post, on the
all-important day, as anxiously as a cat ever watched for a mouse. Peter
Packer, the bearer of these weekly dispatches, deserves a little notice. He
was a queer man, at least he had that reputation in our neighborhood. As
long as I can remember, he went his rounds; and, for aught I know, he is
going to this day.

Peter's old mare--she must be mentioned, for the two are almost
inseparable--was as odd as he was. I should think she belonged to the same
general class and order with Don Quixote's renowned Rosinante; but she had
one peculiarity which is not put down in the description of Rosinante, to
wit, the faculty of diagonal or oblique locomotion. This mare of Peter's
went forward something after the manner of a crab, and a little like a ship
with the wind abeam, as the sailors say. It was a standing topic of dispute
among us boys, whether the animal went head foremost or not. But that did
not matter much, so that she made her circuit--and she always did,
punctually; that is, she always came some time or another. Sometimes she
was a day or two later than usual; but this never occurred except in the
summer season, and it was in this wise: she had a most passionate love for
the practical study of botany; and not being allowed, when at home, to
pursue her favorite science as often as she wished, owing partly to a want
of specimens, and partly to her master's desire to educate her in the more
solid branches, she frequently took the liberty to divest herself of her
bridle, when standing at the door of her master's customers, and to gallop
away in search of flowers. She was a great lover of botany, so much so,
that, as I said before, her desire to obtain specimens sometimes interfered
a little with her other literary engagements; and I am sure I can forgive
her--

"For e'en her failings leaned to virtue's side."

Just so it was with Peter himself. No storm, or tempest, or snow-bank,
could detain him--that is, not longer than a day or two--in his weekly
round. But he loved the theory of making money as much as his mare loved
botany; and he was a practical student, too, and the road which he traveled
afforded a good many opportunities both for extending his knowledge of that
science and of practically applying his principles. So, between the two,
our newspaper sometimes got thoroughly aired before it came to the house.
But Peter was punctual--I insist upon it--for he always came some time or
another.

When th