The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-12-14
miscellaneous.
A MaiI.Carrier's Experience.

A Ma1l-Carrler'S Experience.
A great while ago-long before the late
war-there was u young man who carried
| the mail between Madison and Macon,
Georgia. His name was Robert Lowe. He
used his eyes and ears pretty WELL and never
fond as he was of good story-told lies.
To say Bob Lowe says 80" was to certify to
| the truth of a statement, which was certainly
| to his credit and, moreover, he was as hon
est as the day, and could have been entrusted
with untold gold or uncounted diamonds.
Morally you could not find a fault with Bob.
Mentally he was very well for an uneducated
man ; but he had one great failing-great
particularly in the eyes ofpretty Annie Wes-
ley, who otherwise esteemed Bob perfection
He had allied himself with certain class of
persons who term themselves free thinkers !"
This theological difference at last led to a
little quarrel, and Bob tried to get Annie out
of his mind, but failed to do it, and Annie
was very miserable, as well for the sake of
Bob's soul as for herself; for, though she had
offers in plenty, not one-not even rich John
! Grab who had ever so many acres of land
could be compared for moment in her mind
to Bob, had Bob only held proper sentiments.
So, though they kept apart for Il whole
month, at last one bright morning as Bob
rode along, slowly and stupidity for HIM, he
saw, sitting under tree little figure in a
blue dress that he couldn't pass to save his
life. So he stopped his horse and called out
"Annie, is that your"
wet eyes. | came here on purpose to see you.
I've talked in my poor, weak womanish
words, but you talk so much better than |,
that of course it's of no use and all the while
there is One who talks so plainly to us, and
the words are here and I've brought them
to you, and please, dear Bob to read them,
and perhaps"
She did not finish the sentence, but placed
pretty Bible in Bobs hand.
1--WE had it bound very nicely for you, and
oh for my sake read tit will teach you so
much, Bob-so very much"
Bob took the book. For moment he felt
annoyed and much like sneering, but Annie
was very dear to him so he kept his anger
down for her sake, thanked her for her pres
ent, and placed it in the breastpocket of his
coat.
"As if | were to be converted like sinner
in tract p said Bob, after he had ridden on
little. But women IRE not expected to
have minds like ours" And out of another
pocket he pulled an infidel tract, which a
friend, an unbelieving DOCTOR had loaned him,
and fell to reading.
1t was not very wise thing, as the event
proved, for the horse, left to himself, sum-
bled over something in the road and was
lamed; not badly, it seemed, but it forced
Bob to dismount and stop at country store
to examine and battle the limb. and then he
had to allow the beast to take his own time
afterward, so that instead of trotting briskly
into Macon before shutdown the young man
found himself beated on lonely road hours
after the sun mad quite vanished-his horse
nj, Ion, Of ta
gone.
Hang the tract " growled Bob, "what did
bother with it for?" And he gave the paper
toss into clump of bushes, and then his
mind went back to Annie Wesley's Bible.
He telt for it. Ii was safe. He wished
that he was somehow better, and he walked
along with the bride over his arm in quite n
melancholy mood.
Suddenly shadow fell across the road.
Bob looked up. Straight before him sat q
mounted man with black mask on his face
and pistol in his hand
Halt p' commanded the individual, Zero
ciously and Bob halted. "If you are quiet,
you will come to no HARM" said the man.
II only want your mail bag ! happen to
know that it is worth something tonight,
and I've followed you from the store back
yonder. There amt soul within hearing
and you may as well take it coolyI am
armed, you see; you are not. Hand over the
bag"
"Neverp exclaimed Bob. "The mailbag
is in my care-entrusted; I'll guard it as
| long as Ihave breath in my body"
THAT won't be long" with coarse laugh,
"if you don't listen to reason"
Bob, for reply, mounted his horse and sat
behind the mail bag.
"Your life is in danger" warned the rob-
Der. II intend to have those letters, and a
| life isn't worth much to me- Pm in earnest !;
no foolng p and he took deliberate aim at
| Bob Lovic's breast.
Bob was unarmed, and he loved life dearly,
but he was no coward. 1t was useless to
his tists-rather useless weapons under the
circumstances but he showed fight" and as
the robbers anger kindled he fired. The
aim was good. The little ball of lead lodged
in Bob's coat, just where his heart should
have been, and Bob staggered.
He was shocked rather than hurt, and in
that moment of excitement he remembered
having heard that it was often so in mortal
injuries. Probably he had received his death
wound, and the robber would walk off with
the mail bag, where Bob well knew reposed
the money which energetic Dick Dorr had
sent to take his poor old mother from the
aims house, and other trusts were in that
leather bag-the humble hopes and dreams
of those who wrote the letters twined around
them.
The doctor and his infidel tract had done
Bob Lowe little good; but he was honest and
kindly yet.
I'LL fight while have drop of blood left, -"
he said to himself. "And help may come and
the mail bag be saved, even il die"
He leaped from his horse and sprung upon
the highwayman with such vigor that the
man tumbled from his saddle. Then Bob
struggled for the pistol, and gaining it, knock
ed the ruffian senseless with the but end, and
sat down on his bosom to keep guard, ex-
pecting to die every moment, but praying
that help might come before the robber re-
covered consciousness.
About that time a party of young men,
who were out on q coon hunt, came up with