Litchfield enquirer., 1856-09-11
The Bath Post-Doy.

THE ORIGINAL or riELDrSo's SQUIRE ALLwoRrny
 It was in the carly part of the last century, when the mall was transmitted from the princi- pal towns of England in charge of mounted Isostu an, with holster pistols and saddle-bags, and carried from the smaller ones by poor boys, who received a halfpenny mile for serving the post office in all weathers, that the Postmaster of Bath informed ell whom 1t might concern, by . printed bill in the window, that smart, active lad of fifteen or thereby, was required to carry the mail between that town and Mari. borough, at the aforementioned rate of wages.
 The road was long and rough; and three days had already passed, during which the maii was carried by the Postmaster's own good boy. and man-ofalLwork, much to his discomfort, and the manifest dissatisfaction of the good people of Marlborough, to whom their letters came several hours too late but no candidate for tho situation had yet presented himseif....
 At length, On thc saurth morning, which was that of q sultry July day, < thu. muscular iatclligent-looking boy, dressed in the habili. inents of earlier years, which he had evidently outgrown, lnadc his appearance. cap in hand, before Mir. Burton, tho senior clerk, and inqur- cd, "Sir. if you please, would be old enough to carry the Marlborough bagg 1'm only four teen yet. but I'll always be growing older and wiser hopc.'
 And may be worsc," muttcrcd tho clerk, who happened to be out of temper that morn ing. But. step in here," he continued. point ing to another room, "and Mir. Leathcm will see what you're it for"
 Me. Leathem was . quiet. elderly gentleman, who had kept tho Post 0fice for several years in the rich and gay city of Bath. which was. at the period of our story, the resort of all the fashionablcs of Britain. especially in tho Sum. ner season, resembling in that respect, what Brighton has since become. He spoke to the boy more civilly than his clerk had done said he considered him tall enough for the business and then he inquired what was his name, where his parents lived, and if he knew any respect able person who would give him character fol honesty and sobriety, as without such certif Sate tho Post Office could not employ him. The boy asnwercd that his name was Ralpl Allen that his father had been poor trades man. but ke vas dead, aud his mother support ed hcrsclf by taking h washing, and '..Iwas'ni brought up here, sir but mother came in hopes of getting 6nc work ffom the gentry; and here's certificate from kind gentleman, ths vicar Of our parish: used to run errands fol him, and he said t might be useful to me :"
 .Thls is to certify thas Ralph Allen is sensible honest industrioas boy. and hope he will continu wx wAssuxrox.. cid the Postmaster. reading loud ]" Well the1lee good certificate, though the writer i u1ks61gn tome but ve will let 1t pass for thi tine. und take you on trial"
 Af<rr ssvecal exhoftations to be careful Q ths ma. and wAlk Ihst, that 10 might arriv n tine, Ralph AIlcn wss dnly equipped witl eethefn hag, suspsnded by . strsp over hi s1oulders coutalning all tho lcttsrs and news paEeFsInthoee dsys stransnitted to Marlborough and ssut iorfh to can ths halpenny per mile
 Day aisG day he performed that appointe' journey, through sun and shower, going an,