The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-10-11

wby, Clara Il IL % uosnleAL You
mast excuse me Il do laugh = little,
How does It haPpea that yOu dress %
+ plaiulys
Wei, my father Is verT odd 10 seme
things. aud Il Is bic win that we shall
wear print.
Mics Pleasant went 10 the eiotet, aud
shaking out very plain bat preseniabie
black six. said;
Please wear this, dear Clara. DO not
think bui shall love you just as well In
calico, bat many OF the girls won't and
you are 50 sensitive you vii be wounded.
can do well without this dress the
whole term, and no one will know but
what II is yours.
Clara hesitaled. Shc bal always de-
sired silk dress. sAshad beer. thinking
all the mornlng OF the Fidiculc OF her
schoolmases Should alic accept the prof.
fered Kindness, or would il be better to
appear as rhe really was.
She did not hesitate long; but pntting
her arms around Miss pleasant's neck
kissed her with trembling lips, aud then
said, in quiet, hrm way;
Thank you. Thank you thousand
timcs. Il does not seem best. My father
would not approve OF il, nor do /. lfyou
love me that is enough.
Miss Pleasant palted Clara's cheeks
gently mnrmuring;
You are right, aud You are handsomer
in your calico than the richest OF them in
all Of their silks and iinery.
Nothing more was said. The two girls
went down into the assembly room when
the bell rang, and found the girls stand
ing in groups waiting for the appearance
of the assistant teacher TO lead them to
church.
Look! will you2 whispered Miss Gay
to the miss next to her, II she isn't goiug
TO church Ia that old calicoi
Miss Pleasant frowned, but Clara smil-
ed. She had conquered her pride tbta
morning on her knees. She had resolved
not to be made unhappy by what she
could not help.
The assistant entered the same room
with rustic and trail betting her sta
ton. She looked the young ladies' over
with a sweeping glance, and perempto-
rily ordered Miss Clinton 10 her room.
Miss Pleasant whispered word In that
lady's ear; Miss Clinton was recalled and
the procession was formed. 1t was vexa-
tious that all the gentlemen as these
young ladies passed seemed TO look only
al the calico dress. II was so very odd
TO see a yoang lady going 10 church in
print. From the dress they looked into
the face; such pretty face as it was, too
so bright--all thinking of the oddity of
the attire, and wondering who the young
lady could be.
1t was not long before Clara became
known as the yonng hay In calico. Old
Mr. Vennet, the wealthiest and most In
fluential gentleman in town, having had
bis attention called TO her by her peculiar
dress, made the discovery that her father
had beea dear and intimate friend in
college. de was selfmade himself, and
he and Judge Clinton had walked hand to
glove in the thorny ways OF poverty.
Mr.. vennet at the first opportunity
sent carriage 10 ksTe Mics Clara dine
with his family, and told her many sto-
ries of which Judge Clinton was the
hero, and was evidently proud of his
pretty daughter. &4A
Afterward be from time To time sent
bouquets from bis rare exotics. besides
such an abundance of fruit, taking her to
ride with bis family, so that the young
ladies were almost in state OF envy.
Finally, as If TO drive the young ladies
to distraction, the veunets gave party
to which the wealthiest and most inhuen-
tial families in the county alone were in.
vited Even the principal of the instiIu.
tIon was overlooked. To this reception
Mise Clara was borne in her calico dress
by liveried servants. Old Mr.. Vennet
was so proud Of her pluck, aud so de-
lighted that sue did not appear 10 tulle
aud silks, that Le devoted himself to her
much Of the evening, introducing her to
many OF his irieads with many hAttering
expressions Of admiration. She was d.
nally taken to suppr by young Mr.
Vennet, who evidently thonght more Of
her cheerful conversations than all the
satius, iaces, and dianonds 10 the draw
Ing room.
As might b. expected, Miss Clinton
rom that evening was quite belle. NO
o.'e could slight young lady to whom
the Vennets bad been so attentive. Be
side 9 there was something quite novel 10
having beautiful young creature from
The country who had rich father and
wore tie calico because she was not poor
The young ladies petted her because they
had nothing to be jealous Of; the old Ia.
dies patr0nized her as an example for
their daughters; the young men respect
ed her for her pr, tty ways, independe
of character and ready wit; and the old
men put their thumbs IN the arms of
their vests and W ished there we're more
like ber. Indeed the only trouble was
that Judge Clinton's calico dresses didn't
prove his daughters ruin.
The long school session was to close
with pu bic examination, on which oc-
casion tue young ladies were required TO
wear viii Il, satin sashes, aud a rosette
upon The left shoulder. The principal
had an ey 10 effect, and she would adj