Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-11
Making Himself Useful.

During the session of 1867, wealthy mer-
chant, in conformity with the custom of the times,
gave dinner party to a few gentlemen, among
whom was member Of Congress Of that period.
On the appointed day, however, the lady of the
house was somewhat annoyed at an early hour by
the intrusion of an old man at the door, Having
been met by servant, he inquired if the proprie-
tor of the housc-whom we will call Mr.. Topham-
was at home? Upon receiving negative reply,
and being furthermore informed that he would not
be at home for some three or four hours, the old
man said
"well being as am here, I may as well re-
main until he comes"
please wait a moment" said the servant, :"
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 be-
ing as he was there he might as well remain until
her husband came. tr& TaT@t-N.
"Wen," replied Mrs T., "if you win stay, just
walk through the alley and 60 back to the kitchen
and take seat"
Nothing daunted, the old man obeyed orders,
aud passed through the alley to the kitchen, where
he found Mrs. T. and the servants very busily en-
gagged in preparing dinner. Surprising him some
old man seeking employment, Mrs. T. was free in
calling into rcquiston his services in her work Of
preparing dinner, and he was equally willing and
sold man" said she, suppose you take the
bucket go to the hydrant, and draw us some wa
ter"
lie at once and readily complied with the re-
quest
"Old man, again said she, suppose you assist
us little In preparing dinner, as we give dinner
party to-day, and are very much hurried, indeed
Just peel few potatoes, If you please"
No sooner was the request made than the old
t,u l,nr NOT will r;1ht
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 were to dine with him on that day. In
due time NIL arrived but one---M. @. Mr.. Topham
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, II not
the first, to make his appearance, knowing that
his dinner at home was an early one.
When about coming to the conclusion that the
Virginia NJ c. would fail to make his appearance,
Mrs. T's memory, which seemed to have proved
rather treacherous, became effulgent, and she &C
quainted her husband with the fact that there was
an "old man. In the kitchen who had been wait
ing to see him for tho last three or four hours.
Mr. T. Immediately repaired 10 the kitchen to as.
certain the old mans wants, when 10, and be
hold who should he find but our M. q. himself
Astonished beyond measure, and with confused
utterance, he exclaimed, "Why, how came you
hereY'
He simply replied, Il was invited to the kitchen
by your wife, and as ! came much before your
dinner-hour, / have been making myself useful"
Mr.. T. at once invited and accompanied him
into the paror, and introduced him to his wife and
guests as the !" Hon. Robert Rutherford, Of vir.
ginia" s0tf- ~ GI-
The lady's feelings can be better imagined by
the reader than described by the writer; but the
balance Of the day passed Oft pleasantly, saving
the lsdys abashment resulting from not recognising
the "virgina Member Of Congress"