Smyrna times., 1858-04-29
Any Letter for lie, TC- Day 2
BY HIRAM TORREY


BY HIRAM TORREY.
With how much of hidden emotion is this
question asked al the city post-office! Many a
time, after receiving our own letters, have we
stopped and watched the faces of the throng
who were waiting their turn to ask the common
question: "Any letter for me, to-day !' and
we were always thus led to more serious re-
Election upon the joys and sorrows of life, and
made more sensible TO realize the power Of LILLE
things over human happiness.
1t is little thing TO ask for letter, and the
answer Eyes," or "no," is but little thing,
the letter itself but small package in appear
ance, unimportant and valueless; and when
passing the postsffice, we casually glance at
the people who come for their little messages
we deem very little affair-an everyday oc-
currence OF no special significance. But could
we see the expectation, desire. the trembling
hope and fear, smothered beneath the simple
question, Any letter for me ?'' then should we
know that 1t is not little thing 10 the heart
interested. There is no other place in the
world where strong feeling, genuine heart emo
tl0n, is so immediately aroused as at the post
office. 1t may be subdued it is true, or hidden
from the common eye, but it is felt there. No
where else can so great a variety of feelings
be called into exercise for here all come all
ages classes and conditions of men, each hoping
and tearing.
Any letter for nae to-day ! asks the man of
business. Yes. He takes it-opens it, and
reads notice ofa protested note, or Of failure,
or of some other calamity from which he lSust
date his own ruin. Perhaps he reads of rise
in real estate, in stocks, or OF the success OF
some grand mercantile speculation by which he
is suddenly released from embarrassment, and
do ali, hat, ,I, tao
whole being is that letter!
Any letter for me, to-day asks the aged mo-
ther; her voice trembles, and her heart throbs
heavily while the clerk turns TO look fer The
expected message. Her children are all scat
tered over the world-have been gone from her
for many years, but she still feels the same love
for them she did when they were Z" wee darl-
lngs" and nestled safely under one roof, and
letter of good news from either Of them thrills
her heart with the same old joy which their
smiles and merry glce brought to her long
years agone.
Any letter for me, to-day asks the young
man who has been but "a few months from home,
seeking employment in the city. His indicates
a quick alienation of hope aud fear, and when
the answer is given, '' No letter turns away as
he has many times before, struggling to sup
press tears and sighs. He had been unsuccess-
him by his father when he started out to try the
world for himself were exhausted, and weeks
before he had written further aid. Thus, with
out money, without work, in want and alone in
the great city, what home-yearnings arise in
his heart, and upon that little expected letter
seems to hang his whole life destiny.
Any letter for me, to-day? timldly inquiries
the maiden, her face sutiused with the blush OF
first love. The clerk knows that it is her
heart which speaks in those low, soft tones,
and little Joy touches his own, it may be from
sympathy, or the wakening of some cherished
memory, as he discovers her name SO prettily
written upon an embossed envelope. So he
places it in her hand with cheerful smile, and
with joy-beaming eyes, she hurrles away, eager
to read over the vows of constancy and devo-
ton which create a new paradise in her soul.
| lrusti girl! little does she dream of the wide
difference between love in letters and love in
real life.
Any letter for me, to-day! asks the wife
whose husband is away in California, seeking
gold. He could not be contented with the
g slow and sure" growth which honest labor
invariably secures; but he must amass wealth
quickly, make tOrtuue in two or three years,
then he will return 10 live in "splendid STYLE"
This dream of greatness was worth to him more
than all the comfort and endearments of home
and so he made the sad exchange. During four
years. he has only written as many letters to
his wife, and sent hes money barely sufficient
TO procure the necessaries Of life. But her love
towards him did not falter-it reached all the
way to that distant land, and brought him still
nearer TO her. The few lines received at these
long intervals are read, with fearful eyes, many
times over, and sacredly treasured as mementos
of her husbands love. But to-day she receiv-
oil hOr nd fha ban nH-
writing is not his! l.! How like lead it falls upon
her heart. The dream of her husband is ended
the decisive gold-vision has faded, and he has
passed away to the possession of immortal
riches! That little folded sheet brought to her
life leng wo.
And thus, one after another of the great hu-
man throng, come up to the post-otiice, with
the same inquiry upon their lips, ANY letter
for me, to day % The rich and poor, the joyful
and sorrowng, the learned and ignorant, the
good and depraved, all, have friends somewhere
in this wide world; and whOt blessed thing it
is that through this medium they can hold COM
munion. Letters are the winged messengers
of the heart that go out every day from thou-
sands of homes There is more of truth in
them than in spoken or printed words, for their
| literature is not studied, but felt. They are
mostly the issues of the aifectlons--the utter
ance of the inner life, and fullest representa-
tions of the various phrazes of our common
humanity.
! 0F Professor Harry, of Madison University,
N. Y, baptised on the 7th inst, Samuel San
thara, "a native of Japan. He is young man,
who has been for some time supported by friends
in New York in a course of study, and is the
only survivor of japanese crew who were
wrecked on the North Pacific. II is in contem-
A l..