162 THE EEV. J. G. WOOD. 



Next came a tour of some length, the towns visited 

 Including Sheffield, Maldon, Chelinsford, Lancaster, 

 Birmingham, Doncaster, Leeds, Sheffield again, Ulvers- 

 ton, Birmingham again, and Leamington. 



At the first of these places occurred the first of 

 many more or less severe injuries to the frame. 

 Throughout my father's career these accidents occurred 

 at tolerably regular intervals. Perhaps the railway 

 porters, in their eagerness to get the luggage out of the 

 van with as little delay as possible, would tumble the 

 great black parcel out unceremoniously upon the plat- 

 form, from the height of a couple of feet or more ; and 

 then an hour at least would have to be spent in repairing 

 damages. Or a cabman would lift it to the ground 

 with insufficient care ; or, more frequentty still, willing 

 but unnecessary and undesired helpers, with the best 

 intentions possible, would carefully put together pieces 

 which did not belong together, force the screws, wrench 

 the ironwork, and so create havoc which it was often- 

 times difficult to repair. Many were the makeshifts 

 which my father was compelled to adopt at different 

 times, and fortunate it was both for himself and his 

 audiences that he was no mean amateur carpenter, and 

 could often, by the aid of some ingenious temporary 

 device, erect and use his screen, even after it had received 

 some serious and unrepaired damage. 



And by degrees, growing wise from experience, lie 

 greatly strengthened the frame. The ends of every 

 piece of woodwork were carefully plated with iron ; the 

 system of packing was improved ; the case itself was 



