, 1896-07-24
GARRY. THE COLLIE.

member when a 30 mile walk, 10 mile
out and 10 mile home, was nothing 10
me.
"You see. I was q country postman.
and used TO take the letters from a small
town to a village lying 10 mile ont ev-
cry morning. Aye. sir I've done a tidy
bit of walking in my time if it was all
reckoDod up. Thirty-fve years a post
MAJ st 20 miles a day"
"You have indeed" I replied. land
I should think you must have met with
many adventures during your long, lone
ly walks in a service which has extended
over 30 many years."
"Only one adventure or mishap. per-
haps I should say, " the old man replied;
land if it had not been for q very dear
friend. long since dead. these old eyes
Of mine would never have seen this day.
Martha!' he shouted, at the same time
knocking with the stick OIL the stone
flags Of the little cottage porch where
we were seated.
The III was answered by a
young woman who came from the
kitchen, wiping her wet hands on q
coarse brown apron.
What do you want. father?' she
asked pleasantly.
Just fetch Garry's likeness, my lass,
and have a care with it. 1 wouldn't
have it broken for the world"
Martha went away, but soon returned
with a small photograph on glass and
placed it carefully in the old man g hand.
THAT, sir, is the picture Of the dear
friend who saved my life," he said,
passing it to me.
1 was not a little surprised to find
that the dear friend was a large black
and tan collie dog. My curiosity being
aroused, l begged the old man to tell
me the story, and here it is:
"When 1 had been about 30 years in
the postal service" began the old man
in his quavering voice. "a farmer one
day made me u present of a colley pup
Of a pure breed. l named him Garry.
As he grew up 1 taught him almost ev-
erything a dog could learn. He got SO
that he could just understand what was
said as well as any Christian.
when he was old enough, 1 took
him with me on my journeys, and very
soon he got 30 used to it that he really
seemed to think it was rs much his duty
as mine. and when I let him carry the
satchel there was n prouder dog in all
England.
II had to be up very early in the
mornings, get my letters as soon as they
were sorted. and be at my destination
by $3.50, where l delivered them to the
postmaster in the village, who kept q
grocer's shop and postoflice combined.
ut was pleasant enough in the sum-
mer months, but during the winter it
was a cold. dreary walk-dangerous,
too, in the dark mornings to any one
not used to the path, Is m part Of it
ran along the edge of q deserted stone
quarry, over which the unwary traveller
might easily step if he missed the beat
en- track.
but as Garry and I knew every foot
Of the way. l never felt the least mis-
giving, no matter how dark the morn
ing, except when there had been a
heavy fall Of snow. and then l trusted
to the dog, who would walk on ahead.
by kO1IOW luE HIS 1OotbpCpo I lOullu llIul
I never lost the path.
Zone dark December morning, the
snow lying thick upon the ground and
a cold north wind blowing, I started ON
my usual journey in company with my
faithful friend.
"Though muffled up in greatcoat and
comforter, the wind seemed to pierce
through all my clothing, and the hair
about my face wal oon stiff with ice.
"'We shall have u rough time Of it,
old fellow I said to Garry, whose only
answer was a short bark and q roll in
the snow. Then, shaking his coat, he
settled down to his business a. a guide,
going q few steps in advance Of me.
1.-THE exertion Of tramping through
the snow soon set the blood tingling
through my veins. and on I went, feel
ing az warm and comfortable as circum-
stances would allow.
"After an hours hard walking, we
came to the old quarry, Garry, as usual.
taking the lead.
1.-THE snow WA almost knee deep
here, making it hard work for me- and
harder still for poor Garry.
"But we plodded on, and at last came
to the stump of an old tree. by which I
knew that we were past the dangerous
part Of u journey.
"The snow was not nearly 20 deep as
we got farther on, which made it much
better walking; but before we had done
another mile large flakes began tn fall
thick and fast.
knowing the danger Of being caught
In a snowstorm in that neighborhood,
increased my pace and pushed on with
Ill possible speed.
"In descending a steep incline I lost
my footing and fell heavily, with my
right leg twisted under me.
Garry was by my side in IN instant,
and I tried to rise, but there was some.
thing the matter with my leg, and 1 fell
back sick and faint with pain. I tried
again and again. but every time I made
the attempt I suffered dreadful torture.
Plainly the limb was brokeni What wa
TO dot
II was lying there perfectly helpless
and . mowstorm was coming %.
''There was little chance Of anybody
passing that way unless / was missed
and . sess,h made But I might die be
1cEe then.
1.-THE postmaster at the village {,
which I was bound would think the roei
was blocked and that I bad not at
tempted tho Journey Il I did not tur,
Up a the usual time, end, On the othe
AAnd, my vito would think I had 20
A6e3y 10 my destination and was wait