Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-09-30
The Postman's Cooler"

1T was hot day--a very hot day peo-
pie said the hottest we had ever had.
The sun blazed in a speclSlesS sky, and not
a cloud shaded the earth from its burning
rays.
It was oppressively hot in the country,
and the reader may imagine what it was
IN London streets. One side of Flees
street was so baking hot, that athoughmy
office branched out Of il, made rush fer
the other side for the sake of few
hundred yards of shade, | met pedestri-
ans with wells and pieces of linen hanging
behind their hatsa as q preservative against
sun.stroke, and ! saw omnibus drivers
similarly protected.
My office is toleral'y cool IN the most
scorching weather, being up shady
court, into which the rays of the sun do
not penetrate Judge, then, what the
oven-ike atmosphere must have been
outside, when even THIS shady nook
began to feel more and more like the
Desert of Sahara, and 20 grow almost un-
bearablel
In the outer office was NY lad, who
began life by becoming u member of the
Band of Hope md his bright red hair
and blooming face seemed to make the
place hotter read all thatth Times hail
to say about cooling drinks and was glad
to see that all those who wrote letters
were unanimous in their condemnation ol
alcoholic beverages. Instead of assuaging,
these increased ones thirst How much
lemonade and how much iced water took
this morning, ! am afraid to estimate;
only knew things Were approaching a DIES
nsh a i.l.
sounded in the court
Yes there was a man who actually had
the hardihood to walk quickly this
weather and presently he passed my
window with a smile upon his countc
nance A man smiling, with do not
know how much in the shadel He was a
posman, and he seemed IN more to feel
the heat than if he were a amander. He
trotted up the steps as if il werea spring
morning. languidly gaZod at the man
who could do this ON the hottest day we
had mad, partly in admiration, and partly
in establishment
Having delivered his letters, he said TO
my lad, "Ill take a cooler II you please"
Certainly replied Rosy turning to an
eorhenwarc jug, and pouring out y glass
full of water.
Being curious to know what cooler"
was, it was with some interest | watched
the postman take out of his pocket
packet, out of which hepoured something
into the glass which Immediately turned
the water into a muddy brown.
What have yoG got thereY | cried
ait surely is not wholesome to drink that
thick composition this weather"
This, sir, is my cooler, said the post.
man, holding up the glass.
but what is t?" inquired
"Oh you need not be alarmed sir, was
the reply; :" it's very simple; it is only \
little oatmeal and water"
Oatmeal have heard Of it in Cruel,
and very good it is; but never heard Of
persons drinking it before
"See me do it, sir, said the postman,
tossing off the glass. There, sir. Now
| shall be cool, while other people are fry
ing
you astorish me- ! said,
avery likely, sir; but | find this drink
good both for winter and summer; in win
ter it feeds ones stomach and in summer
it does that and cools at the same time. |
have tried it for a long time and can speak
from experience.
care you a total abstainer, my iriend9'
| said, after pause
con, yes, sir, am happy to say" was
the cheerful rejoinder 81 dontknow how
! should get through this hot weather if
were moi. often pity those poor fellows
who take their ale and other intoxicating
drinks on burning day like this There
are many people besides myself though,
that take oatmeal and water by the way
OF cooler, added the postman smiling
Indeed! who are they?"
"Wcll, you must 60 down intothe Black
Country, among the blacksmiths and pud
dlers, among y HON there are many alb
stainers, if you would see what comfort
little oatmeal and water is to the poor
fellows But | must not stop any longer"
said the postmn; | am nice and cool
now, sir; and if you want TO be so during
this hot weather, take my mixture
The postman's advice was sound. At
first the muddy look Of the oatmeal and
water set one rather against IT. but once
having got over that, the postman's
"cooler,' as have christened it, was found
to be an excellent drink and | hereby
recommend it to all those who are OK
hanstod by hot weater-- Band Of Hope Re
otelD.