The Osceola times., 1875-11-20
LEONARD WATSON.
what he Found in the Post Once.
BY AMY GRAHAM,

She was sitting in the prettiest of
bedrooms, writing busily; sometimes
the blue eyes filled with mirth, as the
rapid pen jotted down some odd con-
ceit. or queer expression; again she
would toss back her bright curls, and
Il 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
sank into reverie; the blue ewes lost
their smiling light, the rosy mouth
folded into a sweet, earnest gravity, as
she sat buried in thought.
"If | only dared" she whispered
eff | only dared" Then, with quick
impulse, she selected IA 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
evidently 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, filled the sheet, but
oftener a little graceful note was writ
ten and folded. She was still busy,
when 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 Claireville came dancing
into the room with "How many have
you written, Amy%
"Oh, ever so many ? 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 Claireville in a fer
ment.
"All!".said Amy. "The hall will be
packed"
"Yes," said pretty Mabel Lee" and
everybody says the post-ofiice will be
the most attractive feature of our
fair. ! am so glad you suggested it,
Amy. And if it was late, we've got "A
good pile of letters written"
There said Amy, signing a note
with "Gabriella," in the most minute
character, "there's my last sheet of pa
per and my last ounce of brains.
I'm utterly exhausted"
'But, Amy, you won't feel exhaust
ed to morrow said demure Susy
Jones, "when we hand dear Mr..
Rivers a nice sum of money to help re-
build the parsonage
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 us"
"And then, you know said Mabel,
earnestly, "there will be no rafting or
cheating, and the articles are all pret-
ty, and good of their kind"
"Girls, is it not time to dress?"
said Susy, consulting Il wee watch at
her belt; 1--WE open at seven"
"The tables are all ready
"True, but it is after five now, and
everybody wants time for at least ONE
extra touch to their finery, when they
must face all Claireville,"
"Scatter, then" said Amy, laugh
ing. "Ru 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 | will deliver to anxious in
quirers."
"Whew! how important we are"
was the merry answer. And the laugh
ing group dispersed.
The large hall of Claireville was
brilliantly Illuminated when, two hours
later, the young girls announced all in
readiness for opening the doors.
The pretty tables, tasteful decora-
tions, and groups of lovely girls made
no mean picture, and Claireville walked
about, admired, and, above all, pur-
chased to the full content of the fair
originators of the entertainment.
Hidden away from sight by the full
folds of a curtain, Amy sat shrined in
the postoffice, answering Leonora's call
for letters. Busy excitement had flush
ed her fair cheeks, and, as her pen
traced familiar names, one after anoth-
er, smiles chased each other over lips
and eyes. Suddenly a call from Nora
made her turn pale; her fingers trem-
bled as she drew from her bosom the
letter she had written with Il prayer
1t was fully directed, yet she hcstated,
holding il as if reluctant to let it 90.