The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-01
LITTLE DAM"
A DETROIT POST OFFICE EXPERE
ENCE.

Yon see the people at the postotiict
soon recognize faces and names, and after
a man or woman has appeared at the
general delivery window three or foul
times, they are pretty well known. 1t is
real pleasure to hand out letters to some
while the clerks care little for the calls
of others to get hold of their epistles.
One day, year or two ago, funny
looking little old woman, wearing faded
garments, but having tidy look and a
motherly face, appeared at the window
and asked for letter. There was one
for her, sent from distant city, and any
-one could have told that an unlearned
boy directed the envelope There was q
little I'd" in Detroit" with big "T' tC
end the word, and it seemed wonderful
that the letter ever reached its destina'
ton.
The old lady felt so good that, tears in
her eyes, and yet trying hard to smile
she put her head into the window and
said:
Thanks! It's from my boy Dan, and
YOU don't know how much good it does
mew
The lady delivery clerk rose upto look
afler the old woman, and when a second
letter came she was looking and watching
for "mother" whole day before the let
ter was passed out. 49,,
"It's from my little Dan again, cried
the old woman, as she noted the super
scription. Hes in Buffalo learning a
trade. He's only a bit OF boy. and there
wasn't a show for him in Detroit, and be-
sides he was running out nights and 60
ing to the bad | sent him away, and
he's working hard and trying TO be good;
God bless my Dan Pm lone widow
with only him to love, and | hope he'll
begood"
, Il hope so too," added the clerk, and
after tnat the two were friends. Some
times the letters were far between, and
when the old woman would worry over
the delay, and the big tears would fall,
the lady would almost shed tears with
her.
"Mother" would open herletters at the
window, and If Dan was braye-hearted,
and getting along well both would rejoice,
while both would be anxious if he COM
planned and was anxious.
: Almost every week for a year and half
the old lady received a letter. and just as
regularly she came to post an answer
She wrote a quaint old hand, but the boy
could make out every word, and once
when he wrote that her writing was i'm
proving she felt all the pride which a
school girl could have shown. He inn
proved as well. BY and by he wrote ODE
troit" plain and fair, and he took extra
pains to commence his "Dear Mother"
with grand flourish, and to add some
thing extra after the words Your son,
Dan"
These letters were food and drink to
to the old lady and she seemed actually
to grow younger. Little Dan had many
friends in the postotfice, and had the old
lady been i'll any carrier would have hunt
ed till midnight to find her and hand her
the looked-ior letter.
Three or four weeks ago when she open
ed her letter she wept and smiled as over
the first, He wrote that he was coming
home for a week, and her heart was full.
She said she'd have the cottage looking
like new for him, and she'd be at the de-
pos to welcome him first ofall. ......
Everybody felt good with her, and the
lady clerk was to go up some evening and
have tea with her and see Ii tie Dan and
praise and encourage him, for the more
kind worIs a boy can have the better
will he try to do.
sr There was no letter the next Tuesday,
and the two excused its absence by say
ing that Dan was getting ready to come
home. That was early in February, and
he was to come home about the first of
March. The next Tuesday there was a
letter, but the handwriting was not little
Dams. 1t was strange, business hand,
and the clerk felt chill go over her as
she turned it over. 1t might be good
news, but she feared not. Mother" came
at the regular hour, and she turned pale
as she took the envelope. Her fingers
trembled as she opened it, and she had
to wipe the mist out of her eyes before
she tould decipher a word. She hadn't
read over four or five lines when she ut
tered a moan and sank right down ike
one crushed by some awful weight.
they lifted her up and took her home,
the letter clasped in her stiff fingers, and
though she came out of the faint after
while her heart was broken, and in Il
week she was in her grave.
Dan was dead The letter said that he
had been taken suddenly ill, and that
nothing could save him. The blow was
too heavy for one with hergray hairs and
childish heart, and her little old cottage
is without a tenant.
No more letters commencing Dear
mother" come for the dead and the tremb-
ling hands which usedto linger fondly
over the words "My dear boy Dan, are
folded over a lifeless breast, there to rest
till the angels unclasp them.