84 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



for dinner, or the request for a " trifling loan ; '" and 

 the damp sea-weed which will keep the animal alive, 

 requires some covering to keep itself damp. I tried a 

 card-board box, well padded with weed, wrapped it in 

 paper, and committed it to the tenderness of a paternal 

 Government and a reformed Post-office, with this warn- 

 ing inscribed in majestic calhgraphy — 



WITH CAEE : LIVE ANIMALS ! 



I thought the Lacedemonian brevity and the note of 

 admiration might have their efl'ect. But, it is painful 

 to confess, that Post-office clerks appear to be imper- 

 fectly versed in the rudiments of zoology ; or perhaps 

 they pay slight attention to the literature of Inscrip- 

 tions ; at any rate they stamped with a vigour which 

 completely squashed the card-board box. 



The next time, I determined to follow my friend's 

 advice, and send the animals in a tin box, which, of 

 course, seemed the easiest thing in the world, until the 

 trial was made. I ransacked Tenby in vain. I asked 

 everywhere — I asked at impossible shops — I even tried 

 the bootmaker : he could not supply me. I offered 

 money, and hinted love ; but no tin box could Tenby 

 produce. The article was mythical. Tenby had mus- 

 taches and parasols in prodigal abundance ; pony- 

 chaises and sailing-boats obtruded themselves at every 

 corner ; the streets were full of formidable young gen- 

 tlemen from the fashionable parts (of Bristol), and nur- 

 serymaids with prize babies ; these, and much more 

 that was sublimely useless, Tenby had at your service ; 



