64 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



pocketed was he that, no matter how many letters 

 and book-packets might arrive by any given mail, 

 they were all carefully stowed away out of sight 

 about his person. There was, no doubt, some 

 method in the arrangement of his pockets, but 

 what the law was that guided that arrangement 

 no one was ever able to discover. 



Frequently there would arrive by post natural 

 history specimens, both living and dead bird- 

 skins, eggs, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, &c. 

 which correspondents had sent to be named, or 

 as presents to the ' naturalist of Nunburnholme.' 

 One morning, never to be forgotten, on the arrival 

 of the old postman a look of distress mingled with 

 amusement sat upon his well-known countenance. 

 A box full of caterpillars had somehow given way 

 in his pocket ; the creatures had thus made their 

 escape, and were seen crawling about him in various 

 directions when he made his appearance at the 

 Rectory door, to the no little entertainment of all 

 who were lucky enough to witness the scene. 



On another occasion, which the writer well re- 

 members, a small box arrived by post one day, 

 which was opened at the breakfast-table, when out 

 flew a fine specimen of the ' Camberwell Beauty ' 

 butterfly. No letter accompanied this present, only 

 a request that the receipt of it might be acknow- 

 ledged to "An old woman," Post Office, Lockington. 



It was sometimes a matter of great difficulty to 

 get all letters answered by twelve o'clock. On such 

 occasions the postman, to do him justice*, was accom- 



