Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/635

1885.] who are missing. I want to find out my mother and sisters who are in Australia I believe. If you would find them out for me please, let me know by return of Post, and also your charge at the lowest. Yours, &c."

"January 14, 1878.

"We heard in the paper about 12 months back, Mary Ann ––, the servant girl in London was dead. Please send it to the Printers office by return of post whether there was a small fortune left for ––."

"Springfield Illinois U.S. 1 Jan. 1878.

"Mr Postmaster if you would be so kind as to seek for us work as we are two colored young men of –– Illinois, and would like to come to England and get work as Coachmen or race horse trainers, as we have been experance for twelve years practicesing training – if any further information about it we can be reckemend to any one that wish to hire us, pleas to advertise it in the papers for us."

"Kansas Feb 16 – 1878.

" – My Grandfather Mr John –– made a will on or about 22 Oct. 18–– dated at –– leaving to his son, my Father, £1000, the interest to be paid to him half-yearly, the prinsaple to be divided among his children at his death. My father died on the –– last leaving myself and one brother who wishes you to look up & collect the money for us."

", – i rite a Line two see if you hard Enny thing of my husband –– that was left at –– ill. pleese will you rite back by return of post as we are in great trobble."

"To Controul of the Dead Office, Newcastle."

Dec 31 1877.

"John –– acting as Farmer here would be very much obliged to the Postmaster at –– if he would be so good as to name a suitable party at –– to whom he might sell a 30 stone pig of good quality well – for he understands it is the best place to sell. The pig is now quite ready for killing."

"April 1878.

", – Will you, if you please, let me know if there is such a gentelman as Mr –– in ––. i beleave he is a Chirch Clurdgman. There is a young man in –– who has been engaged to my sister and he says Mrs –– at –– is his sister, i should very much like to know, if you will oblige me by sending, i thought if Mrs –– was his sister i would rite and ask for his charctar because he is a stranger to us all. – please oblige

"–– ––"

"––.

" – Will you please inform me if there is to be a Baby show this year at Woolwich; if so, where it is to be holden, and what day.

"I have enclosed –– stamp."

" "A Monsieur le Directeur de la poste de Londres.

"J'ai cinquante trois ans. Veuillez être assez bon de me faire réponse pour me donner des résultats sur l'existence de Madame ––? Si parfois elle était toujours veuve je voudrais lui faire la proposition de lui demander sa main d'après que j'en aurais des nouvelles. En attendant, Monsieur, votre réponse. J'ai l'honneur d'être, &e."

Anecdotes connected with the Post-office abound in many recent works. We may mention especially the autobiographies of Anthony