We used to get most all of our mail by train. I think the only exceptions were things that were too fragile or too big for the mail bag.  The lady who worked at the post office was named Hazel.  Every afternoon just before the mail train was due she would put the outgoing mail bag in her little red wagon, and pull it over to the depot.  There was a pole there that she would hang the mailbag on.  There was a loop at the top of the bag, so when the train came through town there would be a guy standing in the door of the mail car.  He would kick out a bag or two of mail, and there was a hook on the side of the car that would grab the outgoing mail.  Hazel would load them on her wagon and take them back to the post office and sort the mail.  I always figured she took time to check out where everyone's mail was coming from, and spend a few minutes reading all the postcards.  I know she was a prime source of gossip.  I don't suppose any of you ever used a post card, but for a penny it sure was a cheap way to communicate.  Air mail was more, and you had to use tissue paper to cut down on the weight.  I remember spending one of the longest months of my life waiting for my Lone Ranger secret decoder ring.  It cost me a whole 25 cents.  After I finally got it, I figured it wasn't much use unless someone had one and could decode your message.  What the heck, I figured the Lone Ranger had one, so id I needed help I could send him a message.