14000 MILES 



the tin pail, cups and spoons, and laid them on the stove 

 to dry. Our mothers had not taught us to dry silver in 

 that way, and we were a little anxious for the fate of our 

 only two spoons, and hastened our departure, with many 

 thanks for her kindness. 



As soon as we reached Plymouth we went to the post 

 office, eager for our letters. The deaf old gentleman was 

 at his post, and we asked for letters and papers. He 

 glanced up and down something, we do not know what, 

 then indifferently said, "There are none." Usually there 

 is nothing more to be said ; but not so in our case, for we 

 were too sure there ought to be letters, if there were not, 

 to submit to such a disappointment without protest. 

 Perhaps he had not understood the names. We spoke 

 a little louder, and asked if he would please look once 

 more. He looked from top to bottom of something again, 

 and with no apology or the least change of countenance, 

 handed out a letter. This encouraged us, and we resolved 

 not to leave until we got at least one more. "Now," we 

 said very pleasantly, "haven't you another hidden away 

 up there, somewhere?" He looked over a list of names 

 and shook his head. We told him our mails were of great 

 importance to us as we were traveling and could not hear 

 from home often, and we were sure our friends had not 

 forgotten us, and there must be one more somewhere. 

 His patience held out, for the reason, perhaps, that ours 

 did, and he looked up and down that mysterious place 

 once more and the letter was forthcoming! The one or 

 two witnesses to our conversation showed manifest 

 amusement, but there was no apparent chagrin on the 



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