Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-10-17

postman at the door. Our village haC
but one, and everybody knew him
though, IN the United States of Americi
"the letter carrier" as he is called, hai
no distinctive mark or badge Of office
Our postman always seemed to sympa
thize with his bundle of letters; and he
knew US all so well that he knew the
contents or subjects of our letters almost
as we'll as if he had been clairvoyant.
l was expecting my brother on that
day and instead of him there came a
letter.
"Good news from William, l don't
doubt" said the postman, as he gave me
change for sixpence, taking twopence for
his fee for delivering the letter. (We
have not yet come to the English fashion
of a free delivery of letters.)
"There generally is good news from
brother" said !, smiling.
William is fine fellow" saidl he,
tightening the string on his bundle of
letters, and then be went on his way.
I remember thinking, what if he
should lose one of those precious letters?
What if he had lost mine ? Why did he
not carry them in a bag How could he
risk such precious things? But they oil
risk losing letters just the same way, for
no letter carrier, in city or village, ever
uses any security for his parcel of letters
but string, while he is distributing them
TO their many owners.
went 70 read my news from brother,
whatever it might be. Ny mother was
in the large front room, which looked to-
ward the south, with my invalid father
He was taking his dinner, and l would
not disturb him even with my treasure
So | stopped in the room which was
dining room, sitting room and library in
our cottage. opened my letter eager
ly. had not then learnt to wait patient /
~. and least of all where letters were
concerned. l turned blind and faint
when saw where the letter was dated.
"MEDwAY JAIL
For some moments / in vain essayed
to read. My head swan, and darkness
veilsd my eyes. At length ! recovered,
and read
my DEAR SISTER You will be
surprised when you see where my letter
il dated. Since last wrote you have
had fair success in collecting the debts
due to father; and | began to be en-
couraged, and to think saw daylight for
us Three days ago l called on Mix,
who keeps The tavern by the steamboat {
landing. You will remember that this I
was the largest debt owing to father here. q
At first he said he could not pay me any :
thing. Then he said he supposed the c
nights receipts would be pretty good, as /
the night train on the railroad would L
bring a good many for the morning boat '
and they must stay with him, for the 9TH
er house WIS bad at best, and was being t
painted now. He said he would give me e
something on the debt in the morning. I
had intended to be at home on the Y
wehty-frst, and it was hard to be de- f,
ained but stayed. In the morning 81
be gave me one hundred dollars in five Il
wenty dollar notes. / made my calcu-
atoms, and found that by giving up my OF
toppages at two other places, / could id
till be at home on the twenty-frst. ! oI
'as so glad at the prospect of so soon &C
eeing you and mother, and our dear, Al
elpless father, that trembled with Joy.
trembled So much when l was shaving 49,
bat | cut my chin. After / was again :,
n my way, the blood kept oozing, and | q
topped at an apothecary's to get piece h;
court plaster. 1t was near the station N
here was to take the cars, and mile
ON Mix's tavern. had bought the
ourt plaster when l saw some surgical
lying on the counter. They N
leased me very much, and as father had ~ ~
I'D me / should have a set for collect -
Ig, as soon as | had received hundred u
pillars, bought them. II"
81 had sort of misgiving about the w
oney l had got of Mix; ! did not be- I' n,'
eve that it was bad, but / wished to be -
,tter satisfied than | was about it. | "s
ked the price Of the instruments They '0'
ere sold. There was turnkey and
meet, valued at three dollars, that wo
uld have. bought them, and tender He
one of my twenty dollar notes in pay Bi
ent. 1t was taken without question. / of
It the change and my instruments in rec
= pocket, very glad to be set at rest of
out the money. l then went over to cla
e station; the cars started in an hour, ish.
was told, and l sat down to wait as tior
tiently as / could. Before half an priI
Tur III