The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-21
SIittip Dan -


/
"Littie Dan"
You see, the people at the post tfice
soon recognize faces anl names, and alte,
a man or woman has appeared at the gen
era delivery window three or four times
they are pretty we'll known. 1t is a rea
pleasure to hand out letters to some, Will,
the clerks care little for the calls of other,
to ge' hold of their epistles.
One day year or two ago, a 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 sd" in
Detroit, with a big ct" TO end the word.
and 1t seemed wonderful that TIE letter
.ver reached its destination.
The old lady fel, sso good that. tears in
her eyes and yet trying hard to smile, she
put her head into the widnow and said:
"Iharks! It's from my boy Dan and
you don't know how MUCK good 1t does
mel"
The lady delivery clerk rose up to look
alter the old woman, and when a second
letter came she was looking and watching
tor ''mother" whole day before the letter
was passed out.
It's from little Dam cried the old WON.
an, as she noted the superscrption. "IIe',
in Buffalo, learning trade. He's only a
bit OF a boy, and there wasn't show for
hlm In Detroit, and besides he was run
ning out nights and going to the bad. !
seDt him away and he's working and irving
to be good, God bless my Dan. IN alone
widow with only him to love, and hope
he'll be good !"
Il hope SO, too, added the clerk, and
alter shat TIE two were friends. Some
times the lettdrs 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.
"Nother, would open her letters at the
window, and if Dan was feeling brave
hearted and getting along well both would
rejoice, while both would still be anxious
IT he complained and was discouraged.
Inn
bali the old ludy received letter, and Just
as regurarly she come to post an answer
She wrote in quaint old hand, but the
boy could make ont every word, and once
when he ~rIte that her writing was I'M
proving, felt all the pride which a school
girl could hayC shown. He improved as
we'll. By and ty he wrote Detroit, !,
plain and fair, and he took extra pains to
C, mmence his Dear Mother" with grand
flourish, and to add something extra after
the words -" Your Son DAN"
Those letter. were food and drink TO the
old lady, aud she seemed to actually grow
younger. Little Dan had many friends in
the post Office, aud had the mother been iii
any carrier would have huI ted til midnight
to find her and hand her the looked for
letter. Three or four weeks sEo when she
opened her letter she wept and smiled a.
over she first. Dan wrote that be was
coming home for week, and her heart
f,tn
looking like new to him, and she'd be ut
the depot to welcome him first of ALL Every
body felt glad wi h her, and the lady clerk
Wa, to 60 up some evening and have tea
with her and see little Dan and praise arp
encourage him, for the more kind words IA
boy can have TIE better will he seek to do.
There was no letter the next Tuesday !:
but the two excused it's abseuce by saying
that Dan WAS getting ready to come.
That was early in February, and he was to
come about the lst of March. The next
Thursday there was letter, but the hand
writing was not little Dams. 1t was strang
/ business hand and the clerk felt chill 90
over her as she turned il over 1t might b.
good news, bat she feared not. "Mother'
came in ut the usual hour, and she turned
pale as she took the envelope. Her fingers
irembled as she opened 1t, and she bad to
! wipe the mist out Of her eyes before she
could decipher a word. She hadn't read
over four OF FIVE lines when uttered groar
and sanl right down, like one crushed by
some awful weight. They lifted her up and
took rtome the letter clasped in her stiff
! fingers, and though she came out of bel
faint after while, her heart was broken, ant
in a week she was in her grave.
Dan was dead The letter said that ht
had been taken suddenly i'll, and that moth
ing could save him. The blow was toe
heavy for o.e with her gray hairs anC
.nd childish heart, and her little old cot
tage is withoat tenant.
No more letters commencing "Des
mother" cane for the dead, and the tremb
lug hands W which used to linger fondly owe
the words: "My dear boy Dan" are folde,
over lifeless breast, there to rest till th
angels unciasp them Detroit Free Press