with twenty-five cents fol
spending money, and three calico gowns for hel
wardrobe.
1t was bad enough, Miss Clara said, sobbing al
the while as if her beautiful eyes had really beer
liquid fountains, to be obliged to dress in calico
but to have three calico gowns all alike, from the
selfsame piece, so that her companions woulo
think she had but one-that was ''the hardest tt
bear of all"
But the old Judge was incorigible. He had
saved two shilhngs and six pence by having them
all alike and he was satisfied, if his daughter was
not
It was a bright, clear May morning when Miss
Clara babe adeu to the ugly brown homestead
and her mother who wiped her tears on her calico
apron, and the sheep that bore the aeeces from
which her fathers homespun was made. She
loved everything about the dun dwelling, now thai
she looked back upon it from the coach window
But soon the novelty of her condition overcame
her grief and she forgot all petty vexations in the
new scenes and strange people around her.
Very weary and travel-soied, she alghted at the
end of her journey, and was shown into the recep
ton room, where were seated several stylish young
ladies, evidently newly-arrived pupils like herself
There was Miss June with her exquisitely- fitting
gray travelling dress, who looked her over with s
quizzical look in her dark eyes; and Miss Clara
felt sure that the peculiar smile that fingered upoI
those sarcastic lips owed its existence to the fact
that she wore "calco.'
Blushing to her very temples, poor Clara looked
away, only to encounter the gaze of Miss Gay, who
reclining upon the sofa in the most fautess attire
seemed absorbed in studying the pattern Of the
print
Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged gances and
smiles. Tears welled up from Clara's full heart
but she was too proud to wipe them away; nefel
then another, when soft voice said:
'You are very tired, am sure; so are We all
but we shall be attended to soon"
Clara looked her thanks to the gentle speaker
girl very plainly dressed, and ofa sweet winsome
countenance, who bringing her chair nearer, asked
her some trivial questions, and related some anu
sing experiences of her own in reaching the insti
tuition.
Clara felt more at ease, and, being naturally vi.
vacious 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 ano
she took another calico dress from her wardrobe
exactly like the one she had worn all the week, hel
roommate said:
'sMiss Clinton, beg your pardon, but wouldn'
something else do better to-day? The young Ia
dies usually dress good deal here, especially the
first Sabbath of appearing, and am afraid yor
viii not find it pleasant to be so plainly attired.
Clara blushed, but she was brave-hearted girl
and had the good sense to know that deception
could avail nothing. So she said frankly:
1.-The truth is, have but three dresses in the
world, and those are exactly alike"
Miss Pleasant looked at her moment as if she
thought she must be quizzing, but, perceiving the
bushes and confusion of her roommate, burst ou
laughing!
''Why Clara 1t is 50 comical! You mus
excuse me, dear, if I do laugh little, How doe:
it happen you dress so plainly?'
"Wen, my father is very odd in some things
and it is his will that We shall all dress in prints.
Miss Pleasant went to the closet, and, shaking
out plain but very presentable black silk, said
'Please wear this, dear Clara. Don't think but
shall love you just as well in calico, but many o.
the girls WON'T end ycu are so sensitive you vii
be wounded I can veil DO without this dress the
whole term, and no cne will know but it is yours "
Clara hesitated. She had always desired silk
dress She had been thinking all the morning o.