Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-01-22
TOMS LETTER.

like TO stand about the general de-
livery windows at the post office and
watch the faces of men and women who
receive letters or are disappointed and
turn away to betray anxiety, regret, and
dependency.
The owner of a box or drawer comes
briskly in, turns his key with a snap. and
grabs and pockets his letters as so much
merchandise. II is business with him.
He has written to 4, b, c, and ID on such
and such a matter and expects replies be-
ginning with Dear Sir" and ending
with ~Yours truly"
But il is different at the general deliv-
cry window. Letters come from the poor
who cannot afford special lconveniences-
for the very, very lowly-for sailors, me-
chanics. teamsters seamstresses, washer
women. strangers, and all those who so
TO makes up the seven-tenths OF city's
population. -Four out Of every five who
approach the windows do so with faster
beating hearts. \ letter is hoped for
from far off Russia, from the hills OF
Italy. the alps of Switzerland, the sun
kissed plains of Spain or France, from
mother England, or old Ireland, from
who can guess where! Has it arrived
Does il contain good or bad news. Is
father, mother, brother, or sister dead.
always rejoice with those whose faces
light up rs letter is handed out and j
always sympatihze with those who are
turned away empty-handed.
One day in the months ago an old
woman-a poor lame, and gray-haired
woman, whose vocation never asked
came up to me in the corridor in half
afraid manner, and asked:
Would you mind, now, about asking
IL there is letter for Mrs. Ann Taylor"
inquired, but there was none, and all
the mother in mothers heart swclled
up into her throat as she whispered
Dear, dear, but am SO very sorry.
Shall never hear from him again?'
And that same day week ] met her
there again. You would have said we
would not recognize each other again,
but we did. She came over TO me with
anxiety in her face and said
Would you take the same troublesfor
me again to-day: dreamed last night
that got "A letter from him.
Nothing tor Ann Taylor, >" was the re-
ply of the clerk; and when ! repeated
the message she clasped her wrinkled
hands, and gasped:
May the Lord be merciful, but fear
he is dead!'
And so the weeks went on, and at least
once each week met the poor old body
in the corridor and inquired at the win
dow if there was a letter. None ever
came. nor did | ever question her, but
one day, as her old heart overfiowed and
the tears came to her eyes, she walked
with me out of the throng and said
~He-he ran away from me two years
ago, my-my boy Tom. I'm a widow,
he was my youngest and the only one
left TO me. He wasn't a bad boy, but hc
got with wild lot, forgot the prayers OF
his old mother, and one day ran off,.
~And you have not heard from him
since?"
Never a word. God help me! I'm
fearing he's-he's dead.
comforted her as well as ] could, but
she went away sobbing. That night
dreamed Of being on an island in mid
ocean. and of walking down to the beach
and seeing a corpse Ling there IL was
that of boy Of fifteen, lying on his back
and his blue eyes wide open and staring
at the blue heavens above. As | looked
at him his lips moved and ] caught the
word Mother" Then, still in my dream,
/ hurried away. and journeyed for days
and DAYS until found the old woman
who was ever and ever hoping for a let
ter. | took her back with me 10 view
the body of the drowned boy, but II had
disappeared, and her walls Of anguish
broke my slumber
Two days later entered the post office
to find the poor old woman waiting for
me. 4 letter was handed out before ]
could say a word, and as | placed II in
the mothers hands knew il was from
her boy. She was too excited TO read it,
and too impatient TO wait a minute. 80 l
read it for her. IL was from Tom and
mailed from a town in Texas, and care
fully folded inside was a postoiIice money
order for so. lie wrote that he was
well and doing well, and should hereafter
write regularly. He expressed his con
triton, asked forgiveness, and wrote like
a boy who had made up his mind 70 do
right in all things.
And as ! read little crowd gathered
around 10 listen. seeming TO realize how
it all was. and rs read the glad tears Of
the mother reflected their moisture, and
the general sentiment was apny ex-
pressed by messenger boy, who said:
Say, let NE out o here before my sand
gives way!'
Since that letter came / have not once
seen Toms old mother, but ] know that
she is weeping tears Of JOY. if any at all,
and that her prayers 10 God have tone
Of rejoicing. May her fond old heart
the heart Of true mother-neyer have TO
grieve again for her last born.-fNew
York Sun.