Running the mail 19

or on foot.

Our route had less than twenty mail boxes which stood on both sidas of the road. In winter, wooden or makeshift boxes were planted along the sleigh path which usually led through the fields. With few exceptions the mail bag would hold all the regular mail each evening, even though almost all boxholders subscribed to either the Guardian or Patriot. The priast’s mail was by far the most substantial and scattered parcels there would also be. Catalogue time twice a year added its special bulk since most residents were customers of either Eaton’s or Simp- son’s. The Christmas season was, of course, always heavy with the influx of cards and boxes, the latter at times filling the sleigh and decorating it with all the colors of the rainbow.

Patrons at the farther end of the route would routinely place letters in their empty box for mailing which meant for us a trip to the station next morning to get them on the train. Frequently in lieu of stamps there would be the necessary change to cover the cost of postage. Some simply put the loose change on top of the letters in the box, others would wrap the money and set it on top of the letters. Still others went all out by wrapping the letters and the change separately and tying the two neatly together. One gentleman from the lower end of the route, a carpenter by trade and an excellent penman of the old style, used to consistently line his envelope first with a board nail for finer accuracy and appearance.

Travellers coming off the train or from the store frequently sought a ride with the mail driver and at timas the latter would be asked to carry light merchandise from the store along with the mail. It was always interesting to see how soon the'people would come out to pick up their evening mail. That box at the road seemed to draw them like a magnet and some would even be waiting there for the driver to arrive.

Metal mail boxes on our route were of three kinds. In the minority were those called the “King Edward” type, very small with an equally small door. We generally disliked these for their awkwardness and tiny dimension which at times meant leaving Part of the mail on the ground. A few others were of normal size, I‘OOmy and affixed to a post in a stationary manner. These had a large inviting door, hinged on top. The majority, however, were of a third type, of regular size, with door hinged on the bottom. 011 the upper half of the door was a small opening for a letter drop, covered by a loose-hanging flip of metal. This box came With a triangular-shaped iron frame which was free swinging