The National tribune., 1900-05-03

and looked at verybody com ing down the
street and when see two men froo the trees
i opened the gate and run to meet you, and
had my kiss already for you. hid behind
tree-boX to sprise you and when i said
boo: it was Mr.. Trimble and an other man.
was awful scared but Mr.. Trimble jess
laughed and led me back to the gate i run
into the house and mama was reading a
letter and she said poor papa he is so
spointed, and she looked so spointed.
then jest knew you want coming home.
Mama had been making nice things
all day. They had killed the old speckled
hens chickens, Jack had picked the straw
berries, and mama had made nice cake
with frostin on it and so many good things.
when mama looked so spointed run into
the yard behind the big lilac bush. i
didn't want her to see me cry-she felt so
bad. The old speckled hen was settin
there under the lilac bush all heaped up
and scratchin the dirt and lookin so worrit
and jest thot her chickens is dead, and
my papa hadn't come, and jest set there
TO keep her company. for she hadn't any
chickens and hadn't my papa, and we
two was Jest misable, but don't think she
wanted me to see her feel bad for she got up
and walked off and didn't cluck nor muffin.
ispect she knew they was dead and in the
frigerator and cold all for muffin.
When got froo cryin went in to mama
and she took me on her lap and said papa
will suerly come some time TO see his little
girl. but some time is such a big long
while to wait don't Ike it.
She said you was waitin to help Capt.
Strong, that he was sick and couldn't
work. know he hasn't got only one leg
twas awful hard for my little Cupid to walk
on three legs when his other leg got broked.
Mama don't know i'm writing this letter,
but wanted to tell you if you'd come home
ill give Capt. Strong all the money i've
saved up in my boss Tweed bank. there
is that So gold piece in there Uncle Joe
gave me for having my tooth pulled and
you can give him some out of your bank
and well sprise mama and Capt. Strong
and all of EN-. O. papa mama has spriSe
for you she has had my picture taken in
my new laSe dress and pink sash and it is
in dear little gold locket and she says you
can wear it on your watch chain.
i've. jest thot i'll sprise you myself. i'll
take 1t out of mama's Jewel box and send it
IN tins letter. for you would have it if you
could come home and it may make you
want to see your little girl so bad you
come right strait home.
i shall wait on the steps for you sure
when the whistle blows next Saturday.
This letter is from me.
The sequel to this dear letter may be of
interest. The member of Congress took
no note of the rest of his mail, but when
the Speakers gavel sounded at II o'clock,
Mr.. Comstock was in his seat; he held in
his hand locket and was showing
Dorothy's picture to his colleague.
Il can't stand this any longer" he said.
"I'm going home tonight" and true to his
word, the next train going north was
speeding Mr.. Comstock on his way home
ward.
Not many weeks after this occurrence,
a friend met Mr.. Comstock and little
Dorothy hand-in-hand making their way
to the Dead Letter Office in Washington
Dorothy, with great animation, said:
MY papa is going to take me to the place
where they take little girls letters that can't
find their papa. It's nice dead postoffice;
though there's old guns and snakes and
scalps old injungs sent; but they won't
hurt, and Pm going to see dolls and pictures
and little dresses, and may be lockcts that
never found their papa, and ever SO many
things"
Who will say that the Dead Letter Office
is not one of Uncle Sans most important
hand maidens of the Post Office Depart
ment.