The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-08-19
The P0stman's Cooler"

1t was u hot dsy-a very hot day
people said the hottest we had ever had
The sun blazed iu speck less sky ant
not cloud shaded the earth from it.
hui uing rays
1t was oppressively hot in the country
and the reader may imagine what it was
in London streets. One side of Fleet
street was so baking hot, that although
my office branche1 ont Of it, l made O
rush for the other side for the sake of O
few hundred yards of shade. met ped.
estrains with wells and pieces Of linen
hanging behind their hats. as preserva.
tive against sunstroke. and saw omni.
bus drivers similarly protected.
My office is tolerably cool in the most
saorching weather, being up a shady
court, into which the rays of the sun do
not penetrate. Judge then, what the
oven.like atmosphere must have been on
the outside, when even this shady nook
began to feel more and more like the
Desert OF Sahara, and to grow almost un.
bearable.
In the outer office was my lad who
began life BY becoming a member Of the
Band Of Hope, and bis bright red hair
and his blooming face seemed 10 make
the place hotter. read ali that the
Times had to say about cooling drinks,
and was glad to see that all who wrote
letters were unanimous in their condem.
nation Of alcoholic beverages. Instead
Of assuaging, these increase ones thirst.
How much lemonade and how much iced
water | took this morning, l am afraid to
estimate only knew things were ap.
preaching desperate pass when a quick
footstep resoundcd in the court.
Yes, there was man who actually had
the hardihood to walk quickly this wealth.
er and presently he passed my window
with smile upon his countenance. A
man smiling, with l do not know how
much in the shade He was postman,
and he seemed no more to feel the heat
than if he were salamander. lie trot.
ted up the steps as if it were a spring
morning languidly gazed at the man
who could DO this on the hottest day we
had had, partly in admiration and partly
in astonishnent.
Having delivered his letters, he said to
my lad, "I'll take cooler, if you please, Il"
Certainly" replied Rosy, turning to an
earthenware jug, and pouring out 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 he poured something
into the glass which Immediately turned
the water into muddy brown.
"What have you got there ?' cried !,
ut surely is not wholesome to drink that
thick composition this weather
This, sir. is my COOLER" said ;he
Post.nan. holding up the glass.
"But what is it ?" | inquired.
"Oh, you need not be alarmed. sir -
was the reply; Its very simple; it is
only little oatmeal and water"
"Oatmeal I! | have heard Of it ia
Cruel, and very good it is but have
never heard of persons drinking il be.
fore
See me do it, sir" said the pnsiman.
tossing otf the glass, There, sir how !
shall be cool while other people are fry.
ing"
lyon astonish nie." | said
Ivory likely. sir but find this drink
good both for winter and summer; 10
winter it foods ones stomach, and in sum.
mer it does that and cools at the same
time. have tried it for long time.
and can speak from experience "
Are you total abstainer. my friend ?"
| saii, after pause.
"Oh, yes. sir, | am happy to say" was
the cheerful rejoinder. II don't know as
| should get through this hot weather if
| we're not. often pity those poor Eel.
lows who take their ale and other intoxi-
eating drinks on burning day like this.
There are many people besides myself,
though, that take oatmeal aud water by
the way Of a cooler" added the postlnan,
smiling.
Indeed who are they ?"
well. you mus: go down into the
Black Country, among the blacksmiths
aud puddlers, among whom there are
many abstainers, if you would see what a
comfort little oatmeal and water is to
the poor fellows But must not stop
any longer" said the postman 81 am
nice and cool Low, sir. and if yol want
to be SO during the hot weather. take my
mixture"
The postmans advice was sound. At
first the muddy look of the oatmeal aud
water set one rather against it but once
having got over that, the postmans s
"cooler," as | have christeDed il, was
found to be an excellent drink (; and
hereby recommend it 10 all those who are
exhausted by hot weather.