3-074-885 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Joe Barker's Christmas Post, 1883. '''Mind you're home in time for dinner," rang in Joe's ears as he manfully trudges along his beat, bending beneath a heavier burden of missives in envelopes and hampers and parcels than any of her Majesty's active and trusty postmen bore on Christmas Day...His knees trembled under him. Nine, ten, eleven o'clock struck. Yet pluck wouldn't lighten load - legs wouldn't walk quick...Joe Barker feared he would never get home by night...beads of perspiration broke out in his wrinkled forehead. Past one o'clock; and he knew the turkey would be brownly basking in front of the fire, roasted to a turn..."Bless me, Polly! I have been dreaming a funny dream," said Joe Barker, as he stretched himself in his well-worn armchair, and...added, "'Twas that extrey help of pudding did it, Polly! Why, I actually dreamt I was postman and parcels post all in one! As for 'Sindbad,' Polly, I shall have a pocketful of Christmas boxes to-morrow; and you won't find me groaning under that load, never fear! I shall take you and Josie and Master Phil yonder to the first matiney of 'Sindbad, the Sailor,' or 'Cinderella,' at Drury Lane - which pantomime shall it be, my dears?".' From "Illustrated London News", 1883.