Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
For the Enquirer.


MISCELLANEOUS.
For the Enquirer.
A BRACE OF OLD VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN.
II this age of mammou- worship, when the dollar is
sim, yh.y aud the merit IF individual Is III Inc ra
a.; nj his rent roll it is refreshing to meet with All
iuridsr, like that which under my notice during
thu last week. Happening in the otil:e OF one OF our
most thriving citizens. met with well known anu
Justly popular city officer, who IS NOT less noted LOT
ine puncous performance OF the antles o. MS sra
ton than for his generosity 6rd goodheartedneSs.-
Soon after entering the room, and indeed at the time
Of NV entrance, the conversation turned upon ihe
pecuares of men, and especially tic utter want OF
business. sagacity and forecast exhibited by many
persons despity the stern lessons not unrequentiy
esp.rluen:aly learned. 1t was remarked, and we
,5!pk truly that there those who i've TO an al
vanoed age without ever arriving at Inc conciqson
that there are .ogues and rascals among men, out
who 90 on trusting everybody, notwithstanding they
arc frequently cheated and suffer severely tor their
cre,.uiity.
years, and Induced the gentleman alluded to above
10 mention two Virginia tarmers whom he once
INST, who may we'll stand as types OK class once
very numerous in this State, but who arc gradually
passing away and giving place to cutter and less no.
bls rural population These Virginia gentlemen, as
tbsy deserve TO he styled you'd hardly be regarded
as sane men in "he land of steady hahits or among
the blue noses and wooden nutmeg makers, but
would ain believe that there IL enough OF the oiden
time sen,imeot remaining in Virginia TO make this
brace of WORTHLESS interesting objects OF coutempla
ton.
Tue story was 90 well told by my friend Il, that
shall try to give i, nearly possible in his ow
words aud only regret that cannot print the e1
precision Of bis cOuntenAnce, the emotion OF bus
voice. aud the dew that gems.ed his eyes, a. he told
his lower true tale ::
.Vhsp was acting as Constable 10. the county of
H.arico" began the nterlocutor. ~ met Sith an &C.
uurrsrce more touching and interesting thaG any
thing | hsve ever heard or read. painter who
n;,b,p ND bad
the county aud done some work for old man. whose
ns,ns shall be Charles -. Wien II was concluded,
tho old gentleman said to the painter. Many OF the
n-igi,pors want painting abou. their premises now,
v, 80 round TO them aud get all the work you can.
and ;uyt stay here until you nus! Il. Will give you
your busrd as long Ms You remain, ana you WIZ no
dnubt get employment Tor months to come. ChiS.
holm the painter took the old Ina al hls woru, anu
occurred business which kept him employed three
months; and when about 10 leave the old gentleman
paid him all, he supposed, that he had oarsaied 10
pay for the painting 1u:
holm brought me bill for thirty dollars agalnst
Charles -, the balance due, W &c alleged LOT
psntipp and directed zee to warrant me OLD man.
obsyed the nstrucous, aud one morning rode cut 10
the old gentlemau's farm to execute the warrant
On reaching the place. found PLAIN substantial
farmer apparently seventy or eighty years OF age
without education evidently, but all h1nest SIMPLE
sincera we'll meaning uau, as unhackneyed IN the
s.ys If the world as though he child OF YER
tsrday In nv goings and fro, had not met many
.ach men. and at once interested in observing
bs movements. ., -,
old gentleman with profound asonish,Ient. warrant
WINS atsrribe thing TO his Imagination, aud II had
gone there with Ia Sc, and had been about 10 lead
Kim to the county prison., he couid nor huve exhiolt,
ed more undisguised apprehension. But whcl
told him ct whose Instance the warrant was Issued,
his Indignation was deeply reused. II don't owe the
fellow a cent" said he. but paid hmm every dollar
lust so soon he had done the work. not only qua
,bo lrt kI.pf hiu her
,hsru,d him nothing for boarding him all that time
ii had charged him board 1t would have amounted
90 much more than his bill against int. tut dOut
rsn 70 urge that plea to this warrant, for Tree
~ gave the fellow his board. and never take back
what I have once given man. Ill pay this II he
vii, ;nsist upon IT, but amt got no money, ana won't
have any more until sell my next crop, but It you'll
20 with me over TO John ---s, you sha nave H.
+ Iokn has got any naHey. expect John has some
- man was to pay bim some the day before yester'
lay. and if John has got it, you .ha have it,
He led the way and followed to another neat farm
house about mile distant. and when We reached 1t,
John welcomed Us. John, fnand to be ai-
other old man. not the junior Of the first certainly,
snd much Of the same stamp. au csophistlcatsd hon.
est Virginia farnieS.
"Well, John, an warranted. began my compa-
'What, Charles, warranted and who has warranted
yor, Charles ~
"i'hat fellow Chisholm, who down here last
year painting and WAS staying at my house long.
nS ell! wonder! Do you owe him the money !!
mo, not a cent; paid him all that understood
uss to pay bin. but he his scraped up this against
NE somehow, snd | understand, will insist upon my
paylngn. ,Lo, c,o.,..m
We'll, that's wha: came for; have you got any
money; have Mt got biz; an told MIR. IL. that
w.'d come over hero, and you !iad any Id pay
him"
ayes, I've got some. you know, that was paid me
the other day. and I'll <" and get II Tor YOU
rhe money was produced and the warrant satisfied.
Roi after il doue Did Charles turned To his com
panion aud iricnG. aud suggested that M had Des'
give him due bill for The guIoum.
Why, Charles, whGt you talking about, offer.
ing mo due bill DO yoa want to insult me- man
Here lie you aud have been doing business together
fur lnoren forty yenrs. without having scratch
Of q pen betrcea as Gud no~ you talk Ia me about
giving me due bill. wonder what got into you,
Charles! What is YIN thinking about l don't Want
no due bill from you, Charles.
"Well, well, John, know You don't and never did,
but We are getting old men, Charles. aud can't live
very long, aud this money may have 10 be paid by
Others, aud ~ OILERS, when one or both Ut Us me
gone, and dout think eau take your money unless
You will let me give you due bill l would not
otier il, Johu, bu; there's knowing how soon We
will dis and then the money will be lost to you and
yours"
rey unless he would take due bill, old Charles was
compelled to accede u these terms, but did with
much reluctance, and wiki the protest, THAT he
didn't like such treatment from Charles, aud that if
the money never was repaid II made no difference,
Is D.. would as soou Charles should have it any
tody else in the worli;" aud When mounted my
horse and rude away, the two old men were quietly
snuking their pipes, uni harpin away upon tue III.
gratitude uf my CLIENT with ever ana anon u Srowl
Of dissatisfaction from old John -, at haYuis
that cue blil :urced upon hlui,-and inclre 10 u1
opniou tina. when the pipe was repleushed' that Gus
nvxious till supplied the place o! hickory GOAL
IL old JONAS pipe.
There have been wealth!er men, and there
may be now, aud doubtless are, many men "ho
rsuke inoro show,-"whu cut 4 larger uSure ID Tue
world, but 1t is dvuhui whether wiser, better ana
happier men can DC i"und under the canopy Of the
Louvens, tEau our twu Lumbe fri.Ics whu iof iorty
yasrs, GGd kuowu and :rueied each other. Perhaps
10y usvsr heard ot Charles Macsuy saw one .;
h!s souc. bIt my word for IL, they familiar with
Smiths Philosophy, a. It ls given to us oy that do
:.ks,tui versaer
love the song OF birds.
And the cl.i!G:tns early words,
Asd loving womaus voice low aud sweet John
brown;
And hats false pre,once,
And the want Of common sense,
And aTog snce, aud frownug and deceit, John brown
love the meadow flowers,
aud Tho briar in the bowers.
Aud love opeu lace, without guile. Joah
brown;
And hate selfsb knave,
Aud D proud eoncelted slave,
Lrd nun who'd rather borrow than bed toll John
brown.
Hove siin,ls sopg,
Ttsa a"Ak.'j Emotion strong,