The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-25
His Letter.

One rainy night, about eight and one
half o'clock, the train dashed or to Nc
Kibbens Corners and the mail had been
delivered at the store and post-oiIice
John Fairjohn, the postmaster, had
opened the bag and counted the letters.
There were, as he made out, just ten, nd
one vas larger than the others, and had Il
red seal aud then he had found that he
had left his glasses en- the newspaper 10
the back room, and without his glasses he
could not read a line; and so, Of course,
he had gone after them, returning to Grd
two persons in the store--fatmer Roper
aud Squire McKibbcns, whose ancestors
bad given name to the place
"Wet amt it?" said Mr.. Fairiohn.
Dodding
"Wot or not, our folks amt going to DO
without their groceries, you see" said the
squire. Mail is in, see. That train
came near running into my truck, too.
Wasn't noticing the flag and drove across
just in time to save myself Any letters
for me ?"
II will see," said Mr.. Fairjohu
He turned TO tho little pile Of enve.
opes, and told them over in his hand like
deck Of cards.
"Why, there's only nine" he said,
I'm sure | counted ten, and thought one
had red seal. better give up Keeping
the Office if | am going to lose my senses
like that. There wasn't any Que in here
while | was gone, was there squire 2"
"Only Roper, and |, aud Ropcr's son" "
But he didn't come ip did he p
NO, | don't think that Job came 10 at
all. He just went off where," said
old Roper
We'll" said the postmaster, sftor an.
other search, well, must be mistaken.
Yes, there's - letter for you your folks,
anyway-something for you. Mr. Roper
and you wouldn't mind tossing that into
the Smiths as you pass ?"
"Oh, no, said farmer Roper, give it
to me. That's from Smith, that clerk in
New York, | reckon. "Can't get any of
them to stay and farm it,"
"Your son Job did," said the squire.
"Ob, my son, job He'd try the pa.
tience Of his nemcsake," said farmer
Roper.
Just at ,ha; moment the door opened,
and there entered little woman dressed
in cheap calico and wrapped in thin and
faded shawl,
She looked timidly around the store
aad moro ;imidly at the heap of letters,
and then in an appealing voice, like that
Of frightened child, said
Mr. Faijohn, is there any letter for
me this time ?"
The postmaster, who WAS little deaf,
had turned bis head away and did not
know that she had entered, and she came
closer to the counter and the light upon it
before she spoke again She was faded
little woman, and her face had signs OF
griei written upon it. but she was neither
old nor ugly yet, and there was something
in the damp curls clustered under the
faded calico hood, and in the little round,
dimplcd chin, absolutely childike even
yet.
"ls there letter for me this time, Mr..
Fairjohn ~ she said again; and this time
the postmaster looked up.
"No, there amt; and you're little
loo for taking such walk to ask, said
he, with rough kindness. Wouldn't
have sent it if it had come, Mrs. Lester ?'
"Well, you see felt in a hurry to get
it, she said. You cant blame mo for
being 10 hurry, it is so long"
That's true" said the postmaster
"But why don't you wait? Mr.. McKib.
ben will take you over when he goes He
passes your corner"
"Yes. wait, Mrs. Lester, III take you
and welcome" cried Mr.. McKibben.
But she answered
Thank you, | don't mind walking
and she was gone.
Keeps it up" said the postmaster.
Its a shame" said Squire McKibben
"How many years is it since Lester went
?"
Ten" said the postmaster And W,
all know that the Sphinx went down il
that voyage, all hands along with her
The rest Of the women put ON widow
weeds, them that lost husbands-four il
this town itself. They took what tho AL
mighty sent and didn't rebel She set W
that her husband wasn't dead, and woulC
come back. She has kept it up ever since
She comes for his letters regular, and b,
was drowned along with all the rest, o
COURSE ten years ago. She must be thr
ty, Well, she's changed good deal il
that time"
"Yes," said the other man but ther,
is my son Job wild over her yet He
offered himself twice. He stands read,
to offer himself again any day-roady Il
be father of her boy and good husband
to her. He is better off than I be. Hi
mothers father left him all he had. He
crazy as Job-crazy, call it. Plenty o
pretty gals, and healthy, smart widows
and he sees no one but that pale, slim
little thing that's just gone out into tn
mud and she--why, Of course, she's los
her senses. or she'd have him. Work
like slave to keep herself and child
lives in rickety shanty, waiting an'
waiting for drowned man to come bacl
auain Whv avary nna knaw that Charla