The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-07
Number %.


During the session of 1867, a wealthy
merchant-in conformity with the custom OF
the tlmes-gave dinner party TO q few gen
uenien, among whom was a member of Con
gress 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 proprietor Of the
house-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. We'll, being as am here,
| may as we'll remain until he comes -
Please wait moment" said the servant.
i viii 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 10 the servant-that being
as he was there he might as well remain until
her husband came. "Well.' replied Mrs. T.,
II you will stay, just walk through the alley
and 60 back to the kitchen, and take seat
Nothing daunted the old man obeyed orders,
and passed through the alley 10 the kitchen,
where he found Mrs. T. and her servants
very busily engaged in preparing dinner
Supposing him some old man seeking employ
ment, Mrs. I. was free in calling into requisi-
ton his services in her work of preparing
dinner, and he was equally willing TO render
all assistance possible. "Old man, ;" said she.
suppose you take the bucket, go to the by.
drant and draw some water He at once
and readily complied with the request. "Od
man. again said she, suppose you assist us
a little in preparing dinner. as we give a dim
uer party to day, and are very much hurried
indeed. Just peel few potatoes, if YOU
please No sooner was the request made
than the cold man" got to work peeling po-
tatoes 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 husband guests. At the prop
hour her husband came in: and then, one
by one, came those who with him on that day.
In due time, all arrived but one NJ. c. Mr..
Topham then began to express his surprise at
the absence OF the Virginia representative, as
he thought he certainly would have been the
frs, il not the first. to make his appearance,
knowing tha. his dinner at home was an early
one.
When about coming TO the conclusion that
the Virginia NJ c. would fail to make his APP
pearance, Mrs. rs memory, which seemed TO
have proved rather treacherous, became eiful-
gent and she acquainted her husband with the
fact tina, there was an ''old man. in the kitch
en- who had been waiting TO see him for the
last three four hours. Mr.. T. Immediately
repaired to the kitchen to ascertain the cold
mans wants, when II, and behold who
should he find but our NJ. c. himself! As
tonlshed beyond measure, and with confused
utterance he exclaimed, '.How came you
here?" He simply replied. Il was invited to
the kitchen by your wife, aud as | came much
before the dinner nour, -
mysef asTuH."
Mr.. T. at once invited and accompanied
him into the paror, and introduced him to his
wife and guests as the Hon. Robert Ruther
ford, of Virginia
The lady's feelings can be better imagined
by the reader than described by the writer;
but the balance of the day passed off pleas
antly, saving the lady's abashment resulting
from not recognizing the Virginia Member OF
Congress.