know actually occurred in the mail service in 1844 at a country post-office at Aaron’s Run. in Montgomery Co., Ky. The mail was carried on horseback from Paris to Mount Sterling twice per week, by way of Aaron’s Run, where there was a small store, blacksmith shop, and physician. The store was owned and run by Dr. David O. Tully, his wife looking after it when he was called away professionally or otherwise. One day Mrs. Tully went to a neighbor’s to spend the day and Dr. Tully had a call to take him away also, and he left word with the old negro woman cook for the mail carrier to wait for his return to take out and put in the mail, etc., but it so happened that the doctor was detained much longer than he expected and the carrier, after waiting beyond the time, insisted that he would have to go on without leaving the mail for Aaron's Run. to which the old negro woman demurred. saying that the neighbors would all be in next day for their papers and letters, and it would never do to disappoint them. The controversy became quite sharp between the carrier and her, and at last, when she saw that he would go. she told him to just wait a little and she would take out the papers and letters that belonged there, herself, as ‘twould never do to disappoint the neighbors. So she got the key to the mail pouch. opened it, emptied it out on the counter, and proceeded to sort it out as she had seen her master do, putting part of both papers and letters in two piles; then she viewed them with a critical eye, to see if they were properly divided, and not feeling quite satisfied, she took some from one pile and put in the other and took another look. and remarked that she guessed it was all right now and putting the larger pile back in the pouch. she bade the carrier go. and left the other pile for her master to distribute. You can imagine Dr. Tully’s looks when he returned better than I can tell. Suffice it to say that much of the mail that should have remained in his office went on to Paris. while an equal amount that should have gone to Paris remained to go next time, and the old negro’s wish, that the neighbors should not be disappointed in getting their papers and letters next day, was not gratified, though we must give her credit for her good intentions.
The history and data of Lowder Hearne’s family is not given in as good order and connection as I would like, but it is the
Copyright (c) 1999, 2007 Brian Cragun.