Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-20
DEAD LETTERS.

A short space of two days and his vaca-
ton would commence. Two weeks! But
two weeks were two years of fun, two CEN
turtles of real enjoyment, two eternities of
rest, compared to the constant drag, drag,
in that lonely business which took up all his
day hours in work and all night hours in
dreams. Two weeks away from the con.
slant reading of letters which were written
for other eyes than his! How he ever got
into the dead letter office he couldn't say,
and how he ever staid there without grow
ing wild to the extent of pulling out all his
hair and ramming pens into his brown eyes,
he couldn't for the life of him tell. lie had
stayed on two years. and was much honored
in small way, rs Il skillful clerk in the de-
partment He couldn't tell why again. In
fact, his career was series of couldn't tell
why's" which, however, were the cogs to
the wheels which kept his life going. A
casual observer might have told why he WAS
considered one of the best clerks in the de-
partment, and said observer would have re-.
marked that it was because he-there! I've
got just so far without using n name, and
hoped I'd get clear through the story with
out committing myself; but it's no use.
These pronouns are terribly exacting, and
shall have to get a name for the "hc's" be-
fore the last dash, or | shall be unable to
proceed any further. Well Tom will do,
won't it? Toms name, and there are lots
Of Toms in Washington, and several Toms
in the dead letter office. Now, then, well
take another start with Tom and the OBJ
server.
| say that the observer would have re.
marked that it ego back few lines for the
explanation of the "it'D was because Tom
had very tender heart in his possession
1t is a sad thing to have tender heart when
you're dealing with letters. lie would
choke fifty times each day while reading
some earnest, heartfelt epistle which, de.
spite the love and fidelity II mothers hand
had buried in the lines had miscarrled, nor
would ever reach dear sons eyes Or per.
haps it was fathers strong call-strong in
tears and strong in love-whch would
never bring back to the home-fold n stray
ing daughter.
The letters Tom read with heartachC
which spread like neuralgia, and somehow
filled his whole body with an untold pain
were by the thousand year; but his inter
est in the sad cases was never tagging, ant
he always made good push to have Tho
letters which came from loving hands fol
loved ones take one more chance of reach
ing their destination.
If Toms successes had been each n bloch
nE UIDUifn ha ANauIfpnt.,,
would have been completed over eleven
months ago.
Tom was to have two weeks vacation
two weeks, commencing in two days. IL,
wasn't often idle; but this morning he held
one ola batch of opistolatory corpse,
and sat thinking of anything but his work
Where should he go in vacation There
was no mother, or brother, or sister, wait
ing for him to come home. There were nc
kisses of welcome waiting for him among
green hills or by pleasant shining waters
Where should he go? lie couldn't make up
his mind With a shake, like II cat awaklng
he came back to his work, and gazed Of
one letter from many in II pile before hin
he had semi-unconsciously taken up. Tn
direction of the letter was as follows
Miss CLARA i, BENNETT,
ST. ALBANs,
VERMONT.
The post-mark bore the name of Provi
dence, Rhode Island, and date of July 90
On the other side OF the envelope was
pretty monogram of three letters, "F. II
W." or "W. II. f." or I'll. w. r." or SOM
combination, Tom couldn't decide which
So he opened the letter and read;
"CLARA, My heart is nigh breaking. Ma