Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-12
. From London Society. THE MAIL-GUARD'S STORY.


 l THE MAIL-GUARD'S STORY.
 Reader, have you ever been obliged to wait at small country railway station for an early train? If you have not, you have not experienced. the ne plus ultra of human misery. But when, as was my case last year, you have left jolly party, driven five miles to catch the mail at 2 a. m., and fouId, on your arrival at the station, not that the train had gone, for that would be relief, but that you had mistaken the time, and had got three-quarters of an hour to wait, your lot is not an enviable one., So thought as l stamped up and down the ill-lit platform and gazed into the darkness beyond, which was only bro- ken by the dim and misty light of the dis tance" signal, some hundred yards down the line. The occasional barking of a house dog alone broke the stiffness, except when now and then the autumn breeze played in wailing tone on the telegraphic 1 wires over my head. As I paced mp and down to warm my feet, I felt regularly "savage" that the we'll meant solicitations of the company assembled at the Beeches had indused me to forego that last waltz with Minnie Cameron, and hurry to the station.
 Ihad been staying for the last fortnight at the house of relative, and what with shooting, fishing, and (must confess it?) 1 Minnie, the days had passed rapidly: and when recalled to London by my fathers business-like letter, which hinted at some impending calamity connected with our firm, I could hardly believe that my leave had so nearly expired There was no help for it, and go must. My relatives ap- peared as sorry as was when announced my intended departure, and fancy could discern traces of tears in Minnie's sunny eyes as bade her farewell in the hall that evening, bearing with me shining tress l of her haxen hair, and nasty kiss, as sou- cenirs of my visit. Oh, Minnie, Minnie! what would that excellent man, the incum- bent, think could he have seen the shining token of what fancied was your affection for me, lying on my table prior to its being committed to the flames, with bundle of old letters when last month I heard you were ''engaged?'
 Under such circumstances as l have de- scribed the reader will easily imagine I was not in particularly cheerful frame of mind on the night, or rather morning in question. l sauntered into the dreary wal tlng-room, and lighting cigar, seated my self in front of the expiring fire, which l was even deined the amusement of stir ring, the authorities having carried away the hre-irons. Placing my feet upon the fender, lay back in my chair, and, as most men would have done, began to ru- minate upon the events of the last fort night, a1d-Minnie! After time I reused myself, attempted the reperusal of my fathers letter, and then-I fell fast asleep. How long l slept I cannot say, probably about five minutes, but seemed an age, when was aroused by the creaking of the breaks of train. started up, and rush. ed blindly to the door, fancying that the mail had come up, when I came in violent contact with guard, who was entering at the same moment as l was making @ hur- ried exit.
 Beg your pardon, sir" said the polite official; ''what's the matter?"
 My train is going, I think" said I. "Let me see." ..-
 "It's only down goods and cattle, sir, replied my companion, (which shunts here The up mail aint due for nearly twenty minutes yet.'
 wake me then?" and returned to the fire. place.
 "Cold night, sir, remarked the guard as he came towards me.
 "Yes," said I, 'and wretched fire, too.
 ''I think we can mend that, at any rate, !" he replied; and, leaving the room, he re- turned in few minutes, accompanied by an individual whom rightly coniectured to be the stoker of the "goods" train, car- rying large shovelful of live coals, which placed upon the cinders, soon improved our fire, and gave quite cheerful aspect to the dingy apartment.
 'Thank ye Jim," said the guard as the stoker departed. "Now, sir, that's an i'm provement, aint it?" he added. cheer fully. ''It is, indeed" I replied; land I am much obliged to you for procuring the coals.''
 Don't name it, sir" was the reply "One must do something when one has to wait, you know"
 "How long do you remain here, then?" I asked. ;.
 .'Tin $40, sir take mp the mail" was the reply.
 "Oh, indeed, said I. fz
 ''Yes, sir. I'm on this job all this month And as he spoke the guard drew pipe from his pocket, and having filled and lit it, he began to smoke in silence. -
 "Havs you been long on this line?"' I asked, after pause. "Well, sir, about three years, and on the mail duty, off and on, about one. I'm a reglar man of letters," he added, with a grin.
 l laughed, and he continued. -
 ''I was nearly choked with capital let ter when was g baby. had letters on my collar when was in the police. was made guard all along of a bit of of a let ter. And now am a guard, I looks after the letters" Having made these remarks in jocular tone, my companion gave me knowing nod, and puffed away at his pipe with greater vigor than before. was much amused at his rejoinder, and asked him what he meant by having been made a guard "all along of a bit of letter." ] II wasn't always guard, sir" he said. "I was once in the police, and it was through being a detective as got to be en- ployed on this line"
 I suppose you didn't like the police then?" said l. ....
 Well, sir, not much, though at times 1t was pretty good, and we had some jolly business. Ay," he continued, sswith a good scent it's almost as excitin' as fox hunting. is thief catchin'; for some of