Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-02
USEFUL OLD MAN.

During the session Of 1867, a wealthy
merchant--in conformity with the custom Of
The times-gave dinner party to a few gentle
men, among whom was a member Of Congress
Of that period. On tho appointed day, howey-
er, the lady Of the house was somewhat an
noyrd, at an early hour, by the intrusion Of an
old man a, the door, Having been mot By a
hbhe. tso feeeis,as a assasIss sssSf fslSi " Ills
being furthermore informed that he would not
be at home for three Of four hours, the old man
said, well. then, being as am here, may
as well remain until he eOmes'' please wait
moment, said the servant IL will call Mrs.
Tupham to the door and see what she will say"
The servant then ran and called the merchants
wife, ho made her appearance. The old man
thea repeated ~hsi ac bad said 10 lhe servant
that being as he was there he might as well
remain until her husband came. "Well" re-
piled Mrs. T., 'if you will stay, j1st walk
through the alley, and 60 back to the kitchen
aud take a seat Nothing daunted, the old
man obeyed orders, and passed through tue al
ley To the kitchen, where he found Mrs. r.,
and the servants very busy engaged 10 prspsr-
ing dinner. Surprising him some old man
seeking employment, Mrs. L. was free in call
I ing into requisiiIon his services in her work Of
preparing dinner, aud he was equally willing
and ready to render all assistance possible
"Old man." said she, "suppnse you take the
bucket, 60 10 the hydrani, aud draw us some
water" lie at once and readily complied with
the request, sold man," again said she.
"suppose you assist Inc little in preparing
dinner, as we give dinner party to-day, and
we are much hurried indeed. lust peel a few
potatoes, if you please No sooner was the
request made Than the "old man got to work
peeing potatoes with right goodwill Aner
all things were sufficiently advanced TO release
MIS-. I. from further supervision, she went in
( to her chamber to arrange her toilet to receive
her husbands guests. Al the proper time her
husband came 10, aud then one by one, came
those who were to dine with them on that day.
( In due time all arrived but oae-lhe NJ. c.
Mr.. Topham then began 10 express his surprise
at the absence Of the Virginia representative,
as he thought he would certainly have been one
of the first, il not the first, to make bis appeal
ance, know ing that his dinner hour at hone
wss an early one. When about coming TO tho
conclusion that the Virginia NJ, c. would fail
TO make his appearance, Mrs. T.'s memory,
which seemed to have proved rather ireacher-
Gus, became eflulgent, and she acquainted her
husband with the fact that there was an old
man in the kitchen who had been waiting 10
see him for the last three or four hours. Mr..
T. immediately repaired 10 ihe kitchen to as
certain the ''old mans" wants, when 10 and
behold who should he find but our NJ c.
himself Asionished beyond measure. and with
confused utterance, he exclaimed, "Why, how
came you here g. lie simply replied, II was
invited TO the kitchen by your wife, and as
came much before your dinner hour, ! have
been making myself useful" Mr. 7. at once
invited aud accompanied him into the paror,
and introduced him to his wife and guests as
the Hon, Robert Rutherford, Of ireinia."
The ladys feelings can be better imagined by
the reader than described by the writer but
the balance Of the day passed of pleasantly,
saving the lady's abashmeni resulting from not.
recognising the "Yirgiuia member of Con-
gress.".