Year: 1866

ls was uos iouS oipCc shAs Wso on
journey through some portions Of the West
and stopped for the night at rude inn
away in the depth of the forest, whose CHIEF
recommendation was the frank, genuine
hospitality which was accorded to oil whom
fortune threw in the way of the enserpris.
ing landlord. 1t was about dark, before
the full shades had spread themselves over
the earth, that single horse stopped before
the door, and an old man alighted. l
should have pronounced him seventy years
years of age, and strongly made, with scarce
disposition to stoop in his frame. When
boy had taken charge of his animal, the
old man drew large mailbag from the
front of the saddle, and disappeared with
it in the gloom.


"Who is he ?" I ventured to ask the
host, who just then passed my chair.


"The old man with the msil?" Mine
host was Yankee, like myself. "Is is old
Jonathan Hockie-has carried the mail be-
tween here and B these ever so many
years"


s'Does he stop here II


"Ob, yes; be will DO over when he has
taken the mail to the post.ofice. He al
ways brings my letters "


I was glad of this, for I had taken sud-
den strange interest in the old man. What
vioissitudes and changes he must have seep
in his long experience How I wished
there was to be an opportunity for mo to
learn the history of his life, with all his
most eventful experience ! How many
scenes I might gather which would amuse
and benefit my readers at home.


1 was still rejecting upon these matters,
when the door opened, and the very object
of my meditation entered. was not doom.
ed to any disappointment on beholding him
closer, for his frame was still massive, and
his eye bold and clear. There WAS that
look of intelligence in bis feature, which
convinced me that he could relate the story
of his life with clearness, and in manner
to interest. Yet how did I know that he
had any story to relate-that he had ever
seen single adventure--or would compre-
hepd my meaning were / to seek such re.
lation? did not know it, but was re-
solved to ascertain.


So when the old man lighted his pipe
and took his seat upon the rude piazza, 1
drew cigar from my case and followed his
lead.


"Good evening, sir" I said, throwing
myself upon \ seat beside him.


BE took quiet but earnest survey of me
from his large, truthful eyes, and return
ed my salutation with courtesy.


1 proceeded to inform him of my object
in thus intruding, and hoped he would
crafty me if not too much of task.


"No intrusion, young man." he said,
with peculiar smile. "Fd like to talk
with such as you-men from tho heart Of
your great nation, though it's little
know of it after all. You sec have been
here away from all sort O. people such a l
used to know in my younger days, for was
born in New Hampshire, and lived there
for twenty years nearly. I know I'm q
great ways from there now. I've no kith
or kin on earth, that l know of, and all |
pick up is from few stray newspapers, ard
such passengers as chance to meet"


There was something so solemnly earnest
in the old mans tones, and the interest I
had felt in him increased at every moment.
We conversed for some time upon such
topics as seemed to interest the old man
much, for I felt that it would be more hon.
orable for me to seek his gratitude than my
own He listened with every appearance
of qualification to my account Of things in
general in connection with our national and
local prosperity. Upon these topics We con-
versed till it was so late that felt my Gu
riosity must give way for the night at least


"Do you leave at an early hour in the
morning?" I asked.


eyes," he replied "my route is so long
that it behooVes me to be upon the way as
soon as practicable. l dislike riding in the
dark, especially since am getting 80 DID,
I shall be seventy three in few weeks
an old man. Besides, I once had taste
of adventure which cured me pretty effect
ually of any desire to travel in the dark"


"Indeed !" I exclaimed, grati6ed beyond
measure. "Were it not too late, | should
be more than pleased to hear it from your
own lips"


cit is getting little late," he replied,
taking an antiquated but faithful sime-piece
from his vest; "but you have been enter
tanning me all the evening, and it shall not
be said that refused to tell you single
little story So, if you are inclined to hear,
1 will spin one, as the sailors have it."


l assured him of my qualification, and
after taking bolt, upright position, and
laying down his pipe beside him upon the
bench, the genial old mailcarrier commen'
ced:


GAS I told you, l was born down in good
old Puritan New England, and lived there
till I was some twenty years of age. My
name, l might say, is Jonathan Hockie.-
At the age of twenty had saved money
enough to bring me pretty far West, al
West was then. 1 had no kindred, being
an orphan, and so l came on till my slen
der means were exhausted. | couldn't vel
have gone much farther, for stopped a
the extremity, of stage travel, and that wa
in a region so wild that / shuddered wher
comparing it with the more civilized lane
D.