Loms Letter to the Queen. ~6o

 

shouldn’t you? But perhaps you have never
wanted her to do anything for you.”

James listened, and looked very much sur-
prised, as though he had never thought of
this before.

Suddenly there was a quick knock at the
front door.

“There he is!” said Tom; “that’s his
knock, I know. I'll run down myself and
ask him.”

He lost no time. The postman was still
on the steps. He had handed in his letters,
and was just turning to go.

“Stop—stop!” cried Tom, quite out of
breath. “Wait a minute. I want you to
take this letter as fast as you can.”

The postman took it, and read what was
written outside. Then he smiled.

“No, Master Tom,” he said, handing it
back. “I couldn’t take it. Not possibly.”

“But,” asked Tom, “aren't you one of the
Queen’s own postmen? Mustn’t you carry
all her letters to her, whether you like or

not?”

 

Bary 5
y f | -
A