Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-08-22
MAKING HIMSELF USEFUL.

During the. session of 1867 l wealthy
merchant-in conformity with the custom ol
the times-gave dinner party to few gen.
tleman among whom was a member of Con.
gress of thai period. On the appointed day.
however, the lady of the house was some
what annoyed at an early hour by the intru.
sion of an old man at the door. Having
been met by a servant, he inquired if the
proprietor of the house-whom we call Mr.
'Topham-was at home. Upoe receiving a
negative reply, and being furthermore in
formed that he would not be at home for
three or four hours, the old man said, "Well,
then, being as am here, | may as well
remain until he comes" Please wait a
moment" said the servant, "I will call Mrs
Topham to the door, and see what she will
say" The servant then ran and called the
merchants wife, who made her appearance.
The old man then repeated what he had said
to the servant-that being as he was there,
he might as we'll remain until her husband
came. "Wel," replied Mrs. T., "if you
will stay, just walk through the alley and
90 back to the kitchen and take a seat"
Nothing daunted, the old man obeyed or.
ders, and passed through the alley to the
kitchen, where he found Mrs. T., and the
servants very busy engaged in preparing din
ner. supposing him some old man seeking
employment, Mrs. T. was free in calling
into requisitou his services in her work OF
preparing dinner, and he was equally willing
and ready to render all assistance possible.
cold man." said she, suppose you take
the bucket. 60 to the hydrant, and draw us
some water.S He at once and readily com.
piled with the request. cold man," again
said she, "suppose you assist me little in
preparing dinner, as we give dinner party
to-day, and we are very much hurried indeed.
Just peel few potatoes, if you please"
No sooner was the request made than the
i" odd man" got to work peeling potatoes
with right good will.
After all things were sufficiently advanced
to release Mrs. T. from further supervision,
she went into her chamber to arrange her
toilet to receive her husbands guests. AT
the proper hour, her husband came in, and
then one by one, came those who who were
to dine with him on that day. In due time
all arrived but one-the M. C. Mr.. Top.
ham then began to express his surprise at
the absence of the Virginia representative,
as he thought he would certainly have been
one of the first if not the first to make his
appearance, knowing that his dinner atbome
was an early one.
When about coming to the conclusion
that the Virginia M. c. would fail to make
his appearance, Mrs.;,T.'s memory, (which
seemed to have proved rather treacherous,
became eAulgent, and she acquainted her
husband with the fact that there was an old
man in the kitchen who had been waiting to
see him for the last three or four hours
Mr.. +. Immediately repaired to the kitchen
to ascertain the cold mans" wants, when
10 and behold who should he find but our
NJ. C. himself! Astonished beyond measure
and with confused utterance, he exclaimed
"Why, how came you here 2" He simply
replied, 81 was invited to the kitchen by
your wife, and as came much before your
dinner hour, l have been making myself
useful"
Mr.. T. at once invited and accompanied
him into the parlor, and introduced him t1