Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
BREEZES
DELIGHTS OF THE SUMNER PRO-
a ~, PERLY PICTURED.
The STORY OF 4 DINNER PAIL
How q Rich Man Ate . Workman's
Meal aud How He Paid for IT.
Tender Neutrality-suspicious.

ALTON, VA, July 3.-(Special.)-it was
picnic party out from Altoona party
Of young and old friends and city cou-
sins. who were back in the country ior
the summer season. AS they lunched on
a shaded knoll. chance exclamation
called forth expressions about the memo
ries OF childhood and other days spent ID
the mountains.
rs there anything more deliciously
fragrant than the scent or that new
mown hay down there" remarked
young man pointing to field below.
"Oh. yes" said n gray-haired business
man. as he helped himself to another
chicken-leg, "the smell Of the fresh earth
turned up by the plowshare beats It,"
Suggestive, also. of graves" smiled 4
the cynic "Give RE the sniff of pineY
woods around me-" and he suited the
action TO the words.
cor the odor of a hickory log In an
open fireplace" ruminated the chaperon.
cor the fresh, green grass after
summer shower" said the city dweller
amid cobblestones and asphalt.
"No. no! 1t is the thenth OF the wild
rosth,'' lisped Valley belle, with cheeks
as creamy pink as the roses nearby.
And we let it so at that.
THE HUMAN HEART.
Manners and fashions change-feelng,
never. The human heart is of no coun-
try, of no age. What 1t felt yesterday
It feels no less strongly to-day, and
single touch will awaken into life to-
morrow. i know. literally. of one shining
. instance-o!d in reminiscent scribbling,
new in sentiment. A portly old gentle
man, with q silk hat and a reckless pro-
fusion of gold watch-chain dangling from
his waistcoat pocket, leaned upon the
platform railing of the depot the other
day, and watched the loading of railroad
car with bark. peeled from the giant for
ests of the Blue Ridge. Balsamic breezes
blew the hair about his kindly face, and
the droning calls Of the wagoners In the
yard made music in his Indifferent ears.
AS he stood there, indolently watching
the busy scene, something down behind
a bark pile giittered in the sun and caught
his eye. IT was that white and penetrat-
ing dazzle of the sun shining clear and
full upon workingman's dinner-pail.
Years and years ago he had seen just
such q glitter at noontime on many a
weary day, and he could not mistake III
now. Once seen. such an illumination
can never be forgotten.
The portly old gentleman took a fresh
brace against the railing, and gazed
blinkingly at this radiant magazine OF
| dyspepsia. 1t was only an ordinary
dinner bucket, with two rings around =
and small tin coffee cup fitted on tie
| greasy cover. That the tin lid was
| greasy was evident to the portly gentle
man; that the pail had been filled with
warm food at 6 o'clock in the morning
| by the homely hands of country house,
wife.
A wave Of memory swept up and
| dimmed the diamond scarf-pin in the
! old mans tie; a smile broke across his
rudy face, and he stepped brlskly over
| to the bark-pile and gazed vacantly
| down at the tin-pail. Then he sat on
the lee end OF a fallen wheelbarrow.
and hung his French boots over like
| boy. A moment, and the kid gloves
came from his hands. and he reached
forth tlmidly and touched the PAIL
1t was no Illusion. Just such tin-pails
| the pilgrim fathers might have carried
| around in their war OF determination
against the basket-loving Quakers Of
Phladelphla IL century vi hioio "so'
! There seemed TO be an affinity between
that dinner-pail and the aristocratic old
gentleman, such as one sees lovingly
shown in the meeting Of two old friends.
THE DINNER.
| In a short time the pail-cover came
| off. and his hand, firm and white, with
a massive seal ring on the little finger.
went on a tour of investigation. A tin
! tank of black coffee sparkled before him.
and underneath was slab of cold mid
| dling-meat, as thick as board.
His shiny silk hat was pushed back
and forgotten forgotten his elaborate
watch-chain and pin, while memory
drlfted back somewhere in the past when
life was young. when the burden was
heavy and ambition strong. He held the
pail between his well-clad knees, and,