The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-07-28

an. the bearer. Perhaps some
creditor demanded payment for an over
due bill, Or perhaps the scrawl meant
even more.
You would like to know just what
kind of life this isl" remarked q carrier.
"Well, it is not quite as rosy at it appears.
1t is getting better, however, every
year, and now that we are about to par
ticipate in the benefits Of the eight hour
law work will be more pleasant. "
The reporter had followed the carrier
from block to block until every letter had
been delivered. Then, as he had few
moments to spare, the gray coated Of
fetal sat down to tell his story.
Il don't know of any business where
we.see more of human life than ours, " he
commenced. "The lights and shadows
of life are pretty distinctly marked and
We see them both. Sometimes we feel
just as much pleasure in delivering let
ter as the receiver in getting it. Some
times when an ominous black bordered
envelope falls into our hands we are sorry
that we have to deliver it. Just what
hours we will have to work after the re-
arrangement l do not know he said.
AT present our duties are pretty oner-
Gus. In the branch offices collectors
have TO report as early as 4 40 o'clock in
the morning, Or five minutes before the
regular time for starting out. Forty-five
minutes are then consumed in collecting
from the various boxes, after which we
return to the station with the mail. Then
we start TO face up.
"Nou don't know what facing up
means Well, that is what we call sort
ing our mail and getting it in order for
our route. Facing up takes all the time
up to o'clock. Then we start out and
deliver the letters. We make prompt
return to the Office. Collections have in
the meantime been made and again we
start facing up.
Every trip is but repetition of the
other. We make them hourly, and are
kept constantly on the move until ii
O'Clock. Then we swing. This Is what
we call taking rest. In other words,
there is no work for us to do until 4
O'Clock in the afternoon. Then we come
on again and work until the darkness of
evening has fallen over tine city.
'You want to know what we see on
the route:' and the letter carrier busted
afew grains of cigar ashes from his bag.
"Well, it is funny just what we do see;
then again it is sad. The saddest of ali
my experience occurred one day when
delivered a letter to an old man who
lived alone in q dilapidated house on
Park row. 1t was a mourning letter,
and MS handed it to him the old mans
fingers trembled. He tore it open con-
vulsively, and as he read the lines he
totterod and fell into my arms. The
letter was from his daughter, who lived
with her brothers in a fashionable house
up town. 1t stated that her mother, the
old mans wife, was dead and would be
buried that afternoon. The girl also
warned her father not to attend the
funeral or there would be a scene, as his
own sons would not permit him there.
He wept as he told me his story.
There had been quarrel, and he had
been driven from home He had never
darkened it up TO that time. That day
my duties brought me around Grace
church. saw the funeral cortece, but
what attracted me most was the figure
Of the old man outside on the sidewalk.
Ills lips quivered with emotion as he saw
the casket that contained the remains OF
his wife, but he dared not approach He
held daisy in his hand, perhaps In re.
membrancc Of other and happier days,
and he was still turning it idly when
passed along.
YES it is a funny kind of life, halt
sunshine half clouds. We have oui
own trouble, to worry us as well as Other
peoples. We meet all nationalities, and
hear all kinds Of languages spoken. We
get letters with writing such as none
could understand; we have TO examine
and look ont for log letters, and are held
responsible for any error. Log letters
are undircctcd onc5. We are supposed
to know all our route, and sec that il
gets to its proper destination. Well, il
Is time for nc to start, so good-by," ant
the letter carrier walked briskly away. -
New York Star