Year: 1879

am not afraid Of hit of weather. and they


won't have to say to me that | shirke6.


Good night, sir -


He buttOned his coat tightly around him.


turned the collar up over his ears, pulled his


cap down close, gave Beauty the signal and


galloped away into the dark
''Ah, well, you are a brave fellow, and


I'll see You don't lose anything by it, said
the postmaster, as he closed the door, and
sat down by his own fireside


As Talbot, on his trusty steed, rode deep
er into the lonely country the cold became
more terrible.


lie was covered with snow that frOZe in
to a coating Of ice over him, and everything
tended to send his courage down as low as
the temperature itself; but he fought man
fully 10 keep up his spirits, although il was
hard work, for such night as this had not
been known for years.


One mIle-twO miles-three miles of the q.
road got over, and Cheetham still six miles
away, Straight onward he urged his way,
where all was dark before and on either
side, save now and then when, as he rode
quickly by, he could, through a cottage
window, see a cheerful freight CLEAN,
when he fancied there a group of happy
children around the hearth, with their father
and mother, and all else making home
bright and happy.


Then, perhaps, he thought of his own
home in Grays, of the brothers and sisters
there, of his mother, watching and looking
anxiously through the lattice, wondering
how he could be faring in all this, and pray
ing fervently for her boy, who would be
home again on the morrow if all went well


But enough of this: he must keep all
thought for himself now, and fight against
this drowsinesS creeping slowly over him.
There was work To be done; there were
mail bags to he preserved and delivered.


That was his work, and he would do it.
Six miles of the journey over and still three
more to Cheetham. He had lost all sense
OF feeling by this time, and scarcely knew
if the reins were in his hand, while the tears
that would come frOZe upon his cheek.
This was fight with terrible foes, but
Cheetham was only two miles away now.
and courage must live little longer Away
and away, Soho, Beauty. Forward,
That was the word


Two men stood out in High street, al
Cheetham. One was the Postmaster of that
ApNil- anu INT 'llllCl dll ubStltI NdllllH "
feed Beauty and bed her down for the night
The clouds were dispensing, the stars shOne
out here and there, and there was a pros
pect Of moOnshine by and by.


Il reckon he wont be here tonight"
said one of them, stamping his numbed feet
upon the ground.


Every likely not. How goes his time,
is it up vet p


''Well, he ought to be in very soon, if
he's coming at all, - was the reply.


As they were speaking, a horse with its
rider came gallOping in; it was Beauty
covered with foam, who, with her burden,
now halted before them. She knew tho
place too well TO need any reigning in.


''Welcome, Talbot - said the Postmaster.
''That's the way to do it Nine miles
against wind and weather. and true to your
time within a minute or two. Unstrap the
bags, boy, and then come in and have a
warm. But there was no move.


''Come, of with YOU, my man, YOU
seem over fond of this, more than | am any
rate"


Still no answer-siient and erect he sat
in the saddle.


The hOstler raised his lantern to the lads
face; the features were rigid, the eyes open
wide.


..Why. he is i'll, he exclaimed. Gle is
very bad, What shall we doi | believe
he is dying. sir.


Not dying but dead, for Death had met
him on the way. Found-found at his
duty.


The Postmasterli lifted him of in his strong
arms, but with difficulty, for the boy was
frozen fast to the saddle and his knees were
pressed tightly to the horses sides Just
has was taken down his face came near
Beauty's head, when the painting steed
shifted at II, expecting the masters kindly
word and touch. All. Beauty, You will
never see your master any more, If YOU
were able to think at all YOU never thought
YOU were carrying his lifeless body the last
mile Of the journey.


The intense cold had pierced his brave
heart and death had stolen upon him in the
yuise of sleep, rapidly sinking into a slum-
her to know no waking in this world