Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-07-05

POST OFFICE LITERATURE.

L L
A few days ago the usual formal
notification of letter held for pos
tage was sent to citizen Of Leesburg,
Georgia. 1t bore the signature of
Hon. E. w. Barber Third Assistant
Postmaster General, and the latter
has received the following amusing
reply:
LEEsBURG, GA, Oct. %, 1879.
Hon. f. w. Barber, Wash. d. c.
My DEAR SIR:-Your kind favor
Of the 21st awakened emotions of
gratitude long dormant in bosom
congealed by the frigid influence of a
cold bleak world. AS for the letter |
do not want it. 1t probably contains
dun from some greedy and importu-
nate creditor, who has trusted such as
L until he is too poor to raise stamp.
Dom send it. Don't! L need many,
a great many things, but L positively
don't need any more duns. They
have been my visitors, my compan-
ions, and associates for years. l am
tired Of such society.
But, sir, you did not know the let
ter would be acceptable to me. You
were actuatcd by pure, noble, gcner-
Gus intentions. You were designing
to do iae an unselfish and purely dis
interested favor, and your conduct
hus gone home to my heart. Your
action in this matter presents a pie
ture worthy the genius Of H0garth.
Here was | and there were YOU. /, Il
desoIate, isolated, dilapidated, and
attcnuatcd specimen of penury and
obscurity. You, sir, an official in
exalted position turning aside from
the glories of your exalted station;
retiring from the giddy whirl, the
pomp, glitter and grandeur Of Wash
ington society, all for the purpose of
doing a favor to one who is socially
scarcely more than ''rcmotc circum-
stance" ." Worthy, patriotic, philan-
thropic, humane man. My heart
swclls up with admiration and thank
i'ullncss utterly incommunicable when
| dwell upon your conduct. But,
sir, while | do not want the letter, /
cannot refrain from inclosiDg the
stamp. | send it. sir, as a peace
offering, rs Il token Of my personal
and centennial regard. 1t is designed
rs a tigurative shaking o. my hand at
YOU over the - bloody chasm." Sir,
up to the time Of this interesting and
affecting incident / confess | have
been Il mild and moderate Democrat
but @, how deep was the darkness in
which, like Eomer's sightlcss Cyclops
grOpcd and blundered on. Lit,le
| did know that under the present po-
| litical auspices, not Il human sparrow
was allowed to fall without receiving
the aiicctiOnate and paternal watch
care Of the Government. Little did |
dream that while slept in my "EttIe
| bed" the humhIest of the humble.
/ the great and the illustrious of the ma
| ton We're watching perhaps all the
offices and bureaus anXiOus-fOr an
| opportunity TO favor me. Sir, my pen
/ languishcs under the task OF giving
expression To my feelings. and | must
cease To write But till lite's dream
he over the memory of your benefir-
cncc on this occasion will. like the
mellow rays of the setting SUM-" sink
sadly yet Swcrtly on my soul.
learn the railroad companies
| q. Il +l
Centennial on credit; SO will not he
there. | beg you the favor, To pres
cnt in my behalf on that occasion. the
t following toast: Ulysses =. Grant,
the great and illustrious chieftain.
who magnanimouSly declined to ac-
crpt the rendered sword Of the he
/ loved Southern leader, II. T.. Ice.
Ulysses =. Grant, the eX. the present,
and proN President Of the United
States. Long may he smoke.
In conclusion, permit me to observe
that | sincerly hope that yoAr exist
cnrc may he crowned with rich and
increasing blessings. and that you
may carry through life no heavier bur
den titan the weight of your nose and
your two big toes.
With the greatest respect, subscribe
myself your ohedient and very humble
servant and sincere friend.
Is. j. W.
j, S.-My mothcr-in-law wishes to
know whether you are any kin to the
BARRIERS who used to live in North
Carolina. Very kindly, X. J. w.