The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-12-08

We make few extracts from a}vanc<
sheets -
/ Wight - q ro,s.Ome~,
I Some years ago, IN" pos, Office OF rron,i
nen' city in Western Nv York bec,m. in.
vo'ved in series Of mai ,ir,r..la,ions, and
~ length IT wa~ apparrn, that some o..e Of
the three clerks who had slept in 'he office
must be guilty Of committing them; but the
fastening of the charge upon :he drlraucn,
was thing vet to be accomplished By va
r'ons processes, the range Of -usr..;c, wa.
narrowed down till il rested upon on, ,f the
clerks. ard it only remained TO &c, the hga
proof Of his guilt
Packages were mis.ct. that were known .,
have rrarhed the ofcp Nv the miinich. mails
In" clerks took turns in getting up 70 re-
ceIv" these mails. each one p-rformin, hi,
duly tor week in succession. the one who
tor the time attended TO it. sleeping on a cot
IN the post ofr" proper. and the other two
occupying a small apartment At so.-.e little
distance from the main ..li p. bu. connected
with il.
u hah also been ascertained tina. the pack
ages were ahstractcd from a particular mail
pouch which arrived with many other. aio,,
midnight, and remained una.sor,ed ,ill morn.
IN" On a certain occasion. when tho .,s
Prr'"d clerk was upon duty. All exact de-
'cr'p''on OF everything in thar poucl was ia
kcn' upon the cars from the W"s., with ,h4
view OF comparing the lis, Of il. contents with
the post bill, which should b. found on tb,
files Of the office the following morning sim.
liar bills havin. heretofore disappeared with
the packages
As had befor" tbs had good reason to
know that magistrates and inrors in that sec
'ion OF the country very property r,oure,,
pretty conclusive evidence for conviction ir
such cases. determined, in addition 10 other
rxPed'cnts, TO take the post Q. private watch
man INSIDE the Office, for one night at least.
that might obtain. bv ocular demonstration.
sufficient proof against the guilty one to sat
',fy the most increduIous court and Jury.
Onc OF the unsupported clerks wa. sent A.
way that night, and the other. in whom had
the utmost confidence. wa. apprised Of INV in.
fentlons. By him | was let into tn. orf;,...
through private door, before the object Of
our Vaccinations had entered; and I wa,
not long IN selecting suitable place where
could see without being seen, behind an open
door leading from the post masters private
room. lhiS position could command Through
the crack OF the door, fair view OF the a.
foresa'd cot and its occupant
II was not long before the individual ar
rived who was to be honored with nv scru,i
ny during the live-long night; and a. he
"wript the drapery Of his couch about him."
could not avoid making momentary CON-
par'son between the luxury about to be en-
Jo!yed by him, and the wearisome hours upon
which was entering. Well,
"Somc must watch, while some mus, seep:
nus runs the world away"
Sitting in the public stocks,-watchine with
the body OF person who has died of some
contagious dlscase,-being cornered by
bore, when You have an immediate encaoe.
'"ent misunderstanding your turn in a
dentist {. s.otfce,-aI these are somewhat irving
to the nerves but for a real test of their
power OF endurance, commend me to a stand
behind GOor, between the hours of IOP.M.
and daylight; the thermometer ranging from
80 upwards, all motion and sound being for !
D'dden, under the eminent risk Of being dis. !
covered in your hiding place, and forced to
retreat isnominiously.
This is faint picture of the situation If I
he author on the night in question. Zeal
or the public good, and . cracker or two. |
'lone sustained him through the tedious night
watches.
lhe proverb says that "a great des! can
De seen through small hole" Nv sphere
u vision. however, was rather limited, en-
'rac'ng only small portion Of the adjoining
'oom, family lighted by hanging Iamp-,he
ot with its sleeping burden, table. and the
''my seen tiers Of letter boxes forming a
'ack ground. Entirely in keeping with this
Gene Of "still life," was the monotonous bux.
4 sundry aie' Of . rcvdy'.h disposition. Who,
ot ecn'ert ~ith tickling the nc,e. cf reaces