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Mr. Carlisle Wm. Wake, of Ormathwaite House, did this good 
service, making the usual declaration, which I still hold as a relic 
of his good nature; it bears date June 3rd, 1862. When Tom 
attained his sixtieth year, he retired upon a well-earned pension, 
and when I told him the amount, he said, “ Well, Mr. Crostet, I’s 
varra satisfied.” 
In the year 1854, a sub-office was established at Rosthwaite, 
and James Langhorn got the appointment of rural messenger 
through the late Mr. John Steel, M.P., who believed him to be 
related to Mr. Ben Langhorn, an esteemed old clerk in his office. 
James was quick-footed, and went this ever-increasing distance 
until he was seventy years of age. He went through flooded roads 
as often as fifty times in one year. The distance was increased 
by having to go to Borrowdale Gates and the Ellers. Once he 
went through a flood over Grange bridge, which he only succeeded 
in doing by the help of a young farmer who took his arm. He 
had to delivera letter toa Welsh clergyman who was corresponding 
about aliving. Having delivered the letter, the clergyman insisted 
that James should call on his return to take back his reply. 
“ Begging your pardon, sir, but I cannot; the flood is rising, and I 
cannot get back.” ‘But you must,” was the reply, “it is a matter 
of the greatest consequence to me.” James replied, “ And so is 
my life to me; I’ve got a wife and a small family.” James had 
two daughters as tall as himself; but he quietly told me that they 
were small in number, if not in stature. At seventy years of age 
he retired from the route, taking a pension, but was allowed to 
take a short round near the town as auxiliary postman, which made 
up his former wage, which he enjoyed until within three months 
of his decease, at the age of seventy-four years. He was very 
kindly treated by the numerous tourists who visited Borrowdale, 
to whom he was most obliging ; and he was frequently remembered 
by presents of books, and other tokens of friendship, on their 
return home, at Christmas and other times. He was a most exact 
and worthy man.* 
* The following appreciative paragraph appeared in the newspapers at the 
time of James Langhorn’s partial retirement :— 
Our RvRAL PostMEN.—The inhabitants of Borrowdale will learn with 
regret that they have lost the services of one of the most useful of public 
