The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-29
THREK OkLIOO GOWNS.

living IN q little, brown, old fashioned
house, without carpets upon the floor,
and, what was more Vexatious, would
not allow a sofa, or lounge, or rock
ing chair inside the four brown walls.
AS be had an idea that the whole
country was going to wreck and ruin,
because the men wore broadeloth,
and the woman wore silks, he declared
he would wear homespun as long as
he lived, and his woman folks should
be restricted to calico.
As we have nothing 10 do with Mrs.
Judge Clinton, we shall not aIlude to
the hearty Yexation with which she
carried out the whimsical old judges
domestic relations. As she. could do
nothing wiser than to gulp down her
ehagriR, she did sap it down, and,
woman like, pretended to believe.
with her husband, that they could
reform the world by making them
self eonspieuously mean and uncom-
Portable. af
Judge Clinton was still in indigo
eolored homespun, and Mrs. Judge
Clinton in nine-penny calico, when
Miss Clara Clinton, having reached
the age Of eighteen, and having
will Of her own (Which her mother
was careful to tell everybody the
child inherited from her father, an
nounced her determination to 60 to-
boarding school. - u
The Judge himself had been poor
boy, sslf-educated through his own
exertions. He was a 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 can
die, and solved the problems of Eu-
cid by moonlight. He respected
but one desire in the world, aRd that
was thirst for knowledge. So, when
Miss Clara protested that she must,
and could, and would go to boarding
school, Judge Clinton cheerfulIy ac-
quiesced and expressed himself
ready to cash over. as s-
No sooner was the interesting sub
ject preached, however, than, to Miss
Clara's surprise, her father selected
the most expensive, thorough, and
paid the yearly expenses In adavnce,
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 enoug55, Miss Clara said,
sobbing all the while as If her beauti-
full eyes had really been liquid foun-
tains, to be obliged to dress in calico;
but to have three calico gowns all
alike, from the selt.sam piece, so
that her companions would think she
had but oue-that WAS ''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 a bright, clear May morning
when Miss Clara babe adieu to the
ugly brown homestead, and her
mother, who wiped her tears on her
calico apron, and the sheep that bore
the heeces from which her father
homespun was made. She loved
everything about the dun dwelling, now
that she looked back upon it from the
coach-WindoW. But soon the novelty
Of her condition oYercame her grief,
in the new scenes and strange people
around her.
Very weary and travel soiled, she
alighted 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 ex-
quisitely- fitting travelling dress, who
looked her over with quizzical 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" ~ lH at#
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 faHltless at
tire, seemed absorbed In studying
the pattern of the print.
Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged
glances aud 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:
"You are very tired, l am sure; so
are we all; but we shall be at
tended to soon"
Clara looked her thanks to the
gentle speaker girl very plainly
dressed, and of a sweet, winsome
countenance, who, bringing her chair
nearer, asked her some trivial qqes-
tions, and related some amusing expe-
rienees of her own In reaching the
institution.
Clara felt more at case, and, being
naturally vivacious and intelligent,
soon made friends with the kind
stranger, who invited her to become
her roommate.
The school term soon commenced,
and there was little time for Clara to
think of her honely 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, I beg your pardon,
but wouldn't something else do better
to-day2 The young ladies usually
dress a good deal here, especially the
first Sabbath of appearing, and / am
afraid you will not find it pleasant to
be so plainly attired"
Clara blushed, but she was q brave
hearted girl, and had the good sense
to know that deception could avail
nothing. So she said frankly:
The truth is / have but three
dresses in the world, and those are
exactly alike.
Miss Pleasant looked at her me-
ment, as if she thought she must be
quizzing; but, perceiving the bushes
and confusion of her roommate,
burst out laughing.
why, Clara! Ii is so eomieal.
You must excuse me, dear, if / do
laugh little How does it happen
that you dress so plainly"
We'll, my father is very odd IN
some things, and it is his will that we
shall all dress In prints,