Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-18
Poor Morse Richard:
rs Character Sketch.
(wriften for the Dispatsh BY c. Boyden

Written for the Di.
For Gays the Garth had been held In
The stern embrace Of the blacklist frost
that haf visited this country in the mem
ary OF ths oldest inf.s hitants. For thirty
six hours the elements had been running
rampant In a wild and reckless riot OF
swirling sncE- aad clustering wind, while
the mercury stood cbstlnately at If
teen degrees below zero.
The Rev. Thomas Hollins sat by q
ycaring fire OF oak logs and pine knots,
IN a delicious half-dream of warmth and
comfort Intensified by the memory of q
;cng ride with frozen cars on the pre-
vfcps day. His mother looked up sharp
~ from her knitting on the other side of
the fire place.
Tom she said, with sudden energy.
what do you suppose has become OF
poor Maree RichsrdI"
BLESS my soul,'' her son answered
sieepsiy. II really had not thought of the
OLD chap. mother: but I'll go over in the
morning ana look after him if It Is posi-
bic to get through the drifts
The Rev Tom did not enjoy the pro-
Scund siunber that night that usually
waits on a good digestion and clear
conscience. but tossed Testlessl7 and
tnoaned loud enough for his mother to
hear him In the next room. Visions Of
suffering pitiful wreck of manhood
WOULD fntrude themselves into his dreams
The honorable Richard Harrington was
fhe pride of the county forty years ago
when he came to make his home in Its
delusicn that riches have wings" let
shern look Tor a moment on "Poor Marse
Richard"
Having finished his law course with
high honcrs. be was ambitious to make
Cor himself name as well as q comfor-
table living: but just as he was begin
ming to be the most popular attorney
IN his precinct, pursuing his vocation with
all the interest andsenthusiasn incident to
youth and vigorous mind. a previously
unknown California uncle died. leaving
his large fortune to mis- young lawyer
nephew.
Immediately his work seemed dull and
Useless. and he decided to purchase a
pretty country horne, marry q wife and
i've In peace, quiet and pleasure the rest
OF his days.
His broad acres blossoned like the rose
IN Vtrginia's richest mountain sell In
the full enjoyment OF health, wealth. So
c5al position and brilliant intellect, he
enjoyed life for few short years and all
went merry as marriage bell: when sud-
denly and without warning he was
fever. For weeks he 1aoaned In dclirium
towering on the borderland that SO thin
ly separate life from death, and when the
fever left him. there remained queer
catch In his brain from which he never
yeccvered
The millionaire being no logger COM
petent to manage his own affairs, the
plones, flowed out Of mis- pockets In ev-
cry conceivable direction. and ae his
wealth diminished, his friends and rela-
yves became fewer.
Years passed, and this son Of misfor-
hume remembered with a misty bitter
ness his days OF afilueHce. when the best
tncn Of wealth and renown thought it an
honor to sit at his table and drink of his
wine His catchy brain conned again
and again that thoroughly demonstrated
trutsm from Holy Wl!t-.The rich have
many friends. Even the wife of his
bosom turned against him and tsnagged"
him continually until her death which to
him was an unspeakable relief, for after
It he could at least be miserable In
peace.
came to MIN In the hideous form of pow
erty was unwittinsly aimed by the faith
ful coachman cf the manor
Marse Richard he said feelingly, one
day. Il kyarn git up de kerrige TO 70
dis nornin'. de bays is got too ole an stiff
10 travel any mo.
Turning sharply upon the old darkey.
The Honorable Richard Harrington thun-
sered out:
THE devil you say. Reuben, can't You
Get me something to rice?'
The coachinan, feeling the injustice OF
his masters asperity, went out murabling,
i kin sho saddle up de ole white mule
20 yo'''
Alittle later he brought the mule to the
fy,r,, rna, t..o
ntfte6 difference until his master was
well mounted, then looking after him
with teardinmcd eyes he naummured
brokenly: Poor Marse Richard. He ai.I't
no Tigger fo' drivin' mule, but eff lie
ever ride In kerrige agin'. twill be In
de golden chariot on de golden street,
and the OLD servant went sororwfully
5acs to the kitchen and there poured out
mis- heart to Marse Richards deaf and
toothiess old collie, Yes he mumbled
IN sobbing undertone, you and me
must go, eff we stay Marse Richard will
starpe, cause faint 'nough To- all of
as. an we couldn't stan seeing him
starve. could we, ole fellah?"
The animal seemed to understand that
lonethfng was wrong. for he laid big.
Fellow paw on his companions knee.
and looked Into his face with dumb, |
pleading eyes while he beat the floor with
his bushy tail.
The old man ~hastened to the once hand
sonle dining hall, and laid solitary COW
er. not forgetting to add the one last bit |
If snowy table linen, laundersd by his own |
hands Then. tying together his few per-
Eonal belongings, he passed out through
the broken back gate. the stiff rheunna tic |
Lee following close at his heels. Merse
Richard never saw them again. but from |
the time Of their disappearance. his shout |!
ders were more bent. and there was |
more noticeable dras In his step.
Years passed. and the 6evestat tons Of |
the civil war almost finished what was |
seft Of the old gantleman's once enyiable |
estate; but fate was kind and lowered |
him by easy stages to his last condition,
the extreme depths of poverty, filth and /
degradation. The handsome carriage he |
had driven when fortune smiled had long
since fallen to decay, and the bones OF |
the prancing bays had been 51ea ching for
many moons on the barren hills that sur |
rounded his desoiate home. His formerly
fertile lands had been cultivated by self
seeking tenants. until pine barren and dis
snaliy waving fields Of broom sedge de-
pressed the beholder on every side with
no sign OF creature comfort" any where /
The Lord of the Manor was fed by the ,
cold. uncertain hand of charity. as since /
the ianlented demise OF the white mule. he /
tran,ped pitifuilg from house to house /
But all the vfclssttudes through which he
passed. could not obiitsrate the innate /
80 L. e.