The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-12-17
Select Nlistellamp.
Postage Not Stated.

/ 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 never knew what to
do with them when in company. /
was making visit at grandmother's
delightful, 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 children's
party at Mrs. Edwards"
Children's party" repeated, prob
ably with shade of scorn in my voice,
as indicating that was no longer to be
placed in that juvenile category.
{" Not children exactly" corrected
grandma, with smile at my masculine
dignity. " Young people, / should
have said. Mrs. Edwards daughter
Florence is fourteen and Tom Byrne
and all the boys-young men, | should
say" with twinkle of amusement,
" will be there"
had sundry misgivings that ] should
not enjoy the party at all, being as
yet very much afraid of girls, though
beginning to admire them as mysterious
and fascinating beings. However, l
accepted the invitation, as l found that
all the boys / knew were going, and
the party was to be quite a swell "
affair for the village.
When the evening came it found me,
with the rest, seated in large parlor,
very unhappy because of my arms and
hands, which would by no means ar
range themselves in any graceful man
ner, and extremely bashful, but full of
admiration for a lovely black-eyed girl
about year younger than myself, whom
| knew to be Tom Byrne's sister.
She sat some distance from me, but
she had given me sweet smile when
first came in, and now from time to
time cast glances at me which increased
at once my bliss and confusion.
Various games were suggested and
played, but they were of a quiet char
acter, such as "tw enty questions"
" Proverbs" etc, so that | had no OPP
portunity of approaching any nearer to
Mabel, who showed herself very bril-
liant in her questions and answers dur
ing the progress of these intellectual
amusements.
Then somebody suggested that we
should play " postofiice."
Postoflice! what is that? how doyou
play it?'' l whispered to Tom Byrne
my next neighbor.
''Don't you know how to play post
Officer" he asked, with scorn, at my
ignorance. "Oh, well, suppose you
city fellows don't know anything"
@ never heard of this, J" l assented,
meekly
Well, I'll tell you how it is; a girl
asks for letter for some boy, and then
you have to ask her how much postage,
and if she says one cent, you have to
kiss her once.''
:" Oh!" said /.
eyes" replied Tom, " and kiss her
twice for two cents, and three times for
three cents. It's quite fun if it's pretty
girl he added, judicially.
81 suppose so,' l replied, vaguely.
But forgot to tell you," he added,
50 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 and asking for letter, whereupon
the boy called for sheepishly follow ed
her into the hall, and to Judge from the
sounds of screaming and scul1ling which
generally followed, paid his postage I'M
der considerable difficulties.
| watched the game in a state of be-
wildered alarm. What if girl should
call for me! But no one did and / was
half disappointed, half relieved, that |
was exempt, when at last it was Mabel
Byrne's turn to go out.
She left the room with lovely blush
on her beautiful face. The door was
solemnly closed upon her, and then, af-
ter a brief pause, there was faint
knock. The postmaster opened the
door few inches.
What do you want?" he asked.
There is letter here" she replied
For whom?"
"For Mr.. James Hill"
g How much to pay?"
Postage not stated" was the faint
reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked
at me, for that was my name. The
blood rushed in crimson floods to my
face. | got on my feet somehow, and
with my heart torn between a wild de-
sire to 90 into that hall and a wish tC
sink utterly away from human kind,
stumbled out of the room.
The door was closed behind me and
found myself almost in darkness, as the
hall was but dimly lighted. | paused 6
moment and then | heard the faint
sound of quick breathing; another heart
was beating as violently as my own
For once in my life l knew what tC
do with my arms. caught hold of her
| scarcely know how. The darkness
gave me courage and | held her in {
close clasp, and pressed my lips to he
cheek in three or four rapid, half
frightened kisses, before she could free
herself from my embrace.
"There, there Mr.. Hill" she said
with faint, merry laugh, "don't be 81
bashful again. I'm sure you are bolC
enough now"
Have paid my postage?" l STAN
mered. Z" Indeed, yes; enough and tC
spare. Come, let us go back to the par
lor.n
She led me in willing prisoner, ant
the rest of the evening / was her bond
slave; her partner in all games, he
companion in the dance (wherein / eX
celled the country boys and gloried il
L 4