A POSTAL INCIDENT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2092, 17 September 1875, Page 3

A POSTAL INCIDENT.

A Yankee from the rural districts went to a Post-office the other day, and presented a bank note in payment for five shillings worth of stamps. He was told that paper money was not received. The countryman thought the postoffice official mighty particular, so he went and obtained five shillings worth of coppers. •• iSow," said he, on returning to the office and laying down his pile on the window of delivery, " I guess I can suit ye." " The man inside looked at the display of coppers and coolly replied— .■" We never take more than four pence -jtticoppers at one time—it is not a legal above that sum," The countryman looked at the composed official for the space of a minute without stirring, and then belched out— • " Look here, you—ain't you mighty kind o' particular, for fellows backed up in such a gaol as this 'ere ? You don't take only four-pence of copper at a time, hey! Well, then, s'pose you give me a penny's worth of stamps anyhow." The official very politely cut him off a single stamp, and passed it out, for which the countryman laid down a penny. He was about to pass away, when the latter cried out— " Look here, you that ere's one time. Now s'pose you give me a penny's worth more on 'em." . The clerk was not slow in discovering that he had caught a Tartar. He turned back to the window and asked — " How many coppers have you got ?," " Well, only about fifty-seven of 'em. I had sixty when I began." "Pass them in, was the gruff reply. " Pass out your stamps fust, and then I will; but I reckon you won't ketch me ' §tanips were passed out, and the coppers handed over, when the coun ryman went off saying— "I s'pose because a fellow holds oilieo in a place like this, he thinks he is sinarter'n all creation; but Iguessthey laro't something that time from me.

"tsb Tbafjugab Signal.—His lordsHp came tome on the poop, and after ordering certain signals to be made, about

a quarter to noon h<« Sfeid—" Mr Pascoe. I wish to say to the fleet. " England confides that every man will do his duty-;" and he added, "You must be quick, for I have one more to make, which is for lose action." I replied, "If your lordship will permit me to substitute the word 'expects' fov 'confides,' tlie signal will sooner be completed, because the word ' expects' is in the vocabulary, but the word' confides' must he spelt." His lordship replied in haste, and in seeming satisfaction, " That will do, Pascoe ; make it directly." When it had been answered by a few ships in the Van", he ordered me to make the signal for close action, »ndto keep lit up. Accordingly^ I hoisted No. 16 at the topcallant masthead,' and there it remained until shot away.—Memoirs of the life of Admiral Codrington. When is an «etor's eye like a lucifer match■?— When it lights upon a box.