Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/125



Over two hundred years ago a boy in old New York wanted to send a valentine to a little Colonial maid he knew in Boston. It was not like our valentines of to-day. He wrote her a letter on a large sheet of ruled paper with a quill pen and sifted sand over it to take the place of a blotter. Then he folded the paper neatly, and addressed if on one side and sealed it with red sealing wax in the shape of a heart on the other side.

A man on horseback took the valentine part of the way to Boston, with other very important letters that he carried in a bag hung from his saddle. A stagecoach took the mail the rest of the way, but the reads were poor, and this old time mail carrier had to avoid Indians on the way.

It took a month for the valentine to reach Boston. It was almost Easter when the little Colonial girl broke its seal.

Listen, there goes our postman’s whistle! Wearing his United States Government uniform and carrying a great leather pouch the postman hurries Rh