NUNBURNHOLME 63 



he nevertheless generally captured specimens that 

 he was glad to add to his collections. 



The days at Nunburnholme were never long 

 enough for carrying into effect all that the rector 

 had in his mind, and, although living such a quiet 

 life, he did not know what it was for time to hang 

 heavily on his hands ; he used to say that if he 

 had to kill time, time would soon kill him. 



He was not an early riser, being seldom up 

 before about a quarter to eight. Breakfasting at 

 nine, he was ready for his morning's work about 

 ten. The post generally brought him a consider- 

 able correspondence, and every letter was at once 

 answered. In the early days at Nunburnholme the 

 postal arrangements were of the most primitive 

 description. An elderly man, who in his way was 

 a great character, walked over each morning from 

 Hayton, through which the mail-cart from York 

 passed, and deposited the daily budget at the 

 Rectory somewhere between half-past nine and ten, 

 generally approaching more nearly the later limit 

 than the former ; he called again on the return 

 journey at noon. Postmen's uniforms were quite 

 unknown in those days ; our old friend always wore 

 a tall hat, and, strange to say, never carried a letter- 

 bag, so that it was impossible to distinguish him 

 as a postman at all. There was probably no other 

 postman in England to compare with him. What 

 he lacked in letter-bags he made up for in pockets, 

 which seemed to be studded about his capacious 

 coat in various directions ; indeed, so thoroughly well 



