The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-18
SHE COULDN'T GET CREDIT

Eoe'e NAAANN'
 Lady in stamp window-"Give me 50 cents in stamps, please. Thank you" (Begins to stamp letters; drops purse, huff and handkerchief in the operation
 Stout gentleman in the rear picks them up for her.
 She-"Oh, Thank you!" (Puts hand kerchief in her huff, drops purse. Stout gentleman again comes to the rescue.) "Too bad to trouble you" Gro clerD: "Oh, I haven't paid you" (Looks in purse and discovers g cents; gasps slightly.) Why, good gracious! If haven't spent all my money! Did you ever Never mind, though, I'll come down tomorrow and pay you.'' (Con- tinues to stamp letters calmly) P. o. clerk, mildly, but firmly-'Very turn the stamps if you haven't the money It's against the rules" She, in astonished voice-"R Return the stamps! Why, didn't I tell you will come down tomorrow and pay you? I have to go home and get the money won't I?"
 Clerk-"Yes, but you can't take the stamps with you"
 She, indignantly-"Th idea of course I can. Do you suppose want to steal the stamps?'
 Clerk, politely-"We don't doubt your | integrity, madam, but it's against our rules. Government business isn't run that way"
 She-"Well, I can tell you, you never will do any business the way you run it. | IL ,p ny,ti l ever knew. I little thought l should l have to come to the post office to be | insuited!''
 Clerk, smiling feebly-"Not at all You can get your stamps up town asyou go home and drop your letters in the nearest box"
 She-''That is none of your affairs, I am quite capable of posting my own l letters. That is just what l want the stamps for. But, of course if you ab- solutely need the money at once" (with l great scorn). q can send the servant right back with it as as soon as I get home"
 Clerk-"No, madam; very sorry to l here"
 disoblige you, but you will have to pay Gooks hopelessly at stout gentleman in the rear, who is waiting to get to the window-also line of people be- hind him.)
 She-"Do you mean to tell me that l am not to be allowed to stamp my own letters? And with my sister in Chicago waiting to hear from me by every mail about the parlor curtains! It's the most outrageous thing I ever knew! I shall tell my husband about it!' (Stout gentleman smiles broadly: clerk coughs.) "He will be in a pretty rage, I can tell you. It's only because I'm hers defenseless woman that you dare to talk to me like that. I'll have you know that my husband is worth a hundred thousand dollars; that I can get credit this minute in any shop in this town.'
 Clerk-"This is not a shop, madam and we don't keep running accounts. This is the government post office
 She-Yes; and a nice kind of govern ment it must be! I'm glad I don't be- long to it! When I think what my father was and what my husband is to- day, able to give me everything on earth want, and here I am, actually
 refused a miserable 50 cents worth O. stamps. Why, it makes my blood boil,'
 Clerk, nterrupting-'There are people behind you, madam, waiting. I shall have to trouble you for the stamps''
 Gady hesitates and then hands then to him, purple with indignation)
 She-'eVery well, I shall not say an other word. But you will be sorry fol this. It's to your interest, if you only knew it, to be polite to me- As it is IT shall never enter these doors agair or buy another stamp from you as long
 as live!'' (Glares majestically around
 her and sweeps out.)
 Apoplectic amusement of stout gen.
 tleman and great relief of the line.-
 Washington Post.