MAILMAN AND CANDYMAN

It was April 1, 1972 when Frank Whalen from New Zealand began his career as a mailman. Mr. Whalen recalls that his first day on the job was the worst day of his career. “Maybe April Fool’s Day had something to do with it,” says Mr. Whalen. It was Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, and some people were awaiting the arrival of parcels, so the mail had to be delivered. However, the weather wasn’t cooperating very well. The wind started to pick up as he struggled to open the boxes, and place the mail inside. He was not familiar with all~ the names, so the task was not easy. The storm intensified, as he slowly made his way throughout the countryside. Finally, he reached Bear River, where he could not see anything, since by now, it was a white—out. Before he realized what had happened, he found himself in a farmer’s field. Luckily enough, he was able to get out unharmed, and with his bag of mail still intact. A good Samaritan pulled his car out with a tractor. He was a bit shaken up, but he was able to continue his journey to the. post office in Souris, before returning to his home in New Zealand. He recalls that it was not the way that he wanted to start a new job. Frank Whalen was a man whom many like to see coming, especially when he delivered cheques to their mailboxes. The children dearly loved to see him arriving as well. His mailbag, not only contained mail, but candy and gum as well, which he would give the children along the way. They usually watched patiently for him, and met him at the end of the driveway. Before Christmas, he would gladly accept all their letters for Santa Claus, and deliver them free of charge to the post office, where the post-master and his assistants would often answer the letters when time would permit. He would leave home at 7:30 each morning and make his fifty-mile return-trip, and be back home at noon on a normal day. His first task at the post office was to

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