Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-02-13
QatIpr .aeaaina.
kVHB POST OFFICE
m an. lrosTER.

u l.aNks -.
The mail has arrived! Welcome
news to those who are expecting to
hear from friends near anil dear TO
them. But first Of all that!crowd the
office is the business man. With con-
sequential air and stately step he
strides ald2g, and demands rather
than asks @rs his letters. They are
instantly daiHred, and he hastily
scans the cspte nts; q smile Of: pleasure
steals across Ss features as he reads
Improbable Investment and quarterly
dividends. And then. curses not loud
but deep, are muttered, as he finds
some scheme for acquiring wealth has
failed. & Y As >FS3gES
Next, perhaps, tinid maiden,
anxious to hear from her lover, in
quires, with q ALTERING voice and
Flushing face, if there is o. letter for
her; if not, as is too frequently the
case, she turns, away in sorrow to
wait impatientlS the arrival Of the
next mail. 4,.s.#. 4
And now an old and trembling
mother approaches the office; she has
been there every day for weeks, ex.
pecting to hear from her long absent
and only son. A tear dims her eye
and rolls down her care-worn check
us she received the customary and
emphatic mol to hersinquiry. She
retraces her steps slowly and with
sorrow. The office is no more crow
ded--tfe letters lae nearly adj deliy1
cred; and the clerks are busy with
/. their books. : .y,ss-sse
+ How much joy il felt by them who
hear from long absent friends how
much sorrow is experienced by those
who are disappointed in the noIl3re-
ceipt Of letters which are expected; or
by Sad intelligence that may be con-
+ tainedin those that are received, none
can tell. =.
4 lis there letter here for my motll-
erf' asked a young and really beau
| tiful girl, who had just entered the
! Office. The quick, restless glance Of
her mild blue eye toll plainly that
she feared she should again be dis
appointed.
What Manner asked the clerk.
+ without once looking at the beautiful
being that stood before him. .'.F
~ my mothers name is Morton, Lu-
cy Norton
I"M-M- Morton, ''muttered the clerk,
<1there is no such letter here" @
| The girl stood a moment in silence,
then bursting into tears she left the
office. She trayefsedt many. streets,
and at last entered an old house in
+ one of.the streets ii the city.
sEs.No, mother" said she, as she en-
tered, ssthere is no letter to-day -
What viii become of us r. as she sank
/ into a chair, and covered her face
/ with her hands.
Elem said her mother, who
II though worn down by care and suf,
fering, was still beautiful, lido not
| despair, we shall not suffer, and TO.
morrow perhaps the letter will come
g3tsTo-morrow, mother, SO you have
! said every day-and every day we are
disappointed. No, mother, he will
J. not. &.
l. ..IIe win, Ellen, ] amsure that he
L will; it is onr only hope, and ! cannot
give it mp, so let us have good cepr,
age, and hope for the best.1
..But, mother, what can we say e
4 Mr.. Brownl you know we promised
TO pay him the rent to-day
I've cannot do ii now.
tsAnd what will he say 7 I dreat
!. to see him; I hope he viii be willing
80 wait a day or two longer. M
s.He said he. would wait only III
4 to-day :
aBntperhapshc win,
And ifhe viii not I" !, II
Then we. INST leave this house
. Alas, i do not know, my chile
where we can go. But We shall no
suffer, my trust j. 10 q higher Powel
than man.
The conversation was "A q inter
rIpted BY d knock at the s1bor. El
len quickly wiped the tenrs from he
eyes and admitted = Brown.
81 have come, 'said he 9for xha
YOU owe pe-sOu aFs ready e psy,
!. : II am sorry . said Mrs Morton