The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-08
THE COUNTRY POSTWAR.

You have often seen him pass through
the fields with hasty step, recogniza-
BILE not only by his blouse and his regu-
lation hat, but also by the sustained ac-
tivity of his movements, because for
him the instants are counted and he has
not the right to slacken his pace. An
indefatigable walker, he accomplishes
his task from the first to the last day of
the year without ever resting. No
matter though tropical sun invite all
creatures to become motionless, though
the cold be Siberian, though it blow and
snow. he must go to the last village on
his route to carry the letters. newspa-
pers and prospectuses which trade con-
tides by millions to the care of the post.
The highways are not made for him;
must he not cross the country, passing
through woods and marshes, to seek the
hut lost in the depths of the solitude,
far removed from any public road?
He travels from eight to ten leagues
daily, making circuits, crossing brooks,
scaling rocks, venturing into ravines
and wounding himself among the hedges
and briers. Lettering is forbidden to
him, for the official hour of return is
fixed; the letters he brings back must
depart by the next mail. They are
waited for at the postoffice and the
least variation of his programme may
have grave consequences.
We cannot without ingratitude forget
the services of this incorruptible mes
senger, whose probity and zeal are con
stantly put to the proof, who brings US
at a certain hour our letters and our
journals, the news, the expectation of
which keeps us full OF anxiety; who
contributes to soften for us the bitter
ness of absence and distance. Imagine
the void the disappearance of these
humble functionaries would leave in our
existence
knew man who for twenty years
filled this position. A former soldier,
thanks to irreproachable records of SER
vice strengthened by little influence,
he had obtained the great favor of hay
ing placed to his credit fifty francs per
month at the postoflice of the district.
Pere Martin was not very fond of this
brilliant position, but he perfectly I'M
derstood his responsibility and duties;
he never complained.
Everybody in the district was &C
quainted with this little gray haired
man with bronzed features, whose limbs
had the pliancy and strength OF steel.
He was highly appreciated, for, while a
scrupulous observer of the regulation,
he never refused to perform a service,
provided it did not con flict with his
duties
There was not a corner of his route
which he had not passed over, accom-
panied by his wolf dog. He knew to a
meter the distance separating the small
est hamlet from the chief town of the
district, and was familiar with all the
paths and byways.
To spare himself half an hours walk
he never would have thrown into a
ditch some silly prospectus or some
printed matter bearing doubtful ad-
dress; if he returned anything to the
postotlice it was because its destination
could not be found. He was the slave
of his orders, as punctual as clock,
and so discreet as to discourage the
most curious. Everybody greeted him
kindly when he arrived at village; the
children came to him, and even the
dogs barked joyously at his approach.
There was considerable rivalry as to
who should offer him glass of cider
and slice of bacon. But he rarely ac-
cepted anything. Time passed and he
did not like to contract troublesome OBJ
legations.
Hence the notes made concerning
him were excellent, and his chiefs re-
GREETED that the parsimony of the
administration only permitted them to
reward his loyal services with con-
temptible gifts. ..........t
One day in the middle of October he
departed on his usual round. The
weather was frightful; it had been rain
ing necessarily for more than a week;
the roads had become boys and the
brooks had been transformed into tor
rents; what foliage remained on the
trees was so impregnated with water
that it could not offer protecting shell
ter. The postman, wet to the skin,
walked with the impassabillty of an old
soldier who does not discuss his orders.
He had distributed portion of his
mail, but his round was far from being