384 "Kings of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, anfc (Bun 



that far-distant Babylon of the South ! And how proud 

 they were of " oor Jock " when they heard how Lord 

 Minto had taken him to the house of Lord John Russell 

 himself, and how that great statesman and John had a 

 " rare crack " together ! Then there was the banquet to 

 celebrate the return of the traveller and prize-winner, 

 and the handsome purse subscribed by his admirers, 

 which more than covered all John's expenses, and left 

 him his prize-money intact. 



But there were fresh honours awaiting John. The 

 Hon. J. E. Elliott, then M.P. for the county, procured 

 for the literary shoemaker the appointment of village 

 postmaster, which it was thought would provide him 

 with an easier mode of livelihood than the cobbler's last. 

 It was a mistaken kindness, however, for John's habits 

 had utterly unfitted him for the routine of an office. 

 The rules and regulations perplexed and confused him. 

 He was like a fish out of water, and when the life had 

 been nearly vexed out of him he threw up the appoint- 

 ment in disgust. He told a friend who called on him 

 shortly afterwards that he felt himself when postmaster 

 "like a caged squirrel running over its never-ending 

 wheel ; but that when he was free he felt himself just 

 like the squirrel on the top of a tree, ready to jump 

 wherever he liked." 



So he went back with a light heart to his shoemaker's 

 bench and his fishing-rod. He had ample opportunities 

 for indulging in the sport he loved, for the Tweed was 

 far more a poor man's river then than it is now. John's 

 old friend John Haliburton rented the Mertoun water 

 at 15 a year, with a cow's grass thrown in, and the 



