The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-12-10
NY Philip.
rgos TsxPn RAR.

IRON
There was quick, sharp rap of the postmAn
q, the door. Our village had but one, and eve-
r. body knew him, though. in the United States
OF America the letter carrier, as he IL called,
has he distinctive mark or badge OF office. Our
postman al~.ys seemed to sympathize with his
bundle OF letters and he knew us all we'll,
that he knew the contents or subjects Of our let.
tiers almost as we'll az il be had been clalFvoy
ant.
| was expecting nv brother on that day and,
instead Of him, there came a letter.
GOOD news from Willie, | don't doubt" said
the postman, as he gave me change for sixpence,
taking t~opence for his fee Tor delivering the
letter. I'VE have not vet come to the good
English fashion OF free delivery Of letters.)
There is generally good ne~s from brother"
said l, smiling.
Nv iiiiam is a fine fellow" said tie tightening
the string on his bundle of letters, and then he
went on his way.
remember thinking, what il he should lose
one of those precious letters! What if be had
lost mines Why did he carry them in bag ?
How could he risk such precious things? But
they all risk lesng letters just the same way
tor no letter in city village ever uses
any security for bis parcel of letters but string
owners.
went to read nv news from brother, what
ever it might De. NY mother was in the large
front room that looked toward the South, with
my invalid father. aud would not disturb him
even with NV treasure So l stopped III the
room when was the dining room. sitting room
and library i'll our cottage. opened nv letter
eagerly. had not then learnt TO waii patiently,
and least OF al where letters were concerned
I turned bl;r and faint, when | Saw where the
letter was dated.
MIDWAY JAIL"
For some moments l in vain essayed to read.
Ny head swsm, and darkness veiled my eyes.
At length recovered. and read:
"MY DEAR SIsrER:-You will be surprised
when you see where nv letter is directed Since
last wrote YOU, have had fsir success in col
lecJing the debts due TO father; and began to
De encouraged, and to think | saw Daylight for
Us Three dnys ago called on Mix, who keeps
the tavern by the steamboat landing You will
remember that his was the largest debt owing TO
father here. At first he said he could not paw
me anything. Then he said he supposed the
nights receipts would be pretty good as the
night train on the railroad would bring a good
many tor the morning boat and they must stay
~ith him. for the other house was bad at best,
and was being painted nov. He said he would
give NE something on the debt in the morning
had intendei to be a, home on the 2lst, and
1t was bard to be detained; but / stayed In
the morning he gave me one hundred dollars in
five twenty dollar notes made my calculations
and found tha; by giving up my stoppages at
t~o other places could still be at home on the
2lst. / was go glad at the prospect Of 60 soon
seeing YOU and mother. and our dear helpless
4 - IL 81 4
much, when was shaving, that cut INV chin
After l wac again on my way the blood came
oozine, and / stopped at an apothocary's to get
a tit of court plaster. II was near the station
where | was to take the cars, and about mile
from Mix's tavern. had bought the cour'
plaster when saw some surgical instruments
living on the counter. They pleased me yer,
much and as father had told me should have
q set for collecting, soon as l had received
one hundred dolare, l bought them.
~ had a sort OF missiving about the no ,ney
had got of Mix: did not believe that it wa.
bad. but wished to be better satisfied thas
| was about it. | asked the price of the instru
ments. They were sold. There was turuke,
and a lancet valued at three dollars, that | conlc
| have. | bought them, and gave one OF u,
| twenty dollar notes IN payment liz was taker
siihOut question. ! put the charge and my in
strumen;s 10 my pocket, very glad to be set a
res, about the money. | then vent over to III,
station; the cars started in an hour, l vas told
| and set down to wait as patiently As could
| Before half al hour had passed, | vas arreste'
for passing counterfeit money. ! was se.rohed
and eighty dollars, of the came kind | bad passed
we're found upon me. At FIRST | Was borrfed
but sent Immediately for NIX, scarcely doub,
ing that be would say be had paid me the noney
He refused to come, declaring that he had pai
me no money; but saying that had paid him
bad twenty dollar note for nv nights lodging
supper and breakfast-thus cheating him out G
eighteen dollars good money. he said he voul
meet me 81 the right time and place tha, | wa
in good hands now; and that he vas busy.
a. am in prison, sister dear, and don't kno,
what ~iIl be 10y fate. All my money vas take
frem me by the officer who arrested me. and
can DO nothing but let you know the facts.
father we're not helpless, he would be able /
help me: a. it is, he can think and some kin
soul, l trust, will be able TO carry out his SD;
eestiobs Keep up your courage, Clara dea
and tell father and mother that | am cheerful
nv sfiic,ion. Write al once, ard tell me viii
father says.
"Your loving brother,
J civilian BENTLEY"
Iwai:ed for nv father to 6nish his Dime
, and then l called mother and showed her ti
letter. Grieved ard alsr med as she vas, she r
dured all. till my father had slept bis usual hol
after his dinner
Before tell nv readers what my father sa
to toe letter, must say something Of our col
di,ion. Nv father had been merchant in he
~ay for many years. He was ruined by q
credit system that prevailed in our coantr
After losing almost everything he came TO {.
village OF Rosalba, where We now lived.
bought the cottage in which my mother VI
, born he paid one half of its value. and depe
. ded on collecting the debts due to him in Ne
0 wsy and the vicinity TO pay the Other half
y brother wished to study 10 be a physician, a.
: our uncle was considered the best medical m,
1 in RosaIba. and in our poverty be couli We
2 greatly as.ist ne. br helping nv brother n b
: education. We bad lived two wears in the &C
0 tage. The frss year We rented, the second =
5 bought it,
: We had let the garden belonging - the &C
: ,age tor half ts produce. and had taught scho
o in summer. Thus With little money that n
|: : father had collected. se we're supported v
: lived in hard grudging economy, that no o.
9 knew of, no, even NV uncle. he Vas doiI
!, What he ceuld for nv brother-more than
.ouli have been wiling 20 accept from any OF
er. The spectre alsays before rs sas the b
: payment of our cottage, which remained TO
I made. And ~e lost oil if ve did not paw the
mandsr at q time specified, and shich vas dra
d ing near We looked TO the success of o
brother's Efforts 10 this collecting tour, {, secu
~ the shelter Of our cottage home. Food,