The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-01-20
TIE COUNTRY POSTMAN,
The Story of a Hero.

The Story of a Hero.
Translated from the French of Louis COllas.l
! You have often seen him pass through
! the fields with hasty tread, recognlza-
/ BILE not only by his blouse and his regu-
4 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 lnde-
/ fatigable walker, he aecomplishes his
! task from the first to the last day Of the
/ year without even resting. No matter
/ though tropical sun invite all creatures
i to become motionless, though the cold
! be Siberian, though it blow and snow,
1 he must go to the last village on his
route to carry the letters, newspapers
/ and prospectuses which trade contdes
by millions to the care of the post
The highways are not made for him,
and he must cross the country, passing
| through woods and marshes, to seek the
hut lost in the depths of solitude, far
removed from any public road.
4 He travels from eight to ten leagues
daily, making circuits, crossing brooks,
scaling rocks, venturing intoravines and
wounding himself among the hedges and
briars. 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 con-
sequences.
We cannot, without ingratitude, for
get the services of this incorrnphble
messenger, whose probity and zeal are
I constantly put to proof, who brings us
at certain hour our letters and our
journals, the news, the expectation of
which keeps us full of anxiety; who
contribute to soften for us the bitterness
of absence and distance. Imagine the
void the disappearance OF thosS 1------sie
functionaries would leave IN our exist
enceI
Iknew man who for twenty years
filed this position. A former soldier,
thanks to irreproachable records OF
service strengthened little influence,
he had obtained the great favor of having
placed to his credit fifty francs per
month at the postOffice of the district:
Pere Martin was not very fond OF this
brilliant position, but he perfectly un-
derstood his responsibility and duties
he never complained.
Everybody in the district was ac-
Will ILLS AAllAt AAtAAA - ---eN-
with bronzed features, whose limbs had
the pliancy and strength of steel. he
was highly appreciated, for, while q
scrupulous observer of the regulations
he never refused to perform a service
provided it did not conflict with hil
duties. = So
There was not . corner of his rout
which he had not. passed over -accompa
L L. knew tn 4
meter the distance separating the small
est hamlet from the chief town OF ee
district. and was familiar with all th
paths and by-ways.
To snare himself half an hours wax
he never would have thrown into dlth
some silly prospectus or some prlntd
/ matter bearing a doubtful address; ifle
/ returned ANYTHING to the postothcelt
/ was because its destination could not)e
/ found. He was the slave of his ordes,
as punctual as the clock, and so discnet
as to discourage the most curious. "
/ erybody greeted him kindly when her-
rived at q village; the children cameto
him, and even the dogs barked loyosiy
at his approach. There was conslqel3le We
rivalry as TO who should offer him gass
/ of cider and shce.of bacon. busne
rarely accepted anything. Time passed
and he did not hike to contract troude-
some obligations.
Hence the notes made concerningiim
were excellent, and his chief regraed
that the parsimony of the administraon
only permitted them to reward his lyal
services with contemptible gifts.
One day in the middle of Octobr he
departed on his usual round. The
weather was frightful it had been "a
ing necessarily for more than a wea !;
the roads had become bogs, and he
brooks had been transformed into ur-
rents What foliage remained. ON he
trees was so impregnated with watsr that
it could not offer a protecting sheltsr.
The postman, wet to the skin, walked
with the impassability of an old Dldier
who does not discuss his orders.
Y He had distributed a portionf his
mail. but his round was far frombeing
finished, when he passed an IN, OF
rather miserable drinking house stu
J ated at the entrance of d wood. This
place was mainly patronized bysabot
makers, who found there alcoholic
! drinks and few groceries.
"Hol Monsieur, the postman, stop
here for an instant; while you aregving
me the information 1 need, the violence
of the storm will abate." 81
: 4 This invitation was addressed to hin,
! by man who, with a pipe in his mouth,
7 was standing upon the threshold Of the
drinking house.
The rain was pouring down at that
, moment; a fierce blast swept it into PERI
, Martins face, prevented him from walk
ing and bent to the ground the stalwarl
trees.
The postman was little ahead of time
and the demands Of the service do not ot
so far as to forbid the acceptance Of 1
! momentary shelter-when it offers itsel
! under such circumstances.
He, therefore, went into the house an,
! sat down beside the fire which cracklef
!. on the hearth. The man who ba,
4 invited him to. enter threw upon IL SOM,
branches, which were soon in flames
heavy vapor arose from Martins soake,
: garments. ~-~ f,As<-A>-~sss-
] The stranger interrogated the postma,