The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-14
MERCY'S PoSTMAN.

"You, Cassius, hath lean and hun
CRY look. What's up, Norris"
Il iii in for il, old fellow! Fancy
me flying ronnd the streets in gray
uniform with leather hag on my back
stuf'd with valentines -
"A modern Cupid Is that What you
are coming TIP That's your position in
the poStotIice department itp Are
you going to take itP"
Am going To take bread ard but
teri Didn't you say That | h "A lean
and hungry lookP' a"
81 said Cassius had; but it's all right.
You won't wait till they settle up old
Porchance's affairsP"
And in the meantime sweetly
starveP No, thank you, I'm too sub
stantial u Cupid to live on dewdTops
Blame the bald old eaglel Why couldn't
he leave things straighterP"
"Who? Old PerchanceP 1t wasn't
in him; he even walked like n crab.
What irreverence toward your late re-
spected uncle. He was very bald old
party; though. Nc dying or parting
now"
Don't. don't, Con, beg. / don't
feel iocular. And you are off to-mor-
rowP"
"Yes. It's hard times for you; but /
wouldn't worry. On the whole, /
should rather enjoy il. You ought to
certainly, as you sentimentalize over
everything. The love-secrets you will
ferret out-the family histories you will
make upl wish could be heren
"All the worse for me that you can't
be. don't fancy incoming here by my
self evenings. / shall make calls
enough during the day to stay at home
"My dear boy, dom get blue. 1t will
only be for a time. If you weren't so
deuced prou% I'D make you go home
with me f"
"We settled that, you know. I'll
walk in on you some day yet"
81 hope so. My pipes out. Let's
woo the coy goddess, or, in plain Eng
lish, let's go to bed" "
Only one of the everyday partings-
a hand-clasp, "Good-by, old boy"
The train moves rapidly off, and Nor
ris Farnsworth turned away alone.
g ! am glad I've got to 60 to work, :"
he thought; :" for certainly shall miss
him."
1t was new experience for man
who had always done exactly as he
pleased, who had walked clear oi
thickets and brambles. in this thorny
way through life. Albeit, he felt a
wholesome pride, as he started on his
route that spring morning-more of a
man in his independence.
The gardens were all green in front oi
the houses that first day-dandelions
plentitully spotting the grass; the lilac
bushes sending out sweets by the whole
sale; spring trade briskly started among
the flower beds, where the buds were
bursting from their wrappings, show
ing the striped, spotted and mottleC
goods in all the spring shades for the
bees and butterflies to admire.
Norris rang furiously at the doors
with a sort af feeling that it was incum
bent upon him in his capacity as post
man to make as much noise as possible
and he did it as a matter of principle
wishing all the time that Con ConVers
could see him.
II mattered little whether it wa
Biddy washing off the steps, who, wip
ing her hands on her apron, took tn
letter delicately between thumb AM
finger. or madam, or madam's daugh
ter herself. until, standing with hi
back to the door, and eyes fixed on
bed of crocuses, hyacinths and tulip
in one of the gardens, he heard littl
amused laugh, and, turning quickly
came to his senses to see a fair gil
waiting for the letter he held in hi
hand.
with amurmured Beg pardon" an
q little feeling of embarrassment at hi
inattention, he rushed down the steI
precipitately' and directly against