The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-16
OUR STORY TELLER.
MY CONFESSION.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.
youths Companion.l


youths Companion.I
It is thirty odd years since the incl
dent happened which / am about to re-
late, but it is still as vivid in my
memory as though it had occurred
yesterday.
One winter morning, Jack Doddridge
burst into the senior classroom of the
academy in great excitement. "Boys,"
cried he, "Clay is coming comes to-
morrow! He will take dinner at the
'Platoff House, and the stage does not
20 out until night. He will be here at
least five hoursW
Every boy of US started to his feet.
1t was the time when Harry of the
West" was the idol of Virginia and
Ohio.
"I tell you, men," 1 said, "ace must
receive him. There's nobody else to do
it. Henry Clay is used to the society of
gentlemen and classical scholars"
None of us said-what we all thought
that our fathers-plain mechanics and
farmers-were neither gentleman nor
scholars. The academy had been in
operation about five years, and it had
made, of some of us at least, prigs and
snobs, to a degree which | hope may
seem incredible to the manlier boys of
these times.
1t was arranged that we should meet
Mr.. Clay with a formal address of well
come, which / was deputed to deliver.
/ went home in fever of excitement.
"Aren't you coming to dinner,
George?' said my father.
mo, sir; I've business to attend to-"
He was in his green flannel jacket,
and was scraping his boots with stick,
having Just come in from the barn-yard.
/ passed him with a sniff of disgust at
the faded coat and foul smell. l had no
ewes for the white hair or the worn old
face.
Nv mother would have sent up to
make me come down.
"Don't disturb the boy" l heard my
father say. "He is studying no doubt,
Put something away for him, Nancy"
Ny father had a very quiet, gentle
voice for laboring man. My disgust
was heightened by his using the word
boy" Boy, indeedl
The fumes of the dinner reached me
in my room. We had dinner at noon,-
the regular farmers hour,-but l had
heard that people dined at six in the
cities.
"When 1 take matters in hand in
this house, I'll civilize it," thought.
The speech of welcome was easily pre-
pared. Part of it was from Burke, part
from Cicero's orations, with phrase ol
two from Elegant Extracts" l com
.mitted it to memory, practiced before
the glass, shaved "a fruitless toiD
dressed in my Sunday suit, and set of
just as the academy bell began to rins
furiously.
LoI orr,1,al
village E'band," consisting of drum
fife, and cornet, paraded up and dow
the streets. All the women were at tn
windows, the men were all gathering il
front of the little tavern.
Doddridge and Smith, and all tn
men," as we styled ourselves, were il
full dress, and full of Importance.
"What possessed this rabble to com
out?" said Doddridge. "What vii
Mr.. Clay think of the placeT'
One of the rabble, passing us at tn
moment, was my father, in his cowski
boots and flannel warmus, Just as he ha
left the plow. He was jogging slowl
along, his hands clasped behind him.
"Where can you be going, sir?'
asked curtly. "Suppose the great Henr
should find out" thought, "that thi
shabby old plowman is my father?'
Cup to the Platoff House, George,
was the mild reply. "Why, you'll have o
your new suit, my sonw
81 am to address Mr.. Clay on beha
of the academy" / said loftily.
"Ohp and quizzical smile passe
over his face. l must be there to hea
then"
1 trust to be forgiven, but my humili
ton and anger were so great that l coul
almost have struck my father at tn;
moment.
hurried past him. We marched u
the rickety tavern-steps. Mr. Clay,
gaunt, high-featured man. with graz
freedom of gesture and bearing, ar
singularly brilliant keen eyes, steppe
out upon the porch at the moment.
/ came forward, accompanied by tt
delegation of students, and hurled n
Grafton full at him. was in a burni1
heat. The sky, and trees, and taver
porch waved unsteadily: but, throue
it all, / thought how amazed he wou
be to find such eloquence, such profour
thought, in an obsure village. He mig
see the necessity of taking me to Was
ington. He would at least be able
understand how my talent was buri
here.
could scarcely command myself
listen to his reply, which was given wi
apleasant laugh and outstretched han
THANK you for your welcome, L
dear boys!"
That was all. 1t was quite evidel
too, that he regarded us as mere bo,
eager to air our little learning.
/ stepped back, mortified and tre
bling, when / saw Mr.. Clay's eyes su
denly brighten, and he hurried eager
down the steps.
Ha, John! I've been watching
you, old fellow! ARRANGED to stay he
till evening so that we could have an o
fashioned talk"
"That was well thought of, Hem
Come down to the house."
John " was my father. After Fl
moments Of hand-shaking and pleasa
talk with the towns people, Mr.. CT
walked with him down the shady lit
street. surrounded by farmers and VOL
ingmen, for each OF whom he had