The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-08-21
JORDAN is A HARD ROAD TO
TRAVEL.
Some Ups and Downs OF Mail Car
rier.

the many uliIlCultleS unUer WnlCn
rural mail carrier has to labor. They
seem to forget that his daily life is
endangered and that troubles, (of-
times uncalled for) trials, difficulties
and unpleasant happenings are his
to encounter every day. They rather
think ease, comfort, peace and plen-
ty to spare money. are his to COM
mand, and with this view in their
minds his position Is often envied,
and little deeds of kindness, or
words Of consolation and encourage
ment are forgotten.
1t Is the duty of carrier to serve
the department and the patrons of
his route to the best of his ability.
Never wavering in the discharge Of
his whole duty, both to his govern.
ment and patrons, always speaking
pleasantly to everybody, obliging and
accommodating as far as practicable.
II a carrier assumes q pleasant de-
meanor toward everybody. then
lots of people will expect him to
stamp their letters on a credit, for
getting the fact that Uncle Sam does
not do business that way. and IL he
seems little cool then he is consid-
dered selfish,
A mail route is generally oyer the
very roughest parts Of the country,
and the trains are almost invariably
behind time. and the carrier is lin
tied in time granted to return and 1t
takes hustling around under the most
favorable opportunities to make 1t.
These opportunities seldom II ever
come along the carriers way. for re-
gardless Of how the land lies or what
direction the road may go, nearly
everybody has imbeded in their
minds golden ideas-that all rows
must lead directly into the road, and
the Jim crow African receives orders
not to leave grass between the field
and the wheel rut, consequently the
carrier finds little mountains of dirt
six or eight inches high about two
feet apart In both ruts, or else the
plowman stands still and let's the
poor dumb brute pull him and his
plow around. cutting a ditch across
the road. This puts a quietus to the
mali carriers progress-causing the
breaking OF buggies. OF harness
pitching whips. mail pouches. &C., out
Of place. causing the mail man to
think or use some word, or words,
which he has a faint recollection. of
having used in the days gone by, set
Ting down his scanty. early breakfast
only too soon, causing hunger and
thirst to set up a howl. ere he can
reach home. causing him to think of
a portion Of a verse of poetry he used
to hear:
HOLY Moses and the Angels,
Cast thy plying glances down,
AND the family doctor came
Put soft mush polticc on"
Oh! we'll, that's alright, he has
Job from Uncle Sam. He gets big
money He has nothing to do but
tide. Forgetting that they have the
pleasure OF appeasing their hunger
and quenching their thirst around
the family fireside or under the cool
Ing shades. both of which the mail
carrier is debarred from while Mod
ding through heat and dust, rain and
sleet.
Mr.. Editor. We have q good many
oinerent classes Of people in this
world and I suppose 1t takes all kinds
OF people to make a world. We
nave one class that seems to be ig-
norant Of their duty toward their fell
bowman. who seem to have lost al, |
sense Of right or wrong, for they de-
light In running and whipping stock
oy you. riding cows wrong end fore
most with bundle on their back, or
frotting horses or popping fire crack
ers' and In fact all other devilment |
which they think might cause you to |
nave trouble with your horse, forget
ing that the mail carrier is only hu-
man. and may not always be able
10 control his temper. or that there
might be some trouble about clogging
Uncle Sans business If reported
We have others who seem to think
mat the proper place to erect their
mail box Is ten or more feet from the
road In cultivated field and when
kindly notified by the carrier TO nIace
his box by the road side, with a
srunt and One-eyed side-long look |