National Republican., 1881-11-04
rae RusslAN posr-oFF1oE.
Trying 20 Get n Parcel Forwarded 60 Eng
land.

land.
The post-ofiice is in the centre of the
town; and I am soon climbing the high stone
steps, aud push open the swing door leading into
the Parcels Expedition Department. As enter n
wave OF heated air, laden with tobacco, leather,
and the perspration of many races, closes round
about me, and almost stiles me. The office Is
crammed with people waiting their turn. There
the Russian, the German the Jew, the Leett the
Esthonian, are represented. They are packed
like bees in hive; and the stove which covers
half the side of one wall from floor TO ceiling, is
heated to splitting, as II always is. A dead
silence prevails except for the curt questions OF
the official and the replies OF the fortunate in
dividual who Is being attended to. take my
stand ruefuly at the outside Of the crowd, and re-
lieye myself Of as many wraps MS can. Mean
while the swing door behind me Is in constant
motion, until am hemmed in on all sides by fell
low sufferers Of both sexes. can see nothing but
the backs Of those in front ofme, and the staring
white face OF clock which looks down on me
from corner. II affords me grim satisfaction to
watch her spider fingers crawl from minute to
minute with laggard pace, and feel that 1 am
slowly nearing the goal; and oh, what comfort
when the mass Is parted, and one more mnkes for
the door, and we surge on one step neareri But
the heat is insupportable, coming from the sharp,
thin air into this thick, soorching atmos-
phere and long before I have reached the
counter l feel as IL must giyo 1t up
and return whence 1 came with my business
unaccomplished. My head is swimming, my
senses dazcd and my feet aching with the pro-
longed stand. Az length, when can count those
before me, tako courage buoycd up with the
hope of approaching release. Now the broad
shoulders OF the Leett who has been forming the
last barrier between me and that mighty dispenser
of favors the post-ofice Official have sldlcd away,
and stand face to face with the official / look
up into his square, iawed. stolld face. with its
bushy eyebrows, as / hand him my packet, with
out word. He receives 1t silently at first, and
looks at It until CLEANS Of malice shoot over his
fleshy face
"What is this7" no asks.
It is for England" reply. Ihavo put It on
| the address"
He stuIs 1t roughly back into my hand. ave
must sew Il In oilcIoth,"
"But It is quite safe" 1 demonstrate.
lie cuts me short with wave OF his hand. 1T
| does not matter-such is the rule Take II away,
| and sew II In ocloth."
still hesitate All this waiting md suffering in
rareS az down Sver upSn nov oV then make
quail and move away and my place Is filed by
| another. look up at the clock, which seems To
/ mock me Ms she points TO twelve l have been two
long weary hours In this place and all for nothing
| As hurry homeward nwardiy resolve that nc
power on earth shall induce me TO sew my packet
In oilcloth and return to meet that officers leer
| the morrow. No; would rather throw the thing
| into the Embnch, though should have to make d
hole in the ice to do 1t. But calmer thoughts
| come with the morrow, and am now retracinp
my steps to the post Office with broken resolve
| in my heart and small packet neatly stitched u
| oilcloth in my hand. But am not the woman
was yesterday. My step Is less elastic and swift
and, as mount the stone steps aud enter upon the
/ scene of yesterdays humiliation my spirits ar,
| chill and gloomy. have longer wait to-day
than yesterday for II Is Que day nearer Christmas
and rs the great feast.day approaches the crowt
\ at the post Office intensiies.
| II Is long lane that has no turning, and behold
me once more handling my packet over the coun
ter with averted eyes, which fear to look defiance
| The big. unclean hand closes upon It, and II Il
turned and twisted on all sides. "Ah. there Is M
flaw this timer Iexultingly think Az length hi
| startled and inquiring.
"Your sealing. wax and seal, /" he demands, Will,
the CLEANS Of maignity spread and deepen from
! "WhatY' asked, confusedly.
"Your seal-your sealr this time with bruta
"I-I have none," Is my trembling rejoinder.
| The parcel Is thrust back into my hands. "I
| Is no use comiiig here and troubling us with
packet like that you ought to inform yourself o
the regulations before you come here taking III
peoples time"
whats the matter; Ihave sewn 1t in oilcle,l
| and done everythingr l reply, desperately. II,
turns from me insolently and signs to the mex
conner TO take my place.
| This is more than human flesh and blood caI
bear In silence. / cast my torturer a loOl
| which ought TO have shriveled him up like a lea
| In the fire. What do you meanH / say choking
with anger. Are you going to send this packe
| away or notY'
He has pulled q ledger toward him, and is writ
| Ing something In 1t, or pretending 10 do So But
know he Is listening, for the hateful CLEANS sprea
thicker over his face. Presently he holds out hi
hand for the next packet. turn round towar,
the sea of heated faces behind me, and inquire Q
that man says Is true and that after waiting her
hours for two days, must again return home witt
my packet2 1t is a shame--a shameW
II happens to be a gentleman whom am ad
dressing Irecognize him to be one of the Germai
professors at the university; As finish he pushe
firm voice, IL would advise you to send OFF thi
ladys parcel" He takes i from my hand as h
speaks, You know as well as do that you car
seal IL with the goyernmentseal, II you choose"
| There is no reply. The man Is doggedly ex
aminins the packet which he holds. The pro
fessOr waits minute. his eyes fixed upon him
"Goodr' he says at length. Then turning to m
my champion continues In n clear voice, whic
may be heard all around: 81 regret, young lady
that cannot compel this man 10 send of you
packet, but hope shall be able 10 punish him
It will not bo my fault If | don't" He returns IN
my unfortunate packet, and, as take 1t, l canno
face Is crimson. i thank my champion, and al
going this time with resolve which shall TIC
be broken, when to my surprise the huge han
Is held out once more. can scarcely believe m
'"Give 1t hcrer' he growls, without raising hi
eyes
/ hand II back silently and exchange glance
with the Professor who is smiling behind hi
hand. II Is all the work OF minute. The gov
ernment seal is stamped on the ends of the strin
with which my packet is tied pay an exorbitaI
sum for Its transport TO England. and my troubl
is at an end-but not my story. Five years late
when / am back In that smoky English tow
where / love to be, learn that my packet, fc
which had 80 dearly paid, both in body and 1
hard cash, had arrived long after II was due an
that my roubles had found their way to the In
satiable pockets of the Russian post-ofice official
The packet arrived at its destination-unpaid! !
Chambers Journal.
DISTRICT COURTS.
Equity Counr-JusrIcE WYLIE.-Dalyy Vs. wasl
ington Market Company; restraining order granite,