The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-18
POSTAGE NOT STATED.

l was tall, overgrown, awkward and
sixteen, with 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 l never knew what to do with
them when in company. | was max
ing 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, IAN invitation to children s
party at Mrs. Edwards''
''Children's party repeated, prob
ably, with a shade of scOrn in my voice,
IS indicating that l was no longer
to be placed in that juvenile category.
''Not children exactly" corrected
grandma, with a smile at my masculine
dignity. ''YOung people, should have
said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Flor
ence is fourteen, and Tom Byrne and
all the boys young men, should say"
with a twinkle of amusement-"wiIl be
there"
l had sundry misgivings that should
not enjoy the party at all, being as vet
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 at
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 az
range themselves in any graceful or
becoming manner, and extremely BASH
full, but full of admiration for q lovely
black-eyed girl about year younger
than myself, whom | knew to be Tom
Byrne'S ster.
She sat some distance from me, hut
she had given me sweet smile when [
first came in, and now from time to
time cast chances 1T me which in
creased at once my bliss and my con-
fusion.
Various games were suggested and
played, but they were of quiet char
acter such as - Twenty Questions,
- Proverbs" etc, so that | had no Op-
pOrtuniN of approaching any n"arer to
Mabel, who showed herself very brill
liant in her questions and answers dur
inc the progress of these intellectual
amusements:
Then somebody suggested that we
should play poSt-Office.
PoSt-otfice! what is that? how do
YOU play it?'' l whispered to Tonr
Byrne. my next neighbor.
Don't you know how to play post
Officer" he asked, with scorn of my
ignorance. ''Oh, well suppose you
city fellows don know anything"
Il never heard of this" l aSsented,
meekly
We'll, I'll tell you how it is; girl
asks for 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
"Oh!" said /.
"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.
81 suppose So" | replied, vaguely.
'"But L forgot to tell you," he added,
" 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 bows
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