Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1890 — A Letter Which Never Wont. [ARTICLE]

A Letter Which Never Wont.

People who think the country is progressing at a gallop never visit the rural hamlets. I was in a- small village in New Hampshire the other week, when a woman camo into the Postoffice, which was in the back end of a general store. She had a letter in her hand marked “In haste. ” “Mr. Stubbs,” she said to the postmaster, “won’t a cent carry this letter?” “No, Mrs. Judy.” “Is postage stamps down any?” “Just the same. ” “Will you lick on tho stamp?” “Yes’m. ” “It’s a letter I've writ to my sister in Massachusetts.” “Yes’m.” “There ain't no money in it. ” “No'm. ” “It’s jest fam’ly news, you know. ” “Very well.” “Did’t know but it might git open, and so I used paste to stick it. ” “Yes’m.” “When will it go out?” “In the morning.” “And when'll she get it?” “In two days.” “Will you warrant it?” “Can't do that, Mrs, Judy.” “You can’t! Then what’s the use o’ my sending it? That’s what I told ’em when you was appointed postmaster. I says: ‘Will Jim Stubbs, who once beat my husband out of a load of hay, warrant our mail to be all wool and a yard wide, or will the colors run on us and the dye crock?’ That’s what I asked, Jiin Stubbs, and nobody has answered me yit?” “Do you wish to send your letter, Mrs. Judy?” “No! I don’t take no chances. She might git it, and then agin she moghtn't. Samuel is goin’ down that way in the spring aud he can take it hisself, and 2 cents don’t grow on every bush, Jim Stubbs!”