The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-07-15
THREE CALICO GOWNS.

Is not allOWaDi0 tO PRINT names, especi-
ally when writing out true story. For
this reason we shall have recourse to
fictitious addresses, aud introduce our
young lady acquaintance as Miss Clara
Clinton, and her father as Judge Clin-
ton, of ClintOnville.
They-that il the neople-called the
Judge the oldest man that ever lived
If oddity consists in having way OF
his own, Judge Clinton was very odd
man. He wnutd insist upon living in
little brown, old fashioned house,
without carpets OH the floors; and,
what was more vexatious, he would not
allow sofa or lounge or rocking chair
inside the four br, wa walls. AS he
had an idea that the whole country
was going 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
women folks should be restricted to cal
leo.
AS we have nothing to do with Mrs.
the hearty vexation with which she car
ried out the whimsical old judges do
nestle relations. AS she could do
nothing wiser than to gulp down her
chagrin, she did gutp it down, and wo-
man like, pretend ded to believe with her
husband, that they could reform the
world 10y making themselves consplcu-
ously mean and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo col
ored home spun, and Mrs. Clinton in
nine penny calico, when Miss Clara
Clinton having reached the age of eight
cen, and having will of her own,
(Which her mother was careful to tell
every body the child inherited from her
father,) announced her desire and de-
termination to go to a boarding school.
The Judge himself had been poor
boy, self-educated through his own
bic birth and the difficulties he had
overcome at Brundery. He had read
Virgil by the aid of u pine knot, and
Greek by the aid of Il penny candle, and
solved the problems of Euclid by moon
light. He respected but one desire, and
that was thirst after knowledge. So
when Clara protested that she must,
and could, and would go to boarding
school Judge Clinton cleerfully acqui-
esced and expressed himself ready to
leash over"
No sooner was this interesting subject
broacheL, however, than, to Miss Clara's
surprise, her father selected the most
expensive, thorough and aristrocratic
institution in the country, paid the
yearly expences in advance, and sent
her at once to complete her education,
with twenty five cents for spending
money. aud three calico gowns Tor her
wardrobe.
1t was bad enough, Miss Clara said,
sobing 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
same piece, so that her companions
would think she had but one-that was
"the hardest to bear of ali.'
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 Wa. not.
1t was a bright clear May morning
when Miss Clara bade adieu to the ugly
brown homestead, and her mother who
wiped her tears OH her calico apron. and
the sheep that bore the tiecces from
She loved every thing about the dun
dwelling, now that she looked back up
on it from the coach window. But soon
the novelty of her condition overcame
her grief, and she forgot all petty veXa-
tons in the new scenes and strange peo-
pie around her.
Very weary and travel soiled, she
alghted at the end of her journy, 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 eXquis-
itely fitting gay travelling dress, who
looked her over with quiZical look in
her dark eyes; and Miss Clara felt sure
that the peculiar smile that fingered
enec to the fact that she wore calico"
Blu>hing to her very temples, poor
Clara looked away. only to encounter
the gaze of Miss Gay, who, reclining
upon the sofa in the most faultless at
tire seemed absorbed in studying the
pattern of the print.
Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged
glances and smiles. Tears welled up
from Clara's full heart, but she was too
proud to wipe them away; one fell, then
another, when soft voice said:
"Iou are very tired, am sure; so are
we all; but we shall be attended to
soon"
Clara looked her thanks to the gentle
speaker-a girl very plainly attired, and
of II sweet, winsome countenance, who
bringing her chair nearer, asked her
some trivial questions, and related some
dHIuSlIS III leI ONH lcaCA
ing the institution.
Clara felt more at ease, and being
naturally vivacious and intelligent.
soon made friends with the kind stran-
ger, 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
good deal here, especially the first
Sabbath Of appearing, and am afraid
you will not find it pleasant to be Sc
| plainly attired."
Clara blusled, but she was a brave
hearted girl. and had the good sense to
know that deception could avail moth
! ing So she frankly said:
1.-THE truth is ! have but three dresses
in the world, and those are exactly
aike"
Miss Pleasant looked at her moment
as if she thought she must be quizzing
but, perceiving the bushes and confu-
sion of her room mate, burst out laugh
ing!
.Why. Clara! 1t is so comica!! Yol