Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-10-14
THE POsTMAN'S STORY.

THE P0STMAN'S STORY.
Traversing the same streets every
day, one soon comes to look upon
familiar faces as those of his friends. l
have no idea that the occupants OF the
handsome houses on Beverly Street
ever dream that they are anything to
me; andI am sure the poor people of
Clarence Place would be surprised to
learn that they are my friends; but it is
so, nevertheless.
Beverly Street and Clarence Place!
The most imposing avenue and the
humblest lane! And, strange as it may
seem, they almost run into each other,
they are so very near.
1t was early in October that I first
noticed the new occupants of No. 10;
and each morning afterward l saw a
little girl of about eleven years, with q
woman who seemed to be her nurse,
sitting upon the doorsteps, apparently
waiting for some one. A peculiarly
thoughtful child she seemed to be. for
she generally sat with her head little
inclined and her eyes downcast. AS |
came along one day, she called out to
me, in clear little voice:
"Would you like to know what Pm
doingp"
Yes" 1 said.
"Pm guessing steps. Pm guessing
every one who goes by. Bessie tells
me if I'm right. Now, 1 guess you're
the postman."
"Why don't you look up and see if
you are right?" said |, noticing that
She still seemed to be studying the
ground.
The nurse put her arm around her,
as if to shield her from something;
but the little girl answered, brightly:
"How stupid! keep forgetting
that everybody doesn't know l am
blind"
She raised her head. Her face, with
the exception of the eyes, was sweet
and pleasant to look upon. Her rrevela-
ton so astonished me that, for mo-
ment. forgot myself, and stood look
ing down upon her with q pitying
stare, which it was well that she did
not see.
.'But it is the postman. Isn't it, Bes-
siep' she asked of the dignified nurse.
Eyes, darlin'."
"Haven't you letter for me? For
Miss Angie Cor perhaps they'd put it
Angeline) -TrowbridgeP''
was sorry to say had not.
"Well," she said, resignedly, "it
will come. must wait. People al
ways have 70 wait for things. Don't
theyP"
Mostly" answered, surprised at
her womanly tone.
"They always do. When you get a
letter directed to Miss Angie (or Ange-
line) Trowbridge, you'll remember
where to bring it. Won't youP"
promised and went my way. A few
days afterward the letter came-a
bulky document, with two stamps upon
it. Angie sat upon the doorstep, as
usual, listening for me. This time she
was alone.
81 don't have to guess who you are
now," she said. 81 know. 1 can tell
your step from the corner, your boots
make such nice, quick click upon the
pavement"
"And can you guess what l have in
my hand?'
"Of course, l can. It's my letter,
from my darling Aunt Lizzie"
i gave it to her, and she held it for 0
moment, pressed closely between hei
two small Lhands.
Now she said, at length, "ii
you'll please open this for me, at the
end, verycarefully, I'll show you what
funny kind of letter little blint
girl gets"
did as she requested. Very care
fully she took from the envelope three
sheets of thick note-paper.
"There!'' she said, handing one fol
my inspection. "You never saw sucl
letter as that, Did youP"
And truly never did. / could dis
Germ the faint treoing of pencil, as i
the words had first been written; bu
every letter had been pricked into thu
paper, and every letter was as plain a!
print.
Here's where it begins" running
her fingers over the lines. "Let m,
read you piece"
"But that would keep some othe
little girl waiting
"pl read you as far as the mex
house, anyway" walking along witt
me. "My precious little Angie. Yoi
have been in my heart all these days
but my hands have not found time I,
tell you so.s hope
"Oh! dear. Must you go in there
Well. can't go any further withou
Bessie. Good-by"
Angie and lsOon became fast friends
came TO anticipate ourmeeting almos
as impatiently as she did; and once
when met her riding with her parents
whom Ihad never seen before. and sh
passed me without sign of recogn
tion. felt for moment quite cut ur
and then laughed heartily at myself fo
my foolishness.
One morning she met me with
brighter smile than usual. "Bessi
and are going to walk a piece wit
you" she said. "We're " going to wa
at all the gates and doorsteps Tor yor
and Bessie viii see that I'm not in you
way" bns
Iwalked along, making the quicl
clicking sound she liked so well. Sh
initiated the same with her stout littl
heels, laughing gayly. The cool win
blew hcr curls and gave a bright colo
TO her cheeks. "This is funr' she crie'
"lt is ever so much better than ridinl
but have TO ride sometimes, becaui
papa keeps 50 many horses"