The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-02
When the PoStn1an
Rings the Bell
By JOHN ANDERSON rAYNE.

y along the street and whom wa
/ see every day. none is of more
interest to US than the post
man. Be the weather wet or dry. cold
or hot, he IS always found al the an
pointed hour in his own particular
place. The sounding OF the IRE alarm.
that attracts the attention OF every
one else in the district. has no call for
him Though IL should be he rert
mouse on his route that was IN flames
he would find a way 10 deliver fbs
mail, or stow IL away IN his capaeIous
sack ana go on 70 the next house
ABOVE the burning one. satisfied only
10 90 MS duty as he knows and under
stands It.
The postman Is a conspicuous figure
IN the busy, hustling life OF our Amer
lean cities Every one knows him
his neat gray uniform makes him a
marked individual. To the man v-bo
wears It II is more then a uniform, Z,
IS certificate OF character. for under
the regulations laid down BY our wis.
old friend. Uncle Sam, only those who
are possessed OF certain oraU6ca-
uons along character lines are nrIv-
heged 10 be the distributors Of our
mail The man who wears 81 r77us4 -
sober. Industrious, not given n mr.
family. a good citizen. and have the
moral backing OF reputable men IN the
community. II matters little that he
Is able 10 stand the civil service ~
animation = he Il lacking IN +h.s.
tnings- So Il comes 10 pass that IT,
man wearing the gray uniform has %
eelVed the approval OF the Irnit,d
states Government, relative IN nv.
character, and the uniform he Usa-.
Is the certificate OF that approval
As the months and the wears 90 -,
ana 1he postman continues faitbf,,1 =
his work Of delivering the mail 49,.
= built up between him and the .
cipients Of his labor feelir,- =,
friendship that is more than the o.
binary friendship Of life. Con-t7,,o1I,.
receiving from him. and never s5,,,-s,
We unconsciOusly come 70 the pIaCs
Waere we regard him as the universal
aiIiloner OF bounty. and we honor a.
respect him accordingly anu
ne IS wiss man. too. and with .
WISDOM born OF experience knows bor
20 sympathize with those who bs-.
received rom HIS hand the Letter -,
ing OF sad news IN the far-orT bo-,o
tiue telepathist OF the heart fs he
ana without entering into voIubIe ~
tes1allons OF sympathy, succeeds =,
IIlnslhg ray OF hope 10 the 50
ueuta spirit with the thought. .sRer+e-
news may come tomorrow
Al the children on his ro,,+. L..
MN. They know him by nauoa a,6 -.
knowing them. gives them tn 49,.
mamma has been waiting ro- -
with a kindly smile. answers .sN-,+L
ing today. little one"
Chconsciously he learns much Of tn.
alLalrs OF the family to whom ne is
EeiFerlng the mail He watches tn,
1ace OF the mother as It lights with q
great JOY when letter IS brought
rom the boy IN the far-distant Vet
or the Philippines. He knows vvbe,
the oills come thick and cons+an+I,-
and knows whether or not the fsn,,i,,
IS having hard time to nska Mr.
ends meet. He knows OF the 49,.
away Of the daughter IN the bor,s
now she Is doing. and where sb. a.
living He learns the most sac,s6
secrets, and, all honor TO his nam.
he never betrays any OF the secrets
he has learned.
he Is courteous, gentle. disnfned.
persistent, kind No matter the sor-
row Of his own heart. he is a fountain
OF good cheer at all times. He blesses
inspires and binds up broken hearts.
and is genuine missionary OF the Cos
pei Of good VIII.
And when by order OF Government
the changes inevitable 10 life. or the
call OF death, he Is removed from our
route, we always miss him, ana won-
der why II IS that the new man Is 50
slow. so different, so cold and distant
But as the days go by and the new
man silently and honestly does his
work. we give him a place in our
hearts and out Of the mingling OF the
old carriers characteristics and thu
new carriers methods. and a con-
sciousness that all carriers are men
doing their work faithfully and well
there IS born into our minds a com
posite picture OF a true-hearted
American gentleman. the mail carrier
for Uncle Sam.
And so II comes that when the post
man rings the bell we are glad 70 well
come him. glad Of his smile. glad for
his messages, and glad 70 bid him
good cheer as he goes on his way. So
now, after having left the Iong-locked-
for letter. we say. as he takes his de-
parture. God bless. God bless our
mail