The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-18
A Question Of Calico.


ball that would speak. Nearly three weeks
since there was knock mt the nttIe iIon'
door of nv small house. 1t is my habit 70
enjoy the early morning hour In my Ded,
reading old-fashioned books, ana waiting loI
the sun to purify the atmosphere before
arise to take my bachelor breakfast III tne
little veranda. 1t was. then, before 1 was
out of bed that the o'clock knock sounded,
and Immediately afterward my sole servant
and factotum, Podgerhob, announced that
ireckle-faced man with light yellow mar
awaited me in the parlor. His business was
pressing, and he desired TO see me lmlne-
diately. l hurriedly dressed and entered the
parlor. The freckle-faced man advanced ana
shook me heartily by the hand. "1 OH 40
not remember me-" he said did not. 81,
sir" he continued, IAN Mr.. Henry &. Slug
head!"
He paused, and it became necessary for me
TO say something; so | remarked that 1 was
charmed to meet him, and hoped he was
quite well. :,
"Eyen now YOU do not recognize me.
continued the frecklc-faccd man triumph
antly. as if proud to think he was my supe-
rior on the one point of acquaintance WIN
Mr.. SIughead. ~ am the gentleman for
whose daughter you wrote the High School
graduating composition; do you know me
now" .,
did remember him, then and it was with
the recollection of the tifteen-dollar compcn-
sution fresh in my mind that Iasked if he had
further orders in that line "for," said J., "
have met financial rcverses and am theirs. l
have lost heavily in stocks and am now Gle.
,ermincd to devote myself to literature. All
orders promptly attended to. Sermons,
ESSAYS. orationS. poems, tive-act tragedies.
;;,rces, newspaper leaders, Japanese banquet
speeches, school compositions, and patent
medicine advertisements prepared at short
notice and at reasonable rates. Does Miss
Slughead desire another graduating essay,
Not at ALL" replied my guest; my hllsl
ness is of quite different nature. am mere
to trsr,ss on your generosity--in short,
desire financial add
"you have come to bad place." sad |
IAN empty cupboard is not the spot III wncl
10 find meat"
"Iwould not have applied to YOU" re
sponded the bland gentleman, chad 1t mo-
been that charity is the foundation of my
plea. Shall we not aid the poor; Shall w
not assist those who are distressed?"
What man 50 base, what person SO cruel,
unkind, as to ignore the appeals OF those il
adversely? seized my guests band; | tclt
him that ANYTHING in my power would bt
chcerfully done he might command me.
"Thanks," said he as he pressed my hand
"I knew / should not ask in vain; when il
the sacred precincts Of my chamber | Wild.
exclaimed: Where, oh where, shall go fol
aid in this nv eXtrcmity?' both my heart ant
nv wife answered, TO Bunglctoe!' So Il
Bungletoe l have come"
There is something pleasing and tlatterins
to man of ordinary human feelings to know
that he is looked upon as protector ant
beuefactor, and incline to the belief that til,
self.importance thus engendered is the germ
of that cruel tyranny which some husbands
illustrate to their wives with their fists. Per
haps the amount of physical or mental pound
inc which women receive is what entities
them to the designation of the "tender sex.
Abuse of Il bcefsteak also produces beneficial
results.
Mr.. Slughead's flattery quite overcame any
powers of resistance might have possessed
nj the beginning OF our interview; and
not only resigned myself into his hands
but also invited him to explain himself a
mv breakfast table. But he would not eX
nlain. He did nothing but compliment TIL
tes' the bllttercd toast, the ham, the sclanl
hInd eggs. and the fried bananas, which
PodperSob had set before us; nor was
,nt;I NV guest had devoured all within
reach that { could induce him to develol
the object of his visit. Even then he az
proacbed it by 4 tedious method. "Ah, N!
dear Mr.. Bungletoe," said he, as he wipet
his lips with his ha handkerchief, although thu
napkin lay at his elbow, "charity is thu
greatest of virtues; truly it covers multi
tude of sins. 1t Is the bright jewel in tn,
crown of humanity, the Tweed diamond
which illumincs the shirt-h ont OF mankind
Your delicious breakfast Turns my sympa
thetic thoughts toward the POOR; as TIT
| thin, transparent ham delightful lly lrrltatec
my palate, remembered the labor ana trials
Of the unfortunate peasants who SIN entered
the mast-fed hog and sold the meat fol' pal
try sum in the nmrket-place of Paderboln.
"When my lips absorbed the succulent La
mana sympathized with the islanders OF the
South Sea, and the ten reminded me OF the
'heathen Chinee,' who III his blindness
bows down, rs the poet tells us, to wood and
stone. Bungletoe! Bungletoe pardon my
familiarity my heart bleeds for the untortu-
nate, and swells again with Joy when think
that it is in our powerto do something to.
ward ameliolatins the miseries OF the poor
Thanks! fine cigar-Reine Tictortn!! Yes,
I thought so. Expensive, but excellent! AS
I was saying, let us be thankful that we can
assist the impoverished
While MIR. Slughead was lighting the Ha-
vana had given him l ventured to ask in
what manner we could exert this power.
"There is in this city" replied Mr.. Slug
head, can association--a charitable associa-
tion--the chief aim Of which is to aid the
poor. In advancement Of this great object
the organization proposes to give great
charity ball."
I interrupted my guest with the statement
that he might have my name put down for
ten dollars worth Of tickets.
/" Your generous offer, my dear MIR. Bun
eletoe," he resumed, is wholly characteristic
and vet desire to further tax your good
nature and purse"
"Then Pli take twenty dollars worth, as
the object Is purely charitable" said.
"Wuit moment until ! explain, !" he re-
turned 80 am not now asking you to take
tickets. a very considerable number Of the
lady members of this charitable association
are estiinable women, who have c0nscien.
tious scruples against: dancing, yet when the
project Of d public ball was mooted they
generously threw these aside and advocated
the measure
aQuite right i exclaimed parentheti
lcalIy !; they considered the end justified
the means, ] admire their liberal spirit,
- Z. 4 j i 9'es &