The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-11-27
LEONARD WATSON:
What he Found in the Post-omce
BY AMY GRAHAM.

che was sitting IN the prettIeSt OF
bedrooms, writing busily; sometimes
the blue eyes filed with mirth, as the
rapid pen jotted down some odd con.
ceit. or queer expression; again she
would toss back her bright curls, and
a saucy smile would cross her little
mouth, as mischief flowed from the
small golden point of her weapon.
One after another, the little sheets
of note paper was filed with dainty
characters, folded, and slipped into
the snowy envelopes. Suddenly the
pretty writer paused. Resting her
little dimpled chin on her hand, she
Ink into reverie; the blue eyes lost
Their smiling light, the rosy mouth
folded into sweet, earnest gravity, as
she sat buried in thought.
eff / only dared" she whispered
60 if only dared" Then, with quick
impulse, she selected sheet of paper
somewhat larger than those she had
been using, and began to write again,
not as before, merry and careless, but
with deep earnestness, the rapid pen
cvidentlyA tracing words of grave
import and weight. Once she paused,
and, folding her little hands, raised
her eyes in prayer. As she sealed the
long letter, she did what she had
neglected before-directed it, in a
clear pretty hand, and then placed it
carefully in her writing-desk. Again
she continued her task, sometimes a
scrap of verse, fancy quotation, or
even an address, filed the sheet, but
oftener little graceful note was writ
ten and folded. She was still busy,
WREN laughing voices in the hall
made her pause.
Come right up, girls, am in my
room," she called.
And in answer to the summons four
gay bellies of ClaireviIle came dancing
into the room with "How many have
you written, ANY,
''Oh, ever so many ? L don't know.
Let me see yours"
And shower of snowy billets fell
from eight white hands into her lap,
while the four girls eagerly opened
and read the missives upon the table.
"We've sold every ticket" cried
Leonora Darcy, the brunette, whose
charms had set half Claireviile in fer
nent.
s.Alli" sale. Amy. "The hall will be
packed!"
eyes" said pretty Mabel Lee" and
everybody says the post-office will be
the most attractive feature of our
fair L am 50 glad you suggested it,
Amy. And if it was late, we've got
good pile of letters written"
There said Amy, signing a note
with Gabrielle" in the most minute
character, ''there's my last sheet of pa
per and my last ounce of brains.
Fun utterly exhausted"
but, Amy, you won't feel exhaust
ed to morrow" said demure, Susy
Jones, "when we hand dear Mr.
Rivers nice sum of money to help re-
build the parsonage"
s'That dreadful fire ~ said Amy,
shuddering. Mother says she don't
approve of fairs generally; but when
ones minister Is burned out, and the
money won't come in fast any other
way, why she'll bake cakes and make
pincushions with the best of u.s."
'And then, you know" said Mabel,
earnestly, "there will be no rafting or
cheating, and the articles are all pref
ty, and good of their kind"
''Girls, is it not time to drcss?"
said Susy, consulting wee watch at
her belt; 1--WE open at seven."
1.-The tables are all ready"
''True, but it is after five now, and
everybody wants time for at least ONE
extra touch to their fnery, when they
must face all Claireville,"
''Scatter, them" said Amy, laugh
ing. ''Run home, all of you! Leave
the letters here; | will take care of
them / am to be postmistress, you
know"
'Not bit of it," said Leonora.
"You are only to sit in the back
ground and direct the envelopes,
which 1 .Avill deliver to anxious in
Dqrirers."
! "Whew! how important we arel"
sas the merry answer. And the laugh
ing group dispersed.
The large hall of ClairevilIe was
brilliantly Illuminated when, two hours
later, the young girls announced all in
readiness for opening the doors.
The pretty tables, tasteful decora-
tons, and groups of lovely girls made
no mean picture, and Claireville walked
about j1lmired, and, above all, pur.
chased to the full content of the fair
originators of the entertainment.
Hidden away from sight by the full