Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13
Tht family Circle.
Que.

He was wee bit of boy to carry the
United States mail on his back, seven
miles, every day. He was only eleven
years old, and as long, to an inch, as the
mail bag, which was Just three feet and
eleven inches long. When he went along
the road, you would sometimes see him,
and sometimes the bag; that was as you
happened to be on this or the other side Of
him. Many persons hard hearts have
been made to open Crevice, at sight ei
the little fellow, to let II jet of pity tc
spirit out for him. But 1.-The Point - ran
but three miles and o half to the south oil
the country road and the stage coach, and
the nearest coach post office; and because
it was only small point, and sparsely set.
tied, it couldn't afford IL horse for the short
distance and because it was short dis
lance no man or boy who was able to do Il
full days work would break into it tc
walk the seven miles; and because it was
seven miles, no one who was not well
could walk SO far every day, and the year
round. So it happened that the job was
up for bids one spring, and the person
who could carry the mail from Gingoo to
the Point for the smallest amount of mon
ey was to have it for year.
Without saying word 10 his family
about it, Que made up his mind that hC
would carry the mail himself, When the
others sent in their bids he sent in his, fol-
fifty dollars. So it happened that Que
was mail-carrier. He was so little anC
bow legged, that there were not many
things that he could do; for instance, he
couldn't run. His head and feet were very
large, and his arms and intermediate body
very small therefore he could dream an(
wonder what he could do when he grew
up, and walk with care) as much us he
pleased, but was not a favorite among the
boys in playing games.
Que looked upon seven miles day n
no walk at all, and upon fifty dollars !
year us II fortune, and upon "Unitet
States mail-carrier" as IL little below
Hon" or Esq" lie had hoped, al
his life, that he should some fine day, have
right to one or the other of these titles
Probably the fact that his name alread,
ended with u Jr.", excited his ambition
in that particular direction. Money an,
dignity seemed to Que the two thing
most to be desired in life, unless l nigh
add small family.
July |, 1860, was as fine day in Gin
goo us any in the year; and Que was il
as high spirits as on any day in the cours
of his life. Unfortunately the mail coacl
reached Gngoo exactly at forty minute
past eleven, unless the driver got drunk o
fell asleep, Which happened about tw,
hundred and forty days in the year. Blu
whether sober, drunk, or asleep, the fou
coach horses always stood before Gingot
Office door by twelve O'Clock at latest.
1t makes no difference to yon or to IN,
whether the coach stood there but it mad
Il great deal of difference 10 Que. 70
twelve o'clock on the finest day in tn,
year, and that the first of July, is apt Il
be rather warm. Nevertheless ut ouarte
past twelve, Que started with the bag.
Perhaps you don't see why Que shout,
have started right in the heat OF the day
but if you had been Que, and could have
heard all the Pointers clamoring for thu
mail, you would have started just whel
Que did. The mail bag was made of tart
leather, and drew the sun tremendously
Now, as Que had on Il pair of light liner
pants and little gray linen coat, of cours,
he ought to have walked between the bag
and the sun but not being IL scientific boy
he didn' t think of that, and slung the bag
over his sunny shoulder, and from tina
height it lrailed to the ground.
Que walked on as fast rs he could, try
ing not TO think too much of the heat ant