Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-04-11
The Letter..

- - - ~ Il
"Any letters?" asked the Widow
Wadsworth, turning from tie grocery
counter of the "stOre" Of Kornhill to the
. corner by the window over which SWIM
placard bearing the legend "Post of.
fee upon it, and glancing through her
epcctacles at the small row of candy Jars
which were made to do duty as letter
holders. "Any letters for our house
Mr.. Bristol?"
Mr.. Bristol, the senior Of that name
vino was too rheumatic to weigh grocer
ics or measure calico, was as deaf as q
post, had, perhaps, the least natural
talent for the reading of dubious script
that could be found in the person Of any
living man; and, besides this, could
never find his spectacles-rou8edh himself
from nap in which he had been in
dulging. looked bewildered, and seemed
for n moment dubious as to what lie
should do next; but seeing that Mrs.
Wadsworth's eyes were fixed upon the
candy jars, decided that she wanted q
letter, and, reaching up, slowly took two
uf them down aud, with mucn deIiberq-
tion, spread them before her like padk
of cards.
"Ive put my specks some'rs," he said,
"but where | dunno Look 'em over
and sort out what's yourn, Mrs. Wads-
worth"
This was old Mr. Bristol's usual style
Of performing the business of postmaster
And as it was al honest place, little
harm came of it. Often people carried
their neighbors' letters to them when
they happened to pass their gates, and
the only registered letter that ever yet
has been sent to Kornhill was consid-
cred an insult to the community at large.
They might ha' known no one would
ha meddled with it, said the post
master.
And the farmers talked the matter
over as they logged home side by side IL
their wagons, and the summer hoarder
who did the strange thing was made tc
teel the Indignation of her hostess. But
that was long after the evening on which
Mrs. Walsworth asked if there were any
. letters for cher house."
Peering over the little row spread be-
fore ner, she saw that there was one--a
small envelope-addressed III a delicate
ladv's hand to James Wadsworth.
Esq"
That's Jim," said the old lady
"Who can have writ to him 2
There were no more. She put .hel
single epistle in her pocket, pushed the
rest toward Mr.. Bristol and nodded a
uim Mr.. Bristol nodded in reply, re
yarred the letters, perched himself upor
a stool and went to sleep again. Ihel
the Younger Bristol helped the old lad,
ITO her wagon, handed in her basket o
groceries. and she drove away
with the letter in her pocket, and (
queer feeling, half fear and half anger
Of her heart as she said over and owe
again, talking aloud to herself, as th
Old white horse plodded along the lionel,
road:
Who has writ to Jim, wonder?'
Maggie. the help" came ont =
carry in the basket, when Mrs Wads
worth stopped at her own gate, and sh
herself walked into the kitchen. Their
was q great stove there, and on 1t III
kettle was boiling, steam rushing fror
its spout in one long stream, and creeE
ing IN a flat sheet from under the cover
Before this stove Mrs. Wadswcrth stoo
and warmed her hands.
- wonder who has writ to jim, sh
said. IF thoueht it was that gil /
throw il into the fire.
Then story she had heard OF som
one who had fe,ouiously opcued al Ell
velope ~ holding it over the steam {
a tea kettle occurred to her III nd.
y wonder whether it would open tha
way" sine said 1T couldn't be M
great harm just 10 satisfy myself that
isn't from her. Jim is but boy, and
am his mother. l guess, according
law I'd have right. l ought to, any