A plan's in agitation--as nought can genius fetter-- To let us have the answer back, before they get the letter. _At the Stamp-counter._ A man who can stand at the stamp-counter and serve the public without fear and without reproach, must needs be possessed of a highly sweetened temper. What with the impatient demands of some, the unreasonable demurs of others, the tiresome iteration of questions propounded by the eccentric, and the attention required to be given to the Mrs Browns of society, not to mention the irritating remarks at times of the inconsiderate, the position behind the counter is one which calls for self-control and a large share of good-nature. The sort of thing that has to be endured at the hands of "Perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command," when she chooses to lay siege to the stamp-window, is thus described by an American writer, and the description is not to any great extent an exaggeration (if it be so at all) of experiences which are had in our own country in this particular direction:-- "Just about eleven o'clock yesterday forenoon there were thirteen men and one woman at the stamp-window of the Post-office. Most of the men had letters to post on the eastern trains. The woman had something tied up in a blue match-box. She got there first, and she held her position with her head in the window and both elbows on the shelf. "'Is there such a place in this country as Cleveland?' she began. "'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 ----' "'Two threes,' called out one of the crowd, as he tried to get at the window. "'Hurry up!' cried another. "'There ought to be a separate window here for women,' growled a third. "'Then it will take twelve cents?' she calmly queried, as she fumbled around for her purse. "'Yes.' "'Well, I'd better pay it, I guess.' "From one pocket she took two coppers, from her reticule she took a three-cent piece, from her purse she fished out a nickel; and it was only after a hunt of eighty seconds that she got the twelve cents together. She then consumed four minutes in licking on the stamps, asking where to post the box, and wondering if there was really any writing inside.