The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-05
THE LETTER BOX.
BY ADDISON =, BROWNE.

Within this world OF strange deceit
How often We are forced to meet
With forms, which by their look or act,
Will ne'er express what in the tact
Their attributes may chance to be.
Thus, in your letter box we see
A thing Of very humble look;
But i'm the land there's not book
With half the gloom or half the cheer,
That first and last has rested here.
OFT at my window have stood,
And in deeply thoughtful mood
Gazed on the features of each one
Who to the letter box would come
Now, il would be the youthful face
OF some fair maid, whose childish grace
Revealed free and careless heart
Untouched by stain OF sinful art,
And lighted by lifes sunny part
And with the thoughtless, easy tread
OF one who has no pain or dread,
She came to post message sweet,
That to her love should well repeat
The tale, whose earnest untaught WORD
or simple power, when once It's heard
And purely understood, to all
Becomes magic, silvcry call;
Whose blssful charm-Gods greatest gilt
From cloudy wales the soul Will lit,
And watt II to the scene above,
Where light and life subsist on love,
And when the youth, wherc'er he be,
In distant land or on the sea,
Shall DER the latter feast his sight,
The heart will bound and eye grow bright,
While holy visions charm the view
AS Fancy shows his maiden true.
And all the pure delights OF home
In swift succession seem to come,
And, let Us hope. when joyous thought
Its pleasant spell has fully wrought,
He'll not forget the blessing great
That followed when the thoughtful state
For interest Of the genial heart
Gave TO the land this work of art
That often saves heightened tramp
Der dusty walk or pavement damp,
Beneath the heat OF summers glare,
Or through the winters stormy air.
The maiden gone, sober wife,
Iaue such by cares Of married life,
With firm, but weary step, has passed
And in the box her tribute cast;
Which 10 her absent spouse will tell
IF those at home are sick or well,
And how the move Of his affairs
Progresses meath the watchful cares
OF her whose love and patient skill
supply the place Of manly VIII.
With measured step and stately m.cH,
Upon the walk there next is seen
One from whose quick defiant eye
lis glad to turn each passer by
step, dress and mien, to all proclaim,
" Here is a maA who won his fame
Through victories in commercial strife
With air unlike the maid or wife,
Before the box the merchant stands,
And pushes in with praciiced hands
OF notes and letters half score.
These are despatched the nation Ger
Some TO announce Il business chance
That is apparent al a glance
And some to offer sacrifice,
IN words that please unwary eyes,
But so arranged, that II the trade
by upsuspicious man is made,
Twill in the end, bring golden orc
Into the merchants ample store.
Clese IN lis wake, there came a face
From which had parted every grace
The import OF whose 5ullen look
Not by child would be mistOOk.
With cautious step, and watchful eye
That keenly views each mortal nigh,
This man of dark, mysterious mien,
Too near the painted box was seem
And swiftly thrusting meath the slide
Some message twas his JOY to hide,
Moved quickly down gloomy way
. and vanished from the light Of day.
You ask What may such action mean"
IN criminal court the answers seen.
For one who has this careful style,
IT'S safe to say, at heart is vile;
And Of the mail, whose fair intCn.
Is that pure messages be sent,
A sinful use will often make,
That distant coMradc thief or rake
May Of his plan be made aware,
and in its execution share.
Then in succession many Others
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
With varied countcnance appear
And post their thoughts Of gloom or cheer,
With motive different from the rest
And yet as proper as the best
At stated hours three times day,
Comes one dressed from hGad TO foot in gray.
He, stopping at the letter box
It's lid with great despatch unlOeks,
And to bag transfers the store
Then, having Clsscd the Ind once more,
Quick To the central Office hics,
Where niIlble hands and careful eyes
The mass OF varied matter sort
And place each letter in its lot.
Whence by the power OF steam confined,
That iron bonds can scarcely bind,
which, by its efforts to get free
Through constant hiss and deaf'ning blow
Creates a din whose hellish CLEO
Is worthy OF the iiends below,
And makes its prison fly along
On pinions US the tempest strong;
Close packed within the swaying car
The letters carried swift and far,
Soon TO their destination come,
To make a sad or happy home;
To fl. the heart with rapture's JOY,
Or every CLEAN OF hope destroy;
Make vetrans young and children old;
Demand your all or give YOU gold.
And finally, through every land,
Der cottage wall and palace grand,
In social realm or forest glade,
Transform the spirits light and shade,
with blacklist views or sorrows air,
And vivid llghtniAgs of despair,
Or scenes. which like a mirage rise,
Till sweet reflection in the skies
Fortells transport sure and great,
That for the traveller shall wait,
While hills OF doubt that intervene,
Move onward from the hidden scencc,
And MONDAY shows the long sought home,
Whence peace and love will never roam.
--
HANNAH AQMETl,S EAlIA