Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-11-04
IN cot TRY POSIMAN.
4 stor, ora Hero


through the fields with 4 hasty tread,
recognizable rot only by his blouse and
III. regulation hat, but also by the sus-
tanned activity If his movements, be
eail-e III Him Ire instants are coun ed
and ne mas not the right @ slacken his
pace. Al iudeldtigable walker, he ac-
s.0nplishe4 ms task from the first 70 the
la-t tiAy IF the year without even rest
ny. No matter though q tropical sun
invite all creatures 70 become notion
less though tie cold be Siberian,
though Il blOn and SNOW, lie must 70 to
lilo last village III his route 10 carry the
letters, newspapers and prospectuses
which trade conhies by millions to the
care III TIE post
Tie highways are not made for him
must liz mt cross the country, passing
through woods and marshes, toseek the
hut l0st iii the depths If the solitude,
flr removed from Iii, public road
IL travel. from eight to ten leagues
daily. making circuits crossing brooks,
sealing fneka ventnflng INTO ravincs
and wennding himself among the
hedges and hritr7 Ioitering is for
hldati Ii linn. fof the official hour Of
return III liked the letters he brings
bnck mil.t depart ~ the next mail
They are waited for III the postoflice,
anI ihe Irast variation az his pro-
grtnme may haNe grave consequences.
We cannot without ngratitude forget
lhe services af thi. incorruptible mes
senpef, Whose Prailty ana zeal are con-
faulty put 81 the proof. who brings Us
III certain lioar orr letters and our
Journals, the HeWs, the expectation Of
which Eeels VIZ full IF anxiety; who
contributes - soften for liz the bitter
mess III absence and distance Imagine
tho void the disappearance Of these
humble missionaries would leave in
ailr existence
| knew 4 man who iar twenty years
TILED tins position ! former soldier,
tltanl ~ TN irrerraachablt records Of
eefvicc strengthened by little inilu-
rnce. Tie lad obtained the great favor
u having placed 10 his credit 50 frames
II, month II the post Office of the dis
trict...
Pefc MFatin WAS not very fond Of this
brtlhaul position, hut he perfectly IN
lerslana hi responsibilities and duties;
h.su@yer complained
Everybody nl Tie district was ac-
giialntcd With this little grag-haircd
atIn with bfnHled features, whose
lnnhs ND liz flaney and strength of
feel III Wa nightly appreciated, for,
while arrupn!ous observer Of the reg
niaton he never refused to perform II
erticc, provided Il lid uot conflict with
hs duties
'ih,re Wa4 not 1 corner ~ Ills route
Whleh he had MI passed over, accom-
panied iy ms VOL dog. lie knew Ia il
meter The distance Operating the
nl.tllrst hamlet from the chief town ~
The 'li~triet, and was familiar with all
paths and hy wAs
- spare himself half IN hours walk
TINT nreer would have thrown into Il
ditch some silly prospectus or some
printed matter bearing il doubtful nd
dr, S. i hc returned anything to the
post otiae il Mas because its dcstina-
nation could uaf IL found He was
tlle SLAVE nt hls orders. I'M punctual us
tlif clock au.! sodiserect Il Is discour-
age ine nnst turluns Everybody greet
~ him kindly When liz arrived III the
ylLlagr lhr children came 90 him. and
even Tia dogs h,rked loyously 1t his
approach fhcre was considerable ri
yalrv ~ ~ who should oil,r him glass
81 cider 4al i slice # bacon But he
rarely asserel anything. Time passed
AMI hc ,hd NIL Hiss ~ contract trouble
pme Obligations
ilenee tie notes made concerning
nia Wrte excellent, and the enirfs re-
GREETED tha the parsimeny al the nd
mni,trtitnu .nlv permitted them to
reward his oval services with con-
tcmpnhte g.fl4.
one day il tie middle Of October he
departed nn his usual round. The
Weather VAS ft'ehtful, il had been rain
ins incts,antly tn niece than i week
tie roads had ecome hocs and the
hre0k had bcru Transformed into tor
rents Nha foliage remained on the
trees W., So mprygmted with water
tlat i could not oilrr protecting
SHELTER lhr pa.tman. wet Il the skin,
walked with tAc lmpassihility Of an old
soldier slln does nOt discuss his orders.
liz had distributed portion Of his
mail hnt hls round was far from being
iiulsa,d. when he passed IN ina. OF.
sather, miserable drinking house, situ-
ated ~ the entrance ~ i wood This
plaee va mainly patrunled by sabot-
makers. who found there alcoholic
drinks AMI i few groceries
llu' Monsieur. tic poStman. stop
heIe ian an nstni While you are Civ
ing me thc information | need. the vio-
lener 81 The storm Will ahate
IlR~ invitation was addressed Is him
hy man whe, with pipe III his
mouth, Was Standing upon the threshold
of tlc drinking house.
The rain mas pouring down 1T that
moment 7 fierce blast swept il into
PSre Martins face. preventing him
from walking. AMI bent to the ground
the stalNatt tree
Tue lostman WAS little ahead of
time, ami the demands 1T the service
~ noi s. sa i1y . g forbid the aecep-
tatlcc " 7 nlomeutary shelter When 1t
oilers ltSeli under such circumstances.
He therefore. went INTO the house
and ~ down beside the fire which
cracked III t6e hearth. The man
who bad invited him to enter threw
upon L some dry branches which were
soon N danes heavy yapor arose
from Martins soaked garments
The stranger Intercepted the post
man Us ~ ihs hours ot the departure
~ tie mails. atd asked him host of
questions about himself. his service,
and everything concerning it.
Aon knaw me, them said the post
man
Parhlcu Everybody loves and es-
Gems Nou here pero Martins value il
well known. hope You will not re-
fuse ~ drink With me. Ho. Madame
Roster, two glasses ofyour best brandy
woman waited On them and return
al 20 her occupation
What dogs trade YOU follow, Pere
Martin! said the man. "Will il take
You much longer 20 finish your round?
You doubtless have YET to so 10 the
Landa Grise. ii plessis. | know some
one who is impatiently waiting for you
there. | am obliged to pass in the vi,
cinity Ii you wish it l will relieve
yon of your Letters"
Thank you; will deliver them my
self"
That's yourself out and out After
all, you are right. Il is your duty to
deliver them.
While talking with loquacity which
did not encourage the postman, he took