The Republican journal., 1882-08-10
THE RED STAMP.
A Tragedy of the Post Office.
BY IL CRETIA p. HALE.

The CalNerlys lived in 4 charming
house on Commonwealth Avenue, in
Boston. And here they seemed to have
everything that heart could desire a
house lately built, with all the new no
tions, small window -panes in some OF the
rooms, for those Who liked the Queen
Anne style, and large plate glass in the
breakfast room, to please the father Of
the family when he sat there to read his
morning newspaper.
The family, too, had all the advan-
tages. Mr.. Calyerly was a successful
merchant, and his sons promised to get
on in the world. All came out well bal
anced in political affairs, too. Mr.. Cal
verify was a Republican. his oldest son,
the only one in politics, was Democrat.
So, in the State elections, Mr.. Calverly
had it his own way. The Republican
Governor he voted for was always chos-
en- the family hung out the national flag
over the front door, and some of the Of
ticals We're invited to dinner.
In the city elections, Frank Calyerly
took his turn. He voted the Democratic
ticket, which usually prevailed He hung
out the national flag over the porch, and
invited the victorious members of his
party to dinner.
So there was somebody always satisfied
either way. 1t was a house that people
liked to 90 to- pleasant, sociaI-lo looking
parlors; Mrs. Calyerly embroidering ii
tablecloth in the front ROOM Clara, the
only daughter, floating about here and
there, receiving company, in the little
room over the front door, or busy there
With her sketching, and paints scattered
over the round table.
The sons, too, promised well, George
was in business with his father, and the
second boy had Just graduated from the
schools OF Technology with all the hon
ulS: Just now he was busy with a treatise
that was to lead to practical advantage.
lie was studying the SpoRgMa PcgaO}i}3-
0is that had given such an uncappy fla
Nor to the water provided for the city.
He had a mechanical turn and had in
vented some colapsing screws, fitted TO
be placed in the mains and pipes, that
should bring the Sp0ngiilu into the ba-
sins and bath-tubS Of the citizens, in
gross, and here it could be used as
sponges for bathing purposes, instead of
remaining in the bottom of Farm Pond,
tainting the water The matter of sta
tistics was troubling him. What should
each artisan be charged by the city for
the use of the sponges when the druggist
asks seven dollars for a moderate sized
sponge?
This treatise would certainly bring his
name before the public, and Mr.. Cal0er-
ly was naturally gratitied at his sons
prospects.
Thus everything seemed to smile upon
the family, income secure, and children
that enjoyed it, money to spend. and Wit
enough to know how to spend it.
But there was a bitter drop in this
cup of happiness, dark streak that
shaded the family's sunlight. Mrs. Cal
verify called it her husbands mania, and
tried to smile over it, and all the family
endeavored to make light of it, while
each member did in measure sympa
thize with him on the exciting point. 1t
came up at every meal, it haunted him at
his desk, his tileside.
1t had rested little while, but one day
1t appeared again at dinner, when Mr..
Bradshaw, an English gentleman travel
ing in this country, had been invited to
meet a few friends. He was, indeed
planning to come and live in " the
States" as he termed it, and Mr. Cal
Vcrly was glad to show him what were
the advantages Of Boston. Of course,
Mr. Bradshaw very soon began to eXtol
the free institutions of the country, a free
government, education free, the ballot
free. Mr.. Calverly interrupted him,
bringing his closed fist on the table with
such force that all the glasses rang, and
the family knew that the subject was
loose once more.
Gree" he exclaimed, "a free govern
ment? Despotic in one point, let me tell
you. And it eats the heart of domestic
happiness. Yes, we educate our chill
dren, we can vote for our Governor. but,
do what we will, in spite of this the gov
ernment claims the right to snatch a let
ter from me, and keeps it three weeks,
merely because careless clerk in some
body elses office, over whom | have no
control, has seen tit to put on a red two
cent stamp, instead of green three cent
one"
~ beg your pardon What is it ~
asked Mr.. Bradshaw, too much taken up
with his hosts vehemence to comprehend
the close of his sentence, "What is it
about a stamp? | remember stamp
act was at the bottom of the separation
of the colonies. But now"
"But now," said Mr.. Calverly, with
bitterness, "now the red stamp will sep
arate me from my country, will drive me
to some other part of the world, no mat
ter where"
"The red stamp?" asked Mr.. Brad
shaw of his neighbor, Miss Clara.
"My letters are delayed" Mr.. Calverly
went on, ''important letters that affect
stocks, my income, family affairs; they
are delayed and sent to the District of
Columbia, because some fool chose to be
forgetful enough to put on red stamp
instead of green one"
"By red stamp he means the orange
colored one," explained Clara they are
two-cent stamps, the green ones are
three-cent."
"Ah, but indeed" stammered Mr..