Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-31
Misfellaneuns,
HOW | WON POLLY AND A
POSTMASTERSHIP.

WAS the second sub-clerk at the
Cowford Office when the postmaster,
Mr.. Dwerryman, was compelled to re-
sign rather suddenly through i'll
health. AS consequence the first
sub-clerk, Chaundy, and had to do
the chiefs work between US until a
resh appointment was made 1t was
thought in the office that Chaundy
was likely to get, not the Cowtord
Office, but that Of Nottingham, the
postmaster of which would probably
be transferred to Cowford He was
the likeliest candidate for our vacan-
cy, though Chaundy had been recon-
mended for it by Dwerryman, who
was a man much thought Of at head
quarters. 1t was supposed that Chaun-
dy was sure to get some sort of pro-
motion and | think it pulled him up
Il little, for he seemed to give himself
the airs Of a superior, and certainly
made me do the lions share Of the
work.
didn't care. | was poor and
Sub-clcrk, and / never expected to be
anything else. Indeed, scarcely de.
sired to be anything else. And why ?
Because | was in love. That is a
thing to make most men ambitious /;
but it only made me, if not contented,
at all events submissive under pow
erty. had fallen in love with the
heircss OF one of the richest land
owners in the county and l knew
no possible position within my limit
ed sphere would or could ever quail
fy me to become a suitor for her
hand. Dreams Of ambition therefore
did not trouble me. Had the Office
Of pOstmaster-general or secretary
been vacant, and made the prize of
severe competitive examination, |
would have given the best years of
my life, poor scholar as | was, to study
for the contest, in order to try and
win Il position that would make me
worthy of her. Failing, | should have
come back without murmur to my
high stool, with bold face and brok-
en- heart.
She was lovely girl such a mer-
ry, bright glimpse of sunshine ! We
first became acquainted-if l may 50
term her condcscending ever after to
bow to me-on one st. Valentines
day, when | stamped some twenty
valentines for her. When she was
gone | looked them over-not with
out a pang of jealousy, which was
allayed when ] found they were eth
er TO sohool-fellows or old gentlemen
her godfather, her uncles, and that
sort of thing A more innocent batch
of valentines never swelled Her Maj
esty' revenue.
How man like her father could
ever have had so charming daught-
er | can't understand. Mr.. DarSe
was a harsh, proud man, stern on the
bench, and heartless at the board
He was severity itself with all tramps
and bcggars, and he preserved his
game with the utmost strictness.-
There was a fierce hatred and feud
of long standing between him and
the poachers, who were tolerably
plentiful. He was not the sort of man
l was at all disposed to ask for leave
to pay my addresses to h s daughter.
So | bowed to fate cherished Ma
ry's image in my heart of hearts ;
and used to comfort myself in the in
tervals of business by recitipg men,
tally Shelly'S lines about
THE love of the moth for the star"
Besides this | had but one delight
that of collecting foreign stamps for
her. She happened one day to ask
for one that was lying On the Office
ledge and kept a watch for them
ever afterward. How grateful l was
to the mania had once scOrned and
despised T!
This humble passion of mine had
existed nearly two years under these
not highly favorable circumstances,
and, what is more, instead of dimin-
ishing it was increasing. Meantime
Chaundy and went on as two SUBJ