The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-23
A Brief Biography of Mr.. Randolph.
BY HIS IRISH FRIEND JOHN HARVEY.
MR.. RANDoLpH's ATTEMPT TO CHEAT OLD TIM


MR.. RANDOLPH ATTEMPT TO CHEAT OLD TINT
One morning We set out to pay visit t
Miss Edgeworth, who lived about mile an
a half from our lodgings in London. Ran
dolph commenced telling me some very anus
ing anecdotes, and listened and walked OF
paying no attention to the numerous street
we We're traversing. At length, after nearl
an hours exercise, | asked him how mucl
farther we had to go. He suddenly stopped
and looking round he exclaimed:
"Why, really, we have been so agreeabl,
employed |. perceive that we have gone mil
out of our way but no matter, exercise il
good for young men," .... es ,..r..
We retraced our steps, but found, to ou
great disappointment, when we arrived at Miss
Edgeworth's lodgings, that she had left towr
that morning for Ireland.
Delays are dangerous" said Randolph
never postpone until tomorrow what you
can do to-day. We should have come here
yesterday sir ,agreeably to my first Intentions
We were talking oyer our adventures one
morning, when Randolph said to me-"Dc
You know that l am growing old and have not
become accustomed to it?" ....a
How do you happen to make the discovery
just now," inquired l.
"Why, last week | received an invitation
from our minister, Mr.. Rush, to meet party
especially chosen for me. opened the note
in the presence of some gentlemen, bnt was
too vain to use my spectacles. l read Thurs
dug. and threw the note away. On Thursday
accordingly, presented myself at Mr.. Rush's
house at seven o'clock, and was ushered into
the dining room, where, to my no small sur
prise, found Mrs, Rush quietly giving the
children their tea. Queer preparations for a
dinner party, thinks l to myself, and sat down.
After the usual questions and answers, ven
tured to inquire, has not Mr.. Rush come home
YETI" "Oh," said she, che has gone to dine at
Lord Is" "Bless my soul, Madam, said
|, chow can that be Here am by his invi-
tation to meet party" "My dear, Mr. Ran
d0lph," she exclaimed. "what mistake Your
dinner was on Tuesday last. and we waited for
you until past eight o'clock, when we gave
you up as either sick or out of town; but
surely you received your note of invitation 2"
81 did, madam, and am justly punished for my
vanity. was ashamed to use my spectacles
| before strangers, and as am half blind, / read
! Thursday, and never referred to the note
again. So, have lost delightful dinner, but
am amply repa id by finding you and your
! children alone, for now shall have what is
rare in London,to strangers, social evening"
Take my advice, sir, and never endeavor to
cheat old Time, or he will cheat YOU :
But, sir" continued he, 'you may well say
to me, physician heal thyself' for will you
believe it, a few days ago l took out OF my
| pocket what l supposed to be three penny
| pieces to give beggar woman, and behold /
discovered on my return home, that had
| given her three hat cr0aons. all for the want of
| my spectacles. In that case, however, | bought
| the character of a most generous man, and no
doubt, my name will live in the records of
Fleet strect-that is, among the Jeggaqs SIR"
"Who do you think | met under the gallery
OF the House of Commons" said he to me one
day. you can't guess, so | will tell YOU
There was spruce, draper little gentleman
sitting next to me, and he made some trifling
remark to which L replied. We then entered
into conversation, and | found him d most
fascinating, witty fellow. He pointed out to
| me the distinguished members unknown to
me, and frequently gave them friendly shot
| AT parting he handed me his card, and / read
with some surprise Mr.. Thos. MOORE Yes
sir; it was the Bard of Erin; and upon this
| discovery, said to him, We'll, Mr. Moore,
am delighted to meet you thus, and, I tell YOU
sir, that envy you more for being the author
| OF the Two penny Post Bag Tom Cribs
Memorial to Congress- and the Smoke from
| the Cottage
['I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled
| Above the green e1ms, that cottage was near
And sad 'If there's peace to be found in the world
heart that is humble might hope for 1t here!"'l
than for all your beautiful songs which play
| the fool with young ladies hearts. He laughed
heartily at what he called my singular taste,
and we parted the best of friends imaginable"
But time passed rapidly away was obliged
to leave London on business, and with much
regret left Randolph behind me Our So
|
age, excepting everybody, and everybody with
him. In company he was the fascinating
talker, the beles-leltrees scholar, the encomi.
asst OF all that was great and good in England,
and it gave him pleasure to entertain his audi
ence, whether among the nobility at the West
End, or the merchant in the city or at our own
| quiet gathering at the hotel he was the same
delightful companion, and never permitted his
temper to get the upper hand. look upon
this period as one of the bright spots of nv
journey through Life. Sometime alter we part
ed received the following letter from him
while was at home in Ireland:
LIVERPOOL, SEPT. so, 1922.
MY good friends letter. addressed to the
care of Mr. Brown of Cambridge, was not re-
ceived until my return to London, in conse.
quence OF his absence from home. The second
| found me in the north too late to reply to it
with effect. On my arrival here l fattered
myself that we should again be fellow pas
sengers across the deep Atlantic sea- but
learn with much concern that you have been
very Ill III Ireland, and not yet sufficiently re-
covered for the voyage: l pray God that you
may DC restored to the blessings of health one
OF which am and must be stranger You
would have been much pleased with Cam.
bridge. Thence went to Oxford, Bath, Bris-
tol. Wales. bennington, the lakes, Scotland,
and by the east coast to London. Tomorrow
embark in the New York. with our old
commander, Captain NJ -, for New York.
we have tWenty-seven passengers, three Of
these Virginians, whom 7 know and like and
several other southrons. Remember me kindly
to your father and Mr. F., and accept of
the best wishes of your friend,
| j. r. of Roanoke"
"l lis more brave to live than to die"-
| Therefore don't wit till a slight Cough devel-
ops into consumption but secure bottle of
Or. Bulls Cough Syrup, at the small outlay of
20 cents, cure your Cough and live on hap
PLY. .q lr