Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-04-18
HIS PERQUISITE.
Why the Squire Doesn't Keep as
Well Posted as Formerly.

OuRnU W JC uSIC ny WHO oAiiSb
said the postmaster of Darby, as he
shuffled in from taking squirting
view through his fist down the turn
pike"
.Well, / can't wait. If anything
comes, send it up" Jake Perkins
picked up his molasses-jug and went
ont.
The Darby mail was late: and when,
n few minutes later, some one an
Dounced the approach of the mail, the
postmaster felt called upon to vindicate
his own position by censure of the mail
carrier who climbed slowly out of the
dilapidated old buggy called the
stage"
"You, must have a powerful heavy
mail, you're so long getting here" he
began.
always have heavy mail when
Billy's aboard" said Uncle Billy Tate,
winling as he entered with his usual
.deliberation and threw the mail pouch
with circular motion over the counter
and around behind the small cluster of
boxes known as the Darby post Office.
THAT may all be so," said the squire,
but the people of this town don't feel
Obliged to wait all day on u govern
xnent official, on no solder ground than
his being fat and his horse lean. This
office is run for the people, not for a
people, and they want their news on
time" ..
.'Thc newsu keep" said one.
.An' the squire'll never let his per-
gsisites spoil a-layin'," remarked an
other, with wink.
These frequenters of the combina-
Eion village store and post Office knew
that the squire at least wanted the
news; and it was no secret that the
newspapers and postal cards that came
IN the mail for the families living on
the outlying hills gave him an oppor-
trnity for supplying his wants-ou OPP
portunity not enjoyed by the less
Favored residents
In reality the squire had reioiced
over this fact when he took the Office,
looking uponit as one of the pcrquisites
of the position, and Prerequisites" he
always had an eye upon.
He had always reasoned that anyone
had right to make good thing when
ne could If he had better chance
than most people for news, why, if
there was anything to be made out of
1t, who had better right to use it?
He distributed the matter among the
boxes with great deliberation and en-
tered the sitting-room adjoining the
; store us soon as the crowd had departed.
He slipped postal card into his wife's
hand.
-'Perkinses coming, S'liny."
In very short time his wife thrust
her head into the store
sd -'Why, it don't concern us; there's no
news on it," she said, with evident dis
ii appointment. What of it?" she ques-
toned, as she slid back to the Office
and reached up to place the postal card
among the P's.
IN put that card up, S'liny. Just
You leave it down there. So you think
that isn't news, and don't concern us!
Nell, / reckon it does. You wait till
get this maclserel kit down cellar"
Presently he came up from the cellar.
Isn't it eleven miles to Perkins'?" he
asked "And isn't Raj free as water
with his money? The man that takes
'em up there's going to get paid for it,
: and I'm going to be that man"
You! Why, Danl, where's your
&'other horse and your wagon?"
I've thought that out. Fry's marc
for half-dollar, and Jobs big wagon
another, and I'll clear full five on it. +"
But Jakell go after 'em. sure. if he
, gets wind of it."
t'Just SO! But he's got to get wind of
1T. To-day's Monday, and rm thinking
he won't get that card before Thursday.
>See?" I5lH.
La, yes, see, but don't you go to
doing anything against the law, Dan'l."
well, 'tisn't against the law to for
get" The card was whisked among
some papers as customer entered
Thursday morning found the squire
. at the early train, hut there was no one
there answering to the Perkins rela-
tives.
Perhaps the folks you are looking
FOR will come on the night express, '
Aaid the conductor, of whom he in
4uired. That's due at six"
AT, six o'clock it'll be dark" he
.nuscd, "and they'll pay almost any
price to get there. I'll wait; but what
ails that horses foot?"
Inspection proved that the borrowed
animal had cast shoe, which had to bc
set. Then he had to have crackers and
cheese for the day Of waiting; but nigh,
and the express came ut last. and nc
Perkinses upon it.
"Well, it's queer, mighty quecrr
unused the squire, as he drove slowly
homeward. They said Thursday, ant
here It's Thursday night-Whon-pr'
He had run full into wagon whici
was being driven along the dark road
H,y the light of match he discovered
So a badly wrenchcd wheel
You come, Dan'l?"
twas late when his wife pcercd on
dnto the gloom as he stumbled in out o
she dark. E ~
"Yes, | have, and that's more tnal
>other folks havei" he answered. gruniy