The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-29
Select STORY.
THE MAIL CARRIER
A STORY or THE WINTER OF 1864.

John Dalton. His name had fallen into
such state of neglect and nonuse that il
would scarcely have been recognized by
the old associates of its lawful owner, and
even to him, | doubt not, would have
sounded strangely.
He was better known, particularly on
the borders, as Captain Jack
After his own simple fashion he was a
character with history. His title he
won gallantly and wore easily.
One day in the Rocky Mountains a
small party of miners, surrounded by an
oyerpowering number of Indians, retreated
into cannon. For three days and nights,
with little intermission, the combat con-
tinued. On the first day the leader Of
the gallant little band fell, and Dalton
then youth, was selected on account Of
his bravery to carry on the defense.
When relief came he was found behind
an ex-temporizcd barricade, at the entrance
Of the cannon, holding his post with a
desperate courage which would have abat-
ed with death only.
hru' 'a, "oo ia"e" u P'ea'au. !,
places lie hau Dsen participant and
leader in wild scenes Of adventure and
danger which, like SO many throes, attend.
ed the development Of the great west.
He had belonged to that hardy class which
forms the hrst OF the advance guard oi
cNiiixation-those VINO go ahead and open
.ne way throw the nfst rude oridge across
the mountain torrent, nrst penetrate into
tns Wids o. ,he enemy, are the scouts and
v,dettes, iaii praveiy and Die In remote
places unknown ana unnonced. When
tne history Oh the connict rs written their
names are not on the rolls OF lame.
FIRM, brave, honest ana true, Dalton
carry acquired an asceadency over his
companions ouiet and anassuming, his
worde always carried weight His life
had been fnrrowed BY hardship his body
pore the marks Of many struggles, but his
nature had escaped without blemish. A
nobier, kindlier heart never beat. As
husband father and friend, he had no
superior.
At the time ! presented him to the
reader he was fully hfty years old, but was
sun IN his prime; tall and swarthy, no
hesh to spare, plenty OF bone and muscle
and awkwardness, his head covered with a
shock OF sandy hair, fiecked with gray, his
beard shaggy, his features angular. Held
TO the accepted standard OF beauty, he had
nothing to commend him, unless We except
his large blue eyes, as gentle in expression
as those Of maiden, and beaming with
good will to man.
Naturally methodical and fond Of quiet,
he sought peaceful ending TO stormy
career and had as he expressed it, "settled
down" With his small earnings he bought
cottage, and for an ayocation carried the
mail between two little towns in Nebraska,
some htteen miles apart.
The winter OF 1864 is memorable for
severity Accounts from all parts of the
country added to the long list Of suffering,
death. Many perished with cold at their
very thresholds, in the thoroughfares of
cities, where relief was on every side,
strong men fell AND were buried in the
snow, A black year in the annals Of the
poor.
One morning Of that year, the thermome-
ter way down below zero, John Dalton,
mounted on his faithful horse, received the
mail. For FIVE years, come and go,
promptly to the minute, in good weather
and also in bad, excepting only Sundays,
and the day when his first-born was buried
in the churchyard, he made this daily
journey.
He took the old familiar road, passed by
his humble home without appearing TO
notice il, and, as was his wont, stopped on
the summit Of knoll commanding the
east front of the cottage, and only few
yards from ii, for what he called his ables-
sing" At the window stood his wife and
an infant in her arms, the wee thing
waving its hand and smiling. On either
side were a little boy and girl, each mount
ed on chair, the better 70 get. 4 last look
at the father who was so dear to them.
This was the good.by that warmed the
mans blood, and made his lips culver with