The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-01-21
Three Calico Go,cns.

Although il may be very ''pleas-
ant thing to see ones name in print, ,
it is not allowable to print names, es-
pecially when writing out true sto-
ry. For this reason we shall have re-
course to the fictitious addresses and
introduce our young lady acquaibfan-
tances as Miss Clara Clinton, and hel
father as Judge Clinton, of Clinton
viIlo. aa
They-that is the people the
Judge the oldest man that ever lived
If oddity consists in having a way OF
his own, Judge Clinton was very
odd man. He would insist on living
IN little brown, old-fashiOned house
without carpets upon the floors; and,
what is more vexatious, he would not
allow a sofa or lounge or rocking
chair inside the four brown 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 hcme-spun 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 al
lude 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 chagrin, she did gull
il down, and woman-like, pretending
to believe, with her husband, that
they could reform the world by ma
king themselves conspichously mean
and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo
home-spun, and Mrs. Judge Clinton
in nine-penny calico, when Miss Cla-
ra 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 announced her de-
sire and determination to go to a
boarding school. 4~za
The Judge himself had been poor
bow, seIf-educated through his own ex-
erfions. He was proof of his hum
BILE birth and the difficulties he bad
overcome at Brundery. He had read
Virgil by the aid of pine knot, and
Greek by the aid Of a penny candle,
and solved the problems of Euclid by
moonlight. He resp pected but one de-
sire in the world, and that was a
thirst fer knowledge. So when Miss
Clara protested that she must and
would 90 to boarding school, Judge
Clinton cheerfully aequiesced and eX-
pressed himself ready to leash over
No sooner was the interesting sub
ject broached, however, than to Miss
Clara's surprise, her father selected
thet most expensive, thorough and
aIistocratic institution in the coun-
try, paid the yearly expenses in ad-
vance, and sent her at once to COM
plete her education, with twenty-five
cents for spending money, and three
calico gowns for wardrobe.
1t is bad enough, 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 self-same piece, so
that her companions would think
that she had but One-that was '1the
hardest to bear of ALL
But the old Judge was incorrigible.
He had saved two shillings and a six
pence by having them all alike, and
he was satisfied, if his daughter was
not.
1t was a bright, clear May morning
when Clara bade adieu to the ugly
brown homestead, and her mother
who wiped her tears on the calico
apron, and the sheep that bore the
feeces from which her fathers home
spun was made. She loved every
thing 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,
and she forgot all petty vexations in
the new scenes and strange people
around her.
Very weary and traveled-soiled, she
aliyhted at the end of her journey,
and was shown into the reception
room, where were seated several sty-
lish Young ladies, evidently newly ar
rived pupils like herself.
There was Miss June with her ex-
quisitely-fitting gay travelling dress,
who looked her over with a 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." ii sa aE4
Blushing to the very temples, poor
Clara looked away, only to encounter
the gaze of Miss Gay, who, reclining
upon the sofa in the most faultless
attire, seemed absorbed in studying
lhe pattern of the print.
Miss Gay and Miss June exchanged
glances and smiles. Tears wellcd up
from Clara's full heart, but she was
too proud to wipe them away; one fell
then another, when soft voice said;
HYou are very tired ! am sure, so
are we all; but we shall be attended to
SOON"
Clara looked her thanks to the gem
tie speaker girl very plainly dress
ed. of sweet, winsome countenance,
who. bringing her chair nearer, asked
her some trivial questions, and related
some amusing experience of her own
in reaching the institution.
Clara felt more at ease, and being
naturally vivacious and intelligent,
soon made friends with the kind
stranger, who invited her to become
her roommate. sai-.f .-aia
The school term soon commenced,
and there was little time for Clara to
think of her homely garments. But
when Sunday came ronnd, and she
took another calico dress from her
wardrobe, exactly like the oRR-she
had worn all the week. her room
mate said:
tsMiss Clinton, / beg yuu parden,
but wouldn't something elsed0 better
to-day The young ladies usually
dress q good deal here, especially the
first Sabbath of appearing, and I am
afraid you will not find il pleasant to
be SO plainly attired.'
Clara blushed, but she was a brave
hearted girl and had the good sense
to know that deception could avail
nothing. So she said frankly:
ssThe truth is, / have but three
dresses in the world, and those are ex-
actly alikeF' ~
Miss Pleasant looked at her a mo-
ment as if she must be quizzing, but
perceiving the bushes and confusion
of her room m-mate, burst out laughing.
"Wby Clara! You must excuse me
dear. II / do laugh little How does
il happen that you dress so plainly ~
~WeI, my father is very odd in
some things, and il is his viii that we
shall all dress in prints"
Miss Pleasant went to the closet,
and shaking out a plain but very pre-
sentable black silk, said:
sfPlease 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 so sensitive, You would
be wounded. / can well do without
this dress the whole term, and no one
will know that it Is not yours.H rl
Cara hesitated. She had always de-
eirad a silk dress. She had been think
Jug all the morning of the ridicule of
her school-mates. Should she accept
this offered kindness2 Or would it
be better to wear her own clothes and
appear as she really was
She did not hesitate long; but put