"But do you know where to go in the town?"
"And why don't you ask, you stupid thief?"
"Didn't I often tell you to ask what you're to do, when you don't know?"
"Confound you!" said the squire; though he could not help laughing at Andy's excuse for remaining in ignorance.
"Well," continued he, "go to the post-office. You know the post-office, I suppose?"
"You're right for once," said the squire; for his Majesty's postmaster was the person who had the privilege of dealing in the aforesaid combustible. "Go then to the post-office, and ask for a letter for me. Remember--not gunpowder, but a letter."
"Yis, sir," said Andy, who got astride of his hack, and trotted away to the post-office. On arriving at the shop of the postmaster (for that person carried on a brisk trade in groceries, gimlets, broadcloth, and linen-drapery,) Andy presented himself at the counter, and said, "I want a letther, sir, if you plaze."
"Who do you want it for?" said the postmaster, in a tone which Andy considered an aggression upon the sacredness of private life: so Andy thought the coolest contempt he could throw upon the prying impertinence of the postmaster was to repeat his question.
"And who do you want it for?" repeated the postmaster.
The postmaster, laughing at his simplicity, told him he could not tell what letter to give him unless he told him the direction.
"The directions I got was to get a letther here--that's the directions."
"Why, you stupid rascal! if you don't tell me his name, how can I give you a letter?"
"You could give it if you liked: but you're fond of axin' impident questions, bekase you think I'm simple."
"Go along out o' this! Your master must be as great a goose as yourself, to send such a messenger."
"Bad luck to your impidence," said Andy; "is it Squire Egan you dar to say goose to?"
"Faith, then you'll never see me agin if I have my own consint."
"I won't give you any letter for the squire, unless I know you're his servant. Is there any one in the town knows you?"
"Plenty," said Andy, "it's not every one is as ignorant as you."
Just at this moment a person to whom Andy was known entered the house, who vouched to the postmaster that he might give Andy the squire's letter. "Have you one for me?"