Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-30
HIS LETTER.


One rainy night, about half past
eight o'clock, the train had dashed into
McKibben's Corners, and the mail had
been delivered at the store and post
Office.
John Fairjohn, the postmaster, had
opened the bag and counted the letters.
There were, as he made out, just ten,
and one was larger than the others and
had red seal; and then he had found
that he had left his glasses on the news
paper In the back room, and without his
glasses he could not read line; and so,
Of course, he had gone after them. re-
turning te find two persons IN the store
Farmer Roper and Squire McRibben,
whose ancestors had given name to that
place.
"Wet, amt it?" said Mr.. Fairiohn,
nodding.
"Wet Or not, our folks amt going to
do without their groceries, you see, !"
said the squire. I" Malls in [ see. That
train come near running into my truck,
too. Wasn't noticing the flag, and drove
across just IN time to save myself. Any
letters for me {"
"I'n see" said MIR. Fairiohn.
He turned to the little pile of
envelopes, and told them over like a
deck of cards.
e.Why there's only nine," he said.
'sI'm sure counted right. I counted
ten, and I thought one had real seal.
[ might as well give up keeping the of
fee if I'm going to lose my senses like
that. There wasn't any one in here
while was gone, was there, Squirrel
"Only Roper and L" said the squire,
sand Roper's sou. But he didn't come
in, did he ?''
"No," said old Roper. CT don't
think that Job came in at all. He just
went off somewhere"
"Well," said the postmaster after
another search, well, I must be mis-
taken. Yes, there is letter for you,
your folks, anyway-and something for
you, Mr.. Roper. And you wouldn' t
mind tossing that In at the Smiths as
you pass ?"
oh, no." said farmer Roper. s:Give
it to nae. That's from Smith that s
clerking it in New York, I reckon.
Can't get any of 'em to stay and farm, %
"Your son Job did," said the squire.
"Oh, my son Job. He'd try the pa
thence of his namesake," said farmer
Roper. " Ny son Job, ball."
Just at this moment the door Of the
store opened, and there entered at it a
little woman dressed in a cheap calico
and wrapped in a thin and faded shawl.
She looked timidly about the store,
still more timidly at the heap of letters,
and then, In an appealing voice like
that of a frightened child, said:
''Mr. Fairjohn, is there any letter
for me this timea''
The postmaster, who was a little
deaf, had turned his head away and did
not know that she had entered and she
came closer to to the counter and the
light upon it before she spoke again.
She was faded little woman, and her
face had signs of grief written upon it,
but she was neither Old nor ugly yet,
and there was something ia the damp
curls clustering under the faded calico
hood, and in the little round, dimpled
chin absolutely childlike even yet.
els there letter for me this time,
Mr.. Fairjohn2" she said again; and this
time the postmaster looked.
"No, there ain t; and you're fool for
taking such walk to ask, said he with
rough kindness, ssWouldnt I have
sent it if it had a-come, Mrs. Lester"
ssWell, you see, I felt in hurry to
get it, said she, ''You can't blame me
for being in hurry, it's so long"
'3That's true" said the postmaster.
"Well, better luck next time. But why
don't you wait? Mr.. McKibben viii
take you over when he goes. He passes
your corner.
'sYes, wait, Mrs. Lester cried Mr..
McKibbeD, "I'll take We and welcome. y
But she had answered
'"Thank you. I don't mind walking, .
and was gone.
"Keepe it ur, don't she % asked the
postmaAter.
ssIt's shame" said Mr.. McKibben,
"How many years it is now since Lester
went of"
"Ten," said the postmaster. 81 know,
for it wss the day came here. She was
SIS pretty woman as you'd wsnt to see
then, wasn't she?"
"Well, yes, said Mr.. McKibben.
tsSailed in the Sphynx," said the
postmaster. "Asd we all know that the
Sphynx went down in that voyage, all
lands along with her. The rest of the
women put on Widows weeds, them