Litchfield enquirer., 1881-11-17
THE COUNTRY P0srMAN.
THE STORY OF A HERO.

nlents because for him the instanis are coullr. Ted and he has not the right to slacken his
 pace. An indefatigable walker, lie accom-
 pIisies his task fr,nl the first tu the last day
 uf the year without, evensresiing. No matter
 though tropical sun invite all creatures to
 become moti0nless, though the cold be Si-
 iian, though it blow and snow, he Must go
 to the last village on his route l0sscarry the
 letters, newspapers and prospectuses which trade cOntides by millions to the care of the 1 post stFs T 5' hrfzsoW 8faiA's'0 s<s'5ss.3i
 The highways are not made for him must he not cross the cpuntry. passing through l wootis and marshes. 10 seek the hut lost III
 depths If the solitude, far removed from any public rs,ad>? as4tu IT. gi5f&i,i{.Q4 cfs He travels from eight to ten leagues daily, | making circuits, Crossing brooks scaling rocks, venturing intp raylnes and wouhding himself atit,ng the hedges and brlars. Lt,i-
 ering is forbidden tO him, for the official hour ,If re,urn is fixed; the letters he brings back l must deEart by the next Mail. They are
 waited for al the post office, and the least varia,ion of his programme must nave grave consequences. sisa94 a..l aas;a as@l-s 1ae We cannot without ingratitude forget the
 services of this incorruptible messenger. l who 6 pr0bity and 2 al are constantly put to proof, who brings us at certain hour our
 letters and our journals, the ilews, the expec-
 iati"n of which keeps us full of anxiety; who contributes tO0 often for us the bitterness
 of absence and distance. Imagine the voit' 1 the disappearance; of these humble function aries would leave in our existence.
 l ,s knew a man who for twenty years filled
 this pnsti.,n.l IA former soldier, thanks to ir. 1 reproachable records of seryice, streng' hencd l by little influence. he had ohlained the great
 favor of having placed ta, his cnedit 50 francs
 per month at the post office of the district. d9t Pere Martin WAS not very fond of this po- l sition, but he perfectly understood his re- | sp,nsibility and duties he never complained, l EverytNHiy in the district was acquainted with this little gray haired man with bronzed
 features, whose limbs had the pliascy and
 strength of steel. He was highly appreciated. 1 for while ta scrupulnls observer of the regula-
 ton, he never refused tu perform a service,
 provided it did not contli:t with his duties.
 There was not B crner of h:s route which
 he had n'a passed over,1 accompanied by his l wolf dog He knew to metre the distance separating the smallest hamlet from the chief
 town of the district, and was familiar with all fine paths and by-ways ''- ' l. To spare himself an hours walk he never
 would have thrown into a ditch soMe silly prospectus OF some printed matter bearing
 doubtful address; if he returned anything to 1 the post office it was because it's destination
 could not be found. He was the slave of his
 orders, as punctual as the clock, and SO dis | erect as to encourage the most curious. Every
 body greeted him kindly when he arrived ai
 d village; the children came to him, and even
 the dogs parked j"yOusy, at his approach.
 There was, considerable rivalry as to who
 should offer him glass of cider and slice
 "f bacon. But ne rarely accepted anything. 1 Time passed arl he tid not like to contract
 Troublesome obligations. 'r'<" f@1a@i.st | Hence the notes made concerning him were
 excellent, and his chief regretted that the par-
 sl no y If the d 1 ninistratiDn only permitted
 them to reward his loyal services with con l ten'pible gifts. f. I .#t ..' | One day in the middle of October h, de
 parted on his usual round. The weather was ,frlgntful: in had been raining necessarily for l more than a week; the roads had bec Mie bt,gs
 and the brooks had been transformed into tor l rents. What foliage remained on the trees
 was sn impregnated,- with water that it could
 not offer a protecting shelter. The postman, 1 wet tO the skin, walked with the impassibi-
 fly of an ol soldier who does not discuss his l orders. sHT snuiiRbnu.3 3~ -u5.
 l He mad distributed a portion of his mail. hut his round was far from being finished. | when he passed 'an inn, OF rather miserable 1 drinking house, situated at the entrance to
 wood This place WAS .inainly patrOnized
 ny stab0t makers. who found there alcoholic
 drinks and a few groceries. .-.e a.. P. B, 9. is5''tio, Monsieur. the postman. stop here for
 an instant while you are giving me the in
 formation need. the violence of the storm 1 will abaie. u4g 41+.t. ,.... 1 This invitation was addressed to. him by
 man, wh, with pipe m his moutn, was
 standing upon the threshold Cf the drinking house .r.- .,r r.ls
 The rain was pouring down at that mo. ment; a fierce blast of wind swept it into
 Pore Martins face, prevented him from walk Ing anH bent to the ground the stalwar trees. -.ssE 4Es 4. Us.q s.. a The postman was a little ahead of time.
 and the demands of the service dp not gD 80
 far as to forbio the acceptance of m"men ] tary shelter when it offers itself under sacl l circumstances. ...,s ,..,.......g ... He, therefore, went into the house and sat down beside the fire which cracked on the hearth. The man who had invited him to
 enter threw upon it some dry branches. which l were soon in flames; a heavy vapor arose l from Martin soaked garments
 The stranger interrtgatetl the posman as
 to the hours O.. the departure of the mails.
 self, his service, and everything concerning | it 3E,1 .sE {gha @rs 4g.U YAsr | iat"YOu know me, then?" said the pOstnan. l ''Parbleau! Everybody loves and esteems
 you here; Pere Martins value is well known
 hope you will nt refuse to take drink
 with me-. Ho! Madame R ,sier. two glasses
 of your best braniy." 5l A woman waited on them and returned to 1 her occupation. A 7r ass1jetft si.s %3u7t |
 What dogs trade you follow. Pere Mar I tin, :" said the man. Will it take you in,cl,
 l,,nger to finish your -ound You doubtless
 have yet to go to the Landa Grise, to Plessis 1 kaow some one who is iG patiently waiting for ypu there. au obliged tv pass in the
 vicinity. If you wish it, will relieve you of
 your letters" t& rs}s9t zl1a3 7Fo s"$' :. Thank you; will deliver them myself" li4" I'iat's ysalrself 0t,ut and out. After all yo'l are right. l. is your duty to deliver them i" -f ha3eaSties s5aH 1T r !0 Sls sSs z" While talking with a I,quacity which did I not encourage the. pqstllaBs he took up the Psack the .tter had placed beside him., seemed
 .s ftefits' weight and turned it over and 1 over. "i 5o 5Eoa3GB EQ iA3i}pF{uH) ta &illAA I Let my sack alone, please. said Martin, Iceldly. You have disarIanged all my Jet ters. I shall no 'nger know what to d0"
 3a' The other iIudibly excused himself for this awkwardgess. 1i a9J 10 saaiJ lli inil. tts H ! Tue evil is 7reparable, added he. "Sea. yourself at this table and you will have no
 aroul,ie to arrange the letters according to the l ruute yt'u tsilouli take" NR ,ils# 7#ita
 | Tue postiilan einptied his sack before him I and began to arrange his letters. His Qi,es-
 tioner affected to keep discreeiely at adistance but found atf opportunity to cast furtive glaiice 7ovefihis shouider. u duaoe ,s3ai9 iEW1
 While Martin was busy with his work he
 heard furl; growls behind him.., ,a l. al Pers Martin, help to prevent your dog
 from straigling rnfrle," said tiie new acouaint-
 iiTheg gpostman arose and caught his dog hy the skin of the neck. The anilDal's fury cDlI- 1 lrasted' with it's habitual gentIeness. 7@''s ! This fact seemed straiige to Martin He Efelt ldisirust of the communicative stranger l gr,w upon him. He was about to replace his pape. $ in his sack. when the nian, as if
 to see what Lwas ths state. of the weather, ISpeneti the door, f,, ,a,.t,loE, ts.f,t., ..e.s
 unnslyl into the room. which 1t filled with a
 thick sanskes and lifting the letters spread nut EnpOn the table. scattered thenin every direc-.