"'Oh yes.'
"'Do you send mail there?'
"'Yes.'
"'Well, a woman living next door asked me to mail this box for her. I guess it's directed all right. She said it ought to go for a cent.'
"'Takes two cents,' said the clerk, after weighing it. 'If there is writing inside, it will be twelve cents.'
"'Mercy on me, but how you do charge!'
"Here the thirteen men began to push up and bustle around, and talk about the old match-box delaying two dozen business letters; but the woman had lots of time.
"'Then it will be two cents, eh?'
"'If there is no writing inside,' observed the clerk.
"'Well, there may be; I know she is a great hand to write. She's sending some flower-seed to her sister, and I suppose she has told her how to plant 'em ——'