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

, defence. If you wish my statement cor
roborated, 1 think 1 can produce re
liable witness"
The lady did not reply to this propo-
sition, but made a precipitate retreat,
leaving the clerk master of the field, and
was pever afterwards seen at that post
Office.
The following anecdotes are illustra-
tive of the amusing incidents which oc-
casionally come under the eyes Of post
Office clerks
| TO MY GRANDMOTHER.
A little bright-eyed. flaxen-haired boy
was one day observed to enter the vesti-
bule of the post Office of Washington,
with a letter in his hand, and to wait
very modestly for the departure of the
crowd collected about the delivery win
dow. As soon as the place was cleared,
he approached the letter box. and care
fully deposited his epistle therein. ling
ering near, as if 10 watch over The safe :
ty of the precious document. His mo
tons attracted the attention Of the clerk
stationed at the window. whose curiosi-
ty induced him to examine the super
scription of the letter just deposited BY
the little fellow. The address on the
letter was simply. ITO my Dear Grand :
mother, Louisiana :" doubtless some good
cid lady, whose memory, in the mind OF
her innocent grandchill. was redolent of
cake and candy, and all the various
goodies" which grandmothers are gen.
orally so oready TO supply. to say nothing
Of the well meant Offices of kindness to
which their sometimes blind affection
prompts them. "Look here. my little
man," said the clerk, what is your
grandmother's name, and where does she
live 2"
"why. she's my grandma. and lives
in louisiana"
Yes, l see that on the letter, but il
viii never get to her if her name isn't
put on, and the place where she lives" "
"WeIl. please put it on, SIR
"But shall not know what her name
is, unless you tell me-"
"Why, sir, she's my grandma-don't
you know her? She used to live at my
house." 4
After the display of considerable ings
nuity on the part Of the clerk and a
good deal of innocent evasion by the
child. the old lady's name and place Of
residence were finally ascertained. and
adde to the address after which the
little one went his way rejoicing in the
assurance given by the clerk that now
his "dear grandmother" would certainly
receive the important epistle from her
darling.
THE DEAD LETTER.
The following is contributed by
"Dave," of the Columbus (ohio) post
office: s-i i.a-i a-'zsss5
During nv term Of service at the gen.
eral delivery Of this Office. it was my
custom, upon delivering dead letters from
Washington city, to make list of the
names of the persons to whom they were
addressed, and stick it up in the lobby Of
the post Office. with note, g Call for
Dead Letters" r.Ht "atit o,i
One day an elaborate specimen of
Erin's sons, whose brawny FIST and broad
shoulders seemed to denote construc-
ton with an eve single to American rail-
roads, lounged into the office, and up to
the aforesaid list. He locked at it mo-
ment. and burst into tears. spoke to
him through the window, and asked him
what was the matter.
"Oh Mr.. Postmaster. 1 see ye have
daid letther for me. lspect me seester
in Ireland's daid. and its not a wake
since l sint her a tin pound note to come
to Ameriky wid-and kin ye tell me
how long she's bin daid, Mr.. Postmas-
ter 2"
l asked him his name, found the
''letther." and after request from Linn
to Grade it, sir, and rade it aisy if you
Place" opened it, and told him not to
cry that his sister was not dead, but that
it was letter written by himself, and
directed to Z" Michael Flaherty, Boston,
Chicago"
And is Michael daid, Mr.. Postmas-
ter ?"
"No, l guess not" said 1.
''Well, who Is daid, sir"
/ explained 10 him that letters not ta-
ken from the Office to which they were
addressed within a certain time, were
sent to what was called the Dead Letter
Office at Washington City. and from
thence if containing any thing valuable,
to the persons who wrote them.
"God bliss ye for that, sir, but Mi
chael lives iu Chicago"
1 told him 1 would not dispute that,
but Boston and Chicago were two dis
tinct cities, and the letter was addressed
to both. and that Boston being the first
named, it had been retained there, and !
his friend had not received it.
(" Sure and l thought Boston was in
Chicago and that's what ye call dsid
letther, is it? Faith and l thought it