Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-14
GARRY. THE COLLIE.


eyes, sir, am an old man now, and
rather feeble on my pins, but ! can re-
member when 20 mile walk, 10 mile
out and 10 mile home, was nothing to
me.
"You see, was country postman.
and used to take the letters from small
town to village lying 10 mile out ev-
cry morning. Aye, sir I've done tidy
bit Of walking in my time if it was all
reckoned up. Thirty-five years post
man at 20 miles day"
"You have indeed" I replied, "and
/ should think you must have met with
many adventures during your long, lone
~ walks in service which has extended
over SO many years.
"Only one adventure or mishap, per.
haps should say, the old man replied;
land if it had not been for 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 on the stone
flags Of the little cottage porch where
we were seated.
The summons was answered by a
young woman who came from the
kitchen, wiping her wet hands Oh
coarse brown apron.
"What do you want, father?" she
asked pleasantly.
"Just fetch Garry likeness, my lass,
and have care with it. / 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.
was not a little surprised to find
that the dear friend was large black
and tan collie dog. My curiosity being
aroused, begged the old man to tell
me the story, and here it is;
when had been about 20 years in
the postal service" began the old man
in his quavering voice, "a farmer one
day made me present Of colley pup
Of pure breed. I named him Garry.
As he grew up taught him almost ev.
erything dog could learn. He got SO
that he could just understand what was
said as we'll as any Christian.
when he was old enough, I took
him with me on my journeys, and very
soon he got so used to it that he really
seemed to think it was as much his duty
as mine, and when I let him carry the
satchel there was no prouder dog in all
England.
81 had to be up very early in the
mornings, got my letters as soon as they
were sorted. and be at my destination
by $3.50, where delivered them to the
postmaster in the village, who kept a
grocer's shop and postoffice 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, as one part Of it
ran along the edge Of 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, I never felt the least mi i
giving, no matter how dark the morn
ing, except when there had been a
heavy fall Of snow, and then I trusted
to the dog, who would walk on ahead.
By following his footsteps I found that
! never lost the path.
Zone dark December morning, the
snow lying thick upon the ground and
cold north wind blowing, started on
my usual journey in company with my
faithful friend.
Though muffled up in greatcoat and
comforter, the wind seemed to pierre
through all my clothing, and the hair
about my face was soon stir with ice.
I'VE shall have rough time Of II,
old fellow, ! said to Garry, whose only
answer was q short bark and a roll ii
the snow. Then. shaking his coat, he
settled down to his business as g guide,
going few steps In advance Of me.
1.-THE exertion Of tranping through
the snow soon sci the blood tingling
through my veins, and on I went, feel
ing as warm and comfortable a. circum-
stances would allow.
AFTER an hours hard walking, we
came to the old quarry, Garry, a. usual.
taking the lead.
1.-THE snow was almost knee deep
here, making it hard work for me, and
harder still for poor Garry.
"But we rlodded on, and at last came
10 the stump Of an old tree, by which T
knew that we were past the dangerous
part Of our journey.
1.-THE snow was not nearly 90 deep a.
we got farther ON, which made It much
better walking; but before we had done
another mile large fakes began to fall
thick and fast.
Knowing the danger Of being caught
IN snowstorm In that neighborhood,
I increased my pace and pushed on with
al possible speed.
h I'm descending ! steep incline Lost