48 SHEPHEEDSTOWN, ON THE POTOMAC. 



than before, but still a being not to be be trifled with, inasmuch as 

 he still carried two mail bags which he had to deliver a few miles 

 further on. But everything else was now swallowed np in expecta- 

 tion of the great event, to assist at which they had come to Town. 

 Notwithstanding the size of the crowd, and the look of certainty which 

 sat on every face, the mail was never so large as to keep the Post- 

 master very long engaged over it. The door was soon open and the 

 distribution began. The manner of it was this. The Post-master 

 having arranged the letters, papers, and parcels in convenient little 

 heaps on the counter before him, which it was a point of honor for no one 

 to approach very near, he began at the first heap, and called out in a 

 mighty voice, the name from the top letter or parcel, as it might be. 

 From long acquaintance with his voice, he was ainnx-t never misunder- 

 stood, and the owner of the name, or his representative, called out, 

 also in a mighty voice, "Here!" upon which the Post-master flung 

 the property to its owner. Long practice had made him perfect in 

 this, and the package seldom failed to reach its mark. If the owner 

 was, perhaps beyond the reach of even the strong arm of the Post- 

 master, [for on a fine day the crowd often extended far out into the 

 shady street, ] it was instantly picked up and thrown further; the 

 second throw seldom failed. The first package safely disposed of, he 

 took the second, and so on with perfect impartialityto the bottom of 

 the first heap and from that to the top of the secone, and so on until 

 all were gone. The few unclaimed articles were then stowed away 

 in their respective pigeon holes, most of the crowd hanging about 

 until that also was done in case of any thing that might have been 

 overlooked, which I never once knew to happen. 



I do not to this day know whether there was anything unlawful 

 in this proceeding, but I do know that it always seemed perfectly 

 satisfactory to everybody, since it was entirely impartial, and also 

 enabled one to hope to the last. It was an intensely interesting 

 proceeding but though they sometimes tried, no one ever succeeded 

 in making a frolic of it or indeed, of divesting it of a certain 

 solemnity ; for to a large majoritj% it was really a very serious mat- 

 ter, I am persuaded that many of these people lived through the day 

 until four in the afternoon with no other object than to receive their 

 mail if there were any, and to lament over it, if there were not. Many 

 others there were who never received anything. No slightest re- 



