The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-16

as II he is hoping for letter from what
might once have been "home" to him
lie Turns away slowly from the nothing
Tor you. his whole hgure dropping with
disappointment Poor fellow. he has been
every day for three weeks 20 meet the
same answer, There are dozens OF these
hungry looking men and occasionally a
woman that call every DAY az the window
20 meet the same duh reply Forloru crea-
lures. what might not letter mean 70
many Of them some day when they call at
this Window
It's q well dressed young fellow that
next calls Tor mail, giving a high sounding
name aud ne smiles broadly when he Is
handed quite a bunch Of mail
Fictitious name" comments the clerk.
up 70 some trick, probably put an 'ad'
In Yesterdays paperl'
The smart young man fairly chuckles
to himself as he opens the drst scented
blue envelope on his way out.
Young girl, shabblly but neatly dressed,
Is the next caller. She speaks in a very
low voice as II much afraid Of being over
heard. The clerk has TO ass twice before
he understands the name. Yes, there Is
something for her, large fat envelope
with a publishers name IN the corner, M
AliNthhhAAA q ANlNAAtt AliuAANHN4 AifNf AN
girls dlappointment IS pitiable. A hasty
dive for her pocketbook TO get the
cents due on the envelope alone saves the
telltale tears from being seen.
THE PUSSY" MAN.
Got anything for mey' inquired a mans
voice
What's the nameg" asked the clerk.
For heavens sake. how often does
mau have 10 come here before you leara
mis- name. any way. My name Is George
a. L." Clearly a "fusSy' man. He
drums on the ledge and frowns while the
clerk looks through the pigeon holes.
Nothing for you, sir"
"Wen, there ought to be a letter here
for me- this with a stress on the ought
that seems to implicate the clerk. "a
letter ought to have come for me on that
Central train
The Central 10 tive hours late. Kindly
step aside, sit, and let that man behind
you come, reioins the clerk
The last heard of the "fussy" man he
is muttering: "Of course, the Central is
always late when I'm expecting letter"
So they come all day long, neyer.end.
| Ing string OF people, the well dressed and
the well fed, the shabby aud the hungry
! lookiug the young and the old. the bust
ness man and the pleasure seeker the
man Of earnest purpose and the chronic
loafer Each comes with a hope Of some
/ Kind conferred on that little window, one
| hope 10 be satisfied where q dozen go beg
! cared. Those two clerks from that small
! opening see all Of lifes emotions constantly
| In play before them, the humorous and
the pathetic coming hand in hand in quick
/ contrast.
! SOME OF THE CLERKS TROUBLE.
But for all that they have the season
| pass 10 human natures side shows, their
/ position isn't enviable, for they are expect
! ed not only to know about the mail, but
10 be posted on everything else imaginable.
! Countrymen come to town and with true
rural instinct make straight for the post
Office 10 and out any information they de-
sire, always coming to the general deliy-
cry window They ask to be directed to a
cheap hotel, or they wish to know how TO
md Mandy Smith. that's been living in
town for nigh on TO ten years, pears Ike
! you oughteF know where ] kin nud her.
( sirs' But the clerk doesn't know II he
! had located all the lost brothers aud auuts
! and sons that he is called on to tell about
| the detective agency would have TO close
| mp It's record with shame When the fair
| Is on or any other special attraction that
draws the country folk it isn't long before