The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-02-12
NY Philip.
-
FROM TEMPLE EAR.

There was a quick sharp rap of the postman
at the door. Our village had but one ard ev>
erybody knew bin ,though, in the United Stat
es of America, the letter carrier as he is calls
cd, hassno distinctive mark or badge of office.
Our postman always seemed to sympathize with
his bundle of letters and he knew us all so
well, that he knew the contents or subject of our
letters almost as well as if he had been a cIair-
vcyant.
l was expecting my brother on that day and
instead of him their came a letter.
Good news from Willie, I don't doubt said
the postman. as he gave me change for ~sixpence
tskingitwopence for his fee for delivering the
the letter. eve have not vet come to the good
English fashion of a free delivery of letters)
There generally is good news from brother
said / smiling.
William is a fine fellow said he tightening
the string on bis bundle of letters, and then he
went his way.
l 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 all risk loseing letters just the same
way, for no letter carrier in city or village ever
uteS any security for his parcel of letters but a
string, while he is distributing them to their
many owners.
l went to read my news from br other, what
ever it might be. My mother was in the larg,
front room that looked towards the South with
my invalid father, and | would not disturb him
even with treasure. So l stopped in the room
whc was the dining>room, sitting-room and
library in our cottage. l opened my letter Gag
erly. l had not then learned to wait patient
ly, and least of all where letters were concern
ed. l turned blind and faint, when l saw where
the letter was dated.
MIDWAY JAIL
For some moments / in vain essayed to read
My head swan, and darkness yelled my eyes
At length / recovered, and read:
my DEAR SIsTER:-You will be surprised
when you see whrke my letter, is dated. Sine
l last wrote you, l have had fair success in col
Letting the debts due father and l began to b
encouraged, and to think l saw daylight for us
Three days ago | called on Mix. who keep
a tavern by the steamboat landing. You vii
remember that his was the largest debt OWN,
to father, fere At first he said he could no
pay me anything. Then he said he suppose
the nights receipts would be pretty good, as th
night train on the railroad Mould bring a goo
many for the morning boat and they mus
stay with him, for the other house was bad 2
the best, and was being painted. He said h
would give me something. | had intended t
be at home on the twentysfrst, and it was har
TO be..detained ; but I stayed. In the mornin
he gave me one hundred dollars, in five twent
dollar notes. l made my calculations, and foun
that by giving up my stoppages at two othe
places | could still be home on the twenty frs
i was so glad at the prospect of soon seein
you and mother, and our dear helpless fgthel
that l trembled with joy. 1 trembled so mucf
when l was shaving, that I cut my chin. Afte
. was aga n on my way the blood was oozins
) and | stopped at an apothecary's TO get q b
of court plaster, when / saw some surgical il
struments lying on the counter, They please
e me very much and as father had told me
should have a set for collecting, as soon as
had received one hundred dollars. l bougl
them.
1 had no sort of misgiving about the money
had got of Mix I did not believe II was ba
but | wished to be better satisfied than | was
bout it. l asked the price of the instrumen
# They were sold. There was g turnkey ar
u a lance, valued at three dollars that l cou
have, / bought them, and gave one of n
twenty dollar notes in payment. 1t was take
' without 8 question. | put the change and II
instruments in my pocket, very glad 20 be set
rest about the money. | then went over to Il
station the cars started in an hour, / was toll
and / sat down to wait as patiently az coul
= Before half an hour had elapsed, l was ARE
ted for passing. counterfeit money. | was scare
ed and eighty dollars of the same kind | b
passed were found upon me, At first l W
hornfied bnt / sent Immediately for Mi
scarcely doubling that he would say that he b
u paid me the money, He refused to come, d
olsring he had paid me no money but sayil
that l had paid him a bad twenty dollar ne
for my nights lodging, supper and breakfast
thus cheating him out of eighteen dollars go
money. He said he would meet me at the rio
time and place; that l was in good hands nc
and shat he was busy.
i am in prison, sister dear, and 1 don't KIN,
= what will be my fate. An my money was
ken from me hv the officer who arrasted r
:, AM l can do nothing but let you know
facts. If father was not helpless, he would
4 sure TO help me; as it is he can think a
: sone kind soul, / trust, will be able 10 carry
his suggestion. Keep up your courage, CT
dear, and tel fether and mother that l am che
I. full in my afliction. Write at once. and
No wha' father lays.