Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-04-02
VOL. XX.--N0. SO.
LITTLE DAN "
[From the Detroit Free Press /

/ ter man or woman has appeared at the
general delivery window three or four
times they are pretty well known. 1t is
Il real pleasure to hand out letters to
some, while the clerks care little for the
calls of others to get hold of thcir epis-
ties
One day year or two ago d funny
looking little old women wearing faded
garments. but huying tidy look and
a motherly face, appeared at the window
and asked fof letter There was one
one for her, sent from distant city.
and anyone could have told that an inlet
tered boy directed the envelope There
was little d" in f" Detroit" with a
big "T' to end the word, and it seemed
wonderful that the letter ever reached its
destination,
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 me
The lady delivery clerk rose up to
look after the old woman, aud when the
second letter came she was looking and
watching for g mother" whole day
before the letter was passed out.
2 It's from my little Dan again, cried
the old woman, as she noted the super
scliption. g He's in Buffalo, learning a
trade He's only bit Of u boy, and
there wusn'ta show for him in Detroit,
and besides, he was running out nights
and going to the bad have sent him
away, and he's working hard and trying
to be good. God bless my Dan I'm
u lone widow, with only him to love,
and hope he'll be good =
9 hope SO, too" added the clerk,
and after that the two were friends.
Sometimes the letters we're 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 her
letters at the window, and if Dan was
feeling brave-hearted aud getting along
well both would rejoice while both would
be anxious il he complained and was dis
eouraged
Almost every week for year aud u
half the old lady received letter, aud
Just as regularly she came to post an an
swer. She wrote in quaint old hand.
bat the boy could make out every word,
and once. when be wrote that her writing
was improving, she felt all the pride that
a school girl, could have shown. He
improved as well BY and by be wrote
" Detroit plain and fair, and he took
extra pains to commence his q Dear
mother" with a grand flourish, and to
add something extra after the words,
"Your son, Dan
Those letters were food aud drink to
the old lady. and she seemed to actually
grow younger. Little Dan had many
friends in the Postohce, and had the
mother been III any carrier would have
hunted her till midnight to find her and
hand her the looked for letter. Three
Or four weeks ago when she opened her
letter she went and smiled as over the
first. Dan wrote That he was coming
home for a week, and her heart was full
She said she'd have the clttage looking
new for him, and she'd be ut the depot to
welcome him first Of all Everybody
felt glad with her, and the lady clerk
was to 90 up some evening and have tea
with her aud see little Dan and praise
and encourage bin, for the more kinds
boy can have the better viii he seek to
do.
There was no letter the next Tuesday,
but the two excused lis absence by say
ing that Dan was getting ready to come
home That was early ia February, and
be was to come home about the LIST Of
March. The next Tuesday there was
letter. but the handwriting was not like
Dams. 1t was strange, business hand,
and the clerk felt d chill 20 over her as
she turned it over 1t might be good
news, but she feared not. sMotber"
came in at the regular hour, and she
turned pale as she took the envelope.
Her fingers trembled as she opened ii.
aud she bad 10 wipe the mist out Of her
eyes before she could decipber word
She hadn't read over four or five lines
| when she uttered "A moan and sank right
down, like ono crushed by some awful
weight. They lifted her up aud took
her home, the letter easped in her stiff
fingers and, though she came ont OF tho
faint after while. her heart was broken,
and in a week she was in her grave.
Dan was dead The letter said he had
been taken suddenly i'll. and that moth
ing could save him The blow was too
heavy for one with her gray hairs and
childish heart, and her little cottage is
without tenant.
No more letters commencing Dear
Mother" came for the dead, and tue
trembling hands which used TO lngcr
fondly over the words, "My dear boy.
Dan" are folded over liieless breast,
there to rest till the angels unclasp them.
Man is strong-womau is beautiful.
Man is daring aud confilent-womau il
difiident and unassuming Man is great
in action woman ia suffering. Man
shines abroad-woman at home. Man
talks 10 convince-woman to persuade
and please. Man has a rugged heart
woman a soft and tender one. Man pre-
vents misery-woman relieves it. Man
has sclcnce-woman taste Man has
Judgment-woman sensibility. Man is
being OF justiee-wOman Of mercy.
D
A woman's right-A right to bus
band If she can got ono.