The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-25
OUR STORY TELLER.
MY CONFESSION.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.
youths Companion.

youths Companion.l
1t 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
go out until night. He will be here at
least five hoursl''
Every boy of us started to his feet.
1t was the time when Harry of the
West" was the idol of Virginia and
Ohio.
q tell you, men," l said "we 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 formal address of well
come, which | was deputed to deliver.
l went home in a fever of excitement.
aren't you coming to dinner,
George said my father.
20 No cir. Dva bus;noee - o++o.,J 4. ,,
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 sniff of disgust at
the faded coat and foul smell. had no
eyes for the white hair or the worn old
face
My mother would have sent up to
make me come down.
Don't disturb the boy" / heard my
father say. "He is studying no doubt,
Put something away for him, Nancy"
My father had very quiet, gentle
voice for laboring man. Nv disgust
was heightened by his using the word
boy" Boy, indeed
The fumes of the dinner reached me
in my room. We had dinner at noon.-
the regular farmers hour,-but | had
heard that people dined at six in the
cities
When ] 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 a phrase or
two from Elegant Extracts" / COM
mitted it to memory, practiced before
the glass, shaved "a fruitless toi),
dressed in my Sunday suit, and set off
just as the academy bell began to ring
furiously.
The great man had arrived. The
village band,' consisting of drum,
fife, and cornet, paraded up and down
the streets. All the women were at the
windows, the men were all gathering in
front of the little tavern
Doddridge and Smith, and all the
men, as we styled ourselves, were in
full dress, and full of importance.
What possessed this rabble to come
out?' said Doddridge. What will
Mr.. Clay think of the placer"
One of the rabble, passing us at the
moment, was my father, in his cowskin
boots and flannel warmus, Just as he had
left the pillow. He was jogging slowly
along, his hands clasped behind him.
Where can you be going, STRIP /
asked eurtly. Suppose the great Henry
should find out" / thought, "that this
shabby old plowman is my father?"
Up to the Platoff House. GEORGE
was the mild reply. "Why, you have on
your new suit, my sonr'
| am to address Mr. CLAW on behalf
of the academy" said loftily.
"Ohw and a quizzicaI smile passed
over his face. " must be there to hear
then"
trust to be forgiven, but my humilia-
ton and anger were SO great that could
almost have struck my father at that
moment.
hurried past him. We marched I'D
the rickety tavern-steps Mr.. CLAY. a
gaunt, high-featured man. with grand
freedom of gesture and bearing, and
singularly brilliant keen eyes, stepped
out upon the porch at the moment
| came forward, accompanied by the
delegation of students, and hurled INV
Grafton full at him. was in a burnino
heat The sky, and trees, and tavern,
porch waved unsteadily: but, through
it all, thought how amazed he would
be to find such eloquence, such profound
thought, in an obsure village He might
see the necessity of taking me to Wash
ington. He would at least be able to
understand how my talent was buried
here.
could scarcely command myself to
listen to his reply, which was given with
q pleasant laugh and outstretched hand.
Thank you for yolT welcome, nav
dear boys!'
That was all. 1t was quite evident,