The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-05-27
TOWN VS.. COUNTRY MANNERS.
A Telling Lesson in Civliity.


dent of the Springfield Republican,
laughable Incident occurred TO
disturb the quiet Of the hospitabie
Berkshire household where / am
visiting. My genial host, who is
fine specimen of the old school
gentleman, sat on the sunny piazza
in his farming rig, smoking his fa-
vorite clay pipe, when stylish
team dashed up the drive with q
great flourish, and one OF the two
male bipeds who occupied the,car
riage called out, as they drew up
before the door:
Halo, old fellow. Is this Mr..
Osks?'
Yes said Mr.. Oaks, coolly,
somewhat astonished at the salu
tation
We'll, then throwing the reins
to the supposed menial, and jump
ing out, this is the place, but what
anybody ever built a great ark Of
house for, up here among the
hills, beats me. Here, you put up
my horses and rub 'en down, and
feed EN- well. and see you don't
half do If, and then show US the
fishing pond or brook, or whatever
it is, where them trout live, and
the woods where we shall find them
pigeons We have heard so much
about
And they strobe through the
open door into the sitting room
Both were dressed in real sporting
costume, one equipped with rifle
and game bag. the other with fish
ing rod, tackle and basket, looking
with all their fanciful accoutre.
ments, much more appropriate to
figure in tableau than for actual
service in the field Mr. Oaks cal
led some onc TO take care of the
team, and went himself to Show
/ them the way 20 The sporting
grounds. coming back exceeding
! II amused TO End us MI rather in
dignnnt.
They hayo ordered dinner 10 be
ready sc precisely tWo,' he said,
with the prov:so, that while you
are about it, you shall get them
something fit to cat
'And what shall I do about it?'
asked Jennie, my hosts iaugh-
ter.
oh! have everything ready for
ehem in good shape, and treat them
rs we'll as you can.
| The order WAS carried out to the
letter. They came back, tired and
hungry, with nothing Of any con
sequence in the way Of game; blus-
tered round, saore at their hoat
for not showing them the right
| place; them brandy and va
ter, and INDUCED in little more
profane language when told that
there was nothing Of the kind in
the house; did ample justice to the
dinner; called Miss Jennie, Betty
and Hridget when she went in with
the desert, as her father insisted
she should, and asked If she had
ever been to tunn, or seen the
steam keeys.'
After dinner they iounged around,
smoked cigars, and expectorated
on the carpet, and at last called cut
to their host:
Look here, old two hundred and
seventy Eve, get our team, and be
quick about it. It is deQced mean
for us TO come away out here and
rot got any fish, and not see Oaks
after we've heard so much about
his droll stories, but. l suppose
you can tell rs what our bill is, old
avoirdupois.'
'Yon are quite welcome to what
you have had,' was the reply, 'as
!his is not hotel. / am William
Oaks, rs ] could have told You
some time ago had you inquired
for the master Of the house
You never saw two fellows 50
crcstfallcn. They stammerod over
no end of incoherent apologies OF
they had often seen fish and game
at the station, ten miles away,
which the Fortunate poasessor said
came from Oaks and had many
times seen parties going TO and
from The same place, and had jun
ped 1t the conclusion that it was {
public housc.
Mr. Oaks accepted their apologies
in the peculiar happy and graceful
manner which renders him so pop
ular, aud told them little story
very much to the point, upon th(
beauty OF civility, and u Miss Jen
ME came down stairs just then
dressed il a heavy black silk visit
ing suit. be called to her, and q:
she came forward, introduced hcl
with lis old fashioned courtly
IS, My daughter, gentlomen! Tht
mistress Of her old fathers house
aad the pride Of his heart The,
bowed awkwardly, sprang into th
carriage which was waiting, an;
drove rapidly down the mountain
road. A friend coming in sool
after had met and recognized then
in the rayine, SO that our curiosit,
in regard to their names and occu
nation WAC orratifni