Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-02-20

into yscant room near at hand, and,
after closing the door, / said in a low
tone /:
"I 1t is an extremely painful thing for
me Mrs. M-,,,but as you do not seem
inclined to comply with your husbands S
order, must tell you plainly that the
money was taken from the mails by
him. There is no mistake about it,
He has had a mail-key which / have
Just recovered, and has made q full ac-
knowledgment of his numerous depre-
dations. beg of you 10 bear this dread
full news with fortitude. No one will
think less of you on account Of his dis
honest conduct"
expected te see the poor woman faint
Immediately, and had mentally prepared
myself for every emergency but mo-
ment sfier. should have been more
likely to have fallen into that condition,
sstonishment4 could ever produce such
an effect; for as soon as l had finished
what l was saying, she stood, If posi-
bic more erect than before, and with
some FIRE in her eye, and one arm
a. akimbo," she replied, in spirited
manner @ FH
eWelI, if he has done that, he's a
darned fool to own i'll wouldn't %
She gave up the money, however,
soon after, and although the reckless
ness displayed in the speech above quo
ted, seemed to make it probable that she
was implicated in her husbands guilt,
it afterwards appeared that the e1hibi-
ton of "spunk," was due to the impul-
ses of high spirited and excitable ma
ture, which sometimes as in the pres
ent instance, broke away from control.
and went beyond the bounds of deco.
rum.
On the subject of unjust complaints
against the carelessness or culpability Of
post Office clerks. the following illustra-
ton will be found Of interest.
THE BITTER BIT.
A lady of very genteel and respecta-
bic appearance called one day on prom
inent New England postmaster. with a
letter in her hand, which she insisted
had been broken open and re-sesled.-
She banded the letter 10 the postmaster,
who examined it, and appearance GER
tsinly seemed 10 justify her assertion
She further declared that she well knew
which clerk in the Office lad broken it
open. and that be had previously served
several Of her letters in the same way
Upon hearing this, the postmaster re-
quested her TO walk inside the Office.
and point out the person whom she sus-
pected.
Such an unususl phenomenon as the
appearance of lady inside the Office,
produced, as may be supposed, decided
sensation among the clerks there assem-
bied. Nor was the sensation diminish
ed, in intensity when the postmaster in
formed them that the lady was there for
the purpose of identifying the person wis
had been guilty of breaking open her
letters.
This announcement at once excited the
liveliest feelings Of curiosity and solici-
iude in the'mind of almost every one
present, and each one concioas of his in
nocence, indulged in eonjectures as to
who that somebody else might be, whom
the accusing angel ~ was to 6xupon as
the culprit.
All their conjectures fell wide Of the
mark. After looking about for mo-
ment the lady pointed out the last man
whom any one in the Office would have
suspected of such an offence-one of the
Oldest and most reliable OF their num-
Der.
"That is the person." said she. indi-
eating him by slight nod of the head !;
3" and il he persists in making so free
with my letters, 1 win certainly have
him arrested. Why my letters should
always be selected for this purpose. /
cannot imagine ; but if any more of them
are touched. he will wish he had left them
alone"
The direct charge and the threats,
produced great commotion among his
fellow clerks, than in the mind Of the
gentlemen accused. Waiting for a mo-
ment after she had spoken. be broke the
breaihless silence that followed her
words, by saying calmly. "Mrs. II
believe %
"Tbat is my name sir. /"
"Hsve you concluded your remarks.
madam go s.E
al have sir, for the present"
"Then " madam. will take the liberty
to inform you that y9ur husband is the
person on whom you ought to expend
your indignation. He has at different
times taken several of your letters from
the Office. opened and read them. and
after re-sealing, returned them 10 the
having made certain discov-
.ries in those letters to which be forced |