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Archiver > VERMONT > 1999-05 > 0927099603


From: "Jackie M. Botala" <>
Subject: [VERMONT-L] more old papers...
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 00:40:03 -0700


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A Milton Mail Deliverer

In the middle 1930's Hugh Blake led about as free and
unrestricted a life as any man can hope to. A trust fund
yeilded him a dollar a day. He took upon himself certain
duties but they were entirely of his own choosing.
Hugh lodged in a back room of Barr's store in Milton
and acted as watchman to the property. He arose early
and crossed the tracks to the station to see if the train would
stop to discharge a passenger or roar through. If someone
he knew got off the train he carried the passenger's bag
home for him.
After breakfast he went to the post office, where he waited
for the mail to be sorted and listened while other mail seekers
discussed the affairs of the day. When the mail was ready,
he called at the window and recieved the mail of six or seven
favored people, each package of which he placed in a different
pocket and carried up the street for delivery.
During this period the office of collector of customs in this
section became vacant. The name of John McGrath, a local
resident was mentioned for office. John was Hugh's favorite
mail customer, so he was much interested in the post office
discussion on the matter. One morning someone said, " I
think John could get the job if he went after it."
Hugh thought it was his duty to urge John to get busy, so
every morning he delivered John a little advice, along with
his mail:
"That custom job is a pretty good job, John."
The next morning, "Why don't you get busy on that custom
job, John? They say it pays a lot of money."
The next, "I should think you would go see Duffy in Rutland
today, John."
After a week or two of this campaign, Mr. McGrath got a
bit tired of it. One morning he was all ready for Hugh.
Before Hugh could say a word John said, "I've about d
ecided to go for that collector job, Hugh, and I think if I do I
can get it. Whats more, I'm going to take you with me. I'll
put you in a custom officer's uniform and you will stay in my
outside office every day. When ever anyone comes to see
me you can come in and tell me who it is. If I want to see
them you can bring them in. If I don't want to see them you
can throw them out. Do you think you would like a job like
that, Hugh?"
Hugh didn't say a word. He laid the mail on the desk and
went right out.
The next morning Hugh brought the mail in and laid it down.
He opened the door to go out and then turned and said, "I
don't think we want that job, John. It's going to tie us down
too much."

(Contributed by Hale Nye, Milton)

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