These were also the times when the principal day of the month was Magazine day, and after the ordinary business hours were over every one stopped to put together each customer's magazines. I quite think that if there were not then a greater number of different magazines published, they had, certainly as far as this firm was concerned, a much larger sale. Anyway, it was a day that one felt thankful to see finished. At this period late hours were considered inevitable, for during the winter season it was frequently ten o'clock before we got away, while some assistants in the firm and in other book firms at certain times worked until after twelve o'clock at night. I remember, when speaking of this to a fellow-assistant, being told that this was nothing to what it had been formerly: a short Saturday afternoon and no Bank Holiday, and occasionally some of the people would only see their homes three times during the week; they had to sleep on or under the counters. Fortunately, all these absurd arrangements are now ancient history and never again likely to be a part of what is called civilization or business methods. I well remember my first holiday, if it can be so called. It was the Christmas following the September of my entering Simpkins. I wanted to spend it at Weston-super-Mare, and as Christmas came on Sunday, Monday was given as a holiday. I caught a G.W.R. train about ten o'clock on the Saturday evening. There was only a single line then to Weston, from a junction on the main line at which we stopped. From here, in a single railroad carriage with a white horse attached to it, we jogged for many miles and arrived at our destination at six in the morning. My friends were waiting for me, and we had a jolly Christmas. I started back by a midnight train on Monday, arriving in London at seven on the Tuesday morning. I had some breakfast and then went to business until nine o'clock at night. This was what was then called a Christmas holiday. But with all this, I can bear testimony to the kindness and consideration shown to the assistants by the partners of this period in the firm of Simpkin, Marshall & Co., especially Messrs. John, Frederick and William Miles; and as far as I am personally concerned, I shall always remember with a thankful heart the courtesy and consideration I received from them. These were the times of Old Moore's and Hannay's Almanacs, the publishing day of the former being a great occasion. At this time it was published by the Stationers' Company, as nearly as possible on November 21, at twelve o'clock. On the day of publication the Hall doors were opened, and the porter who first got through with a sack-load of almanacs received a gift of, I think, five shillings. There were always a number of people to watch this publishing event, and the winner was greatly cheered.