The Wrong Man — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

z a A WESTERN POST-OFFICE. 25 - Connecticut. He was nursing a blue umbrella between h:s knees _ just at present, and drying his enormous boots—lookiag, at the game time, very dignified, and profoundly learned. Then there was a lazy, tipsy, overgrown sleepy-headed fellow, who was _ always in the bar-room, With his chair tipped against the wall, and his legs crossed at an e:evation above his head, his eye# _ Dlinking continually, like an owl at noonday. Then there were _ the shoemaker, tailor, and others hardly deserving of an indi- yidual introduction. Nathan Dodge, the tin peddier, who, in ap- _- pearance, resembled Mr. Perkins, the schoolmaster, was on¢ of the assembled worthies. “Mr. Hunt,” said the schoolmaster, turning his head around apd addressing the postmaster, “ hasn't a letter addressed per- sonally to me arrove yet On “PUL see, Mr. Perkins,” returned the postmaster, oo -~ over the pile in the corner of his drawer, knowing well enoug that there was none for him. “ No, sir,” he replied, looking up, _ “there hasn’t any arroved yet.” _ . “Its remarkably singular, remarkably singular,” said Mr. ~ Perkins, heaving one boot over his knee again. “I have an- a Saipating’y expected that letter for two months, and it is still nolens whens.” “ Very true; disappointments awaits us in all vocations of life. _ Tam very sorry—indeed I am, Mr. Perkins; but I do not see how it can be helped—not at all.” “Who might it be, now, you expect a letter from ?” asked rs Dodge, the peddler, in his most jnsinuating tones. “ Some girl, eh?” in a sepulchral voice. ; The teacher looked straight at the fire for a few minutes, and _ then said, as if speaking to it: “My mother.” y af ah! didn’t think—sorry,” said Dodge. “ Not alarmed, . ype sie A _ Mr. Perkins drew out of his side-pocket about two yards of ' homespun linen, blew his nose vigorously upon it, wiped the corners of his. eyes, then dropping it in his lap, looked straight into the fire, and still talking to it, said : _ “Jv’s remarkably singular. I am troubled about it.” ahs _ now, to hear it; don’t feel worried about my - motber, and know she doesn’t feel worried about me; cause why—we're both able to take care of ourselves,” said the — -, 7 7 “as ps | Dal * “That's more than some people can do, I fear,” said the _ shoemaker, pei as if he held a most profound mystery ,ocked up in his breast. All, including the schoolmaster, look- 2 _ ed toward him, while he looked more dreadfully mysterious than Ent what’s up, now—something new ?” queried the ped- - a » ~< . Pt <= . i ee - = = ; *.s — i a - — tal «ot ae : . I 3 os aah « ee — Comichooks:com + -