Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-08-30
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Making Himself Useful.
During the session Of 1857,

MdAiuS HiINSVll OeCtHI'.
During the session Of 1857, a
wealthy merchant in conformity with
the custom Of time, gave a 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 SER
want, he inquired if the proprietor of
the house-whom we will call Mr.
Trophan-was at home? Upon re-
Iceiving a negative reply, and further
more informed that he would not be
at home for some three or four hours,
the old man said
swell, being as I am here, / may
as well remain until he comes"
"Please wait moment" said the
servant; 81 will call Mrs. Trophan to
the door and see what she viii say"
The servant then ran and called the
merchants wife, who made her ap-
pearance. The old man then repeat
ed what he had said to the servant
that being as he was there he might
as well remain until her husband
came.
"Well," replied Mrs. T., eff you
will stay, just walk through the alley
and 60 back to the kitchen and take
a seat"
Nothing daunted, the old man
obeyed orders, and passed though the
alley to the kitchen, where he found
Mrs. 7. and the servants very busily
engaged in preparing dinner. Sup
posing him some Old man seeking en-
ployment, Mrs. 7. was free in calling
into requisition his services in her
work of preparing dinner, and he was
equally willing to render all assist
ance possible.
| @Old man." said she, suppose you
take the bucket, go to the hydrant,
and draw US some water"
lie at once readily complied with
the request.
cod man" again said she, Suppose
you assist Us a little in preparing din
ner, as we give adinner party to-
Gay, and are very much hurried, in
deed. Just peel few potatoes, if
you please"
No sooner was the request made
than the old man. got to work peel
ing potatoes with a right good will.
After all things were sufficiently
advanced to release Mrs. T. from fur
ther supervision, she went into her
chamber to arrange her toilet to re-
ceivs her husbands guests. At the
proper hour her husband came in; and
then one by one came those who were
to dine with him that day. In due
time they all arrived but one the M.
C. Mr.. Tophan began to express bis
surprise at the absence Of the Virgin
ia Representative, as he thought he
would certainly have been one of the
first to make his appearance, know
| ing that lis dinner at home was an
early one.
When about coming to the .conelu-
sion that the Virginia M. @. would
fail to make bis appearance, Mrs. Us
memory, which seemed to have proved
rather treacherous, became effulgent,
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 four hours
Mr.. Z. Immediately repaired to the
kitchen to ascertain the odd mans
wants-when 10 and behold! who
should he find but our M. G. himself!
Astonished beyond measure, and with
confused utterance, be exclaimed.
"Why, how came you here?"
He simply added, 81 was invited
to the kitchen by your wife, and as I
came much before your dinner hour,
[ havebeen making myself useful"
Mr.. I. at once invited and accom-
panied him into the parlor, and intro
duced him to his wife and guests as
the 'Hon. Robert Rutherford, of Vir-
ginia.'
The lady's feelings can better be
imagined by the reader than del
scribed by the writer; but the bal |
ance of the day passed off pleasantly, |
saving the lady's abashment resulting
from not recognizing the Virginia
Member Of Congress.