The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-16
IFTom the YOUTHS C0mpanlOn.I
The Mail Boys Adventure.

1t was the year after our family moved up
from Newburyport into Penobscot county,
Me-, to begin life anew on backwoeds farm.
My father had taken a contract to carry the
mail from L., the town next below us, up
to D., eleven miles above. Between these
two points the mail was carried twice week.
The sum received for the service was only
$110. The distance was upward of fifteen
miles, and 104 round trips of over thirty
miles each were made during the year. But
my father had counted on my doing the car
rying part on horseback. I was then in my
fourteenth year.
Every Tuesday and Saturday morning I
had to set off for L. at six o'clock with the
mailbag, and ride over the county road to
D.. This road ran through forest, and
had not been long built. There were but
three clearings and two watering troughs in
the whole distance. Woods, woods, woods
bordered the road on both sides. Often I did
not meet single team or person from the
time was fairly out of L. till reached
D.. l sometimes saw the tracks of bears
in the road, and sometimes my horse would
stop and snort, as the scent of some wild ami
NAL was borne to him. Several times that
season I had glimpses of bears crossing the
road some distance in advance of me. / COM
monty arrived at D. by eleven O'Clock, but
had to wait there till half past two for the
down mail, so that when autumn came I was
always late home
The adventure of which 1 am going to
speak happened to me that summer. Above
D., in the woods on the river, a numbering
firm had for two years previous been getting
out spruce and pine. They employed large
number of men both summer and winter, and
and did an extensive business. Their mail
came to D., and doubtless checks and
drafts for large sums we're often sent to them
in letters that we're placed in my mailbag.
One afternoon, as was going to l., and
had left the town Of D. four or FIVE miles
behind me, overlook a woman dressed in a
"cloud" on her her head. She limped pain
fully, and had quite large bundle tied up in
q calico apron.
/ knew she was Province woman. As
came up to pass her, she cast a most ptlfal
look into my face. She looked young, not
more than eighteen or twenty years of age.
20 my good boy" says she, ''caa'nt yer
give me lift on ther horse?"
.'How far are you goiDg?" asked.
"Doon ter L." said she: ''and from
ther Oh to Barngour BaDgor) inter sasvice."
"Do you expect to walk all the way?
20 yeus ! but wouldn't mind that at all,
eff nadn't trod on the stoob up here. Me
shoon are thin-soled, an it stock right inter
the boiler OF me foot. an think as it's In
ther now, for it hurts me that much l can
hardly bear pound on it. Oh, this is hard
wurreldP' and she concluded with a heart
moving sigh.
My sympathies we're stirred, and felt that
ought to let her ride, for she looked very
tired, and had wonderfully pleading pair OF
drI black eyes. had no thought, however,
of riding double with her. So I got off at the
turn, and leading my horse to stump beside
ftvn ln4h nv rvnt Re- 1on -~.xIx
bundle. Then unbuckliDg the rein to make a
halter of it, threw the mailbag over my
shoulder and walked along leading the horse.
My passenger was quite talkative aud very
thankful. She told about the trials and hard
ships of servant-girFs life with fuency of
expression that gave me little opportunity to
speak. Every few minutes she would say
that had better put the ''barg on the
hoorse," and not carry it myself.
No, told her, would carry it.; she had
her bundle to take care Of As she talked
and held her bundle my attention was drawn
to the thumb of her left hand. Its nail was
gone. 1t had apparently been jammed off,
leaving peculiarly fresh pink scar. In fact,
the entire thumb above the joint was red and
looked disfgured and peculiar. Meanwhile
she talked on, and among other things told
me that her name was Betsey Ellen McNully
and that she was from Woodstock. When
she had ridden mile or two my new &C.
quaintance began to complain that the saddle
was Shared to SIT" Couldn't strap the
"barg" on the saddle and let her throw her
old shawl over ita and 50, as she said, skill
two burreds with one stone,''- she would
have the ''easy sate," and the ''hoorse would
carry the barg."
Till that moment had not had suspicion
that Betsey Ellen was not what she seemed
to be; but the thought that something was
wrong, caused by the tone of her voice, came
suddenly into my mind. In a moment l felt
conscious of danger and of my own Iesponsi-
bility, and that the sooner could get rid of
my new acquaintance the better:
Gail right" said I, "I'll fix it,"
Who had just come in sight of one of the
watering troughs. led the horse up to it
and told Betsey Ellen to slide off and sit
down on the end of the trough while did as
she had suggested. Placing the bag on the
saddle / first took the extra strap and made
1t fast, then spread her old shawl on top of
1t.
"There's gay seat" said I, stepping upon
the side of the trough to pat it down and
before the woman could be aware of what
intended. I had jumped on the horse aud
given him blow which caused him to bound
INTO the middle of the road.
"Oh, place stop, and for the love of mercy
QOu NO AtOuAA away AOm uCS PlCducu Lie
girl, starting up and dropping her bundle
I glanced back, but gave. my horse another
blow, and seeing was really off my persua-
sive friend suddenly changed her conduct.
Quick as fash out came pistol, and whz
went ball from it within two inches of nv
ear. But old Jed was already on a gallop.
We went round bend in the leafy road, and
that was the last saw of the "Provirce
grip that day. Officers were sent after the
would-be robber, but they didn't catch him.
The second winter alter this my father put
= stage "a large double sleigh) drawn by
span of horses on the mail route. In place
of riding old Jed now drove the stage and
carried the mail also. had plenty of light
freight and express matter and was often
"ful" OF passengers. My route had been
heightened, and extended beyond D. to
new place which was called the Supply
depot" One day in February l bad thee
passengers, two choppers" going up to work,
and wel-dressed young man, who sat well
muffied up, for it was pretty cold day.
stopped at D. for the passengers to warm
themselves and have dinner, and this young
man was SO long eating his that had to go
into the dining room to hurry him. He sat
at the table With bis back 10 me eating as
went in, saw bis thumb as he held his
fork. The nail was gone and the scar was
of dull red color. knew that thumb in
an instant, and it was "Betsey Ellen's." 1t
made me nervous, but said, bravely, "All
aboadp' and walked out.
Ididn't know what to do. "Betsey Ellen"
was the only passenger from D. up to the
lumber depot, too. He had considerable to
say. He probably knew me we'll enough;
that Is, he knew was the boy he had fooled
and tried to rob of the mail bag. His name,
he told nae this time) was Gleason. He was
professional "scaler," on bis way up to
scale or survey the winters s'cut' of lumber
at the LANDINGS" On the river. He had bis
''calipers'' and other instruments with him,
I felt uncomfortable enough, but kept quiet.
am sure / never suffered so much from fear
in all my life as did in going up from D.
that afternoon. The whole of the way had
to sit with my back 10 "Betsey Ellen" and
of course I expected every moment he
would give me blow on the head and rob
the stage. He did not, however, but instead
he was a very quiet passenger. That night
at the depot, found out that his name was
actually Gleason, and that he was really
thei regular lumber scaler, and was hired as
such. But knew it was "Betsey Ellen" all
the some; his voice and the peculiar & lance
OF his dull dark eyes were only too well fixed
in my memory ever to be forgotten.
Next day at L. l first told the post