Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-05-25
MlSC-EHAL ANY.
From the Baltimore Transcript.
T[IE FAIR posi- OFFICE.


"There's letter in the Post Office for
you, sir;" said pretty little girl to Mr..
Christopher Coot, bachelor on the shady
side OF forty, as he stood before Coniection-
AIRY stand at a recent fair, smucking his lips
at a splendid cantlied pyramid and lumbling
about his pocket for an odd half dollar.
ga letter Tor me ~ said he with look Of
surprise.
"Yes, sir, by Express Mail Your name
is MIR. Christopher Coot, isn't ii sir Z"
"Yes-yes-my names Chri>tophe. Coot
but how the devil could they have a latter
for me :"
ola. Sir-don', swear. Go and ask the
Post Mistress, she'll tell you all about it.''
MIR. Coot made his way with some diff
entity to the Post Office, and with pro-
found bow asked the fair dealer in letters
whether what the little girl had told him vas
true.
eyes, Sir-true 10 a letter. Let me see
here's one for Mr.. Jonas Quigging-thnt's
not yOu-and here is-yes, this is the very
""oI q Doll" letter, per express Mail di-
rected 10 Christopher Coot, Esqr., -drutiv-
man"
"Humph 20 exclaimed Mr. Ccot, turning
the letter over and over, and bending il
slightly so as TO gain peep at the interior.
cts very strange, who could have written
to me How much is the postage, Miss"
only quarter, sir-yery moderate"
"Modefale indeed !-however will pay
il more for your sake than for the gratifica
tIon of my own curiosity.
Mr.. Coot put down the money, and with
some slight display of agitation, made his
way out Of the room, with the letter Crump-
led up in his hand, while the most casual obs
server might have detected the laughing de-
vii IN one halfthe pretty sparkleIs that made
the room terrestrial galaxy.
Mr. Coot was not long in finding his way
to his iodgings-solitary enough indeed, for
what bachelors dwelling is not solitary !?
He seated himself al his fable, drew out the
gold mounted speciacles, bummcd popular
air or two, and then, as if suspecting that the
praying Abigail OF the house might obtrude
upon his agreeable solitude and break the
charm OF his med;tationE, he softly holied The
door, and again seated himself before the
sealed epistle. The letter was at length o.
rened, and his eyes eagerly traced the fol-
lowing lines:
DEAR SIR ~ have frequently seen you
on the street-your person and bearing have
pleased me. Excuse this method Of intro.
ducing myself, but if you would know more
Of me, station yourself at the gate of the cas-
tern fountain this evening al 8 O'Clock
Yours deyotedly,
ELIzABETH.
To Christopher Coot, Esqr
L. S.-Please lean on the gate that may
know you
Mr.. Coot pondered and pondered he
thought over sll of his past loves from bloomy
fifteen up to the present date he brought to
mind all The houris, that had fitted before
bis vision during the past six months. lie
remembered fair creature who passed him
4 l.. Ia.
both times he caught her glance, and both
times his vanity led him to believe that ii
expressed something indeinable. He de
termined TO fa,hnm the mystery !; this Els
abeth might he an heiress accomplished
beautiful ; The load stone OF the bon-ton, who
had devised this romantic method Of leading q
him 10 his good fortune. lie awaited the
hour with much patience as bachelor Of
forth FIVE is master OF before seven he bad
kicked four cats down stairs, upset globe Of
gold fishes, rated Abigail soundly for her
tsrdiness, smoked ten cigars, read fifty pages
OF "CrlebS in search of w lie" without
knowing word OF their contents, and beat
the back Of his fayourite spaniel into ielIy.
a tea he upset the urn, ate quarter Of =
shad, bones and all, took salt for sugar, and
twelve times repeated the question TO Mrs
Crimp, whether her clock was not unusual,
ly slow
The sluggish meal over, he was off al a
tangent, newly rugged and pcrlumed from
head 10 foot Alta quarter before eight he
approached the gate Of the Eastern Foun-
tain, the lamp was burning diniy over The
bubbfing stream, and moi a soul appeared 10
be near 10 mar his anticipated interview
with the beautiful unknown. A las ! k.r the
ialsi'y Of hope as he approached the gate he
peEceIyeda stranger wrapped in Spanish
Cloak, leaning upon IT, He walked TO the
gate and very politely requested the man to
let him pass into the enclosure. The siran~