Year: 1875

A CORRESPONDENCE WHICH ENLISTED THE SYM


FATHEs or MANY KIND HEARTS.


From the Detroit Free Press.


You see, the PEOPLE at the post Office soon
recognize faces and names, and after a man
or woman has appeared at the general de-
livery window three or four times they are
pretty well known. 1t is a real pleasure to
hand out letters to some, while the clerks
care little for the calls Of others to get hold
Of their epistlcs


One day year or two ago a funny look
ing little old woman, wearing faded gar
ments, but having a tidy look and motherly
lace, appeared at the window and asked for
letter. There was one for her sent from a
distant city. and any one could have told
that an unlearned boy directed the envelope.
There was a little - d. in =" Detroit" with
big " r. to end the word, and it seemed
wonderful that the letter ever reached its
destination.


The Old lady iclt 50 good that, tears in
her eyes and yet trying hard to smile. she
put her hand into the window and said


" Thanks Its from my boy Dan. and
you don't know how much good it does
ne"


The lady delivery clerk rose up to look
alter the old woman. and when 4 second let
ter came she was looking and watching for
" Mother 4 whole day before the letter
was passed out


d" It's from my little Dan again" cried
the old woman as she noted the superscrip-
ton. - Hes in Buffalo learning trade.
Hes only bit Of boy, and there wasn't a
show for him in Detroit, and besides he was
running out nights and going to the bad.
sent him away and he's working hard and
trying to be good, God bless nv Dan I'm
lone widow with only him to love. and |
hope he'll be good 80


&c hope 50, too, added the clerk. and
after that the two were friends Sometimes
the letters were far between, and when the
old woman would worry over the delay. and
the big tears would fall, the LADY would al
most she'd tears with her Mother would
open her letters at the window. and if Dan
was feeling braye-hear;ed and getting along
well both would rejoice, while both would
still be anxious if be complained and was
discouraged.


Almost every week for year and half
the old lady received letter. and lust as re
gulariy she came to post an answer She
wrote in quaint old hand but the bov
could make out every word, and once when
he wrote that her writing was improving
she felt all the pride which schoolgirl
could have shown lie improved as we'll
BY and by he wrote Detroit plain and
lair, and he took extra pains 10 commence
hiS ' Dear Mother with grand flourish,
and to add something extra after the words
'' Your Son Dan.


Those letters were food and drink to the
old lady, and she seemed to actually grow
younger. Little Dan had many friends il
the Post Office, and had the mother been i'll
any carrier would have hunted till midnight
10 find her and hand her the long looked for
letter. Three or four weeks ago when she
opened her letter she wept and smiled as
over the first Dan wrote that he was com
ing home for a week, and her heart was full
She said She have the cottage looking like
new for him, and she'd be at the depot to
welcome him first OF all Everybody felt
glad with her, and the lady clerk was to 20
up some evening and have tea with her and
see little Dan and praise and encourage him,
for the more kind words boy can have the
better will he seek to do.


There was no letter the next Tuesday but
the two excused its absence by saving that
Dan was getting ready TO come home That
was early In February, and he was to come
about the lst Of March. The next Tuesday
there was a letter, but the handwriting was
not little Dams. 1t was a strange business
hand, and the clerk felt a chill 20 over her
as she turned it over. 1t might he good
news, but she feared not. &c Mother came
in at the regular hour, and she turned pale
as she took the envelope. Her fingers trem-
bed As she opened It, and she had to wipe
the mist out of her ewes before she could de-
cipher 4 word. She hadn't read over four
or five words when she uttered a moan and
sank right down, ike one crushed by some
awful weight They lifted her up and took
her home, the letter clasped in her stiff fin
gers, and though she came out of the faint
after a while, her heart was broken, and in
a week she was in her grave.


Dan was dead The letter said that he
had been taken suddenly i'll, and that moth
ing could save him. The Blow was too
heavy for one with her gray hairs and child
ish heart, and her little cottage is without Il
tenant


No more letters commencing Dear Moth
err come for the dead. and the trembling
hands which used to linger iondly over the
words, My dear boy Dan, are folded over
a lileless treast, there to rest till the an
gels unclasp them