The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-02-02
RANDOk SKETCHES.
THE VILLAGE POST OFFICE.

IN a thriving town so near the great
Southern metropolis that, taking into
consideration how distance is dimin-
lshed by steam horses in our days, it
might be styled almost a suburb of
thai fair city. The heavy meal Of the
day is over for most of our citizens.
and the town seems to be taking a di-
gestive siesta while awaiting the COM
ing of the daily train with freight,
passengers and mail from the afore-
mentioned metropolis. The big clocks
ring out the hour, and the half hour
strikes, and with ~expectant look peo-
pie begin to look for the familiar rum
bic and the shrill whistle of the cars.
There it is, on time! An electric
thrill passes through the town. Bust
ness men gather up hats and canes
preparatory to starting for the post
office.
Industrious housewives glance from
windows and back doors /; shy maid
n brighten UP and their hearts beat
faster at the thought of the "white-
winged messengers" borne in the mail
pouch of that swift train. Errand BOYS
leave the sulreptitious game of mar
bles and answer with alacrity the call
from, m ac{1, ~. ,nitr,., 70 tsl I
get the mail Now the crowd as
sembles around the post Office, albeit
they know that the mail cannot be
distributed for fifteen or twenty min
utes, they wait impatiently, remarking
on the length of time it takes Mr.
to get the mail ready.
Says II "He never could have
made the world in six days; he's too
SLOW"
"Oh," replies his companion, "he's
only reading the postal cards."
Let us glance over the crowd as
they wait: Here is the legal gentle
man and the merchant, anxious to get
back to Office and store with the i'm
portant letters or documents they are
to receive. There, with his
hands i'll his pockets, stands the
chronic Micawber, always looking for
the letter which never comes-which
is to 'sturn something up' for him and
put him in the way of making his for
tune. Here, on the outskirts of the
crowd is the timid woman, whose anx-
iety for the welfare of a loved absent
one has led her hither in the fond
of getting the welcome intelli-
gence sooner than a tardy messen-
ger could bring it up. Opulent plan
plainiworkmen, Young men, boys,
servants, and some little girls-per-
haps sent by anxious friends in whose
homes boys are not SO plentiful
swell the promiscuous crowd. Friend
ly chat, Jokes and laughter and neigh
borhOod news are INDUCED i'll by ac-
and, at last! the doors
are open.
With Il rush the crowd presses in
and call out names and boxes with a
and %pertinacity which would
be quite confusing if the postmaster
had not grown accustomed to it.
he distributes cards, letters,
pamphlets and small packages
Is the applicants file up. Some dis
appointed ones, reluctant to leave
empty handed, insist that he must
look again" for the letter that didn't
come.
Timidly the anxious faced woman
advances among the last, and in
trembling tones asks the oft-repeated
question sis there a letter here for
me 7"
"Not to-day, madam. is the answer.
Oh, how faint and sick at heart she
Must she wait another day?
she turns away, trying to hide
tears which flood her eyes and
down her cheeks.
Sometime %..later, almost in the twi-
light, two fair young maidens come
into the office, and casting
g%lances around. ask in low
voices if there are ''any letters for u.s."
?" asks the innocent post
master, us if snch a question was IN !