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Vanhukset olivat minulle kertoneet, ett? heill? oli luonaan veljentyt?r ja min? tiesin t?m?n veljentytt?ren nyt olevan ulkona. On se paljon mahdollista, ett? juuri h?nen t?htens? niin kiihke?sti juoksentelin siell? ulkona, sill? vanhusten kanssa puhellessani oli h?nen valoisa kuvansa koko ajan mieless?ni v?ikkynyt.

Toiveeni vilahdukseltakaan n?hd? h?nt? toteutuikin. Yksin?inen talo, jota kiertelin, sijaitsi aukealla paikalla mets?n keskell?. Sen takapuolella oli puutarha, jossa talonem?nn?ll?, joka oli innostunut kukkasten kasvattaja, oli kauniimpia neilikka- ja verbenapenkereit?. T?m?n pienen istutuksen loistokohtana oli riippuvien py?kkipuunoksien alla oleva lehtimaja, oksat olivat taidollisesti toisiinsa kiedotut ja suurimmalla huolella hoidetut. N?in illalla en tietysti voinut selv?sti erottaa kukkia enk? lehtimajaakaan. Edelliset tunsin lemustaan, sielt? kun levisi melkein tainnuttava heliotrooppien, neilikkain ja resedain tuoksu. Salamain valossa keksin lehtimajan, joka n?ytti pime?lt? luolalta, josta Minna Brinkmannin valkoinen puku hohti.

Asetuin toiselle puolen puutarhaa vanhan tammen alle ja t?hystelin niin hartaasti lehtimajaan p?in, kuin olisin mets?st?ess? v?ljyyksiss?. Salamat tekiv?t teht?v?ns? -- tuon tuostaankin n?in valkoisen puvun v?lkkyv?n. Iso kivitalo oli pime?n? ja hiljaisena siin? edess?ni; yl?kerran kahdesta ikkunasta loisti vain himme? valo.

Muutamia kertoja n?in varjon liukuvan uutimilla -- sitten sammutettiin tuli ja kaikki talossa n?ytti vaipuneen levon ja unen helmoihin.

En liikahtanutkaan; ulkoilma ja rauhaisuus viilisti minua ja olin utelias n?kem??n miten kauan Minna neiti istuisi unelmissaan. Minua harmitti kun olin liian vieras h?nelle uskaltaakseni pyyt?? lupaa menn? lehtimajaan istumaan. Arvelin kumminkin muutamien p?ivien p??st? voivani tulla t?st? onnesta osalliseksi, jos ?itini k?skyn mukaan k?ytt?ydyin kyllin kohteliaasti. Kenties kaunis tytt? sitten suvaitsisi minun ottaa kitaranikin mukaani, jota siihen aikaan suurella innolla soittelin. Kenties t??ll? ei olisikkaan niin ik?v? kuin olin luulotellut.

Ravakat, hiljaiset vaan lujat askelet havauttivat minut ihanista tulevaisuusunelmistani. Salaman valossa n?in miehen l?hestyv?n. H?n astui aivan ohitseni ja seuraavassa tuokiossa kuulin Minnan huudahtavan:

-- Teid?n korkeutenne! -- Max! H?nen ??ness??n oli ihmeellisen syd?mellinen v?re -- siin? oli jotakin hunnutettua, vienoa ja hell?? -- mutta niin v?r?j?v?n? ja suloisena kuin sill? hetkell?, en sit? sen per?st? koskaan kuullut.

Hetken aikaa seisoin kuin kivettyneen?. -- Korkeutenne? -- Max? -- Seh?n ei voinut olla kukaan muu kuin prinssi Max -- herttuallisen huoneemme toinen poika! Kaikki pitiv?t h?nt? kummallisena ihmisen?; h?n vet?ytyi pois hovin juhlista ja hautaantui metsiin -- enemm?n opintojensa takia kuin jaloa mets?styst? harjoittaakseen. Ja t?m? prinssi oli nyt t??ll? -- t?n? tukehduttavan l?mpim?n? kes?iltana istui h?n lehtimajassa kauniin tyt?n kera, jota h?n -- suuteli -- niin, kuulinhan sen aivan selv?sti. Ja kuulinpa viel? syv?n, v?r?j?v?n ??nenkin sanovan: -- Sin? Minna, olet minua parempi ja voimakkaampi -- en tied? miten voin sit? kest??.

-- Sinun tulee -- sinun t?ytyy se tehd?, Max, vastasi tytt?.

Leimahtavan salaman valossa n?in selv?sti prinssin nuoren tyt?n jalkoihin vaipuneena. Ep?toivon vallassa piilotti h?n kasvonsa tyt?n hameeseen.

K??nnyin menn?kseni. Syd?meni sykki kovasti ja olin syv?sti liikutettukin -- t?m? siis oli se salaisuus, joka teki kaikkien rakastaman Max prinssin niin synkk?mieliseksi.

Minnan ??ni kuului viel? ennenkuin l?ksin. -- El? itke -- oi, el? itke -- Max! Min? en voi sit? kest??, ja se on kumminkin kaikki turhaa, sanoi h?n. Se kuului niin surulliselta ja toivottomalta -- niin puhuu ainoastaan se, jolla ei ole toivon kipin??k??n. --

Hiivin hiljaa tieheni syvint? siimest? my?ten, yht? hiljaa menin sis??n ja yl?s p??tyrakennukseeni.

Ensim?isen kerroksen etehisess? paloi vanhanaikainen riippuva lamppu ja sen valossa n?in er??n palvelijan, joka oli puettu herttuallisen huoneen tumman vehre??n livreeaan. H?n oli laskenut k?sivartensa kauniin sis?piian kaulaan ja kuulin h?nen nauraen kysyv?n: -- Pysytk? minulle uskollisena, Luise?

Tytt? vastasi: -- Kiitos vaan? Teh?n ette en?? tulekkaan takaisin?

-- Kuka sen sanoi?

-- Minna neiti, kuului vastaus. -- Prinssi taitaa menn? naimisiin.

Muhkea kamaripalvelija nauroi. -- H?nk?? El? anna kenenk??n itsellesi senlaista uskotella, Luise! Kyll?h?n ne koettavat pakottaa h?nt? panemaan iest? niskoilleen, perint?prinssi kun on senlainen heikko, riutuva raukka, josta ei kukaan prinsessa huoline -- hyv? Jumala, h?n kai piankin vet?? viimeist? virtt??n! Mutta minun korkeuteni ei suinkaan naimista ajattele -- seh?n minun pit?isi tiet??, Luise. Tuskin oli kolmeakaan p?iv?? oltu herttuallisessa linnassa -- kerran k?yty teaatterissa ja armollista ?iti rouvaa tervehtim?ss? -- niin emme ilmaa siell? en?? siet?neet, vaan tulimme t?nne takaisin -- --

Nuori pari ei jutellessaan huomannut ett? astuin k?yt?v?n poikki ja nousin portaita yl?s huoneeseeni.

Olin aivan nuori ja kes?y?n hurmaus sek? romantillinen kohtaus lehtimajassa panivat suoneni tykytt?m??n. Oli mahdotonta nd that some general measure was required to carry its prayer into effect. Nothing, however, was done until some years afterwards towards the accomplishment of this end.

A large and steady increase continued to take place yearly in the business and revenue of the post office. In 1838 there were 380 post offices, and 5486 miles of established post route. The annual transportation of the mail was 1,345,000 miles; the estimated number of letters carried, 1,000,000; the estimated number of newspapers, 1,250,000; and the gross revenue, 6,000.

The following extract from the Quebec Mercury, published on the 18th July, 1829, conveys some idea of the postal communication with England at that period:--

"No later advices have been received from Europe since our last. Some further extracts from the London papers, to 31st May inclusive, brought to New York by the 'Corinthian,' will be found in another part of this number."

The following extract from the Montreal Courant, of September 2, 1829, describes the improvement which had at that date been effected in the postal communication between that city and Prescott:--

"Expeditious Travelling.--On Saturday last the Upper Canada line of stages performed the journey from Prescott to this city in about 17 hours, leaving the former place at a little before 3 A.M., and arriving here a few minutes before 8 in the evening. Not many years ago this journey occupied two and sometimes three days, but owing to the great improvements made by Mr. Dickinson, the enterprising proprietor, by putting steam boats on the Lakes St. Francis and St. Louis, and keeping his horses in excellent condition, it is now performed in little more than one-third of the time."

The following advertisement, which appeared in the year 1833 in the Colonial Advocate, published at Queenston by the late Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, will give some idea of the postal facilities in the Upper Province at that period:--

"POST RIDER WANTED IMMEDIATELY.

"The proprietor of this newspaper wishes to contract with a steady man , to deliver it to the subscribers once a week during the winter, on the route between York and Niagara vi? Ancaster."

Regular steam communication was established across the Atlantic in the year 1841, and about that time the rate of postage on letters between any part of Canada and any part of the United Kingdom was, on the recommendation of Mr. Stayner, reduced to a uniform charge of 1s. 2d. sterling, per half ounce. Thus, it is believed, was first recognized the principle of a uniform rate of postage--irrespective of distance--which has since been so universally adopted.

In 1848 there were 539 post offices and 6895 miles of post route; the annual transportation of the mail was 2,225,000 miles; the estimated number of letters carried in a year 2,000,000; and the gross revenue 0,000.

On the 6th April, 1851, was effected the transfer of the post office in Canada from the control of the Imperial authorities, to the Colonial Government. Mr. Stayner retired from office, and the Hon. James Morris, the first Canadian Postmaster General, assumed charge of the department.

In 1851 postage, which had previously been charged according to the distance the letter was carried, which it was computed averaged 15 cents on each letter, was reduced to a uniform charge of 5 cents per 1/2 oz., the decrease being equivalent to 2/3 or 66-2/3 per cent. on the former rate. A very considerable reduction was also effected in the rate of postage on newspapers. The increase in the number of letters transmitted through the post, within a year after the reduction of the rate, was 75 per cent. Several improvements, including the introduction of postage stamps, were effected in this year, and the operations of the department greatly extended.

On the 31st March, 1853, the Hon. James Morris was succeeded as Postmaster General by the Hon. Malcolm Cameron. At the latter end of this year and the beginning of the year following the conveyance of the mails was transferred to the Northern Railway between Toronto and Bradford, and to the Great Western Railway between Suspension Bridge and Windsor. The Hon. Malcolm Cameron was succeeded by the Hon. Robert Spence, who assumed charge of the department on the 11th September, 1854. In February, 1855, the money order system was first introduced into Canada. The system was at first confined to 84 post offices: it now embraces within its operations 229 offices. The month of May, 1856, was marked by the first voyage to the St. Lawrence of the line of Canadian Steamers, under contract with Hugh Allan, Esq., of Montreal, for the conveyance of the mails between Quebec and Liverpool in summer, and Portland and Liverpool in winter. In October, 1856, the Grand Trunk Railway, which had previously been completed as far westward as Brockville, was opened from the latter point to Toronto, and, in connection with the Great Western Railway, an unbroken line of postal communication established between Quebec in the east, and Windsor in the west. The following statement of the time occupied in the transit of a letter in winter between Quebec and the principal cities and towns in Western Canada, in 1853 and in 1857, will give some idea of the improvement effected:--

In 1853. In 1857.

Quebec to Windsor 10-1/2 days. 49 hours. " London 9 " 45 " " Hamilton 8 " 42 " " Niagara 8 " 50 " " Guelph 9 " 51 " " Toronto 7 " 40 " " Cobourg 6 " 36 " " Belleville 5 " 34 " " Kingston 4 " 31 " " Brockville 3 " 29 " " Ottawa 3 " 24 "

In August, 1857, the exemption of postage on newspapers was confined to newspapers transmitted from the office of publication to regular subscribers--all other newspapers being made liable to charge. On the 1st February, 1858, Mr. Spence retired from office, and was succeeded as Postmaster General by the Hon. Sidney Smith. In May, 1857, the Canadian Ocean Steamers, under contract with Mr. Hugh Allan, commenced a weekly service between Quebec and Liverpool in summer, and Portland and Liverpool in winter. These steamers, and the Grand Trunk Railway, between Portland and Quebec on the east, and Detroit on the west, which was completed a few month afterwards, have made Canada one of the great postal as well as commercial highways between Europe and the Western States. Closed mails are now carried under treaties with the several governments with regularity and despatch.

In July, 1859, postage was re-imposed on newspapers sent from the office of publication to regular subscribers. Postage rates were computed in dollars and cents; and letters addressed to any place in Canada, if posted unpaid, were subjected to an additional rate of two cents per half ounce. A large augmentation continued to take place in every department of the post office; the mails carried by the Ocean Steamers, especially, rapidly increased. The four mails of January, 1862, carried 30,000 letters from Canada, and brought 31,000 letters to the Province--a number far beyond the previous average of a mid-winter month. In May, 1862, Mr. Smith resigned his office, and was succeeded by the Hon. M. H. Foley, who now presides over the department.

The following statement will convey some idea of the rapid growth of the postal system in this Province, since the transfer to the control of the Colonial Government, in 1851:--

KEY: A: No. of Post Offices. B: Number of miles of Post Route. C: Number of miles of annual Mail Travel. D: No. of letters carried by post per annum. E: Number of Registered Letters. F: Gross Revenue. G: Expenditure, exclusive of Railway Mail payments.

Of the 9,400,000 letters passing by post in 1861, the seven cities supplied 4,250,000; as follows:--

Quebec 1,000,000 Montreal 1,400,000 Kingston 210,000 Ottawa 160,000 Toronto 900,000 Hamilton 350,000 London 230,000

Of the gross receipts collected in 1861, 8,000 was derived from letter postage, and ,000 from postage on newspapers.

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AT QUEBEC.

Postmaster General: THE HON. M. H. FOLEY.

Deputy Postmaster General: WILLIAM H. GRIFFIN, ESQ.

Accountant: H. A. WICKSTEED, ESQ.

Secretary: WILLIAM WHITE, ESQ.

Superintendent of Money Order Department: P. LeSUEUR, ESQ.

Cashier: JOHN ASHWORTH, ESQ.

INSPECTORS.

W. G. SHEPPARD, ESQ. Quebec Division. E. F. KING, ESQ. Montreal " M. SWEETNAM, ESQ. Kingston " JOHN DEW?, ESQ. Toronto " GILBERT E. GRIFFIN, ESQ. London "

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