Woe to the multitude of many people who make a noise like the roar of the seas, and to the rushing of nations that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! (Isaiah 17:12).

The Word, “Post Haste”

The word “post haste” came into usage during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Relays of horses were stationed in principal towns in England. When a letter was stamped “posthaste,” it meant “ride for thy life!” If a carrier was caught delaying on route, he was hanged!

Letters of the sixteenth century often bore a drawing of a letter carrier suspended from the gallows. Beneath the drawing occurred the words: “Haste! Post haste! Haste for thy life!”

Trainman Missed the Word, “Extra”

Frank Plewa, 59, of Calgary, was killed in a train wreck by a misunderstanding of instructions. The order read, “Hold all westward extra trains until 13:10.” Conductor Duby said he read the order over the dispatcher’s shoulder up to the word “westward” and, assuming the next word to be “train,” rushed out to notify the “crew.” That one omitted word “extra” sealed the fate of Frank Plewa.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.