The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-15
s.Lissle Dan..,
detroit Free Press. ]

Little 1J1ne1
Detroit Free Press1 l.
You see, the people at the post-ofiice /
Soon recognize faces and names, and after
man or woman has appeared at the
general delivery window three or four
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 ep'stles.
One day, year CT two ago, tunny
Hooking little old woman. wearing faded
garments, but having tidy look and
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 |
little sd in ssDetroit, with big sTs
to 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: 4
sThanks! It's from my boy Dan,
and you don't know how much good It
does me-"
The lady delivery clerk rose up to look
after the old woman, and wnen second
letter came she was looking and watch
ing for mother whole day before the
: letter was passed out.
> cts from my little Dan again. cried
the old woman as she noted the super
i scription. ''He's in Buffalo, learning
$ trade. He's only bit of boy, and
i there wasn't show for him in Detroit,
and besides, he was running out nights
: and going to the bad. l sent him away,
IS and he S working hard and trying to be
e good. God bless my Dan! I'm lone
widow with only him to love, and hope
<, he'll be good!'
1t 81 hope so, too added the clerk, and
'e after that the two were friends. Some
D. times the letters were far between. and
i when the old woman would worry over
D. the delay, and the big tears would fall,
le the lady would almost shed tears with
le her. Mother" would open her letters
% at the window, and if Dan was feeling
n, brave hearted and getting along well, both
I'd would rejoice, while both would still be
n anxious If he complained and was dis.
a. couragei.
Almost every week for a year and
half the old lady received letter, ant
no Just as regularly she came to post an an
he swer. She wrote in quaint old hand
but the boy could make out every word
~ and once when he wrote that her writin:
Fl. was improving she felt all the pride whicl
wv. a SCHOOLGIRL could have shown. lie i'm
he proved as we'll. BY and by he wrot
at. :.Dctroit' plain ard fair. and he tool
m. extra pains to commence his ''Dear moth
,en err with grand flourish, and to ad
something extra after the words: "You
.nt Son Dam
to Those letters were food and drink t
his the old lady, and she seemed to actuall
uld grow younger. Little Dan had man
in friends in the postoffice, and had tn
, a mother been i'll any carrier would hav
dc- hunted till midnight to find her, and han
tie. her the looked.for letter. Three or fou
weeks ago when she opened her letts
to she wept and smiled as over the trs
Dan wrote that he was coming home for
-es. week, and her heart was full. She Sal
ssia she d have the cottage looking like ne
tho for him. and she d be at the depot to we
,;lh come him first Of all. Everybody fe
MID glad with her, and the lady clerk was
enc 90 up some evening and have tea wit
in. her and see little Dan and praise and e
otto courage him, for the more kind words
;nts boy can have the better will he seek
sig do.
lea There was no letter the next Tuesda
hat but the two excused its absence by So
Bel. ing that Dan was getting ready to cor
sid home. That was early in February, q,
he was to come about the lst Of Marc
The next Tuesday there tDds letter, b
the handwriting was not little Dams
was strange, business hand, and I
clerk felt chill 60 over her as she turn
soil. it over. 1t might be good news. but $
nor. leared not Mother came IL
nd;. regular hour, and she turned pale as $
the took the envelope. Her fingers trembl
,ers as she opened it, and she had to wipe I
nlu. mist out Of her eyes before she could I
r;c, cipher a word. She hadn't read on
,enl four or five lines when she uttered mo
her and sank right down, like one crushed
nth some awful weight. They lifted her
lOO and took her home, the letter clasped
!. bv her stiff fingers: and. though she ca
very OUT OF the IAN. ai.cf "nle' ne. vi
arge was oToheh' anu ~ "eeh sAe "a0 -
grave.
Dan was dead! The letter said that
had been taken suddenly i'll, and Il
enlv nothing could save him. The blow '
Pc. too heavy for one with her gray ha
hill. and childish heart. and her little old c
ayor tage is without tenant.
the No mere letters commencing I'D
Tents Mother come for the dead, and
. Ur- trembling hands which used to lin
Tien- fondly over the words, MY dear b
Gratis Dam" are folded over lifeless bres
nbus, there to rest till the angels unclasp tn
rest
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