I must go; a sweet good-night to you and little Rachel-till I come
back." The young man stepped out into the cold, dark night, and
turned his face toward the elegant home of the Jewish banker.

"Umph! umph! dis is a hard night for old Peter-cold wind, and no
stars. People ought to 'preciate de old carrier," grunted out rather
than spoke, a rather short, slightly bent old negro, as he stood
peering curiously out of the window of the dimly lighted, misty old
printing-office of the "Queen City Courier." Then turning around he
shuffled toward the door, ejaculating, "Bad night on my rheumatiz;"
and continuing, as he descended the well-worn stairs, "de boss just
give me a little of de w'iskey bitters-w'iskey bitters mighty good
for de rheumatiz. Maybe when dey warm me up good, I won't feel so
stiff, and de cold won't pinch so dreadful. Umph! umph! umph! ward
number two comes fust," and clutching the bundle of papers more
tightly, and gathering again the folds of the well-worn gray blanket
around him, the old carrier struck out, as briskly as the cold and
his stiffened limbs would allow, on his accustomed beat.

It was three o'clock in the morning, and for an hour he trudged on
and on, past block and square, casting the welcome household
visitor, "The Courier," right and left as he went. Suddenly he
stopped a moment to listen. "Dere, it's four o'clock," he said, as
old St. Luke's rang out the hour. "I'll soon be through dis ward,
an' in time for the up-town gentry too, as dey takes breakfast late.
Old Peter has a long round, but he don't mind dat, so he gits de
money. Den all de quality knows old Peter, and how de hats come off
and de ladies smile when de New Year comes round again. Humph!
Jingo! How stiff dis knee! When old Peter dead and gone, nebber find
anodder carrier like him. Peter nebber stop for nuffin, de rain nor