Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20

Imported brick" as is so often erfo-
neously stated with regard 20 old virginia
residences and churches, was stately ana
capaclous. and yet for such party us
large rooms had to accommodate an I'M
accustomed number OF occupants. The
proud and haripy mother exuted In the
pleasure OF her maturing children, ana
while she presided over the household
aid gave a tone Of moderation and re-
fined proDrlety 70 every mode OF enjoy
ment. she left the burden and honor OF
the entertaining to the deDutants, VINO
discharged their part with grace ana
cordiality equal to the willingness with
which they assumed II.
HOW THE TIE PASSED.
A plenty Of good eating and drinking,
dancing, music, plays. and lively con-
vcrsation. and little reading were the
indoor employments and amusenenls'
and every marnlng some OF the young
gentlemen formed a cunning excursion
IN which they were greatly aided by
gentlemanly neighbor. with his dogs anu
his fields He was one worthy TO 1--we IN
that courteous and hospitable region, ana
had a son and daughter on the eve OF
turning out OF course, the visitors OF
his young friends must dine one Day AT
his house, and the huntsmen that DAY
were there at the appointed hour' ne
made a practice OF brewing his today
and cooking II I'D a day or two before
its CONSUMPTION; which. he said, mel
lowed and improved IL. Whether IL was
from such treatment. or not, II certainty
was a delectabe beverage HIS today
aforethought had no malice aiore-
thought" This gentleman had bachelor
brother. who was as hospitable az NM
self. and must give a dinner too. but 10
which only the gentlemen from mead
quarters could be invited. So that day
the huntsmen Landed at his plain and I'M
pretending residence. with its situation
far more commanding than those OF the
older and larger homesteads. lie gave
his visitors an excellent dinner and cor
dial welcome.
THE SAFETY MANS MIsHAP
Rut n little accident suddenly startled
the whole group. when they were assem-
bled before the feast. To make up the
requisite number of fowling- pieces. an old
gun. a good shooter, but with lock SO
damaged that il would go Off half-cocked'
was brought into service; end, for the
sake of safety 10 all concerned, was en-
trusted TO one who was regarded as the
soberest and steadiest OF the gang AS
some Of the huntsmen were handling and
fortunately. pointed II towards the win
dow. Bangl it went. and there was con-
siderable stir for awhile. until it was dis
covered that the only damage done was
that the hosts spacious apartment had
one pane less in It's window. But how
they did tease and guy the safety
man" to whose care that lame gun had
been entrusted.
They called him 1.-THE safe chance"
Sir Humphry Davy's safety-lamp. the
safety-valve, etc. He told them 1t was
only Ike the boys whlstling on Sunday
when he ate the green persimmons; the
gun "nred ITSELF; that It had inside or
IL the contents OF horn, and went OFT
half-cocked. They even intimated that
ne was half-cocked himself. or course
all the girls were informed OF the safe
mans success in wounding the bache-
lors window" and he had TO encounter
many bright sallies. though there was
not Sarah in the whole lovely bevy.
Our bachelor friend by no means con-
fined his attentions TO these male guests
he took especial delight in the captivating
society of the girls, whom they had tenn
porarily left behind them.
INVITED ACROSS THE RIVER.
II has been already more than limited
that the hospitality OF lower Virginia
overlooked both banks Of the noble rivers
which ebb and flow through IT. Thus
there came a cordial invitation for the
whole party on the north side to cross
over and spend the day and night at
large and wealthy plantation there,
where there was fine and imposing man.
sion Of brick Out not imported. All who
elected to go marched and rode about
rba IF
steamboat landing. which was some dis
lance UP the river-and there the ladies
were CALAMITY handed TO the best seats
of a nice. long-keel sail-and-row boat,
manned by four strong and expert negro
oarsmen, who could have sailed her. too,
II the wind had been favorable. All the
plantation hands had their usual holiday,
and were In their various ways revealing
in II. and were not forgotten by their
humane and thoughtful owners. These
four stalwart rowmen gloried in
the task they had been called
upon to perform, and, with the
boat we'll trimmed. and their young
master at the helm what was steady
and rapid pull OF eight or ten miles 10
them but a part of the great frolic TO
which they were fastening the admirers
of their dexterlty? That memorable boat
ride I'm that day and under those circum-
stances was worth a steam-yacht trip or
the present time. The weather was clear
and braclng. and what can be more beau
tiful than the sunsheen OF waving and rip
pling water? The disturbance Of its sur
face by the synchronous dipping Of the
glistening oars and the motion of the boat
only multiplied the solar spiendors.
The welcome accorded 20 the delighted
voyageurs was charming and assuring
weIl-bred courtesy without stiffness, or
formality, and as genial as the yule log.
The entertainment was elegant and luxu-
rlous, and the enjoyment abundant and
uninterrupted II was late at night when
that lordly mansion became still enough
for slumber. and never did better-pleased
set sit around a bountiful breaktast-table
than that which gathered there at a sea-
sonable. II not reasonable, hour the next
morning A sensible hostess knows very
well that II IS easier 10 keep oysters,
waffles. and coffee hot than II is to keep
poor humanity cool, IL its morning slum-
hers are prematurely disturbed after the
animated exertions Of the greater part or
the preceding night, and the most punctual
cooks have to play into the mouths OF
those who are thus situated.
WARM WELCOME AWAITED THEM.
Then came real thanks. good-bys. and
that exquisite return riYer-ride, when you
could reach the water with your hand and
let IL glide through your fingers with its
SsEw - -