e buried in a "vile and unworthy place," outside the
monastery.

The monks obeyed his wishes.

The fame and piety of this good man lived after him, and when many years
had passed, and the memory of his dying wishes had grown fainter, the
monks determined to adopt the good Swithin as their patron saint, and
give him a magnificent resting-place inside the cathedral.

Some of the older monks protested, but their objections were overruled,
and a day was set apart for transferring the good man's bones to their
new resting-place.

According to William of Malmesbury this act was performed on July 15th,
and St. Swithin's bones were no sooner lifted from their humble
resting-place than the most awful storm of rain that England had ever
known burst over the country. For forty days it rained without ceasing,
until another flood was feared.

The monks were terribly frightened, and expressed great sorrow for the
mischief they had done, but they did not give up their prize. The bones
of St. Swithin were kept in Winchester Cathedral, rain or no rain.

Ever since then, according to the same chronicler, if it rained on the
15th of July, or St. Swithin's day, it was sure to rain every day for
forty days.

* * * * *

A new postal regulation has just come into use.

It is at present only in force in thirty-six of our principal cities,
but if found to be as satisfactory as it is expected to be, will be used
all over the country where there is a free delivery of mail.

This new plan provides for a house-to-house collection, as well as
delivery of mail, and also for the sale of stamps by letter-carriers.

This is accomplished through the use of a combination letter-box, with
which each householder is supposed to supply himself.

The box is to be placed where the postman can easily have access to it
without whistling or ringing bells. Instead he will unlock the mail-box,
take from it all the letters that want mailing, and put in their place
those which he has to deliver.

It will be a very pleasant thing to be able to post letters without
going off our own doorsteps, but this is only half of the comfort which
the new box is going to be to us.

In each post-box will be a special envelope containing blanks, on which
the householder can order one and two cent stamps and postal-cards,
putting the money to pay for them into the envelope with his order.

The postman collects this envelope with the reg