Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-25
BRAVE MATTE HESTER.
An Interesting Employe of the
 Post-Onace Department.
A Little Georgian Woman Who Has an Envlable Record-Three Times . Week She Carries the Maila from One
 County to Another

everyday life in this section of the State, says a New York World corre- spondent at Tweed, Ga., is pretty Hattie Hester, who carries Uncle Sam's mails from the village to the point at which she lives on a farm, twenty miles away. The fair mail-carrier drives a little road cart, in which she has bravely gone over her route every day, rain or shine, since she succeeded in obtaining the posi- tion. If the mails are late one may be sure the delay did not occur in her ter ritory, for no stressof weather can deter this undaunted little public official The whole country side knows and re- spects her, but if any protection is need ed on her lonely journeys her own cour- age and determination of character will supply it
 This year Hattie succeeded over all competitors in securing the mail route from Condor in Laurens County to Lo- thair in Montgomery County, and three times week she covers Q distance of about forty miles through wild and sparsely settled section, and her cheery voice is often heard along the road in her efforts to Give dull care away. At her side in small pocket, fully exposed to view, is a handsomely polished No. Ss Smith & Wesson of the most approved model, and as she is crack shot woe be to the | highwayman or tramp who tries to bar the way to that part of the United States mails under the immediate care of Hattie Hester. She has perfect coH- | fdence in her own ability to defend | herself, and looks with contempt upon l those timid members of her own sex who fear to go anywhere without an | escort. Independence of spirit Is so striking a characteristic of this unique young person that the narration of some of her remarkable undertakings would convey an impression of mascul- unity. In her own home or under ordinary circumstances Miss Hester is the embodiment of womanliness. She lives with her widowed mother, two sisters and young brother, but is the real head and director of the family. Her beauty is of the true Southern | type-wavy black hair, deep blue eyes, beautiful figure and complexion and the whitest set of teeth imaginable. Her iaunty air and pretty face never fail to attract the attention of strangers as she rattles swiftly by in her cart, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but attending strictly to business.
 Attention to business, indeed, is the chief distinguishing feature of 8 character whose strength has made Miss Hester remarkable in many ways. Still in her twentieth year and full of life and energy, she is determined to make her way to fortune. She has all ready shown business qualifications that would do credit to any man. Last year she superintended all the work on the farm. She helped to plant and harvest the crop and took 1t to market, where her tact enabled her to secure the highest prices.
 Thinking that she saw chance to make some money last winter, she went into the woods and got quantity of timber, which she rafted and placed in the hands of her brother, to be disposed of in the Darien lumber market. This venture netted the enterprising little ''cracker" handsome profit. Later on, with her own hands, she cut down and split enough fence rails to inclose one section of the farm. So it seems hard work has no terrors for Miss Hattie, nor is she at all squeamish about the kind of work ohe undertakes, provided only that it offers promise of betterIng heI condition. With all her various duties she still finds some leisure and she em- ploys it in teaching writing.
 Miss Hattie in her relations with the opposite sex preserves the same marked individuality which characterizes her ir other things. She doesn't care rush about men; in fact, she has no time tc think about other mails than those it is her duty to distribute.
 The little mail-carrier is very poorly paid, and the torty-mile journeys arc rapidly taking the flesh of the sturdy broncho that draws her cart.
 "I don't think shall carry the mails three times week much longer" said she to the World correspondent. "lt is telling on my horse. Besides, the small pay I receive does not warrant it. If can get my petition signed, will per haps get of with twice 9 week, which think will suit the public quite as we'll.