Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-01
In Defense of
the Mail ~ ~
BY
WALTER N. EGGINTON

A DVENTUREST' said the rura
n mail carrier. reaching forwar'
and lightly fecking fly from the hors'
with his whip. Eyes, have had then
'-even on this quiet, country route.
recall one affair that happened on this
road, and not far from where we are
now"
The rural mail carrier is friend Of
mine, and sat beside him on the single
seat of the wagon enjoying the glori'
GUS country drive which it is his busi-
ness to take daily. The scene was peace
full and quiet in the extreme. In the all
there was only the hum of insects, the
purling Of hidden streamlets, the soft
sound Of waving foliage.
The road at this point curved around
a hill, skirting the base of It, and there
was not farmhouse in sight On one
side was the hill, rising abruptly sky
ward, well covered with thick growth
Of young trees and bushes, q wild, un'
cultivated stretch of country; on the
other side the ground fell away to q
babbling creek beyond which the land
was fenced of showing here field Of
waving corn, there a patch Of potatoes,
and farther on a bit of pasture land with
worn paths showing where the cows
were accustomed to make theiV way to
the water. The whole picture looked
restful and prosperous, typical bit
Of "up York state" farm country.
Farther on, on the other side Of the
hill and down in the valley, nestled the
little town of Corning, which we had
left some hours before In starting on the
Journey to Horribly Forks, a distance OF
some 25 miles.
The wagon was light and contained
besides ourselves only the huge leather
bag filled with letters. papers and mail
matter. This lay at the carriers feet.
between his knees, and from IT he tossed
letters and papers into the little boxes
which the farmers had erected near the
roadway to receive their mail, or, more
frequently, handed 1t out to the men
themselves who were stationed ez-
pectantly beside the boxea
when began TO work on this route, "
the carrier said, (which did for the
sake of my health which had been i'm
paired, II not broken, by the too close
confinement of shop, carried gun,
revolver mean, as most Of US DO,
Just to be on the safe side. There were
registered letters containing money IN
that bag quite often. and parts Of the
road are rather lonely. Besides, am
not big man and never was powerful
one So carried revolver In my hip
pocket, and felt secure. But as time
went on and the quiet and peacefulness
Of this part of the country impressed
me more and more, began TO grow
careless. Sometimes I had the gun
with me- and sometimes not II was Oh
one Of these latter occasions that the
exciting incident I have In mind &C.
Cured.
ut was q beautiful autumn day, and |
had reached the top Of HoEnby hill and
was about TO take the road that leads
down into the Forks, when old Farmer
Grlgger came hurrying down the path
from his house and hailed me, waving
In envelope. pulled up and waited for
him.
HE had letter. he told me in which
he wanted 10 inclose some money. As
vas nv custom. 10 such cases. told him
,e could give the amount to me to-
,ether with the price Of a money order
md the uusealed letter and I would
dive him receipt for the amount and
N reaching the post ONCE would see
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