American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-21
From the New Monthly Belle Assemblee.l
THE POST OFFiCE-AN IRISH SKETCH
BY MISS POWER

BY MISS POWER.
1t is, | believe, popularity of almost all
Irish towns, that the tourist who strols through
them with his eyes and ears open, can hardly
fail to return to his inn with materials for u pen
or pencil sketch, furnished by the lower classes
gifts inhabitants, more especially the beggars
Their picturesque faces and costumes are well
worthy the attention of the artist; while he who
Yields the quill Ga goose quill is ineligible for
the servIce,) Will find many occasions to use 1t,
in noting down the scraps of conversation that
are carried on, for the benefit of the public a
round him. During visit of some weeks al
the town of W, in the north of Ireland
| strolled down the "big street." according to
my daily custom, to enquire at the post-Gtiice
for my letters; and finding there were none,
stopped to regale my eyes and ears at the eX-
pense of the various quersts who came on the
same GRAND. Among the rest, was one who
particularly attracted my attention by the ca
gerness with which he pushed his way through
the other applicants and advanced to the win
dow, where, behind the half lowered blind, sat
ensconced the pretty daughter OF the post-mas-
ter, whose duty it was to give out the letters
when her father was away. No sooner arriv-
ed at the goal, than, pulling off his hat with
the instructive good breeding which an irish
mum W" uluS IlIc UtGU otLt)
ed with a rich brogue,
eff you phase, Miss O'Brady, have you ever
a lcLther for me?"
"Who are you?n inquired the damsel, sorting
over the heap.
''Is it who am |? Sure and TRUTH Pm da-
cent boy us e'er wan (one) i'll the parish, tho
it's myself says it; and Misther Fleean, that
last sarved, ill give me right good crackther
any daV-iaickS, and he Will.n
eyes, but must know Y'r name"
My name? an welcome! Sure it's no secret.
There's not man, woman or child in the town
that doesn't know it; and i'll troth, l'Ve no raj
SON to be ashamed oft"
"Well but don't know it; can't you tell me
who you are at once?"
"Arrah, now, Miss Honey, if you haven't got
a letther for me, it 'ud be a dale kinder in ye to
tell me so, and not be divartin' yerselt akin me
questions"
''Divelting myself? it isn't to divert myself
ask you. Sure | must know y'r name to
know who the letter is to be directed to-
'To me. Who else would poor Thady, that's
far away, write to but me?me that's his own
brother"
"Once for all, loiN you tell me y'r name?'
"Wid all the playsure in life! | said before,
and say again, | never done nothn' to make
HE dShdHleu OIL II, an ii IL UdF SecCeL eNel,
sure, wouldn't ye see it OH the letther'"
"But don't you understand: | must know
your name, to see if there is letter directed to
that same name"
'ln course it 'ud be directed to that same
name; that is, to my name. Dye think Thady
'ud be afther directing it to Father Mathew or
Dan OfConnell?'
The unfortunate Miss O'BIady was nearly
driven to her wits end; and she paused to think
of some expedient to "inSinSe' the obtuse in
quirer into the necessity of giving his name.-I
At length thought struck her.
"Where is yr brothers" she inquired.
"ln troth, an he's in Philadelphia this two
year, come Michaelmas."
ooh, in Philadelphia" she said, turning over
the letters, and at last selecting one, of which
the post-mark led her to hope, she had finally
hit the mark.
"Mr. Jimmy Nowlan! Is this it?" she in
CURED
"Throth, an it is Jest itself. All! thought
it was making game of me, we war, all the
time!" said the fellow; his broad face dstcnding
into good humored smile. And putting the
letter into his pocket, he walked off, probably
in search of some one who more learned than
himself, could decipher what was about as in
telligible as Arabic to him.