FROM THE “DEAD LETTER OFFICE.”

Globe, Volume III, Issue 212, 12 February 1875, Page 3

FROM THE “DEAD LETTER OFFICE.”

“A rather amusing story,” says Colonel Stuart, in his “ Reminiscences of a soldier,” “ was told me some time ago by an old lady who had an ancient servant that had lived with her for many years, named Ann Brady. One day Ann came in to her mistress in the parlour, crying. ‘Now ain’t I the unfortunate woman ? Och, what will Ido at all, at all ?’ ‘ What’s the matter,’ Ann,’ said the mistress. ‘ Och, ma’am,’ replied Ann, ‘the postman’s outside, an’ he’s got a letter for me from purgatory, an’ I know it’s from me old mother, who’s been there these ten years, an’ its alb about me not payin’ for the masses I said I would. Ochone ! but lam the miserable woman.’ On her mistress going out she found the postman in a fit of laughter, with a letter directed to ‘Ann Brady, from the * Dead Letter Office.’ Nothing could induce her to touch it, the ‘dead’ to her meaning purgatory and nothing else; and her mistress was obliged to open the letter for her, and found it was one Ann had written to a nephew in Clare, but as he had come to America the letter had consequently been returned.”