The post-office was at Eldredge's store, and Eldredge's store, situated at the corners, where the Main Road and the Depot Road--which is also the direct road to South Denboro--join, was the mercantile and social center of Denboro.

Simeon Eldredge kept the store, and Simeon was also postmaster, as well as the town constable, undertaker, and auctioneer.
If you wanted a spool of thread, a coffin, or the latest bit of gossip, you applied at Eldredge's.

The gossip you could be morally certain of getting at once; the thread or the coffin you might have to wait for.
I scarcely know why I went to Eldredge's that morning.

I did not expect mail, and I did not require Simeon's services in any one of his professional capacities.

Possibly Lute's suggestion had some sort of psychic effect and I stopped at the post-office involuntarily.