The Brookhaven leader., 1883-10-18
POSTAGE NOT STATED.

| was tall, overgrown, awkward and
sixteen, with a pervading consciousness
that my hands and feet were very large,
and the added misery, in the case of the
former members, that they were always
red, and | never knew what to do with
them when in company. | was max
ing a visiting at grandmother delight
full, old-fashioned country home, when
one morning the dear old lady called
me to her.
Here is something for you, jim"
she said "an invitation to Il childrcn's
party at Mrs. Edwards'.'
''Children's party repeated, prob
ably, with shade of scorn in my voice,
as indicating that l was no longer
to be placed in that juvenile category.
Not children exactly" corrected
grandma, with smile at my masculine
dignity. "Youngpeo l should have
said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Flor
ence is fourteen, and Tom Byrne and
all the boys young men, l should say"
with twinkle of amusement-''willb be
there"
| had sundry misgivings that should
not enjoy the party at all, being as yet
very much afraid of girls, though be-
ginning to admire them as mysterious
and fascinating beings. However, |
accepted the invitation, as l found that
all the boys | knew were going and
the party was to be quite ''swelr' af-
fair for the village.
When the evening came it found me
with the rest, seated in a large parlor,
very unhappy because of my arms and
hands, which would by no means ar
range themselves in any graceful or
becoming manner, and extremely bash
full, but full of admiration for lovely
black-eyed girl about a year younger
than myself, whom | knew to be Tom
Byrne's ster.
She sat some distance from me, but
she had given me a sweet smile when |
first came in, and now from time to
tine cast glances at me which in
creased at once my bliss and my con-
fusion.
Nariou' games were suggested and
played, but they were of Il quiet char
acter, such as Twenty Questions
d" Proverbs" etc, so that had no OPP
portunity of approaching any nearer to
Mabel. who showed herself very brill
liant in her questions and answers dur
ing the progress of these intellectual
amusementS.
Then somebody suggested that we
should play post-otiice.
Post-otfice! what is that? how do
YOU play it?' l whispered to Tom
BY my next neighbor.
Don't you know how to play post
ofiiceP" he asked, with scorn of my
ignorance. "Oh, well l suppose YOU
city fellows don't know anything"
Il never heard of this l assented,
meekly
We'll, I'll tell you how it is; a girl
asks for a letter for some boy, and then
you have to ask her how much postage,
and if she says one cent, you must kiss
her once
"Ohr' said l.
Yes" replied Tom, "and you kiss
her twice for two cents, and three times
for three cents. It's quite fun if it is a
pretty girl he added, judiciously.
Il suppose so,' replied, vaguely.
''But forgot to tell you," he added,
4" if she says postage not stated then
you kiss her as often as you like. Hush!
they are going to begin" "
To be sure, one of the oldest boys
was appointed postmaster, and one girl
after another went out into the entry,
each presently knocking at the door,
asking for a letter, whereon the boy
called for sheepishly followed her into
the hall, and to Judge from the sounds
of screaming and scuffiing which gen
orally followed, paid his postage under
considerable difficulty.
watched the game in state of be
wildered alarm. What if girl should
call on me, But no one did. and was
half disappointed. half relieved, that l
was exempt, when at last it was Mabel |
Byrne's turn to 60 out.
She left the room with lovely blush |
on her beautiful face. The door was
solemnly closed upon her, and then
after a brief pause there was faint
knock. The Postmaster opened the
door few inches.
"What do Yop want?" he asked. |