Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office DepartmentHolbrook, James
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Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office Department
Holbrook, James
Postal service -- United States
It was amusing to peruse the letters which the Agent received from
those who had been swindled, acknowledging the safe return of the
letter and money which they had sent to Jolliet. Most of them were
"well satisfied" when they sent the money, "that it was all a hoax,"
but then it was a small sum that he applied for, and they thought they
would send it to the fellow for the ingenuity he had displayed in
"raising the wind!" All, however, seemed very glad to get their money
again, even at the risk of allowing such talent to go unrewarded.
Some wary old heads, too acute to be caught by such chaff, took the
precaution to request Jolliet to call on their friends in New York,
leave the package, and get the six shillings. Another directed that it
should be left at the Express Office, the expenses paid there, and
when the parcel arrived, the entire charges would be promptly met.
Two or three, not content with informing Jolliet that he had not taken
them in, indulged in a somewhat sarcastic style of correspondence. The
following are two specimens of this kind of reply:--
P----, Feb. 2, 1855.
Mr. Wm. H. Jolliet,
Sir:
I am in receipt of a note from you, informing me that you have in
your possession a package for me from Liverpool, Eng., on which
there is a charge of 6s. sterling, and which you will send to me
on receipt of the above sum.
Sir, I cannot but think it a little strange that my large circle
of friends and correspondents in Liverpool (a circle which may be
represented thus, 0) should have thought it necessary for parcels
which they send me, to pass through your hands, unless you have
some connection with the friends aforesaid, unknown to me. Before
I send you the _sterling_ money, I should like answers of the like
quality, to some or all of the following interrogatories:--
1st. Who are you?
2d. Who knows you?
3d. Who do you know?
4th. Is "Wm, H. Jolliet" the name given you in baptism?
5th. Wouldn't you receive less than six shillings, if you could
get it?
6th. Do you think you have taken me in?
7th. After reading the above, please inform me whether you remain
_Jolly yet_.
Not your victim,
JNO. S----.
H----, Jan. 28, 1855.
Sir:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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