The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-24
A Faithful Letter Carrier.

Most children have seen a United
States postman, with his plain uniform
and letter-bag. The letter carriers quick
step. too, you have noticed, as if he
were walking for prize.
Now l will tell you of postman who
wore no uniform, never uttered word
to any one he met, and always distrib-
uted his mail without being late He
could not read a word, and yet gave
the mail to the right person. He had
no salary, got up and went to bed when
he pleased, and, though he had not
dollar in the world, he was contented
The queerest thing about him is that
can't tell you his name, nor did he
wear a number, as some carriers do
Moreover, he carried letters in the
country and not in the city; and this
too, one hundred and fifty years ago
Through the woods he walked on his
round, and if it came to be dark, there
were no lights to guide him. When he
got to the place where he delivered the
letters, he did not pull the bell with
quick jerk, as the postman does, nor
knock, to summon some one to come
and get the mail If any one thanked
him tor the mail he brought, he never
said, You re welcome" Altogether,
as you must admit, he was funny let.
ter-man.
But the funniest thing is that he was
not a letter-man at all. He was let
tef-dog. More than one hundred and
fifty wears ago, by the aid of the Gen
eral Court of Massachusetts, there WIS
built by the settlers of Brunswick nd
Topsham Con the Androscoggin RNN
in Maine) a fort named Fort George, as
defense against the Indians. A pic
ture of these ancient works shows that
it was made of stone, with little win
dows, like portfolios, near the top Of
the walls. Within was house, and the
roof peers over the ramparts. A Tag
floats from the staff, and heavy door
is in the front-a point carefully guard
ed. Barracks for fifteen men were
provided "a small force, but enough to
keep the Indians at distance.
About ten miles away, on the Ken
nebec River, was little settlement
called The Reach" where now the
city of Bath, famous ship-building
place, is pleasantly built along the riVel
bank. The very few families living
1.-THE Reach kept up communication
with the fort, for it was their place Of
refuge in war, and supplies were to be
brought there in quiet times.
The mail route of the carrier ] am
telling YOU about was from this fort u
THE Reach" through places where In
dians were hidden, waiting for some
white man 10 come Within reach o.
their arrows. The faithful dog would
carry packages of letters from Bruins
witch to the settlement, and bring back
answers. When he got to the house \
The Reach" where the mail was to
stop, he would howl in an anxious way
then the letters would be taken IRON
him; but still he would wait and mol
stir until another bundle was given
him-the parcel of mail matter fOl
those in the fort. Then he would put
the letters, not in a letter-bag, but in
place more safe-his mouth!
Off he would start again through the
lonely forest. Foxes and rabbits ana
birds might start up near him, but nc
remembered his errand, and arnsu
neither to the right nor to the lef. w \
two hours he would cover the distance;
and howl at the fort gate for the ma"
to be taken in. In case OF great oali
ger, when word would be written; 'ls
dog would always rush away as Il H'
knew what was the matter! a.,
wish l could tell you that, al;0,
working hard and faithfully, tne I,ai
dog died quietly at home; but a .Sst
after while the Indians discovered VIZ"
the dog oft seen was conveying hl 1uun
alton from the fort to the houses uo" os
the river, and they soon found cna aSaS
to kill him. At last, one cay WIT WV,
he was trotting through the tnly ii"b,
holding fast to his parcel, a slis%
sound was heard. which his insI suv.
told him was the light tread OF . . ,US
but the next instant an Indian 1u "%
through the underbrush, and asSs
overlook him then and there! A OIsS S
man dies, and praise is given lOD
after: the trusty dog falls when no ns
doing his duty, and not even his nSD'
is recorded Vide 44ioGke. rod