The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
The PosfInRn.s Whistle.

T wondered, when I heard the post
man whistle tonight. if my little folks
knew how it was he came to blow a
whistle when he had mail to leave.
You don't do you? 1 thought not.
Neither did /, until the other after
noon.
Mamma and I were calling on Mrs.
Burton, the lady who has that fine St.
Bernard dog, up on North Chestnut
Street; and, while we were chatting
together the postman brought her a
letter. This made her think of the
whistle story. Finding we had not
heard it, she told us how it was that
whistles first came to be used by post
men.
A long time ago, when they first be-
gan to have postmen in Brooklyn, the
men wasted good deal of time at
some house, because people did not
answer the bell quickly. At last the
head man decided that each postman
should call "Whoo-hoo" just as he
came to house. Then the people
would know tt was the postman, and
as soon as he reached the door, be
ready to take the mail. This plan
worked nicely, and the postman did
not have to complain any more about
being kept waiting; but, as great
many were not strong enough to do the
calling, the new law was very hard on
| them.
But eighteen years ago the calling
was all stopped, and in such a simple
way that the wonder was no one had
ever thought of it before. This is how
it came about.
Mrs. Burton had friend living in
Brooklyn, who was greatly interested
in a one-armed postman who came TO
their house. He always had CHEEKY
"Good-day ~ for whoever opened the
door, and was so obliging that every
body liked him. This friends children
used to watch eagerly for his coming,
and wish they could hear him tell
army stories. They knew he had been
soldier and thought he must have
been very brave one to lose his arm
in the war.
One morning his pleasant face was
missing, and strange postman
brought the mail.
The children began to worry about
their old friend. as day sfter day went
by, and still he did not come. AT the
end of week their mother felt that
something ought to be done, and went
herself to inquire for him at the post
office. Learning that he was at home
ill, she took his address, and started at
once to see him. She found the poor
man so hoarse he could scarcely speak ;
but he managed to make her under
stand that he really was not sick. He
simply could not talk aloud because he
had called "Whoo-hoo'' at the houses
80 long, when his throat was sore that
| be had lost his voice. She knew how
hard it would be for him to get other
work, and felt very much troubled
when she found his little children g
mamma was not living, and they had
no one to take care of them but their
papa and an old grandma.
Suddenly, while she sat there, think
ing of what could be done, bright
idea came to her. Looking at the man,
she exclaimed: II know! You
must have a whistle-such as the boys
use on the streets. That will be the
very thing! DON'T you see how it
would save your throat? You could
easily blow whistle, when you could
not call 'Whoo-hoo' loudly enough to
be heard across the room."
The man whispered something about
its not being "allowed"; but the lady
said: IT am sure the superintendent
will be willing to let you use one. l
will speak to him about it on my way
home; and, if you will go to the office,
as usual, tomorrow morning, l think
it will be all right. Indeed, I am so
certain it will be that am going to ask
you to let this little boy.walk over TO
the store with me; and he shall bring
back a whistle for you.
The next day the children were at
the window long before it was time for
the postman to arrive. BY and by,
away down the block, they heard q
faint whistle. Then it came little
nearer, then still nearer, till it was at
their very gate; and hurryiDg up the
steps was their own dear postman
Calling, Mamma, mamma! He's
here, mammal they ran pell-mell to
see the wonderful whistle which had
brought back their friend to them.
When the other postmen saw how
much better it was to whistle than call.
they asked the chief to allow them to
use whistles also. The other cities
heard what Brooklyn was doing, and
thought it so good plan that they de-
cided to give their postmen whistles.
So every time we hear postman
now we can think how much good
Mrs. Burton's kind-hearted friend did
with just little whistle.