Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-05

THREE ClLICo cows.

ing true story. For this reason we shall
have recourse to fictitious names, and we
introduce our young lady acquaintance as
Miss Clara Clinton. and her father as
Judge Clinton Of Clintonville.
They-ihat is, the people-called the
Judge the oldest man that ever lived. II
Oddity consists in having way or his
own. Judge Clinton was an odd man. lie
would insist in living 10 little, brown,
old fashioned house, without carpets upon
the floors. and, what was more yexativts,
he would not allow sofa, or lounge or
rocking chair inside Of the four walls. As
he had an idea the whole country was go
ing To rack and ruin. because the men
wore broadcloth and the women wore silks,
he declared he would werr homespun as
long as he lived, and hi- women folks
should be restricted 10 calico.
As We have nothing 10 do with Mrs
Judge Clinton. we shall not aIlude tn the
hearty yexaiion with which she carried
out the old Judges whimsical notions.
As she could do nothing better than gulp
down her Indignation. gulp il down she
did. and woman-like. pretended 10 believe
with her husband, that they could RETURN
the whole world by making themselves
conspicuously mean and uncomfortable.
Judge Clinton was still in indigo color
ed homespun. and Mrs. Judge Clinton in
nine penny calico. when Miss Clara Gin
ton. having reached the age Of 10, and
having will Of her own (Which her
mother was careful 10 tell evervbodv she
inherited from her fiiher). announced her
determination to go To a boarding school
The Judge himself had been u poor boy.
seli-e,lr aed through his own exerlions.
lie was proud of his humble birth and the
great difficulty he had overcome at Brun-
derry. lie had read Virgil by the light Of
q pine knot, and Greek by the aid of a
penny candle, and solved problems in
Euclid 10y moonlight. lie respected but
one desire in The world, and that was Il
thirst for knowledge. So when Miss
Clara must, could and should go to n
boarding school. the Judge cheerfully ac
guessed. and expressed himself ready to
''cash over"
No sooner was this interesting subject
preached. however. than, To Miss Clara's
surprise, her father selected one Of the
most expensive, thorough and aristocr:,iic
institutions in the country. paid the yearly
expenses in advance. ami sent ner at once
10 finish her educal,n, with twenty five
cents Tor spending money and three calico
gowns for "A wardrobe.
il was bad enough. Miss Clara said
sObbing all The while rs ii her beautiful
eyes were liquid fountains. TO be obliged
To wear calico. but to have three gowns
all alike. from the self-same piere. so thai
her companions would think >he had but
one-that was the hardest Of all
But the old Judge was inccrrigibe. lie
had saved two -hillings and sixpence by
having them all alike. and he was salts
fed. but his daughter was not.
1t was a bright. clear May morning
when Miss Clara babe adieu To the ugly.
brown homestead and her mother. who
wiped The tears from her ewes with her
calico apron. and the sheep that b:.re the
fleece from which her fathers homespun
VIA made. She loved everything that was
about the dun-colo~ed dwelling now that
she looked back upon IL from the coach
window. But the novelty of her situation
soon overcame her grief. and she forgot
her petty vcxaiions amid new scenes and
strange faces around her
Very weary AMI travel-soiled she ar
rived at the end Of her journey. and was
shown into the reception ROOM where |
were seated several stylish young ladies, |
evidently newls-arrived like herself
There was Miss June with her exqns-
itely fitting travelling dress. who looked
her over with quizzical glance 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.
Blushing TO her very temples, poor
Clara looked away only to encounter the
gaze of Miss Gay. reclining on the sofa in |
the most f,ultlcss attire, seemingly ab-
sorbed In STUDYING the pattern Of the
print.
Miss June and Miss Gay exchanged |
Chances and smiled. Tears welled up
from Clara $ fall heart. but she was roo
proud TO wipe them away; one fell. then |
another. when soft voice said:
You are very tired. am sure; so are |
we all, but we shall be better attended !
SOON"
Clara looked her thanks at the gentle
spcakcr-a girl plainly dressed. and of
sweet winsome counienancc. who. bringing
her chair nearer. asked her some trivial
questions. and related some amusing ex-
pcrience OF her own in reaching the insti-
tuition.
Clara felt more Mt ease, and being natu-
rally vivacious and intelligent. soon made
friends with the kind-hcarted stranger,
who invited her to become her room mate
The school term sooa commenced. anC
Clara had little time to think of her home-
ly garments. But when SUNDAY came
round. and she took another calico dress
from her trunk exactly like the one she
had worn through the week, her room
mate sahi:
Miss Clinton. beg your pardon. bu,
wouldn't something else be more becom.
Ing for to-day The young ladies usually
dress great deal here. especially the first
Sabbath OF appearing. and am afraid
yon will not find it pleasant to be SO plain
~ attiret"
Clara blushed. but she was a brave
hearted girl, and had good sense TO see
that deception would avail her nothing. SO
she answered frankly:
1.-The truth is. have but three dresses
In the world and those are ex .ctlv alike"
Miss Pleasant locked ut her q moment
as though she thought she WAS auizziny,
but pereiving the bushes and confusion
Of her roommate, burs, out laughing.
why, Clara! IL Is so eomical. You
must excuse me If | do laugh lutte. How
does It hsppen You dress 50 plainly 30
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