The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-09-11
Selfrt Snry.
MY CONFESSION.
BY REBECcA HARDING DAVIS.
youths Companior.)

BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.
youths Companion)
1t is thirty odd years since the Incl
dent happened which I am about to re-
late, but it is still as vivid in my memo
ry as though it had occurred yesterday.
One winter morning Jack Doddridge
burst into the senior class room of the
academy in great excitement. "Boys,"
cried he, "Clay is coming looming 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.
81 tell you, men," I 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 gentlemen mol
scholars. The academy had been in op
Grafton about five years, and it had made
Of some of US at least, prigs and snobs
to degree which l hope may seem in
credible to the manlier boys Of these
times.
1t was arranged that we should meet
Mr.. Clay with formal address of vel
come, which l was deputed to deliver.
/ went home in fever of excitement.
"Aren't you coming to your dinner,
George3" said my father.
"No, sir; I've business to attend to-"
He was in his green flannel jacket, and
was scraping his boots with stick, hav
ing 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 worn old face
My mother would have sent up to
make me come down.
"Don't disturb the boy" 1 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 My DISCUS,
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 I had
heard that people dined at six in the cit.
ies
"When l take matters in hand in this
house, TIL civilize it," ! thought
The speech of welcome was easily
prepared Part of it was from Burke,
part from Cicero's orations, with a
phrase or two from Elegant Extracts u
/ committed it to memory, praciiced be-
fore the glass, shaved, Ia frditless toll,
dressed in my Sunday suit, and set of
just as the academy bell began to ring
furiously.
The great man had arrived. The vii
lage "band," consisting OF drum, ffe
and cornet, paraded up and down the
streets All the women were at the win
dows,the men were all gathering in front
of the little tavern
Doddridge and Smith, and all the
5"men" as we styled ourselves, were in
full dress and full of importance,
"Whst possessed this rabble to come
out p said Doddridge "What will Mr..
Clay think of the place ?"
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 plow. He was jogging slowly
along, his hands clasped behind him
"Where can you be going, sir?" !
asked curtly. Suppose the great Har
ry should find out" I thought, "that
this shabby old plowman is my father p
"Up to the Platoff House, George u
was the mild reply. "Why, you have on
your new suit, my sonF'
81 am to address Mr. Clay on behalf
of the academy" / said loftily.
"Oh!' and a quizzical smile passed
over his face. II must be there to hea,
then"
trust to be forgiven, but my hutnili
alton and anger we're 80 s;ssat that
could almost have struck my father a
that moment.
hurried past him. We marched W
the ricketty tavern steps. Mr.. Clay, {
gaunt, high-featured man, with granc
freedom of gesture and bearing, and sin
gularly brilliant keen eyes, stepped ou
upon the porch.
came forward, accompanied by thu
delegation of students, and hurled my
Grafton full at him. was in burning
heat; the sky, and trees, and tavern
porch waved unsteadily; but, through i
all, / thought how amazed he would b.
to find such eloquence, such profound
thought, in an obscure village He nigh
see the necessity of taking me to Wash
ington He would at least be able tt
understand how my talent was buriet
here
/ could scarcely command myself t.
listen to his reply, which was given witt
a pleasant laugh and outstretched hand
"Thank you for your welcome m,
dear boysr'
| That was all ; 1t was quite evident, TOO
that he regarded US as mere boys, cage
to air our little learning.
stepped back, mortified and trem
bling, when / saw Mr.. Clay's eyes sud
denly brighten, and he hurried eagerl.
down the steps.
"Ha, John! I've been watching 70
you, old fellow; arranged to stay her
till evening SO that we could have an oil
fashioned talk"
THAT was we'll thought of Henr,
Come down to the house."
John was my father After fe'
moments of hand shaking and pleasar
talk with the towns people, Mr., Cla
walked with him down the shady littl
street, surrounded by farmers and worE
ingmen, for each of whom he had
friendly word. Many of them, like m
father, had been his friends in boyhoo(
But the classical scholars were left stanC
ing on the tavern.porch, feeling yer
warm and uncomfortable
| The lesson was of no use indeed,
grew more arrogant and more conceite
| in consequence of it. Henry Clay migt
be the greatest of American orators, br
| all l. :.