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^^^^iiiiiliiiiiiiliiiililMiliM^^
I
THE
YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOMK
]
" Mr. Olsen withdrew the curtain, and revealed the Christmas Tree."
Murray Home.] [Page 27
1
VOUNGSTRRS OF
i._:VV IIOMI^.
!.A «. ilAM'i^V.
;A
aur neck'" (/
>CK & BOWDEN,
-"■ "•<
ree.
ige 27
[ .'HI right-:
T
1
I'
THE YOUNGSTERS OF
MURRAY HOME.
BY M. ELLA CHAKI-EY.
h'/th illvstkations by a. j. Johnson,
/
VH
jj// jmr^
JX.
Tim
!rt7
F
" ' That's an awfully long neck"' (/. 284).
WARD, LOCK & BOWDEN, LIMITED,
LONDON, (NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE.
1896.
\_All rights reserved.\
C ^ :st ■
■C H I 2
%
C O N 1 E N r s.
CHAT.
1. Till': I AlKY TALE . • • *
II. THE CllRlSTMAS-TREE
III. IN THE LUCERNE PADUOCK
IV. THE BABY SNAKE . • • *
V. POACHED EGGS AND A FIERY SPECTRE
VI. WORK AND PLAY . • • '
VII. THE GREAT STORM . . • '
Vni. "ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES
IX. THE MISSING BONBONS
X. THE FISHING PARTY .
XL COCKATOO ISLAND
XII. THE wanderers' RETURN
Xin. HOW HUBERT GOT HIS GUN
ibll93
, »»
1-ACE
9
■ 19
. 32
. 40
. 52
. ^7
79
89
104
118
131
145
159
6
CONTENTS.
«
CMAP.
PAGK
•XIV.
POCKET-MONEY
• I
176
XV.
INDUSTRIOUS HUBERT
•
191
XVI.
CATCHING MICE
•
200
XV] I.
AT THE CIRCUS
• •
213
XVIII.
SEVENPENCE .
•
225
XIX.
OLGA's SAVINGS
•
233
XX.
THE RECEPTION
.
246
XXI.
katrina's apology
•
257
XXII.
A WILD SWAN . . ,
•
266
XXIII.
HUB CONFESSES
•
278
XXIV.
MRS. SANTY's baby
;
286
XXV.
WILD HARRY
•
297
XXVI.
THE VIOLIN . . . .
•
308
XXVII.
FIREWORKS .
•
318
TO
MY DEAR MOTHER,
IN MEMORY OF A HAPPY CHILDHOOD,
THIS STORY OF CHILD-UFi:
IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED.
M. E. C.
1896.
" ^ / hird that docs not sing,
A bell that (iocs not ring,
A gun that zuill not /ire a sliot,
A horse that will not go a-trot,
And boys and girls who love not fun
Are ii'orthlcss, when all's said and done."
German . ' Folklore. '
8
THF.
YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
CHAPTER I.
THE FAIRY TALE.
WHAT was one to do on such a wet day ?
The rain was falling in a steady pour.
The garden, drive and yard belonging to Murray
Home were reduced to islands of mud surrounded
by seas of water. Even the wide verandah was
very wet, and mother had said the children must
come indoors, for Baby and Bertram had got their
shoes and socks quite soaked, splashing in the little
pools caused by the driving rain or the dripping
eaves.
" But, mamma, they are only such tiny ponds,"
Bertram had remonstrated. "They are not a bit
deep and don't come nearly up to the top of my
si'' lers ! "
9
lO THE YOUNGSTERS OK MURRAY HOME.
r. >
Mamma, however, was inexorable, and the children
were accordingly marshalled into the nursery.
It was nursery and school-room combined, and
though a large room, looked quite crowded when
the six children trooped into it and began to spread
themselves about.
First, thirteen-year-old Olga, the eldest, moved
over to the end of the big sofa that stood on one
side of the room. SI c took up a book and began
to read, but no sooner was she seated than Baby
clambered up beside her.
" Show me pictures, Ollie I Show me pictures ! "
" Anu me too ! " chimed in Bertram.
Nurse came at this moment, however, and seized
upon the two little ones in order to change their
wet shoes and socks ; and while she is doing this
I will tell you, in a few words, something about each
one of the youngsters of Murray Home.
You know already that Olga is the eldest of the
six. She is a tall, fair girl with very long and
pretty golden hair. Her face is not at all pretty,
I must admit, but it wears such a sweet, kind
expression, and its little owner is so good and un-
selfish herself, that no one, knowing her, minds the
big mouth or the freckles. The children all say
" Ollie is the besC
Next comes Hubert, two years younger than his
THE FAIRY TALE.
II
sister, and as dark as she is fair ; lie stands now
lool^ing out of the window with such an ugly scowl
on his face as would almost frighten you, if you
did not happen to know Hub, which is the name
the others give him. He is by no means a bad
boy, but he has a temper which ill brooks opposition,
and' just now he is saying angrily to himself,
'• Why should I have to come in, as if I was made
out of sugar and would melt ? This is just the time
to dig for worms to fish with. Who cares for wet
feet ? It's easy enough to change one's boots I "
Observing their brother's ill-temper stand the
next two in order, Ralph and Katrina, a pair of
mischief-loving mites, generally taken for twins,
they are so much alike, and really exactly the same
size. There is only this difference between them,
in fact— Katrina is seven years old and has dark
hair, while Ralph is eight, and fair.
When 1 tell you that these two are called by
their brothers and sisters Kat and Rat respectively,
you will, I am sure, agree with me that the Olsen
children were rather too fond of nicknames !
It only remains to say that Baby, whose real
name is Dorothy, is three years old, and Bertram
a staid young man of five, not long since promoted
to knickerbockers, and you will know all these
children, or enough, at least, about them to enable
12
THE VOUNCJSTKKS OK MUKKAV IIOML.
you to take an interest in all the adventures that
befell them during the Christmas holidays, which
had begun on this ver}' rainy day of which I am
writing, and afterwards.
By this time the little ones had escaped from
nurse, and with dry and cosy foot-gear were cuddled
up close to Ollie, while she showed them the pic-
tures and told them little stories about each one.
Kat and Rat had got their heads together and were
whispering and pointing to Hubert, who looked as
cross as ever. Presently they crept across the room
to where nurse's pin-cushion stood on the mantel-
shelf, and f^ach quickly pulled out a pin. Back they
came, watching that Olga did not see them, and
then they sat on the floor, each close to one of
Hubert's legs.
At a signal from Katrina, always the leader in
mischief, these naughty children gave their respective
pins a good dig into the calf of the leg nearest to
them.
Hubert turned round with a howl of rage and
pain, and seizing the miscreants, Kat in one hand
and Rat in the other, he sharply knocked their
head ' together; whereupon Kat set up a dismal
wail, quite like the animal she was named after ; but
Rat only called out boldly, "Well, it only served
you right for being so cross ! "
THK FAIKV TALK.
13
Hubert, in a very bad temper indeed by now, was
about to punish Ralph more severely still for his
impertinence, when Ollie came to the rescue.
" Oh, Hub ! He's so much smaller than you !
And you know you promised mamma not to get into
such rages !"
" I don't care ! " cried Hubert as, with a final
shake, he let Rat drop. "Why did they stick pins
into me? Isn't it bad enough to have to stay in
this beastly day-this beautiful day, 1 mean— with-
out being pestered by a lot of young ones ? "
And Hubert threw himself on the sofa, looking
more black and scowling than ever.
'< Why can't we go out ? Why can't we go out ? "
All the children now took up the cry disconso-
lately. ''There's nothing to do on a rainy day!"
Even Baby wished to know
**Why can't me go out and paddle in lose nice
likka ponds ? "
For these children lived so constantly out-of-
doors, 'that to be confined to the house for even a
single hour was irksome to them.
Nurse was away getting ready the nursery tea,
and Ollie felt the responsibility of the family on her
shoulders.
" Come all of you up on the sofa, and I'll tell
you a story," said she.
i
14
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
!;
They all piled up eagerly. Even Hub relaxed
his frown and condescended to open his ears while
Olga told a tale " all out of her own head/* as
Bertram said. - .
And here I give it you as she told it.
*• Once there was a beautiful island "
" Like our island ? " interrupted Rat, referring to
a tiny green scrap of land in the middle of the
river, opposite their home.
** Yes, only bigger and more beautiful ; and it
must have been in a big lake and not in a river,
because you could see nothing but water all around
it. Only one person lived on the island, and she
was a Princess."
" Did she have wings ? " demanded Bertram.
" No, only fairies have wings."
" And angels," put in Rat.
'' Now, children," said Ollie severely, " if you
interrupt so often the story won't be finished by
tea-time ! Well, the Princess "
'* How do you know she was a Princess ? "
queried Katrina.
" Because she wore a gold crown," replied Ollie
with some impatience ; and then went on very fast
to avoid further interruptions.
" The Princess was at first very happy, playing
with the flowers and pretty shells she found on the
THE FAIRY TALK.
15
—- "
island ; but after a time she became lonely, all by
herself, with only cockatoos and parrots to talk to
her. She used to dress up little tree-toads and
pretend they were dolls ; but though they were
nice little things and she was fond of them, she
often longed for real dollies and a live playmate.
" Now there was a very wise old nanny-goat living
in a cave on the island, who used to give the
Princess milk ; and though the Princess did not know
it, this goat was really a witch 1 "
This announcement made a profound impression
on the audience. Ollie paused while Bertram
heaved a long-drawn " Oh I " and Kat and Rat, with
sparkling eyes, bade their sister " hurry up and tell
the rest !"
" One day when the Princess was milking the
goat, she said, * Dear old Nanny, I am so lonely !
I think I shall die if some one does not come to
play with me ! ' The goat nodded her head so
knowingly that the. Princess cried out, * Do you
really understand me, you dear old thing ? '
" Then the goat nodded her head again, and, skip-
ping away, climbed nimbly up the side of a steep
rock which overlooked the lake. I'here this strange
animal stood up on her hind legs, and began to
wave her fore-feet about wildly. She turned around
three times, dancing on her hind legs all the time,
i6
Till-: YOUNnSTKKS OF MURRAY IlO.MK.
and the little Princess watched her eagerly, wonder-
ing what was going to happen. She was a little
afraid her wise old Nanny must have eaten some
of the crazy-weed that grew in places on the island,
and that she would jump into the water next and be
drowned. Then the poor little Princess would have
been lonelier than ever ! "
" But if she was a witch she would know it was
crazy-weed," objected Bertram.
" So she did, dear," replied her^^sister, " and that
was not what was the matter with her. Soon the
little Princess saw her spring down the rock again,
and along a path which led to the beach ; and she
followed, though she could not go so quickly as the
goat. Just as she reached the water's edge she saw,
sailing up to the shore, a beautiful little boat, which
shone brightly, because it was made of gold. The
name was on the prow in letters all made of
pearls "
Here the little story-teller paused, for she could
not think of a name to bestow on her little craft.
" Oh, Hub ! tell me a name 1 " she said.
"The Fairy Fancy ^^ the boy suggested, softly.
The frown had long since vanished from his face,
and he was listening with as much interest as big-
eyed Bertram to Ollie's little tale.
*' Yes, the Fairy Fancy^^'' she continued. ** The
M K.
Tin: FAlkV TALE.
17
, wondci-
is a little
ten some
le island,
xt and be
)uld have
i\v it was
and that
Soon the
ck again,
and she
:\y as the
she saw,
)at, which
Did. The
made of
she could
craft.
:d, softly.
his face,
st as big-
d. " The
letters were made of pearls, and a beautiful scroll
surrounded the name, all done in opals and
rubies "
"Australian opals? "asked Ralph in a busincss-
" ' SHE SAW .
A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOAT.
like way, having heard his father talking with an-
other gentleman about native gems.
Olga laughed.
*' Very likely 1 " she said.
" But the little Princess hardly looked at the gold.
M
lb
TIIK YOUNGSTliKS Ol-' MURRAY HOME.
ur pearls, or rubies ; she had only eyes for the Prince,
who sat in the stern of the boat and steered it to the
shore. When the iveel of the Fairy Fancy touched
the sand he sprang out, and running up to the
Princess, he kissed her and said, —
" ' Dear little sister and playmate, I had been
sailing over the water, and looking f< you this
many a day, when at last a fair breeze ,prang up
that blew me straight to this island. And here I
lind you ! *
'• * Oh, I shall be quite happy now ! ' said the little
Princess.
*• Then she turned to look for the goat, but in her
place there sat an old woman with grey hair and a
wise, kind face, who after that took care of the little
Prince and Princess. They called her Granny.
" And that is all."
Very opportunely at this moment nurse brought
in the tea.
Olga and Hubert, who had their evening meal
with their father and mother, went away ; the former,
to read her book in peace ; the latter, to hunt for his
beloved worms. For the rain had at last ceased,
and William, the gardener and weather-prophet at
Murray Home, was said by nurse to have predicted
tine weather for the morrow.
m
CHAPTER II.
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
PREPARATIONS for Christmas were in the
air, and, as was suitable and right for the
time of year, the weather was very hot.
Should any English children chance to read this
story, they must not think this strange, when they
remember that the Olsen family lived on the banks
of the River Murray, which a glance at the map
Will show them to be in Australia. In this wonder-
ful country Christmas comes at midsummer; at
Which se?>on the heat is often sufficiently intense
to cook the eggs for supper, or to heat the water
for washing up, by merely placing these articles
in the sun's rays for a short time 1
In spite of the great heat, however, all the family
at Murray Home, from Baby upwards, and including
Mary the housemaid, cook, nurse, and even William
the gardener, were on this Thursday morning in the
kitchen, engaged, one and all, in the mixing of the
Christmas pudding.
19
II
20 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
It was an orthodox plum-pudding, containing all
the good things that people generally put into
Christmas puddings ; and every one about the place
had to have a hand in the stirring of it, *' to bring
good luck," cook said. Even grave and dignified
papa had been brought in by mamma to give the
pudding a stir. As for Baby, she nearly tumbled
" holus-bolus " into the very midst of the mixture,
in her mighty efforts to wield the big spoon I
" It's a good thing mamma caught her in time,"
Bertram said gravely. " The pudding would have
been quite spoilt ! "
" Not at all ! " replied papa. " It would have
been all the sweeter 1 Would it not, Mother
Bunch ? "
Whereupon he seized the chubby little girl, and
lifting her on to his shoulder, he danced round the
kitchen with her in such a lively manner that he
was obliged to mop his face after the exertion.
The other children watched him in amazement,
for their father, as I said before, was generally most
grave and dignified.
*' Come, Alice, before I forget myself further.
The Christmas pudding aiT'xts my nerves, I think ! "
and with a laugh Mr. Olsen drew his wife out of
the kitchen with him. -
" This weather is enough to take the starch out
4
ME.
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
ai
aining all
put into
the place
* to bring
dignified
give the
tumbled
mixture,
)on 1
in time,"
uld have
jld have
Mother
girl, and
ound the
that he
>n.
azement,
illy most
further.
think I "
e out of
arch out
of any one I " remarked William to cook, when the
master and mistress had disappeared.
<< Olga ! I want you ! " IvI's. Olsen was then heard
calling from the verandah, and Ollie, looking very
important, went out too.
The other children ran •i^ith one accord to the
kitchen door, and watclied, with curious eyes, their
sister disappear into the house.
The kitchen, with the servants' quarters, at Murray
Home, was separated from the main building by a
broad, covered passage. The house itself was a large
stone edifice, comfortable, roomy, and cool, except
in the hottest weather, when no place was cool.
A wide verandah ran the whole way round it, and
orr the east side, in one corner of a pleasant green
lawn, stood a large round summer-house, the walls
and roof of which were entirely formed of ever-
green creepers ; the English ivy and the semi-tropic
passion-vine mingling their contrasting greens as
they grew freely, according to their own sweet will.
On this green bower the children intently fixed
their eyes as soon as Ollie had disappeared into
the house. Had they not been forbidden to enter
it since Monday? And was it not "hard lines"
to be deprived of their coolest retreat in this
hot weather? They might not even play on that
side of the verandah, for fear of catching some
22
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
glimpse of the mysteries going on within those
leafy walls !
" There goes Ollie ! " cried Hubert, as their sister
emerged through a glass door at the side of the
house and crossed the lawn. " I knew that's where
they were bound for ! Mamma too ! And carrying
parcels ! And mamma has the hammer under her
arm, as usual ! "
" Mary was burning some pieces of lovely paper
this morning," remarked Kat pensively, " all white
and gold with pink roses ; and there were some
little snips of ribbon and lace, and lots of other
things, only she would not give me time to look
but popped them right into the fire. Mean thing ! "
" What are they doing ? " asked Rat for the
fiftieth time ; but there was no one to answer him ;
at least, satisfactorily.
To be sure, Bertram thought that perhaps mamma
and Ollie were engaged in cutting out paper mats
from the pretty paper ; but this suggestion was
treated with scorn by the older ones.
The longest waiting comes to an end, however,
and on the next Saturday the children were told
the meaning of all the mystery. As the following
day, Sunday, was Christmas Day, they were to
have a Christmas-tree in the summer-house that
evening, and this was to take the place of the usual
J
m
E.
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
n
those
r sister |
of the 1
> where ^
irrying
ler her
' paper
white
^ some
other
:o look
ing ! "
or the
r him ;
lamma
r mats
11 was
wever, |
e told 1
owing ■
-re to H
i that ■
usual H
hanging up of stockings, wiiich iiad been the annual
custom at Murray Home as long as the children
could remember.
"And not hang up our stockings at all?" ex-
claimed Kat and Rat in melancholy tones.
Even Hubert look disappointed, and Bertram,
after struggling with his feelings for a few seconds,
burst suddenly into bitter tears. Upon this, Baby,
not to be outdone, lifted up her voice too, without
in the least understanding what it was all about,
however, and for a few minutes nothing was to be
heard but weeping and wailing !
This scene occurred at the breakfast-table, where
they were all seated, when Mrs. Olsen began to
unfold their plans.
In a moment Bertram was in his mother's arms,
and Baby in her father's, and comfort and kisses
were freely administered. It was some time before
the sobs ceased, however. When there was a calm
at last, and their mother, looking up, caught sight
of all the melancholy faces that surrounded her, she
threw back her head, and laughed so heartily and so
long, that finally the children were constrained to
join in with her, though in rather a doubtful fashion.
" You silly, silly children ! " she cried. *' You
don't know what a Christmas-tree is like, and you
think you are not going to have any Christmas at
24
TIIK YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
■ II
all ! Wait till to-night and then tell me if you
are not satisfied ! "
** But, mamma," whispered Bertram tremulously,
" there's Santa Claus, you see. He won't give
us any presents if we don't hang up our stockings ! "
and the poor little boy nearly broke down again,
for his faith in the Christmas saint was implicit,
and the thought of ignoring so important a person-
age, grievous to him.
Mrs, Olsen considered awhile.
" Well, children," she said at last, " if you -like you
may hang up your stockings as usual before going to
bed to-night. I don't think Santa Claus will put
very much in them, because of course he will know
that you have had presents off the tree ; but very
likely he will leave some little thing behind him to
let you know he has not forgotten you ! "
Hub and Ollie exchanged wise glances while
their mother was delivering this speech ; but Kat
and Rat, who still retained their childish belief in
Santa Claus, and, above all, I5ertram, looked im-
mensely relieved when they heard it.
After this they all began to talk about the tree,
and to speculate as to what it would be like.
Bertram, now that his mind was easy on the subject
of their old friend, was the most interested of all, and
amused every one by asking, —
THE CIIRISTMAS-TKEE.
25
you
bsly,
I give
rain.
" Papa, arc the pretty things on the Christmas-
tree hitds first, and then do they giOW into toys'? "
At five o'clock that evening all the young ones
had their tea in the nursery — even Hubert, who felt
that he was submitting to an indignity, and conse-
quently was not very amiable. Having seen Mary
carrying a tray with tea-things and bread and
butter and cake into the library, he tried to slip in
after her; but the door was promptly shut in his
face by Ollie, who called through the key-hole in
her most motherly tones, —
" Now, Hub, do be a good boy, and go and have
tea with the children ! "
After the hasty meal in the nursery was con-
cluded, there was a great washing of hands and
faces, brushing of hair and donning of best apparel
to do honour to the occasion.
Bertram wore a blue serge sailor suit, just like his
brothers', and for the first time in his little life he
had pockets in the trousers. O blissful occasion !
Most of us can remember our first pocket, whether it
came in a pair of knickers or a tiny frock. The
little boy was pompous and happy, and no one
could persuade him to take his hands out of the
new receptacles for an instant even.
Katrina looked very smart in a pink delaine
frock with a broad pink satin ribbon to match,
26
THE VOUNCSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
i
tying her little dark pigtail ; while Baby in white
muslin, with a blue sash tied in a bow nearly
as big as herself, and her pretty goldy-brown hair
curled in nurse's best style, looked the darling she
was.
"The bell! the bell!" called Hubert from the
verandah, where he had been stationed for some
minutes, listening for the summons.
They were not slow to respond, but on the very
first stroke were, with one rush, out of the nursery,
around the verandah, and arrived at the entrance of
the summer-house, before which hung a thick red
rug.
Here they found two little playmates, George and
MoHie Hawthorne, who had been invited to share
their pleasure and with whom they now shook hands
rather shyly, as children do, even with their best
friends, when they feel the circumstances unusual.
Meanwhile Mr. Olsen withdrew the curtain and
revealed the Christmas-tree, standing in all its
beauty in the very midst of the round summer-
house.
What a sight it was, to be sure, blazing with
lights to the very topmost branch, and hung with
every pretty thing that heart of child could desire !
Shall I tell you about some of these pretty things?
Bags of sweetmeats, blue, yellow, red and green.
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
liung from every branch ; gilt walnuts and eggs were
suspended by bright ribbons ; sugar birds of every
colour perched on the twigs ; pretty baskets and
boxes of many shapes there were too, and bright red
cherries hung in profusion in every available spot.
These last were no sugar imitations, but the genuine
article, and formed a pretty decoration, although a
Murray pine bearing a good crop of cherries was
certainly a funny sight!
And, most important of all, there were the toys
—birds of the strangest plumage, and woolly
sheep, whose fleece rivalled that "Mary's little
lamb " for snowiness ; there were balls, and trumpets,
and whips ; a noble ship in full sail ; a fierce, black
bear ; a huge drum, and dolls great and small.
Not one of these children had ever seen a
Christmas-tree before, and they stood before it quite
still for a minute at least, silent and open-mouthed,
contemplating the brilliant revelation.
" Now, children, we will sing a hymn," said Mr.
Olsen, "and after that you must listen while I
speak a few words to you."
The piano had been moved to the library window-
door, which was just across the lawn from the
summer-house, and Ollie played for them while they
sang, "Hark, the Herald Angels!" with happy
voices and smiling faces.
zS
THE VOUNC.STERS OF MURRAY HOME.
.»
*>
Then Mr. Olsen asked, —
" Whose birthday is it to-day ? "
And they all answered, —
"Jesus' birthday."
" Yes, on Christmas Day nearly two thousand
years ago, God gave to all the people in the world
a great and wonderful gift. He gave His own Son.
This was to show us how much He loved us, and to
win our love for Him. God gave us the best He
had, and so, in remembrance of Jesus' birthday, we
give our dear ones on Christmas Day the best we
have too. But remember, children, the best gift
does not mean the most costly one, but the one that
comes from the most loving and unselfish heart."
After these few words, to which the children
listened attentively, they were invited to walk around
the tree and examine it to their hearts* content.
Then the work of taking down and distributing
the presents was begun, and the excitement was
soon at its height.
I cannot begin to tell you all the gifts those lucky
children received. The brothers and sisters had
prepared little presents for each other which were
put on the tree, and there were besides, remem-
brances from aunts and uncles, and little cousins at
a distance. From their own good father and
mother Olga received a beautiful writing-desk ;
■1
,jl5
>
:*^i'
m
THE CIIKISTMAS-TREE.
29
Hubert a tennis racket and shoes, the desire of the
boy's heart, and Katrina a dolls' house. This
mansion, which had been manufactured by Mrs.
Olsen, with Ollie's assistance, deserves a little
description. It contained four rooms, and, with the
"THE WOOLLY BLACK BEAR WOULD TRAVEL A GREAT DISTANCE
ON THE VERANDAH."
exception of the kitchen, was papered throughout
with white and gold paper covered with pink rose-
buds ; it was, moreover, furnished in the most com-
plete and charming manner, and was inhabited by a
family of four diminutive dolls, a father, a mother,
and two children.
T
'Rfmw
30
Till-: VOUNdSTEKS 01'" MURRAY llOMK.
Rat received a box of tools. " Really good ones,
like William's," he said. Bertram had the ship in
full sail, the name painted on its side being "The
Flying Dutchman " ; and Baby was made completely
happy with the woolly, black bear, which, after
being wound up, would travel a great distance on
the verandah, moving its paws and growling at the
same time in a most blood-curdling manner.
Of course there were presents for the little guests
as well, a book and a doll for Mollie, a paint-box
and the big drum for George ; and something for all
the servants too, not to speak of a smoking-cap for
papa, a gold pencil-case for mamma, and for each and
every person a bag of sweets and a box of chocolates.
By the time all the gifts were distributed and
nothing left on the tree but the decorations, the
lights had burnt quite low and the business of
extinguishing them began.
This was great fun for the little folks. Even
Baby trotted around, puffing out her fat cheeks to
the utmost, and blowing with great energy, but
without producing the slightest effect.
Bertram, who had been obliged to take his hands
out of his pockets to hold his numerous posses-
sions, was content to stand still and watch for the
dangerous little tapers that were bent on setting fire
to the tree, as they burnt to their sockets.
■1
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
31
•* Look ! look I " he would call out in great cxcitc-
inciit when he saw one ilaring up. " The tree's on
lire!"
When at last they were all blown out, even to the
very tip-top one of all, the children, laden with their
treasures, trooped back into the house once more.
For it was already dark and the mosquitoes were
biting vigorously.
"Just as if they didn't know it was Christinas,
and you have to be kind," remarked Bertram
indignantly.
A little more play and talk and then good-bye
was said to Mollie and George.
** To bed ! to bed ! " cried mamma, coming in from
the big folks' evening meal.
So the toys were picked up and put in a safe
place, and then first the little ones and afterwards
the bigger ones disappeared for the night.
Not, however, before the stockings were all duly
hung in a row along the guard, which stood, summer
and winter, before the nursery fireplace.
Tired out as the children were this important
ceremony was not forgotten 1
■i
I!
CHAPTER III.
i
IN THE LUCERNE PADDOCK.
CHRISTMAS DAY had passed quietly and
happily.
The stockings were found to contain something
for each ; a rag doll for Baby, a mighty train of cars
for Bertram, and for the others books. Besides,
there were " lollies," of course, and in the toe of
each stocking a pi^^ce of money ; a whole bright
sovereign for OIlie : h.i.lf that amount for Hubert;
and for the others nrw half-crowns.
" I'd rather have my money than Hub's," said
Bertram as they compared notes. " It's ever so
much bigger and it's new ! "
'•That's because you're a silly little boy," returned
his brother loftily.
All the family went to church in the morning,
excepting Baby, who was of course too little. She
was allowed to have her dinner with the others to
make up, however, picking a bone of the roast
turkey with the best of them.
32
IN THK lAJCERNK I'ADDOCK.
33
lietly and
something
ain of cars
Besides,
the toe of
ole bright
r Hubert ;
Lib's," said
s ever so
H
returned
2 mornmg,
little. She
i others to
the roast
When Mary brought in the plum-pudding, all
ablaze, she was filled with amazement not untinged
with fear, for the little maid's memory did not reach
back to December 25th of the year before.
" Did Susan forget to cook it ? " she wanted to
know ; and when Hubert burst into a roar of
laughter, she said in her most severe manner,
" Don't prclume to laugh at me, Hubert ! "
Early Monday morning the children were all
astir as usual.
First to come out of the nursery, pell-mell, in
their customary manner, were Kat and Rat, and
after a visit to the big apricot-tree, which was now
loaded with ripe fruit, they decided to take a turn
in the lucerne paddock.
" We can get mamma a bunch of white clover ! "
said Rat.
'* Yes," agreed his sister, " she likes that. And
afterwards we'll go and look for snake's-eyes along
the hedge."
Katrina meant a small, greeny-white flower, with
a dark centre, heavily perfumed, which grew there-
abouts in sheltered places and which the children
called '* snake's-eyes." As it turned out, however,
they were shortly to be confronted by a real snake's
eyes.
After a race to the paddock, they began to hunt
3
1
i ,
34 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
for the white clover, of which a few rare plants vv^cre
scattered here and there among the purple lucerne.
Kat had just found a nice clump when Rat called
to her in great excitement from a little distance.
" Come here, Kat 1 Quick ! quick ! "
Dropping her clover, the little girl ran as fast as
her legs would carry her.
Her brother stood bending over an old board
which he had slightly raised from the ground, while
he peeped underneath it.
" What is it. Rat? " she asked, all out of breath.
" I believe it's a live snake ! " cried Ralph
eagerly. *' Take care ! It may bite you ! " he
added.
But in spite of the danger Kat could not resist
poking her inquisitive little nose almost under the
boards in her attempts to make out the snake, which,
more frightened of the children than they were of it,
had squeezed itself as far back as possible.
" It's only quite a young one," Rat said, after a
long look. " I don't think it's any longer than my
arm. You stay here, Kat, while I run and tell
William. Perhaps he could catch it alive, like he
did that one last summer."
** I'll tell you what to do. Rat ! " said Katrina ; and
then, lowering her voice to a mysterious whisper,
she continued, ** Let i/s catch it and put it in a
;s were
:eriie.
t called
;e.
fast as
I board
\, while
reath.
Ralph
il" he
t resist
der the
, which,
ire of it,
, after a
.nan my
and tell
liice he
na; and
whisper,
it in a
IN THE LUCERNE PADDOCK.
35
bottle, like William did the other one, and let us
keep it for our very own and not tell any one about
it. That ivoi(/d be a grand secret ! "
This little girl dearly loved a secret, I must tell
you.
Ralph was struck dumb by the daring of his
sister's proposal.
He did not care about the secret, but the idea of
keeping a snake in a bottle, feeding it through a
hole in the cork, and all their very own, was fascin-
ating in the extreme.
" But what would mamma say ? and papa ? " he
faltered at last.
" We wouldn't tell anybody, I tell you," replied
the Uttle girl, still speaking in the same mysterious
whisper. Ther she added persviasively, " It's only
a little tiny one, and papa said there was no danger
when William had that other one ! "
Rat peeped under the board again.
" I believe I could do it I " he said at last, looking
up, his face aglow with excitement.
" 1 know where there's a bottle with a cork in it ! "
cried Kat; and without waiting for another word
from Rat she was oft' like a flash.
In a few minutes she returned carrying an old
pickle-bottle. The cork was easily removed. As for
the mustard, some of which still clung to the sides,
" 'il
i
36
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
I i
the children thought " very Hkely the snake would
like to eat that," so wasted no time in washing it
off!
Then Rat proceeded to look for two sticks, for he
remembered distinctly how William had cauc'l t ;v^.
reptile. When two suitable ones were founa, 'jor!,
and strong, these daring children turned back the
board fully, and there lay revealed a young snake,
about fifteen inches long, and as big round as Kat's
thumb. The little creature tried to creep again
under the board, but Rat promptly seized it, not far
from the head, by means of the two sticks, one of
"which was held in each hand.
He showed greater dexterity than one would have
expected from a boy only eight years old, but then he
was nc^ hindered by any feeling of nervousness.
" Now, Kat, the bo ttle, quick ! "
And Katrina held the bottle gingerly, while her
brother, without much trouble, since the neck was
wide, managed to poke the serpent's head into it.
Then he loosened his hold with the sticks, and it
quickly wriggled itself wholly in.
Ralph pounced upon the cork, and pu- .'d it
quickly into place, and then the two children sur-
veyed their finished work wiih prido and satisfaction.
" The cork isn't very tight, bat 1*11 p^^t another one
soon," Rat remarked cheerfully. "Oh, I say, Kat,
IE.
IN THE LUCERNE PADDOCK.
Sf
e would
ibhing it
:s, for he
LUgi.t r"-^
na, -lorl
back the
ig snake,
as Kat's
:ep again
it, not far
:s, one of
ould have
lUtthen he
sness.
while her
neck was
ad into it.
:ks, and it
pi!.- .'d it
ildren sur-
)atisfaction.
inother one
I say, Kat,
isn't it a beauty ? It must be a tiger snake, because
it has those marks on its body."
" Goodness ! how it wriggles ! " observed Katrina.
" I don't beheve it likes the taste of that mustard
after all ! "
■,,m
"'NOW, KAT, THK 1U)TTI,K, (JUICK I "
The children were still examining their new
possession with undiminished delight when the
breakfast-bell rang, and they were obliged to decide
in a great hurry where to bestow their treasure.
Kat, as usual, was equal to the emergency.
" I know 1 " she cried. *' We'll put it in my dolls'
38
TKE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
house ! The dolls won't mind. And then we'll
shut the door, and 1*11 tell everybody they mustn't
play wi'h it ! "
" We'll -. to wait till every one has gone in to
breakfast th^ii, so they won't see us," said Ralph.
So the children waited until they thought the
coast was clear, and then hurried towards the house.
But, after all, their secret was nearly discovered by
nurse, whom they met on the ^'erandah, carrying
some dishes into the kitchen.
"Now, Master Ralph," she said severely, "you
put away that bottle. You know they always get
broken, and your ma does hate having broken glass
about ! Leave it on the nursery-table, and I'll put
it away myself! " she called after them.
But you may be sure they paid little heed to
nurse's admonitions, except to make all the greater
haste to get the bottle out of sight before she
returned !
"Oh, it's too big to go in ! What sha/i we do?"
cried Kat in despair.
'• It will go in, lying down, all right," said practical
Ralph.
So laying the bottle on its side in the dollies'
bedroom they quickly shut the door, which was in
reality the whole front of the house, and fastened it
with a little hook at the side.
■■i
IN THE LUCERNE PADDOCK.
39
n we'll
mustn't
le in to
ilph.
^ht the
I house,
^ered by
:arrying
r, "you
^ays get
en glass
I I'll put
heed to
; greater
fore she
NG do ? "
practical
e dollies'
h was in
istened it
" Good-morning, papa and mamma. Please excuse
our being late," both children exclaimed in one
breath, when, flushed with excitement, they at last
made their appearance at the breakfast-table.
"You are too often late, Katrina and Ralph,"
replied their father with some sternness ; for, indeed,
it was a frequent occurrence with these two.
"It is the morning after Christmas; perhaps the
new toys have proved too great an attraction,"
pleaded mamma, willing as usual to find excuses for
her erring flock.
" No, mamma, we were in the lucerne," said
honest Rat.
" We went to pick some white clover for you,
mamma," put in Kat.
" That was kind ! Where is it ? " and mamma
held out her hand.
The two children blushed scarlet and looked at
each other in dismay. Then Katrina faltered
lamely, —
'' I did have some, but I dropped it ! "
"Well, never mind, Ka^y. Another time will
do," replied Mrs. Olsen pleasantly, as she looked
with curiosity at the children, and wondered what
new scrape her two arch mischief plotters had got
into this time.
«
CHAt^TER IV.
THE BABY SNAKE.
A COUPLE of hours later Mrs. Olsen was sitting
in her bedroom, where she often took her sewing
on summer uiornings. The room was on the shady
side of the house, and cool, while the wide windows
overlooking the lawn and summer-house, with the
lemon orchard beyond, framed an agreeable picture
on which to rest the eye.
A tiny rap at the door, and " Please can I come
in ? " said Bertram's little voice.
When the child entered his mother knew at a
glance that something was wrong, from his down-
cast eyes and uneasy demeanour. There were also
unmistakable traces of chocolate on the little
fellow's mouth and fingers, and they supplied a clue
to the trouble ; so to make the task of confession
easier, she asked cheerfully, —
" Where did my little boy get the chocolate ? "
Bertram looked up, surprised.
40
THE liABY SNAKE.
41
s sitting
r sewing
iie shady
windows
with the
e picture
1 I come
lew at a
lis down-
were also
the Httle
ed a clue
:onfession
ate ? "
" Did mamma see me taice them ? " he asked.
Then, as his mother only smiled, he continued,
" They were only some of Hub's, on the sideboard,
and I just took two ! "
He tried to speak carelessly, but at this point
he burst into tears, and throwing himself into his
mother's lap, he exclaimed brokenly, —
" You won't let Hub send the trooper after me,
will you, mamma ? "
The trooper, or mounted policeman, was the only
officer of the law Bertram was familiar with. He
and the other children often saw him go riding by
on his great grey steed, a very fierce-looking guardian
of the peace ; and the little ones firmly believed that
he had not only the power, but the will to lock them
up in gaol, should any of their small sins come to his
ears.
" Oh no, dear, I won't let the trooper touch you,"
his mother hastened to reassure him.
" But, Bertram," she added gravely, when his
sobs had subsided, " when you take things that do
not belong to you that is stealing. And God sees^
you and is displeased with you."
" Did God see me take Hubert's chocolates ? "
asked the little fellow with interest.
^ "Yes."
Bertram slipped off his mother's lap and went to
Ionia
42 tup: youngsters of murrav home.
the door, which opened hito the dining-room. He
stood looking around him carefully, until at last his
eyes rested on the round ventilator of perforated
zinc in the middle of the ceiling. This seemed to
give him an idea, and he ran back again.
" Mamma," he inquired, with his usual solemnity,
" did God climb on the roof and look through the
ventilator ?"
This was almost too much for Mrs. Olsen's gravity.
She put her hand to her face to hide the smile that
would come, and then, gathering her little son into
her lap, she began to talk to him in the sweet, grave
way the children were accustomed to.
In the meantime an unforeseen and terrible accident
had happened in the nursery.
After breakfast Katrina had gone about telling
every one not on any account to play with her dolls'
house !
*' Nurse, remember you are not to touch my doll's
house 1 "
" I suppose I may be allowed to dust it, Miss
Katrina ! " nurse replied rather shortly.
Kat found it necessary to reflect before answering.
" I think I'd better dust it myself," she concluded
after a pause.
" Oh, very well !" said nurse.
. The finding of a duster occupied a little time, for
THE BABY SNAKE.
43
^
f
^
??
nurse would not lend her the nursery cloth ; and the
dusting took a few minutes more.
" Aren't lou going to dust le teeny-weeny chairs
and tables, Tat ? " asked Baby, who was watching
operations with interest.
'' No, the dust doesn't get inside when the door's
shut ! " Katrina replied airily.
" Remember, Baby," she added with great seventy,
as she turned around and faced the little girl,
" you must not open the door or play with a single
thing of mine ! "
"I will!" replied Baby coolly.
" You're not to ! " Kat retorted with anger.
"Ollie," she insisted, as her sister entered the nursery,
" tell Baby she mustn't play with my dolls' house
if I don't want her to."
" Me only wants to look at le teeny-weeny chairs
and le teeny-weeny dollies; me wouldn't kmch lem,"
said Baby persuasively.
" You might let her, Kat. Don't be selfish ! "
" No, I won't let hei' ! " replied Kat crossly.
Then she changed her tone and added with dignity,
" I have my reasons, just Hke mamma has 1 "
Ollie did not say anything ; she thought her little
sister unkind. Had she known Kat's reasons she
would very likely have changed her opinion.
Soon afterwards she left the room, and immediately
f"
M
\
44 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Katrina stationed herself beside the dolls' house,
determined to guard its dangerous secret at all
hazards.
She merely fixed her eyes on Baby ; but those
eyes said plainly, " Don't dare come nearer ! "
Baby, quite as determined in her own way,
squatted on the floor a little way off and there sat,
serene and steadfast, looking sometimes at the
dollies' domicile and sometimes at her sister.
Nurse was doing some washing in the back
premises at this time, and Ralph was with Hubert
at the tennis court. The latter had on his new
shoes and with his new racket in his hand was
waiting for Ollie to join him in a game.
So the two little ones were quite alone.
For some time they continued their curious game
of defiance and kept their posts without moving
and even without speaking. But Kat, restless and
impatient always, began at last to tire of so
monotonous an amusement.
" I'm going away, just for a minute, to see where
Rat is," she said. " Now, Baby, don't touch that
door or something dreadful will happen to you ! "
"Les, me will," returned Baby, as calmly as before;
but Katrina had already whisked herself out of the
door, and did not hear.
Left alone the little woman made short work of
Hi
THE HABY SNAKE.
45
undoing the hook and throwing wide open the big
door of the dolls' house.
On the floor of the tiny bedroom the bottle which
had contained the snake still lay, but you will not
perhaps be surprised to learn that the snake, baby
though it was, had very soon pushed out the loose
cork and regained its freedom. After inspecting the
little bedroom in all corners, and probably finding
it quite to its taste, it had coiled itself up on the
dollies' pink and white bed, regardless of the two
small occupants who had been comfortably tucked
in there by Kat herself the night before.
Baby stood on tip-toe and peeped into the Utile
bed.
"Are lose teeny-weeny dollies awake let, I
wonder?" she said.
Then catching sight of the small, round serpent
coil, she called out jubilantly, —
"Why, lere's a dear likka baby snake asle-;i in
dollies' bed ! I will catch lat likka snake ! "
The child was fearless of any living thing, and
reaching out her fat little hand she seized the reptile.
Then, with a cry of pain she threw it from her
on the floor.
Though young, the snake had fangs, and| alas I
had in that second of time struck them deep into
Baby's arm 1
46 TlIK YOUNCSTF.KS OK MURRAY HOME.
IC
I r
ii
Most fortunately at this moment nurse appeared.
" Nurse, likka baby snake bit Baby liard I " the
little one cried, pointing to the writhing thing
which was in the act of gliding under a chest of
drawers.
With a shriek nurse threw up her hands and
made one dart through the house to her mistress's
room.
"Ma'am! ma'am I " she cried, "a snake 1 And
it's bitten Baby 1 Oh, the darling ! the darling ! "
A scene of wild confusion followed.
Poor Baby, soon overcome by the deadly poison,
was found on the nursery floor, a terrible stupor
already beginning to creep over her. Mrs. Olsen,
who alone was calm in the midst of excitement, .soon
tied a ligature above the two small, deep wounds
which a quick search revealed in the little arm, and
while busy over this she arranged about sending
for the doctor.
As ill-luck would have it, there was not a man
within half a mile of the house. Mr. Olsen had
taken William with him into the township iliat
morning, and was not expected 'jack until the after-
noon, while all the labourers were engaged in
harvesting a late crop at some distance from the
house.
Fortunately there was Hubert ; and Hubert's pony
■m
"■^%
THE;15A1!V SNAKK.
47
And
p Liiat
stood ill the stable, so after all the doctor could be
suminoiud without much delay.
*' Ride, my boy, as you never before rode in your
life ! " said his mother, stepping out on the verandah
as he threw himself into the saddle. ** Remember,
your little sister's life depends, for the time being, on
you."
Then she returned to Baby's side tu apply such
remedies as she could think of, and to pray with
agonising fervour that the doctor might be at home,
and that it might not be too late.
When at last there was nothing more to do but
sit down and watch the little still, white-faced
figure, and wait with such show of courage and
patience as she could command, a little boy and
girl came creeping into the room, and with a burst
of wild tears, quickly suppressed, threw themselves
down at her knees.
It was Kat and Rat, who had watched for the
iirst opportunity to unburden their guilty consciences.
*' Mamma 1 mamma ! It was our fault 1 " was all
she could hear at first ; but finally, bit by bit, the
whole story was told.
Rat, brave little lad, wanted to take most of the
blame to himself
" It wasn't Kat's fault so much," he said, " becau.se
1 was the biggest."
!
i
i i'
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
But Kat, knowing in her own guilty little heart
that she had first tempted Rat, and afterwards had
run away and left Baby aione, exposed to such
terrible danger, reproached herself bitterly and
constantly.
Indeed, the children's distress v/as so great, that
their mother, grieved and horrified though she was
at their confession, could only soothe them as best
she might, feeling that the sight of their little sister
lying apparently lifeless on the lounge near by was
already punishment almost greater than they could
bear.
Meanwhile Hubert galloped along the road to the
township of Mullagulloo, which was situated four
miles from Murray Home.
He did ride as he had never ridden in his life
before, and never in all his life did he forget that
ride.
V/henever after he recalled it, the same chok ng
rose in his throat, the same burning mist came over
his eyes, he felt the same painful quiver of his whole
frame, and the same rush of hot wind about his ears,
as on that day.
"Quick! quick! Good Prin:e! dear Prince!"
the boy kept repeating, though hardly knowing that
he spoke.
The little pony Hew on, but it seemed to Hubert
ME.
THE BAliV SNAKE.
49
:tle heart
aids had
to such
erly and
*eat, that
she was
1 as best
tie sister
r by was
ley could
•ad to the
ited four
1 his life
irget that
) chok 'ig
ame over
his whole
his ears,
Prince ! "
^'ing that
3 Hubert
as if it were crawling, and the long white, dusty
road interminable.
When still one mile from his destination, he met
the doctor himself driving quietly along in his buggy,
"HKROKRT GALLOPICD ALONG TIIK UOAI' TO THK TOVVNS'rHP
OF MULLAGULLOO."
and he, seeing the boy riding at such headlong speed,
guessed that something was amiss, and pulled up.
In a few choking words Hubert told him that his
baby sister had been bitten by a snake.
" Do not be frightened, my boy," said the doctor
kindly, " I always carry with me remedies for such
50
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
hi
11
cases, so there need be no delay. We will get
along as quickly as possible now and, please God,
the little maid will soon be out of danger."
With that he urged his horse to a quick trot
while Hubert cantered along beside him.
Poor boy, now that the mental strain was to
some extent removed, and the reaction set in, he
had difficulty in keeping back the rising sobs of
thankfulness !
And so it happened that scarcely had Kat and
Rat finished their penitent recital, and become
calmer under their mother's kind and comforting
words, when the doctor's buggy was heard coming
along the drive. .
A minute more and he stood beside the little
girl, the pet and darling of Murray Home, lying
there in deadly pallor, her crumpled, bright, brown
curls tossed softly about on the pillow, the only life-
liLe thing about her.
The right remedies were quickly applied, and the
good doctor cheered and comforted Mrs. Olsen as
he had done Hubert before.
For a while there was still doubt and suspense,
but at last dear little Baby gradually roused from
her stupor. The doctor still watched by her, and
in a few hours she was pronounced ouL of danger,
showing only by her pale and exhausted looks
THE BABY SNAKE.
SI
what a terrible experience she had been through.
It was some days, however, before she was her
laughing, joyous self again.
Needless to say that from this time forth the little
maid was more than ever the queen of all hearts at
Murray Home.
You will like to hear that no sooner had Mr.
Olsen returned home on that memorable day and
had heard from beginning to end the whole story
of the snake and the dolls' house, than he turned
every person out of the nursery and, shutting all
doors, he forthwith set about iding the cause
of so much trouble, the 'Mikka i>aby snake," as
Baby called it. Strange to say, it had beer forgotten
by all in the excitement that followed its « scape.
He discovered it curled up in a corner under the
chest of drawers where it had first taken refuge,
and a smart blow from the stick with which he had
armed himself ciuickly rendered it harmless for ever
after.
CHAPTER V.
POACHED EGGS AND A FIERY SPECTRE.
A WEEK after the episode of the snake Mrs.
-^~^ Olsen came to breakfast one morning, a little
late, looking so preoccupied and worried that her
husband noticed it and inquired what was the
matter.
" Oh, only the usual thing ! " she replied. " Cook
finds the heat does not agree with her and wishes
to go down by the next boat,"
" Could not Mary turn to in the kitchen ? " sujr-
gcsted her husband, though not very hopefully.
" Mary does not know a thing about cooking, and
does not even want to learn I "
" Let me do the cooking, mamma ! " said Olga
coaxingly; but her mother only shook her head.
" It is quite useless to look for a girl in the
township," she continued after a pause.
The poor lady seemed discouraged, as well she
might be, for it was the third experience of the same
kind within a year. "
52
POACHED EGGS AND A FIERY SPECTRE. 53
'' Well, my dear," said Mr. Olsen at last, in decided
tones, "you must leave the children with nurse
and come down to Adelaide with me. Mary and
Olga between them can manage the cooking. We
need only be away a fortnight, and can bring back
a cook with us."
« But you were not going for several weeks yet,"
objected his wife.
"There is nothing to prevent our leaving next
Thursday, and I shall arrange to do so."
" If only Miss Kowshorn were here ! " sighed Mrs.
Olsen, alluding to the children's governess, who was
away for the Christmas holidays.
" Nurse is a woman of experience," Mr. Olsen
went on. "Surely she can be trusted to look after
the little ones. As for Olga and Hubert, they can
take care of themselves."
" I can help William chop the wood and I can
feed the fowls ! " said Hub.
'* And I will do all the cooking and let Mary do
the washing up," added Ollie. She thought this
arrangement would just suit her.
" We'i: gather the eggs every day ! " chimed in
Kat and Rat.
" I'll grind the coffee for breakfast ! " This from
Bertram, with his usual air of importance.
♦' And me'U wing h bell 1 " Baby cried joyously.
54 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Whereupon there was a general laugh.
And so the matter was settled, Mrs. Olsen being
in reality very thankful to have the decision taken
out of her hands.
The next few days were spent in preparations.
There was much to see to, and many instructions
to be given by Mrs. Olsen to nurse, Mary, and Olga.
The latter went about with a fat cookery-book under
her arm, and spent all her spare time in studying
it, happy in the prospect of the important position
she was going to hold.
She had promised to make toffee for all the
children, and, besides, Hubert had requested currant
dumplings the ver}' first day for dinner ; Kat and
Rat had sent in an imperious order for jam tarts,
while Bertram asked with great politeness, if Ollie
thought she could make him some ham sandwiches !
'This last request was something of a staggerer, and
she went to consult her mother before making any
rash promises.
" Mamma, Bertram wants me to make him ham
sandwiches. He asked so nicely. Do you think
I might boil a ham ? "
'• ?>oil a ham ! My dear child, what next ? " cried
her mother, aghast.
" Do let me, mamma," pleaded Ollie. *' I read about
it in the cookery-book and it doesn't seem very hard."
1
rO ACHED EGGS AND A FIERY SPECTRE. 55
" Well, well ! " replied her mother after ''oii-
sidering a minute. '' Of course it will be wasted, but
the child must learn, 1 suppose 1 Yes, my dear, you
may boil a ham."
So Ollie went back to tell Bertram he should
have his sandwiches, perhaps not the very first day,
but as soon as possible.
Then Baby trotted up.
" And will lou make me a dzam roll, Ollie ? '
Ollie was almost afraid a jam roll was beyond
her skill, but she hated to disappoint Baby, so she
said, —
''Well, pets' ^, I'll try."
** Oh, how nice ! Sank lou, Ollie ! And may I
eat it all myself?"
"Oh, you greedy Baby!" her sister cried, and
caught up the little roly-poly to give her a good
hug.
So J^reat was the children's delight at the prospect
of being left to their own devices for two whole
weeks, that they took leave of their dearly loved
father and mother on Thursday afternoon without
a pang.
The departure had been from the wharf at
Mullagulloo, instead of from their own garden, which
ran down to the river's edge and was their usual
place of embarkation, because of a small matter of
mmmmmmmmmttmMmm
■■i
THE VOUN(;STEKS OK MURRAY HOME.
business which Mr. Olsen had to attend to in the
township before leaving.
Hardly waiting for the steamer to disappear
around the bend, the children rushed pell-mell back
to the waggonette.
" Please, William, drive us home quickly," said
Ollie, beaming with importance. "There will
hardly be time to cook anything for tea."
^' What are you going to make, Oliie?" came in
an eager chorus from her brothers and sisters.
But Ollie maintained a discreet silence and re-
fused to divulge any of her secret plans. For, after
all, she thought it would be wiser to wait and see
what she CO u/d make \
It had been decided by Mrs. Olsen that nurse
was to occupy herself solely with her own depart-
ment, and that Olga was to be housekeeper, with
Mary for assistant. So as soon as the children were
at home and had removed their gloves and hats,
Mary came in and asked in quite deferential tones, —
" What will you be cooking for tea, miss ? "
Now Ollie had thought of numbers of dishes, but
the difficulty was to decide on anything.
" I'll just ask nurse," she thought.
To Mary she said with as much dignity as she
could muster, —
"I haven't quite decided yet, but I'll come out
POACHED EGGS ANT) A FIERY Sl'ECTRE. 57
presently, Mary. Please keep a good fire on and
the kettle full of water."
This sounded very well for a beginning, and Mary
said, as deferentially as before,—
II
Yes, miss.'
Ollie flew into the nursery.
" Oh, nurse, do tell me what to do for tea! We
might have an omelette, or poached eggs, or tinned
salmon heated, with drawn butter, or grilled chops 1
Do please tell me which I'd better try first ! " she
finished Up breathlessly.
'' Please yourself, Miss Ollie. I'm no cook, and
don't know nothing about it 1 "
'' Just say some one thing, nurse. It's so hard to
decide!" ^
'' I won't be responsible for nothing, Miss Ollie.
Your ma said you were to manage it all yourself,
and she don't come running to ask me what to have
for dinner ! "
This was decidedly disagreeable of nurse, but no
doubt she thought it good discipline for the young
housekeeper.
Ollie felt herself snubbed, and without another
word left the nursery, going out by the glass door
which opened on to the verandah.
Here she saw Kat and Rat racing up from the
barn, carrying between them a basket of eggs.
Till-: VOUNdSTERS OF MURkAV HOME.
" We've got such a lot ! " they panted.
" Rat found a nest with twelve in it and I got
most of the others," continued Kat. '' Do let's have
them for tea ! "
" Very well," agreed Ollie gladly. " Would you
like an omelette ? "
'• No, poached," replied Kat with decision ; and
Ralph said, " Any way you like ! " For he was
intent upon watching Hubert at his favourite occupa-
tion of setting his fishing tackle in order.
" I'm going fishing early to-morrow morning,"
said Hub, " to get some fish for breakfast. Will
you fry them, if I catch any, 01 ? "
" Oh, yes, certainly," answered amiable Ollie.
" We will have poached eggs on toast, Mary," our
little housekeeper said with great dignity, as she
entered the kitchen a moment later. " Is there a
good fire for toasting? "
" Yes, miss, I think so, " replied good-natured,
but stupid Mary.
So Ollie set about filling a frying-pan with boiling
water from the kettle, and then broke the eggs into
a cup, one at a time, as she had seen their cook do
many a time.
It was not quite such an easy matter as she
expected, however, for she found that bits of egg-
shell had a tiresome way of dropping in with the egg.
POACHED EGGS AND A FIERY SI'ECTRK. 59
and in her efforts to fish them out again with a fork
she smashed two yolks.
When at last she had succeeded in sliding eight
eggs into the pan of boiling water, she bethought
herself with dismay that they would probably be
done before her toast was ready. She cut some
hasty and not very straight slices of bread, and then
she and Mary had a frantic search for the toasting-
fork.
At last she advanced, with a slice of bread stuck
on the fork, and threw open the stove door, only to
be met by bitter disappointment and a puff of smoke!
Mary, in her determination to make the kettle boil,
had packed the stove perfectly full of wood;
consequently there were plently of flames but no
coals.
Poor Ollie ! The eggs were already " set," and
what was she to do ?
" Perhaps they won't mind them hard," she said
to herself doubtfully, while she and Mary both
poked the fire and only made it worse.
Remarkably hard they were, when, half an hour
later, Ollie placed them on eight pieces of black-
looki'ng toast! She put on each a little piece of
butter and a sprinkle of pepper and salt, havmg
forgotten to put any of the latter into the water ; and
then Mary carried in the dish and set it on the table,
6o THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
H'
where Kat and Rat and Hub had been seated for
(|uite twenty minutes, clamouring for their tea and
making a terrible din.
Fortunately their long waiting had given them a
good appetite, and it comforted poor Ollie greatly to
see her dish of poached eggs emptied in a very short
space of time, in spite of its short comings.
" They're not much to look at," remarked Hubert
v^rith condescension, " but they serve to fill a gap ! "
The sun set in a red gljw that evening, and the
prospect of a hot night had to be faced.
Like other healthy children the young Olsens paid
small attention to the state of the weather, and
usually managed to enjoy themselves even with the
thermometer over lOO" in the shade. Still even
they grumbled to-night and lay about lazily on
the lawn after tea. They positively rebelled when
nurse, having put Baby and Bertram to bed, ordered
the rest off, likewise.
" It's a horrid shame to have to turn in a night
hke this. Why can't we all sleep out here ? "
demanded Hub.
" No, no, Master Hubert," nurse replied with
decision. " None of that sort of thing with your
ma and pa away."
Very likely their brother's remark put some idea
into their heads. I cannot say. At any rate, Kat
POACHED EC.GS AND A FTFV.V Sl'F.rTUK. 6 1
and Rat, after some eager whispering t.^gether,
astonislKd nurse by following Ikt with unusual
docility into the nursery.
First one, then the other, was taken to the bath-
room where, after getting out of their hot, dusty
clothes, they enjoyed a delightful shower and tivc
minutes' splashing in the big tub. To be sure the
water was warm, for had not the sun's rays been
beating fiercely on the water-tanks all day long?
'mt it was very refreshing, nevertheless.
When this was over, and the children were
clothed in their all-in-one pyjama suits, worn by
girls and boys alike at Murray Home, they came
together once more for a whispered council of war,
and there was much nodding and shaking of Kat's
dark head and Rat's fair one.
Nurse was busy folding their clothes, but she
looked up to bid. them make haste to bed; so they
scampered off obediently to their rooms, which they
shared respectively with Hubert and Olga.
Of course you will guess that the pair were up to
more mischief; and it was even so.
By ten o'clock all the house was still, and only
out on the kitchen verandah there were still sounds
to be heard, voices and occasional laughter, where
the servants were trying to cool off before turning
in for the night.
•-■ <'m'iM»MiMMM«R«tac'
62
THE VOUNCiSTERS OF MURRAY IIOxME.
i
m
Soon even these noises ceased, and all was quite
still. •
Then two little white figures stole out of tiie
house through the front door, which was always left
wide open throughout the summer nights. With
suppressed giggles they ran arounsd the verandah to
where the hammock hung, by the library window.
" Won't it be jolly ? " whispered Rat. " Not
much like those hot old beds ! "
Kat was about to reply with eager acquiescence
when a horrible sight suddenly appeared before her
eyes, and took her breath away.
It was a Fiery Spectre, standing in the very door
of the summer-house 1 All at onee it began U) move,
and slowly approached them. It seemed to the
children's terror-stricken eyes to be as tall as the
house, and it was draped in ghostly white robes.
The head was huge, and f'*om the round eyes and
great gaping mouth a sulphurous light poured forth.
Truly a sight to chill the blood !
As it approached the two quaking children the
most appalling groans and moans were heard. For
about ten seconds Kat and Rat stood rooted to the
spot, dumb with terroi- ; then, with wild screams
they fled round the verandah again and back into
the house !
Not to keep any one in suspense 1 -criTl make
'
POACHED E(]GS AND A PTKRV SPECTRE. 63
known the secret of this dreadful Fiery Spectre,
which was in truth merely a hollow sham got up
by William to frighten Mary the housemaid.
In the absence of his master and mistress William
" KAT AND KAT STOOD kOOTKl) TO TlUC SPOT."
thought he would have what he called " a bit of a
lark." He scooped out a gigantic yellow pumpkin,
and after cutting holes for the eyes, a wide gash
for the mouth, aid a narrow slit for the nose, he
fastened it to a long pole. First, however, he fixed
j^i^^^
64
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
i !
a small tin pan inside the head, and this he filled
with sulphur. The pole had a cross-piece nailed on
to form the spectre's shoulders, and was draped
with William's own rugs and sheets. He had even
abstracted the kitchen table-cloth at the last moment,
for it took a vast amount of material to clothe this
mighty monster. These preparations completed, he
contrived to carry everything to the summer-house
while nurse and Mary were washing up in the
kitchen. Then he joined them on the back verandah,
and was in such high spirits, and made himself so
amusing that he kept Mary and even nurse in a
state of perpetual giggles all the evening.
At last nurse got up to go in to her little charges,
and Mary, with a yawn, thought she had better turn
in too.
"Well, good-night, gals,'* said William. "Thanks
for your agreeable company. And, Mary, do you
look out of the window afore you goes to sleep.
You'll see the prettiest sight as ever you saw in
your life, if you do. There's a * comick * rises every
night now about this time or a little later. I seen
it myself last night."
•'A 'comick ' ! What's that ? " asked Mary.
" lie's only making game of you, Mary," nurse
remarked scornfully as she went off.
** It's true as I live!" cried William earnestly.
rOACHED EGGS AND A FIERY Sl'ECTRE. 65
" A comick's a star with a long tail like a peacock's.
Look out as I tell you and you'll see a sight as'll
make you open your eyes ! "
''1 don't believe a word of it!" retorted Mary;
but she meant to look, all the same. .
William slipped into the kitchen, and gently
raking out into a shovel the few coals left m the
stove he hastened around to the summer-house
with them. This place had been chosen by him
in order to divert suspicion from his own quarters,
a hut which stood in the yard and could be plainly
seen from Mary's window.
To slip the coals through the spectre's mouth
into the little pan of sulphur was the work of a
moment. He then concealed himself in the ghostly
draperies and, holding aloft the pole, he salhed forth,
breathing out smoke and fire and uttering hornble
noises-truly a. grewsome sight for two small
children to come upon suddenly in the night !
The screams of Katrina and Ralph awakened
Hubert and Olga and alarmed nurse and Mary.
In a few moments all the household, exceptmg
Baby and Bertram, who slept serenely through all
the uproar, were on the verandah, where the Fiery
Spectre was still in sight.
Ollie felt a shiver run down her back at its
ranee, and even Hubert, though he
awful app'^ar
I
n rtM Bwt W lw ll » n i MW Ifc<W— W Wirt ni W > -■t .n l t ' ii' W wt MWlli
GC) THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
guessed that William was at the bottom of the extra-
ordinary apparition, thought it best to keep well in the
shadow of the verandah roof while it was in sight !
As for Mary, her ^^cream3 rent the air, and she
refused to listen to nuri^ie, who insisted that it was
only some joke of the men.
William by this time felt that his " bit of a lark "
had gone far enough ; and almost before the group
on the verandah had had a good look at the Fiery
Spectre, it turned tail and beat a hasty retreat down
the yard.
Viewed from the rear it was certainly less terrify-
ing. The gleaming eyes and smoking mouth were
no longer to be seen ; only a dim halo surrounded
its head. On the other hand, William's own legs
were plainly visible among the flov;ing draperies,
which, to tell the truth, cnbarrassed him considerably
in his flight.
In the end they caused his downfall, for, as he
made a final dash for the barn, he tripped and fell
full length on the ground ! The spectre's head
rolled off ani split into two halves as it fell ; the
little pan of sulphur was turned upside down and
extinguished, and the whole affair ended in shouts
of laughter at William's expense, as hc> gathered
up his bed coverings, which lay scattered about,
and beat an ignominious retreat into his own hut !
i
CHAPTER VI.
WORK AND PLAY.
^ I
EARLY next morning, as usual, the children
were up and out of doors. There was a
pleasant morning freshness in the air, but already
the sun's rays were too hot to be agreeable, and
even at this early hour the little ones were glad
to seek the shade of an immense pepper-tree which
stood in the yard between the barn and the house.
• For an hour or more Hubert had been established
in his favourite nook on the river bank, fishing.
Olga, of course, was in the kitchen ; she was trying
to make the porridge, and wondering why it would
come so lumpy 1
But all the rest were in the shade of the pepper-
tree.
Rat had been giving Baby and Bertram a graphic
description of the Fiery Spectre they had seen the
night before.
" It must have been a dragon. Rat," Bertram was
(^1
W'
68
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" Dragons aren't as high as the house, you silly ! "
was Kat's scornful rejoinder.
" I aren't a silly 1 " retorted the little boy. " It
might have been standing. on the very tip of its
tail!"
" Oh, I see its head ! " interrupted Ralph, cutting
short the argument by running down the yard and
returning with that half of the pumpkin which
exhibited the spectre's features. He held it up
before his face and bellowed so furiously that Baby
hid behind the tree in alarm.
This was great fun, and they all had to have a
turn at playing ghost. Even Baby submitted re-
luctantly to having the big mask held before her
face whi'e she cried Boo ! "
Lastly, they stuck it up in the tree between two
branches, where it looked down on them with empty
eyes and toothless mouth, rather unpleasantly.
" We'll play it's an elder-tree, and that's the
Elder-tree Mother watching us," Katrina suggested,
for the children were well versed in Hans Andersen's
pretty fairy-tales.
" Scratch a fit. Rat, please ! " came a modest
request from Bertram.
" Yes, do ! Yes, do 1 " the others joined in.
" No, it's too hot ! I can't be bothered ! " the
little boy answered carelessly. But this indifference
I
. NVOlUv AND PLAY.
69
was only put on to induce the others to press him
still more ; for very proud was Rat of this accom-
plishment of his, which the children greatly admired,
and which they euphoniously termed "scratching
a fit."
They duly coaxed and begged for an exhibition,
in a manner very flattering to the small boy's vanity.
Secretly pleased, he affected an air of indifference,
very funny, had there been any one there to notice
it ; but at last he gave in to their persistence with
great condescension.
<* Oh, very well, if you must have it ! " he said.
So, striking an attitude, the little performer
began.
First, he struck out his fingers like claws, while
slowly wagging his head and maUng the most
grotesque grimaces. Then he began to twist and
hop and turn and bend, sometimes clawing the air
in a slow and "creepy" way, sometimes scratching
about in a " fine frenzy," and all the time his facial
contortions corresponded to his other actions, and
were most extraordinary and amusing.
These antics lasted some time. The children
watched in dumb admiration ; no actor ever had a
more appreciative audience. If the performer showed
any signs of getting tired, there was an imperative
chorus of " Go on ! Go on ! " to start him afresh.
^0 THE YOUNdSTERb OF IVrURRAY HOME.
I
In the midst of it all Hub came up, bearing a
fine cod-fish in his hand, and he too had to stop
to watch Rat's absurd pantomime, until Ollie brought
it to a sudden end by flying down the yard, calling
frantically, —
" Oh, Hub, do bring the fish ! It will never be
done in time for breakfast ! "
Hub held his prize aloft for her to see.
"What a beauty!" she exclaimed with hearty
admiration. •' It is the largest you ever caught, isn't
it, Hub?"
Her brother modestly admitted that it was, and
said he was going to weigh it.
All the children came up to watch this business,
and the cod was found to turn the scales at twelve
pounds, which was under its actual weight; for
Hubert had cleaned it in the river, before bringing it
home. This was a big fish for the boy to land
by himself, though small compared with the great
monsters of fifty and sixty pounds which are
frequently found in the Murray River.
Ollie set about cutting it into slices for frying, but
soon found that this was a task beyond her skill.
The creature, being freshly caught, was so slippery
that she could almost believe it was still alive. It
slid around the kitchen table, and flopped on to the
floor, and she cut her finger twice, and was altogether
f^
WORK AND I'LAV.
71
in despair, when William came up with the milk and
offered to slice it for her, which offer she gladly
accepted.
To be sure breakfast was a little late, but no one
grumbled ; more particularly as the fried fish was
delicious, and done to a turn.
" ' WHAT A BKAUT\ ! '"
Ollie felt quite uplifted by the praises she received,
and when the children reminded her of the promised
toffee after breakfast, and begged for it soon, she
politely agreed to make it immediately.
On reading over the the receipt, however, these
words made her pause. They came last of all.
72 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" Sci it in a cool place to harden. ^^
To find a cool spot on such a day was an im-
possibility, for the simple reason that it did not exist,
unless, perhaps, at some unattainable depth beneath
the earth's surface. The heat had now lasted a
fortnight without any " let up," as Hub said, and
by now the thick stone walls of the house were
heated through, and even the cellar, though some
degrees cooler than upstairs, felt close and muggy
after one had been in it a few minutes.
Considering this, OUie thought it would be best
to try to make a compromise with her brothers and
sisters ; and so, after some discussion they promised
to be satisfied with cocoanut candy, provided
they got it soon. This Ollie had made before, and
she knew it would harden independently of the
weather.
When it was all done but the final rolling of the
mixture into little balls, our young housekeeper
began to think about dinner, and to wonder breath-
lessly if it would get much hotter in the kitchen.
As she rolled into shape the last little ball Mary
came in and announced in her usual placid and
irresponsible manner, —
" Please, miss, the meat's all gone bad ! "
Here was trouble for poor Ollie !
To send to the butcher at this late hour was out
WORK AND I'LAY.
71
of the question. Besides, it wa quite likely, eon-
sidering the weather, that the butcher's meat would
not be in any better condition than their own I
Just then Hub popped his head inside the screen-
door.
" Is the candy done yet? "
" Yes, you may take it. But, oh, 1 lub ! there'll be
no meat for dinner ! It's all gone bad 1 "
" And a good thing too ! Who wants meat a day
like this ? Give us some of those sardines out of
the store-room instead ! " rejoined her brother.
This was a good idea, and Ollie felt relieved.
" Send William to take away the meat and bury
it ! " she called after Hub as he vanished with the
candy.
For Ollie was a thoughtful girl and without doubt
would make an excellent little housekeeper in the
course of time.
Then she refreshed herself with a drink of water
from the water-bag, and once more set to studying
her cookery-book before attacking the currant
dumplings.
In the meantime the others were having what
they called a "party" with the cocoanut candy.
They had all repaired to the summer-house, as
the coolest place to be found, bringing their favourite
toys with them. Even the dolls' house was carried
74 THE VOUNtiSTKRS OK MURRAY HOME.
back to its old quarters by Hub and Rat. When the
candy arrived the tea-set was removed from the little
dining-room and set out on the summer-house table,
with a few additions in the shape of some old plates
which still remained of a larger set of china ; these
last were chosen to put the cocoanut balls on,
because they held more than the others. Each
plate represented a different dish. There was bread
and butter, and cake, and scones, besides sliced
tongue, and both strawberry and raspberry jam.
It was a little hard to remember which was which,
but Katrina, who was mistress of the feast, never
forgot ; indeed, she came down with great severity
on any one who made a mistake and passed rasp-
berry jam when strawberry was asked for, or helped
himself to cake when he meant to take a scone.
At last all the plates were emptied but one, which
Kat said held the sliced tongue, though Hub thought
it was the cake. However that might be, the young
lady insisted that she alone was to pass it around,
which she did with the greatest rapidity, saying,
''Will you have some tongue? Will you have
some tongue ? " as fast as her own small and unruly
member could rattle oft' the words.
The first time round only Hubert was quick enough
to help himself to a, piece. The others said, "Yes,
please," politely r.nd held out their hands, but the
\ ■'^
I '
WORK AM) I'LAY.
75
plate had already passed them by, and Kat assured
them that it was too late, as she helped herself to
a piece in a calm and leisurely way.
"Isn't Tat a gleedy ling?" remarked l^aby to
Bertram ; but the latter's eyes were fixed on the
plate, for the next round had begun, so he did not
reply.
First Hubert was invited, as before, to " have
some tongue," and he helped himself with suitable
celerity. Rat was on the look-out too this time.
He omitted his polite *' If you please," and made a
grab at the candy instead.
But Baby and Bertram were both too slow, so
they fared no better than before, and Kat remarked,
as she proceeded to take the three remaining pieces, —
*' I'm the lady of the house, so I'll take all the
rest."
"No, lou won't ! " screamed Baby, and seized the
plate with both chubby hands.
" Behave yourself. Baby ! You're a greedy girl !
You know you ate every bit of the bread and butter,
because the plate was right in front of you, and you
never asked any one ! "
" Me wants more ! " said Baby, holding on to the
plate.
"So do I," came in melancholy tones from
Bertram, while Hub ordered his sister in a lordly
76
Tin-: Y( -UNC.STKKS OK MURKAV IIOMK.
way to ** give tht- kids eadi a piece and then she
might have one herself."
This Katrina stoutly refused to do, declaring they
had had more tihan their share already ; and a
general scrimmage seemed likel}- to ensue, when
William put his head in at the door and remarked
casually, —
*' Say, young ones, I've rigged you up a swing in
Hkit big gum-trees. You can go and try it if you like."
■** A swing 1 How ioiiy ! "
And awav they ran, forgetting all about their
larrel in their eag-erness. Even the heat of the
31111, which was truly intense, did not cause them to
i3iiii:ken their speed as they ran down the yard and
ji_ri tht barn until they came to the gum-trees.
Thest trees had been planted ten years before,
when Mr. Olsen had first come to live on the
Murray. They were intended to afibrd protection
from tht wind to the young lemon and orange-trees
then latsdy set out; for Murray Home was surrounded
on all sides, except where the river ran past the
house, by groves of citrus-treei. Hubert was a
baby then. Now the sugar-gums were tall giants
waving their plumy tops far above the ridge pole .d'
the barn.
Between two suitable trees William had arranged
a swnig.
* "
WORK AND V].A\.
77
Of course long-legged Hubert was the first to
reach it. With r !1 his faults, however, he was. not
a selfish boy, so he gave it up to l)aby wb-n she
arrived on the scene, explaining that as she v/as the
youngest she must have " first show."
l^hey each in turn had a good swing. Only
Katrina, being in a perverse humour that morning,
insisted on ** letting the cat die," which was a tire-
some business for the on-lookers, and to save time
afterwards Rat and Hub got up together.
They were still engaged in the rather warm
pastime of ** working the swing up," when the dinner-
bell was heard in the distance, and another stanipede
I'- the house took place.
You will all agree, I am sure, that sardines are
not a suitable dish to partake of freely after co«oanut
candy, particularly when the whole is top[)ed o(T
with currant dumplings, so cold and so hard that
they could with difficulty be broken with a fork !
They were, not intended to be cold, of course, but
Ollie had thought it best to dish them up before
going in to dinner herself, and they had cooled more
rapidly than any one would have tiiought possible
on such a hot day !
Our poor little housekeeper looked pale and fagged
out, after spending so many hours in the suffocating
heat of the kitchen. She toiiched neither sardines
7^
TUE VOrNCSTFRS OK MUKRAV IIOMK.
I
« iijj
^! 1
|i
1^^
nor dumplings herself, which, as Hub remarked, was
suspicious conduct on the part of the cook, but
contented herself with some bread and oily butter,
and a cup of tea to help it down. For like a true
little Australian Olga liked her cup of tea in the
middle of the day !
No wonder the children were, as the French say,
" difficult/' that afternoon.
Baby had been put to bed for her customary nap.
Ollie, nothing daunted by the temperature, had
retired once more to the kitchen, bent on making a
jam roll foi- tea or perishing in the attempt !
The other children, left to amuse themselves,
accomplished it by quarrelling incessantly, raking up
every old grievance with such ingenuity that you
would have thought they thoroughly enjoytd their
occupatio 1 ! Hub was surly, Bertram sleepy and
peevish, Kat and Kat wide-awake and aggravating.
At last nurse came in to sit down to her sewing,
and, in order to preserve the peace, she offered to
tell them a story. Baby woke up in time to join the
group of listeners, but Hub said rather rudely that
he was tired of nurse's old yarns, he knew them all
by heart ; and he went off to watch the men who
were building a hay-slnek in a wheat paddock at
some little distance from the bouse.
CHAPTER VII.
T HE G R K A T STO K M.
IT was about half-past three when Hubert reached
the wheat paddock.
The hay-stack was last nearing completion ; a
mighty erection with sloping sides and a dome-
shaped top.
A waggon loaded with hay stood on one side of
the stack. Mounted on it were a couple of men
armed with pitch-forks, who tossed the yellow
sheaves to others o;; top of the stack, whose business
it was to build all into a solid, symmetrical form.
A fine dust filled the air, and the heat was over-
powering.
Every few minutes the men stopped of one accord
to rest and breathe, as well as they could in such an
atmosphere.
They had ceased long ago to abuse the weather,
the subject having grown monotonous early in the
day.
79
8o
TFiK vorNr.sTKks or mukrav home.
1 1
"Say, sonny, liand us up tlic water-bag," called
out one of them to Hubert as he ranie up.
lie found the canvas bag standing on the shady
side of the hay-stack, and after passing it up, he
went to stroke and pat the horses, a fine team of
chestnuts recently purchased by his father.
An exclamation from one of the men startled him
a few minutes later.
" My word, mates I " he said, *' we're going to catch
it ! Look at yon dust-storm come a-booming this
way !
They all looked in the direction pointed out,
where, beyond the tali red gums and thick box-trees
that outlined the banks of the not far distant bill-
abong, the sky was seen to be of a peculiar reddy-
brown hue, which appeared to be gradually spreading.
"Just an ordinary dust-storm," said another man
contemptuously. He was a new chum.
" No common dust-storm this, I'll bet my boots
against yours ! " retorted the first speaker, who went
by the name of Long Tom.
As he spoke a sudden gust of wind sprang up as
if from nowhere, followed by another and another,
until a strong, steady wind was blowing and the trees
on the billabong were waving their branches and
tossing their tops wildly.
This was delightful to Hubert, who with his arms
TllK CKKAT STORM,
8l
r.
stretched out stood enjoying the full rush of the
wind.
" We must tie down the stack and lose no time
about it ! " shouted Long Tom, as the wind rapidly
increased in force. At the same time the whole sky
assumed the odd reddish-brown appearance they had
at first observed on the horizon.
With ropes and heavy gum logs which lay near
by, ready to be used on the completed stack, the
men set to work with a will, Loncf Tom's voice rising
above the roar of the storm as he bellowed his orders.
Suddenly he appeared by Hubert's side.
" Stand by the horses' heads, my lad. They're
your father's pet 'uns. If this gets worse, and I
fancy we're only at the beginning of it, they may
take fright at the driving straw and the noise."
"All right. Long Tom," Hubert shouted in reply.
The man did not wait for his answer, but sprang
back again to his former post on top of the stick,
while Hub quickly took his stand at the horses'
heads.
W^ith a light hand <in < ach bridle ht> spoke
soothingly to them, (t}r the hoy was thoroughly
used to horses.
Only a moment biter the cloud of dust descended
upon them with a mighty rush and a roar.
The air was so thick with the drivii]^ rtd sand
82
THE Y0UNGSTP:RS of MURRAY IIOMK.
that it was impossible to distinguish anything at
a distance of an arm's length. llubtvt heard a
great shout fniiii the men, and he fancied he saw
Long Tom shoot through the air. After that he
heard and saw nothing. Eyes, nose, and mouth
were filled with the hot, driving sand, and above
him, and on all sides of him, nothing could be seen
but billows of moving dust, carrying with it the
loose hay, which was borne to a great height, and
gave a peculiar, almost luminous, appearance to the
dust-laden atmosphere.
The boy had now all he could do to quiet the
horses, which, stifled by the dust, began to pull
back and plunge. Fortunately they were somewhat
sheltered by the stack of hay, for it would have
been impossible to hold them against the full fury
of the storm. As it was, he kept bravely at his
post, and never once thought of deserting his father's
pet horses. Though choked and blinded by the
sand, he managed to speak encouragingly to the
frightened animals, and not for an instant relaxed
his hold of their bridles.
The dust-storm lasted about ten minutes, and
was succeeded by a terrific downpour of rain.
Hubert, drenched to the skin in a few seconds,
had great difficulty in keeping his feet, for the wind
now redoubled its fury.
f
i
nc
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ids,
ind
■ The boy had now all he could do to quiet the horses."
Murray Hoiiu.] . [Paf;e 1^2.
i f
THE (iRKAT STORM.
83
Then came a Hash of l)lin(iinK liglUiiin^^ followed
instantly by a crash of thiuuler. The terrilird horses
became almost uiimanageabh' ; but Hubert clung
stubbornly to their bridles, and succeeded once more
in pacifying them.
At least the rain had cleared the air of dust, and
it was possible to see again. Not a man was visible.
The boy felt wholly deserted as he wondered where
they had all vanished to.
lie had not long to consider the matter, however,
for flash upon flash of lightning followed in rapid
succession ; the thunder was almost incessant, and
he had all he could do to keep the horses from
plunging about, to their own injury and the damage
of the harness.
At last, after what seemed a very long time to
Hubert, the force of the wind abated somewhat ;
and as the lightning became less frequent, the rain'
came down in a steady pour, quite different from
the driving sheets of water which had followed the
dust.
Then, one by one, looking like drowned rats, the
men appeared. When the storm had descended
upon them they had thrown themselves face down-
Wards on the ground, as close to the hay-stack as
possible, and there remained until its violence had
abated.
;1
«4
TiiK v(:>un(;sti:ks ok mukkay homk.
Only Long Tom had been blown licadlong from
the top of the stack, and he lay (half-stunned) on
the ground at some distance from the others—
until the torrents of rain, falling on him, revived
him.
His first thought then was of the boy and the
horses ; but when he made an effort to rise, he fount!
it impassible to steady himself against the storm,
more particularly as he had given his ankle a nasty
twist in falling.
" Well, sonny, you are pure grit, and no mistake 1"
he called out as he came, last of all, limping round
one corner of the stack. The other men were equally
loud in their approval of Hubert's pluck, so that the
boy felt an inward glow at their praises in strong
contrast to the shivers that were running up and
down his back 1
When the men had done all that was possible to
protect the hay-stack — now sadly blown about —
from the rain, they all mounted the waggon and
drove the trembling, shivering chestnuts towards the
house, where, in the meanwhile, considerable anxiety
was being felt for Hubert's safety.
When the storm first began, the children, like
their brother, were delighted, and ran in great
excitement and glee around the verandah, letting the
wind buftet them as it would. But when the dust
THE f'.KKAT STORM.
1?-
8
to
.•ty
began to thicken they heat a hasty retreat indouiT,
while Olhe helped the servants go from room to
room securing doors and windows.
Soon it was impossible for them to see beyond
the verandah ; but they could hear crash upon crash
as trees were rooted up, branches snapped ofT, and
stray boards and boxes, loose sheets of iron and
other objects, were carried through the air, to drop
in all kinds of unheard-of places, in some instances
on the roof!
This was pure fun for the youngsters, and when
the deluge of rain came they clapped their hands
and danced about with excitement. Even the
thunder and lightning did not sober them. Only
Baby, who was pleased at the pretty light, was
frightened by the thunder. She made up her mind
it proceeded from some great beast who would come
into the house to kill her 1
Ollie took the Ititle girl on her lap, and when
the thunder rattled the windows and iron roof
she held her close in her arms and comforted
her.
They were all uneasy about Hubert. Nurse
assured Ollie that he would of course have taken
refuge in the barn at the beginning of the storm,
but secretly she feared some accident might have
befallen him.
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86 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Mary was full of suggestions as to what had
happened to him, her favourite theory being that a
sheet of iron had been blown against him and cut
him in two I Fortunately she did not communicate
this horrible idea to OUie, but was content to impart
it in a whisper to nurse, increasing the poor woman's
anxiety of mind considerably.
When the storm began to subside somewhat the
children were all eagerness to go out on the verandah
again, but as the whole place was flooded of course
nurse would not hear of it.
Bertram made them all laugh with one of his
innocently irreverent speeches 1
*'011ie," he said, with much concern, "did God
have to be out in all that rain ? "
Kat, who had been flattening her nose against the
window-pane, was the first to see Hubert come
up.
" Here comes Hub ! " she called out. " He looks
as if he had been drowned and rolled in the
mud ! "
In spite of nurse, they all ran out of the back door
to meet him, and when at last it was understood that
he had not only been out in the storm, but had held
a team of horses through it all, they made quite a
hero of him, begging him to repeat every detail of
the adventure again and again. Nurse got him dry
I
• '5
THE GREAT STORM.
87
clothes, and Ollie insisted on his drinicing some
hot lemonade she had made for him, and which
really came near to scalding him, though he was too
polite to say so.
Hubert, who was not a conceited boy, was rather
bored than pleased by the demonstrations of his
brothers and sisters, but his heart beat fast with
pleasure whenever he thought of the words of
approval he felt sure of receiving from his father
when he should hear of his boy's brave conduct.
The storm, though of short duration, had been the
most severe known on the Murray for years. Not
a tent and hardly a hut was left standing in its track.
Roofs were blown off, chimmeys overthrown, trees
uprooted and others stripped of their branches, and
much damage done by all kinds of objects which
were carried along through the air until they came
in collision with a sufficient obstacle to arrest their
flight.
Next morning, when the children went down to
their swing, they saw, caught in the top of a tall
sugar-gum, and actually doubled around the trunk
by the force of the wind, a sheet of corrugated iron,
carried there from the barn where a few loose
pieces had been lying about.
Later, when their father returned from his trip
to the cit^ they brought him down to see this
88 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
curiosity, and begged him to let it stay there as a
memento of the great storm.
This request was granted, and there it hung for
many years, an object of amusement and wonder to
the visitors at Murray Home.
CHAPTER VIII.
" ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES."
ON the Tuesday following the storm, while the
Olsen children were having their breakfast, a
inan on horse-back rode up to the house and handed
nurse a note, " for Miss Olsen," he said.
Mary brought it in on a salver, for she still treated
Ollie with all the deference due to the mistress of
the establishment. *.
To receive a note was a rare event in Ollie's simple
life. Her first feeling was one of misgiving. Could
any harm have befallen her father and mother?
However, her anxiety was quickly put to flight
when, on tearing open the envelope, she read the
following : —
" Sandy Ridge, Tuesday Morning:'
" My DEAR Olga, — To-morrow I intend to go
with Mr. Hawthorne for a long drive into the back
country. We shall be gone all day, but expect to be
back by dark, or a little later. If you like we will
89
90
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
send. George and Mollie to spend the day with you.
That would please them immensely, and I daresay
you will not mind a little . company after being by
yourselves since Thursday.
" We hope you are getting on nicely.
" With love,
" Yours affectionately,
" Mary Hawthorne."
As the man was waiting, OUie left the table to
write a hasty answer to this note, handing it, in
the meantime, to Hub, to be read aloud to the
others.
" They would be so pleased to have Mollie and
George spend the day with them," she wrote, " and,
please, might they come early ? "
Soon after they were all engrossed in discussing
plans for spending a pleasant day with their visitors.
Now Ollie had two talents which shone pre-
eminently above any others she might possess, in
the estimation of her brothers and sisters. First
and foremost, she could make excellent sweets of the
kind commonly sold at the confectioner's as " French
creams." Secondly, she could arrange little plays,
generally adapted from their books of fairy tales,
dressing up the children in a clever and even artistic
manner, teaching them their parts, and in fact staging
"ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES." 9I
her little pieces in a very creditable way. Mr. Olsen,
pleased with his daughter's ability in this direction,
had supplied her with an immense quantity of tissue-
paper of every colour and shade, and from this
material Olga devised costumes for the young actors
and actresses which were highly effective though not
very serviceable.
On this occasion it was agreed that both of Olga's
talents should be brought into requisition for the
entertainment of their guests.
The sweets were to be made that very day and
put away in the cellar until wanted, while the whole
of Wednesday was to be devoted to the getting up
and final representation of the play. What this last
was to be they could not fully decide ; only it had to
be something quite new and, in fact, their best effort.
So Ollie was ordered to set her wits to work and
to think of something while she was making the
bonbons.
The rest, confident that the result would be satis-
factory if their " best " sister undertook it, turned their
attention to the important business of crowding as
much play into the daylight hours as they would
hold. This morning it was cricket that claimed the
attention of all ; even Baby was able to trot after the
ball and pick it up when it came her way.
The weather had been delightfully cool since
^
r
92
THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
the great storm, and Wednesday was as perfect a
day as any one could desire.
The little Hawthornes arrived soon after break-
fast, and then the fun of getting ready for the play
began.
Dinner was very much like a picnic, for OUie
had been obliged to turn the kitchen department
over to Mary, who was even less of a success at
cooking than her young mistress, and to fall back
on store-room supplies to make up deficiencies.
For with five brand-new costumes for the players
to get ready Ollie had her hands full !
At three o'clock everything was in readiness.
The stage was a portion of the verandah, in front
of the French window that opened out from the
library. William had hung rugs on either side to
ft
give it an enclosed appearance; the glass door
formed both entrance and exit, while an ordinarv
bamboo shade, which hung between two verandah
posts, served as drop-curtain, and was manipulated
by the stage-manager, who was, of course, Ollie.
The audience, if not numerous, or even very select,
was at least sympathetic. It consisted of nurse,
Mary, William, and Long Tom, who was found at
the last moment hanging about the barn, still unable
to work, on account of his twisted ankle ; also George
Hawthorne and Bertram, who were not taking part
>•
"ONE-EYK, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES." 93
in the perfor-^ance, and a boy who had brought
a message for nurse from her married sister, and
who was immediately invited to stay and see the
fun.
They were all seated on a shady strip of the lawn,
which commanded an excellent view of the stage,
and which, as Hub explained, constituted the ** Dress
Circle."
When the curtain went up Kat was revealed,
seated primly on the edge of some square-looking
object, which was covered by a grey blanket, and
was intended to represent a rock. Tethered to a
verandah post was a white kid, which began to
caper about in a very frisky way as soon as it saw
the audience.
A few branches of trees formed a rustic back-
ground, and Kat was arrayed as an ideal little
shepherdess, in blue and white, with a crook in her
hand.
" Oh, dear ! " she exclaimed in doleful tones,
" how hungry I am ! " Whereupon she took out
a small handkerchief, and began to mop her eyes
with it in a very business-like way.
Suddenly there appeared on the scene, through
the library door, an old woman. She was old
and bent, and wore a long grey cloak and a high,
pointed hat. Nevertheless, the audience had no
i^
(■i
94 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
difficulty in recognising Rat's jolly little phiz under
the disguise.
" What is it, my poor child ? " inquired the old
woman in tones of concern.
" I am crying because I have only two eyes
and because 1 am so hungry," answered the little
shepherdess promptly ; and went on to tell the witch —
for of course they all knew it was a witch — that her
elder sister had one eye and the younger, three,
whereas she had but two, and her mother hated her
because of her ordinary appearance. Moreover, her
unkind mother gave her nothing but the leavings
of her two sisters to eat, so that she often went
hungry.
"That is easily remedied," the old woman said
cheerfully when the tale of woe was ended. "You
must turn to your kid and say, —
"•Little Kid, milk,
Table appear ! '
and forthwith a table supplied with good things
will appear before you. When you have eaten all
you want, you have only to say, —
'"Little Kid, milk,
Table depart ! '
and it will instantly vanish again."
The old woman herself disappeared after these
"ONK-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THRF.E-EYES." 95
words, and Two-Eyes, advancing towards the kid,
began to repeat the charm with great solemnity and
deliberation.
All eyes were fixed on the speaker, so that it was
really a surprise to every one when she turned
around again and there in place of the grey rock
stood a small table set out with numerous and,
presumably, dainty dishes. These were covered
up — perhaps to keep them hot ! — but Two-Eyes
quickly removed the covers, and with sundry ex-
clamations of '* How nice ! " " This is so good I "
partook of a hasty but apparently satisfactory meal.
Again advancing she repeated the words, —
" Little Kid, milk,
Table depart!"
Whereupon it was seen that the table had vanished
altogether this time.
It had followed the gi*ey blanket into the library.
This mancEUvre had been planned and effected by
Hub, and after a good many experiments had been
made to work pretty well.
A piece of strong cord tied to one corner of the
rug which covered the small table had its other end
passed through the library door. The table had
had castors put on it by William, so as to make it
run smoothly, and a double cord, similar to the first,
was secured to two of its legs. Hub, concealed
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96 THE VOUNGSTKKS OF MURRAY HOME.
behind a screen just inside the library, held the ends
in his hand, and while Katrina repeated the witch's
words he with a quick movement pulled the cover
off the table and in through the door.
But when the time came for the table to disappear
the audience was on the alert to see how the mystery
was accomplished, and a general laugh, with some
clapping of handt, greeted the magic table's rather
awkward exit.
Scene II. showed the grey rock, the kid tethered
near by as before, only this time Two-Eyes had a
companion in the shape of her elder sister One-eye,
who, it will be remembered, was sent by the unkind
mother to discover by what means Two-Eyes
managed to satisfy her hunger without touching
her dinner of scraps at home.
One-Eye, who was Mollie Hawthorne, presented
a peculiar appearance. A shade made of several
thicknesses of pink tissue-paper and kept on by a
narrow black elastic, covered her natural optics,
without altogether depriving her of sight, and in the
middle of her forehead a very wide-open, staring
blue eye was to be seen.
This phenomenon was really an artistic production
of William's. A wonderful Jack-of-all-trades was
William, and the best natured man that ever breathed,
always ready to help the children out of any difficulty.
"ONE-KYE, TWO-EVKS AND TIIKEE-EYKS." 97
and to suggest ways and means where none seemed
possible. So when the production of " One-Kye,
Two-Eyes and Three-Eyes" was lirst !ilked of,
they all in a body ran down the yard io consult
with William about the extra eyes Mat would be
need-'! or the occasion, and he, after looking over
liis stock of paints and brushes, " reckoned he could
manage it for them." Ollie was doubtful about the
paint washing off, but William solved this difliculty
as he did all others ; and undertook to remove the
superfluous organs of vision, when ordered so to do,
with turpentine.
But to return to our little stage.
When the curtain was raised, One-Eye, who was
clad in a pretty pale green costume, began to yawn
and stretch herself.
" I'm so tired I " she exclaimed. " Let us return
home, for the goat has had as much grass as it
wants."
" Oh, rest awhile first, One-Eye 1 " said her crafty
sister. "Come, I will sing jni to sleep! "
One-Eye was easily persuaded, and went to
recline on a bed of leaves and boughs arranged for
this purpose on one side of the stage.
Then Two-Eyes sang in a shrill little voice, —
" Are you awake or asleep, One-Eye ?
Are you awake or asleep?"'
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THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
I
Presently One-Eye nodded her head drowsily, and
because there was no other way of closing William's
eye, she threw her arm across her forehead and so
lay, apparently in profound slumber, while Two-Eyes
once more summoned the magic table, and after
eating with as good an appetite as she had displayed
on the first occasion, gave the signal for the feast to
disappear. All of which was done as before.
After this she awakened her sister and they went
off together.
The third scene, in which Three-Eyes comes to
help mind the goat, was received with great applause,
for Three-Eyes was Baby herself, arrayed as a
charming little shepherdess in pink and white.
So delighted was the little maid with her own
appearance that when the curtain went up, she
trotted to the edge of the verandah, in spite of
Katrina's giggles and Ollie's audible appeals from
the library, and called out lustily, —
" Look at me, nurse and Maly and evelybody I
And look at my ulla eye ! "
A shout of laughter greeted this speech ; but at
last Baby allowed herself to be led to the bed of
boughs, where she forthwith cuddled herself up
comfortably, while Two-Eyes sang, —
" Are you awake, Three-Eyes ?
Are you asleep, Tvvo'Eyes ? "
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"ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES." 99
According to instructions Baby shut her eyes tight,
but the artificial orb remained wide open to watch
Two-Eyes as she called up her dinner and proceeded
to despatch it, apparently oblivious of the fact that
it was her third meal within half an hour 1
Before the repast was quite finished, however,
Three-Eyes once more electrified the audience by
suddenly sitting up and saying in her most coaxing
tones, —
" Please, Tat, will lou give me a piece of cake ? "
This irregularity was too much for Ollie, who hastily
dropped the curtain amid uproarious laughter and
applause from the audience.
Scene IV. exhibited Two-Eyes once more alone
and weeping. The kind, wise woman appeared
straightway, and learned that Three-Eyes had told
the secret of the magic table at home, and after
hearing it the cruel mother had taken a sharp knife
and killed the kid.
" And now I must go dinnerless again I " con-
cluded Two-Eyes, relapsing into sobs.
" Do as I tell you," replied the witch. ** Go home
and beg your sisters to let you have the entrails of
the dead kid. Bury them in the earth before the
house door and your fortune is made."
This was the whole of the fourth scene.
Then alter an interval that suggested alterations
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lOO THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
on the stage, the curtain was lifted for the fifth and
last time.
In the midst of the stage stood a tub, and in it a
tree was planted which was hung with beautiful
golden fruit.
As a matter of fact these were oranges tied on for
the occasion.
The three sisters were standing near the tree,
when who should be seen riding towards the spot'
mounted on a prancing steed, but a knight in gay
attire.
The spectators took in the fact that it was Hubert
on his own pony, but the effect was very fine, never-
theless, as he came galloping round the house.
" Hide, Two-Eyes, quickly, that you may not dis-
grace us with your common appearance 1 " cried
One-Eye ; and as quick as a fiash they popped her
under an empty cask, which was standing very
conveniently at hand.
The next moment the knight rode up.
After observing the tree with admiration he
politely lifted his cap (which was decorated with
feathers out of Ollie's winter hat) and asked,—
" To whom does this beautiful tree belong ? "
"To us," replied One-Eye.
" Will you be so good as to give me some of the
fruit ? "
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"ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES." lOI
Whereupon the sisters made the most determined
efforts to pick some of the golden apples, but without
succeeding in securing a single one.
It had been thought altogether likely that little
Three-Eyes could not be restrained from picking the
fruit in spite of the fact of the tree's being bewitched,
so this difficulty was overcome by hanging it all
beyond ihe reach of her short arms I
"This is very wonderful ! " exclaimed the knight,
after watching the extraordinary and fruitless efforts
made by the two sisters.
As he spoke an orange was slipped from under
the cask and rolled across the verandah. Springing
off his horse, he picked it up (just as Three-Eyes
was in the act of pouncing upon it !) and demanded
in peremptory tones who had plucked it.
" Our sister," replied One-Eye. " But we are
ashamed to have you see her because she has only
two eyes."
" I wish to see her," said the knight.
"Oh no! Nol" cried One-Eye with great
energy.
" I must and will see her," returned the knight
emphatically. " Two-Eyes, come forth ! "
So One-Eye was obliged to relent, since it was
impossible for her sister to get from under the cask
without assistance.
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I02 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Catching up a small basket — which also lay con-
veniently near, — Two-Eyes as soon as she appeared
quickly filled it with the Golden Apples, and then,
with a curtsy, done in Kat's very best style, she
presented it to the knight, who inquired as he again
mounted his steed, —
" 'TO WHOM DOES THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE PELONG ? '"
*' What can I do for you, Two-Eyes, in return
for your kindness ? "
" Oh, take me with you, kind knight," cried Two-
Eyes, who was not at all bashful. " My mother and
sisters are cruel to me and I am so unhappy ! " and
she held out her arms imploringly.
'■* 1 will take you gladly, little Two-Eyes," re-
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"ONE-EYE, TWO-EYES AND THREE-EYES." IO3
sponded the knight, reaching out one arm to assist
her.
So Httle Two-Eyes, who was as light as a feather,
sprang into the saddle before him, and the happy
pair galloped off in a highly effective manner, as
the curtain fell and Ollie announced that the play
was ended.
.V s
CHAP'lER IX.
THE MISSING BONBONS.
A FTER the acting was over the players were
-^~^ carefully divested of their tissue-paper cos-
tumes, for Ollie always laid aside for future use any
which were not too much torn and crushed.
Kat's pale blue ; id white array was hopelessly
damaged, after creeping in and out of the cask and,
worse still, galloping down to the barn on Hubei t's
pony; but. all the others were in pretty good
condition. Only Baby's came to a sad end, for
that young woman had had a frolic with the goat
on the back verandah while the others were being
undressed, and when nurse went to look for her
nothing of the pink-and-white frock was to be seen
but a few fragments which the wind was busily
blowing into corners, while Baby disported herself
joyously with - nly her little white petticoat on.
After this the painted eyes had to be removed
by William, and when Baby and Mollie came back
again to the house, each had a bright red spot in
104
THE MISSING BONBONS.
105
the middle of her forehead, but only her usual
number of optics.
It was agreed on all hands that some of Ollie's
cream bonbons would taste very good now, so an
adjournment to the summer-house took place, while
Hubert undertook to fetch the sweets from the cellar.
He soon returned, looking a trifle blank, it must
be confessed, and bearing in his hands a platter
covered rather thinly with a varied assortment of
lollies.
"Is that all you made, 01 ? " he inquired as he
set the dish down. " Seems to me you might have
been a bit more liberal, considering what a crowd
of us there are ! "
** But there are two platters," Ollie said. " I'll
get the other one and then there will be plenty."
" There was only one in the cellar," returned
Hubert. " I looked all around, for I thought there
ought to be some more. You said you'd make
some walnuts and some with dates, but there aren't
any on this dish."
" I did make walnuts and dates. Such beauties ! "
Olga exclaimed. " Whatever can have happened
to them r I'll go and look ! "
They all followed her, and there was a general
search for the missing bonbons, but not a trace of
them could be found anywhere.
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I06 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Ollie privately suspected the small boy who had
brought nurse's message of having made away with
them, but though it was on the tip of her tongue
a dozen times to say so, she wisely refrained. She
was afraid of doing the boy injustice, especially
before the young Hawthornes, for Mollie, she knew,
was a very gossipy little girl and would be sure to
repeat every word that was said at home.
"Well, we'd better go and eat what there are,
any way," remarked Hub after they had all searched
until they were tired.
So they repaired to the summer-house once more
and divided the sweets among them in a fair and
impartial manner, each in turn choosing one until
they were all gone.
"After all, we might have been ill if we'd had
any more," George remarked philosophically, as he
swallowed his last and gazed upon the empty dish.
" I'd run the risk if we could find those walnuts ! "
returned Hub gloomily.
Kat and Rat had taken the loss of the bonbons
with almost suspicious cheerfulness. Mollie, who
was an observant child, had caught several secret,
smiling glances exchanged between them, and had
come to the conclusion that they knew something
about the strange disappearance if no one else did.
As for Bertram, he was firmly convinced that
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THE MISSING BONBONS.
107
no less than a bear was the culprit. As the others
would not listen to him he talked the matter over
confidentially with Baby, who accepted his state-
ments with implicit faith.
" I know a big black bear came and ate those
lollies, Baby," he said. " Bears just love sweet
things, mamma says so, and a bear could get in
through the cellar window when nobody was look-
ing, just as easy as anything ! "
" Let's go and find him, Bert," suggested the
little girl. " P'laps he's a kind bear and will let
us play wif him."
So off the two trotted to poke their heads close
to the wire-netting screen which covered the cellar
window, and fancy they could hear the bear growling
" as plain as anyfing." This was Bertram's idea
too, for he was a young man of imagination.
In the meantime Mary had come to summon
Ollie to the drawing-room, where there were callers
awaiting her. These were Mr. and Mrs. Edwardes,
the clergyman of Mullagulloo and his wife.
They were a childless couple, whose visits the
juvenile Olsens rather dreaded, for though kind-
hearted and welUintentioned people they took a
painfully serious view of childhood and its responsi-
bilities, and quite failed to understand either children
in general, or these children in particular.
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I08 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
*' Bring in tea just as soon as ever you can,
Mary. That will be something to do ; it's dreadful
to have to talk all the time ! What a mercy we got
that currant cake from the baker this morning, for
my jam roll is not fit to be seen 1 Oh, and, Mary,
tell nurse to make all i;he children neat, for Mrs.
Edwardes is sure to ask to see them 1 "
And Ollie hastened in to her guests, with whom,
by the way, she was a great favourite.
" Such sweet, gentle manners ! " Mrs. Edwardes
said of her in speaking to others.
" Such an understanding of religious subjects ! "
her husband would add. Which meant that Ollie
always listened very politely when he explained
knotty points of the catechism to her.
" My dear child 1 And how do you bear your
responsibilities ? " cried the lady now, advancing
to meet the tall, fair girl with outstretched arms.
Ollie said, " Very well, thank you," and submitted
shrinkingly to a hearty embrace, after which she
sat down and answered all her guests' questions
with gentle amiability, until Mary arrived with
the tea-things.
Following after her, in single file, came Rat, Kat,
Bertram, Baby and George Hawthorne.
Hub, who had a special dislike to the clergyman
and his wife, had vowed he would not come in, for
THE MISSING 150N110NS.
109
Ollie or nurse cither ; while Mollie, being engaged in
some private investigations of her own in regard to
the missing bonbons, had disappeared entirely.
Rat and Kat would have preferred staying outside
too, but nurse had these two more under control
than their elder brother, so she conducted them
personally, with a hand on each shoulder, as far as
the drawing-room door.
One by one they came up to the visitors to be
spoken to.
When it was Bertram's turn, Mr. Edwardes
inquired in his most prepossessing tone, —
" Well, my little man, and what hand are you
going to give me ? "
The child considered the matter gravely, and then
looking with his big, serious eyes into the clergy-
man's face, replied, —
"The other hand."
Whereupon Mrs. Edwardes and Ollie both began
to laugh, but Mr. Edwardes, who it must be con-
fessed was rather a stupid man, had to have the joke
explained to him.
" You see, he generally holds out the wrong
hand," said Ollie, to make the matter clear, "and
then somebody always says to him, 'The other
hand, Bertram, you must give the other hand I ' "
" Lere's a big black bear in our cellar," put in
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Baby at this point, for she thought that Bertram had
monopolised every one's attention long enough.
Olga began to busy herself with the tea-things,
thankful to have a little rest from talking.
" My dear little girl I Do you think you are
speaking quite the truth?" said Mr. Edwardes,
somewhat scandalised.
" Les 1 And it ate the lollies I " continued Baby
with assurance.
" Hub thinks somebody stole them/' put in
Bertram, " but me and Baby think a big bear ate
them. 'Cause, you know, bears like sweet things."
Neither the clergyman nor his wife knew quite
what to make of these remarks, and as no explana-
tions were offered they turned their attention to
Katrina and Ralph, who, seated side by side on an
ottoman, were looking just then as if something
mightily amused them.
'* Come here, my boy," said Mr. Edwardes, and
Ralph came awkwardly across the room and stood
in front of him.
The little boy was wondering if he was going to
be asked questions out of the catechism, a favourite
pastime of their clergyman, and he was quite right
in his conjecture, for the first words addressed to
him were, —
** Can you repeat ' My duty to my neighbour ? ' "
TlIK MISSING 1JON150NS.
II I
" Not very well," replied Rat truthfully.
" Ah ! Would you mind trying, my boy ? If you
get through it you shall have a penny."
For Mr. Edwardes was a great believer in the
advantage of rewarding virtue.
" "ro KEEP MY HANDS FKOM PICKING AND STEALING.
Rat floundered along with much prompting till
he came to, " To keep my haads from picking and
stealing," where he stuck fast.
His tormentor was leisurely sipping his tea and
eating his currant cake, but now he set down his
cup.
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112 ,TJiE. YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" To keep my hands from picking and stealing,^^
he repeated with much emphasis for the third time,
and he looked meaningly at Rat. His idea was
only to help the boy and to suggest the words that
followed, but Rat took the look to mean something
quite different.
He became suddenly crimson, and crying out in
a loud, angry voice, —
*' I didn't steal a thing so you needn't look at me
like that ! " he rushed from the room.
Kat followed more quietly, and the rest of the
company looked at each other in astonishment.
Rat's extraordinary conduct naturally made a very
bad impression on the clergyman, who could not
think what he had done to cause such an outburst,
for his intentions v/ere altogether good. He took
up the penny which had been lying on the table
ready to be bestowed on Ralph, and restored it to
his pocket.
Poor Ollie was much mortified as well as mystified,
and a silence fell on all.
Bertram was the first to break it. He probably
thought a little religious conversation would be
agreeable to their visitors, for he remarked gravely,—
" 1 dreamed about God last night, Mrs. Edwardes."
" Yes, dear," replied the lady uneasily, '* what
did you dream ? " .
i^HMM^nilMI ■
THE MISSING BONBONS.
113
" I dreamed He shaked hands with me," was
Bertram's solemn response.
OUie, who had been almost on the verge of tears,
now burst into a hysterical laugh, but Mr, and Mrs.
Edwardes looked grave and immediately rose to take
their departure.
" Extraordinary children ! " exclaimed the lady
when they were in their trap and on their way
home.
"And, I fear, not well instructed," added her
husband.
In reality they were neither the one nor the other,
only simple, straightforward children accustomed to
much loving sympathy with their childish ways
and thoughts.
When Ollie entered the nursery after seeing their
guests depart, Hubert met her. The boy was pale
and his voice shook with agitation as he said
excitedly, —
" Look here, Ollie ! Kat and Rat are thieves I
Mollie found the other platter empty under the
counterpane of Kat's bed."
" How do you know Rat is in it ? " demanded
Ollie, aghast at this revelation ; but she did not for
a moment doubt that he was, since the two in-
separables always worked together.
" Because we had another hunt after we'd found
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114 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
the dish, and we came on a cardboard box, packed
full of the creams, under Rat's pillow."
OUie, horrified, could do nothing but sit down on
the lounge to think out the situation, and before she
had arrived at any conclusion the other children
came in.
"You greedy little thief! " cried Hub, turning on
his brother with violence.
" I'm nothing of the sort ! " retorted Rat in a
fury, rushing at Hub, whom, though so much bigger
than himself, he was not afraid to tackle.
But nurse heard the disturbance in the adjoining
room, and hastening out she soon separated the boys.
" For shame, Master Hubert," she said, " to fight
a little fellovv not half your size ! "
But Hubert had not done more than defend him-
self against Rat's furious attack, and considering
how sorely he had felt the loss of the dearly loved
walnut creams he might have been forgiven for
handling the smaller boy a little roughly.
Rat's temper, however, was thoroughly roused,
and Rat had a temper, appearances to the contrary
notwithstanding.
The little fellow, usually the soul of good humour
and good-natured fun, now sat with a red and sullen
face, refusing to answer any of the questions
addressed to him.
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THE MISSING 150NH0NS.
115
ked
I
Kat, in the meantime, had seen fit to leave the
room, and the others, after waiting awhile for
further developments, soon followed her example,
leaving Rat alone with his ill-humour.
Ollie had the evening meal to attend to, and the
rest of the party turned their attention to tennis
until the bell rang.
Soon after tea Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne called to
take home the little visitors, to each of whom Ollie
gave, as she bade them good-bye, a small package of
the walnut and date bonbons.
Returning into the house she found Rat in the
library, still sulking, with Kat beside him, en-
deavouring to administer comfort.
Ollie felt miserable herself. The day which had
promised so much had ended so badly 1
Besides, she did not know how to talk to the little
brother and sister. She was indignant with them
for their naughtiness, and thought the least they
could do was to show a proper spirit of repentance.
The Olsen children had been trained to the strictest
honesty even in small matters, and Olga knew their
father and mother would be much grieved at the con-
duct of the two little ones when they should hear of it.
" Rat ! " she said at last hesitatingly, and trying
to speak gently, " why won't you tell me why you
and Kat did it ? "
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" I won't say a word as long as any one calls n\e
a thief, " returned the boy stubbornly.
"Will you tell me, Kat ? " asked Ollie of the
little girl.
She felt angry with Ralph.
" Well, you're not mamma, you know, and we
don't need to tell you," answered Kat loftily. " But
I'll tell you, since you want to know so much. We
did it for fun ! "
" For fun ! " ejaculated her sister.
For, strange to say, no one had thought of this
simple explanation of the whole matter. Hubert
and Ollie, not to mention the Hawthornes, had at
once taken for granted that the bonbons had been
hidden away for the purpose of being eaten up in
secret, which was greediness added to dishonesty.
So they had all considered themselves amply justified
in being righteously indignant with the offenders.
" And you didn't mean to eat them ? " faltered Olga.
'' Not a single one ! " replied Kat virtuously. " One
dropped down and broke in two, and I wanted us to
eat it, but Rat wouldn't let me. I think we might
have, just as well as not."
Ralph's face brightened in spite of himself as he
heard his character being cleared.
" What were you going to do with them then ? "
inquired Ollie, still a little bewildered.
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THE MISSING BONBONS.
117
" Bring them out tomorrow and have another
feast."
"We thought you meant to eat them. I'm so
sorry, Rat," she said. " I beg your pardon and I
think Hub will too when he knows."
Ralph, his face all smiles and sunshine, threw his
arms around his big sister's neck and gave her a
good hug. His bad humour, caused by hurt pride
and affection only, was over in a minute.
Katrina merely looked on with pleased dignity.
She was younger than her brother and her feelings
were less sensitive, but she was old enough to enjoy
the situation all the same, though she offered no
demonstration.
I, myself, think that the children deserved a
scolding at the least for meddling with what did not
concern them, and causing a good deal of annoyance
in consequence, even though their intentions were
quite honest.
Perhaps Ollie thought so too, but if so, she wisely
forbore to take upon herself the duty of their absent
mother. Instead, she was more than usually kind
to them for the rest of the evening, and even
apologised to Rat once more when she bade him
good-night.
For she was really sorry that she had thought
hard things of the little boy.
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CHAPTER X.
THK FISHING PARTY.
QN the following day, soon after dinner Ollie
was nit;: all sT; '^"''"^'^^^ ^°^ ''^ ^^^
s ui a cook she was an exrf-Ilf-nf i.^ j
cutting thin bread and butter "'^ "'
caused our young housekeeper
regulation ti^e a'^^i gTn T "".'"^'^ "'^
Ti.« 1 • ''"-'-oi^anig to Olhe's cookery-book
saf:l?J.^"^''"^^'^'^°^-"^P-.--etinth:
Next day it absolutely refused to let itself h .
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THE FISHING PARTY.
119
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" Put it through the mincing machine, Miss Olhe,"
she said, "and it'll do first-rate for sandwiches."
For nurse, as Ollie had discovered before now,
knew a good deal more about cooking and kitchen
work than she cared to let people know.
In this instance her advice was immediately acted
upon, and the minced ham packed into a number of
little pots and some melted mutton fat poured over
the tops ; an idea culled from the cookery-book.
And now Ollie was busy making sandwiches
with some of it.
All the children were going down to the billabong
to fish that afternoon, excepting Baby, who was to
accompany nurse on a visit to her sister, who lived
a short distance up the river bank.
For the note delivered by the small boy the day
before had. brought word of a new arrival in the
sister's household — a baby girl. Nurse had already
run up for a few minutes to see the mother and
child the night before, after the children were in bed.
This afternoon she was taking her sewing and her
youngest charge with her, and intended to spend
some hours with her sister.
" Now, Miss Ollie," she said impressively, looking
into the pantry just before starting, "don't, 1 beg of
you, let them boys do anything venturesome, and
your ma and pa away 1 "
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I20 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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Ollie laughed at her solemnity and said, "All
right, nurse, we'll be careful," in the midst of spread-
ing ham on the very last sandwich.
While Mary packed the eatables into a small
basket the children put on their hats, and in a few
minutes were on their way through the orchard to
the billabong. Mary, alone, was left in charge of
the house.
The road was dusty and the sun was hot, but
trifles of this description did not daunt their ardour,
as they hurried along, anxious to have as much time
as possible for their favourite sport.
A half-mile's walk brought them to their destina-
tion.
It was a beautiful spot. The low-lying ground
was covered with rich native grass which looked most
vividly green under the slanting rays of the after-
noon sun. Immense red gums, whose sil-ery,
shimmering trunks formed an exquisite contrast to
the colour of the grass, stood solitary or in groups,
giving to the slope a graceful, park-like appearance.
In fact, the children had named the spot, which
belonged to their father's estate, " Murray Park."
They now hastened to the water, more bent on
catching fish than on admiring the landscape,
and Rat and Kat set about catching shrimps for bait,
while Hub got out the lines.
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THE FISHING PARTV.
121
An old tin bucket, perforated with holes, with a
piece of meat inside and some rope attached to the
handles, serv^^d as a shrimp trap, and the two
children, in spite of much useless noise and dragging
in and out of the bucket, soon had enough bait
to begin operations with. After that the bucket
was entrusted to Bertram, who, being of a steady
and patient disposition, was content to sit quietly
with the rope in his hand, and only pull it out when
ordered to do so by Hubert.
In the meantime the sport was very poor. " Bites "
were numerous, but fish were few. Hub and Ollie
each caught a diminutive cod, and Kat distinguished
herself by appropriately hooking a large cat-fish.
But that was all.
** I'm tired of this ! Let's try another place I "
said Kat at last, eager for a change as usual.
" All right 1 " assented Ralph. " Up there by
that big log ought to be good."
So off they went a short distance along the water's
edge to where, at some time long past a huge gum-
tree had fallen headlong into the water.
No sooner had they reached the spot than they
came back, running and shouting, —
" The boat's there. Hub ! The boat's there, Ollie 1
Let's go for a row 1 "
The boat was a row-boat belonging to Mr. Olsen,
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122 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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and usually kept moored in the river not far from
the house. The children were not allowed to go
rowing by themselves on the river, on account of
the current, which was very strong. But once or
twice when, for some reason, the boat had been
brought around to the billabong, Olga and Hubert
had been permitted to take the younger children
out in it. They could all swim except Bertram, and
the two older ones could handle a pair of oars
fairly well.
Nevertheless Ollie looked doubtfully at Hub as
the two little ones came running up, all eagerness
for a row.
" Do you think we ought to. Hub ? " she said.
*' Why not ? Papa and mamma haye often let
us. Of course we won't go if it leaks."
The boat, however, had been left partly under
water, and when pulled out and emptied was found
to be quite water-tight.
Ollie still felt misgivings on account of the absence
of their father and mother, and nurse's last words
kept ringing in her ears. But, finally, she allowed
herself to be persuaded by Hubert. It was such
a beautiful day and the water looked so inviting !
It was not hard for her to yield.
The oars were found under some bushes near
by — their usual place of concealment — and Hub
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THE FISHING rARTV.
123
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undertook to row the party, while Ollie set to work
to disentangle the lines belonging to Kat and Rat ;
an endless task, which these two, with their usual
facility for getting into trouble, were constantly *
imposing upon their good-natured sister.
** We'll go on till we come to a first-rate place to
fish and then we'll get out," said Hub.
*' And eat our sandwiches," put in Bertram.
" Good idea, Bertie, my son I We'll have the
* tucker ' first thing I "
To which proposal they were all, of course, agree-
able.
So for half-an-hour or more, the little boat glided
along over the smooth, shining water, which reflected,
as in a mirror, the sky, the grass, the trees along
the banks ; every leaf and twig, every light and
shadow distinctly visible.
" Do the fairies live down there ? " queried
Bertram, pointing to the brilliant landscape in the
water. ^
" Perhaps the water-sprites do," replied Ollie.
" It looks real enough for any one to live
there ! "
" See ! see the cockatoos in the water I " came
an exclamation from Kat, as she pointed a little
way ahead, where a troup of cockatoos were
perched on a box-tree, looking like great white
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124 TIIK VOUNC.STEKS OF MURRAY IIOMK.
flowers among the green branches ; and the whole
•picture was clearly reflected in the water, where
the birds fluttered from branch to branch, in as
life-like a manner as they did in the air.
This box-tree, laden with living flowers, stood
on a small island in the middle of the billabong, a
pretty, grassy place, covered here and there with a
thick, scrubby undergrowth, and well wooded with
box and gum-trees.
As they had already come a considerable distance,
OUie thought they could not do better than land
here, despatch their sandwiches, and have another
threw for some fish to take home with them.
They pulled up close to a large tree where the
water was deep and promised well for fishing.
Here, all but Hubert sprang on shrre ; he took the
boat about ten yards farther on, ,:o where the stump
of a box-tree stood close to the water's edge.
Around this he hastily, and very carelessly knotted
the rope, being all eagerness to put out his line
and try his luck once more.
The others had found some logs piled conveniently
one on top of the other, and there they had already
disposed themselves, and were attacking the basket
of sandwiches when Hub came along after securing
the boat.
" You're in a jolly hurry 1 " he cried scornfully.
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THE FISHING PARTY.
125
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" I'm going to put out my line before I have any-
thing to eat.
So saying, he ran down to the great gum-tree,
and proceeded to throw out his line once more,
fastening it to a stake driven firmly into the sand.
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COCKATOO ISLAND.
This Operation was conducted on that side of the
tree farthest from the boat, which was thus com-
pletely hidden from his view, else he might have
noticed that already the careless knot he had tied in
the rope was loosening and slipping.
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126 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
But he was quite unconscious of any coming
catastrophe, and whistled gaily over his sport,
returning, when the important business was accom-
plished, for his share of the refreshments.
Kat and Rat were discussing the charms of their
little island with enthusiasm.
" It's just a lovely place, and our very own,
because we found it first. We must give it a
name ! " averred Katrina.
Ollie suggested " Pleasant Island " and Hub
thought " Sandwich Isle " would be appropriate, but
Kat herself gave it the name that satisfied them all.
Pointing to the white birds, yellow-crested, still
screeching and fluttering in the boughs overhead,
she said, —
" Call it Cockatoo Island."
And so it was named.
The sandwiches were eaten to the last crumb.
Bertram declared they were *' perfectly lovely," and
Ollie, always happy at a word of praise, actually
blushed with pleasure.
" But now, children," she cried, jumping up in
haste, " it is getting dreadfully late. See how
low the sun it; ! In an hour it will be dark. Just
one throw for every one and then we must go."
In ten minutes more they were ready to depart.
Hub, on returning to his line, had found a fine
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THE FISHING PARTY
127
bream attached to it, but the others had again been
unsuccessful.
Regretfully they wound up their lines and turned
their steps along the bank to where the boat lay
moored.
But what was this ? Did their eyes deceive them,
or had they mistaken the spot ? Impossible !
They looked at each other blankly.
The boat was gone.
They ran up and down the bank in all directions,
vainly hoping to find it caught in some bush or
fallen tree. Useless search 1
Coiild they but have known^it, the boat had already
drifted beyond their sight, concealed by the curve of
the island, in the direction of the river.
They gathereJ again at the spot where they
had had their little lunch, a disconsolate group.
" Oh, why did we go in the boat ? " Ollie burst
forth. " I knew all the time I should not have said
' yes'. It is all my fault ! "
" I didn't tie the rope properly,'' said Hubert
uneasily, well aware who was to blame for their
misfortune. " I was in such a hurry. Well, it
can't be helped now ! Very likely some one will
come along and pick us up."
" Hardly any one comes to fish in this billabong
except ourselves. And they will never think to look
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for us here, because they won't know about the
boat."
Olga sat down despairingly, and when Bertram
began to cry, she had great difficulty in keeping back
her own tears.
Hub was divided between a guilty sense of respon-
sibility and an inclination to look on the adventure
as "jolly good fun," while Kat and Rat, the first
feeling of alarm over, found the situation entirely to
their taste.
"They won't find us to-night, anyhow," remarked
Hub, after a short silence, "so we had better look
around for a place to camp."
They determined to explore the island, which
was a very tiny one, not more than an eighth
of a mile across and a third of a mile long. As
the undergrowth was thick in places, it was decided
to keep to the shore for fear of snakes, and so,
turning to their right, they began their search.
It was rough walking, for logs and branches were
continually obstructing their way ; therefore they
made slow progress. For some time nothing was to
be seen but a shelving bank bordered by box-trees,
with an occasional red gum to break the monotony.
They passed through patches of thick, reedy giass,
but for the most part the ground was bare. Wncn
they had rounded the end of the little island and
THE FISIIINd PARTY.
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were, as nearly as they could guess, half way down
the other side, to their astonishment and pleasure
they caught sight of a goat. The animal, on its part,
showed some surprise at the appearance of strangers
in its own domain, but did not attempt to get out of
their way.
" It's a tame goat, I do believe," said Rat, as
they stood still to gaze at this interesting object,
the first living thing they had come across, except
the cockatoos, whose discordant cries could still
be heard across the scrub.
" Is this the Fairy Island where the Princess
lived ? " Bertram inquired with interest.
Ollie only shook her head, as many possibilities
ill connection with the animal crossed her mind.
Dut Bertram continued to observe it closely as if
■le half expected to see it turn into a kind old
woman who wo.iid offer them shelter for the
night.
Hub had walked on tbout fifty yards, but now
he turned back, beckoning to them with both arms
to hurry on, without, however, opening his lips to
call.
Walking was not quick enough for th^ni, so
they ran.
" What is it ? what is it ? " they cried.
" What do you think, Ol ? " he said, in an excited
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130 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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whisper when they came up. " There's a hut in
among those bushes. It's ahnost hidden, but you
can see the chimi: y n'ite plainly."
This was a discov*
They all gazed, half in fear, half in delight, at
the evidence of human habitation in such an un-
expected place, and then began a whispered con-
sultation whether or not to make themselves known
to the unknown inhabitants of the shanty.
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CHAPTER XI.
COCKATOO ISLAND.
T IKE sensible children they soon decided to
L present themselves at the door of the hut
and ask for a night's shelter at least. They d,d no
approach the rude, iron building without much mvvard
trembling and some secret misgivings, however.
..Suppose a robber lives there!" whispered
Bertram, holding tight to his biggest sister's hand
.. What if it's a blackfellow's hut ? suggested
Kat, who had a great fear of the aboriginals ; and
filled with a sudden terror she clung to Olga and
would hardly allow her to go forward. ^
Ralph alone was without a tremor, bemg of an
unimaginatwe mind and a brave and fearless nature^
Ollie could not repress a secret dread o she
knew not what, and with difficulty steadied her
voice to reassure the little ones, who clung to her
for safety, while Hub went boldly up to the door
and knocked.
No answer and no sound within.
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132 TlIK VOUNr.STP:RS OF MURRAY HOME.
Again and again they all knocked in turn, growing
bolder with each essay. But the result was always
the same.
At last they lifted the latch, and the door not
being locked, it opened, and they peeped in. Not
a soul was to be seen.
The interior was rough but neat. The earthen
floor was hard and cleanly swept. A table, whose
four legs were four logs deeply sunk in the ground,
a cupboard made of a packing case, a rickety canvas
chair ; these articles, all evidently of home manufac-
ture, comprised the chief furniture of the room, at
one end of which was a large earthen fireplace
and chinmey.
With a sigh of relief the children perceived that
the place was empty. One by one, in silence,
they stepped inside and looked around them. But
as their eyes rested on some articles of wearing
apparel, a coat and trousers and shirt, hanging on
a nail near the bed, they were suddenly overcome
by a sense of intrusion which they could not have
explained if they had tried, and with one accord
they hastened out into the open air.
Once outside they were not long in finding their
tongues. They began to talk the matter over.
" The owner is away from home, that's plain,"
began Hub.
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COCKATOO ISLAND.
133
" He might bo fishing."
" He might be lool<ing for the goat," suggested
Rat and Kat respectively.
.. He might have rowed up to the towish.p and
will be back again to-night."
This was Ollie's idea, and seemed a feas.blc
°' They paused in their talk to note that the night
was fast closing in. The sun had set in a sea of
clear, light gold, proclaiming, as it departed, hne and
hot weather for the morrow. The pale twu.kle of a
few stars could be seen, and a slender young moon
rested on the very top of the great gum-tree on the
other side of the island, where Hubert had caught
'"'"Ttoe is nothing for it but to sit down and wait
till the man comes back."
This was the final conclusion they arr.ved at after
the situation had been fully discussed.
So they seated themselves upon a log not far from
the door of the hut, and waited with what pat.ence
they could command between them, which was not
much.
Hub still held his fish in his hand.
•' I'll keep it to give the man ; perhaps he might
like it for supper," he said.
They had not been seated many moments when
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134 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MUKUAV HOME.
the goat came along, bleating and seeming to desire
some attention.
" I believe it wants us to milk it ! " exclaimed Kat.
"There's a pannikin hanging up inside; I'll go and
get it and we'll have some goat's milk for our tea."
•' Oh, we must not drink it ! " her sister replied.
" But we might milk the goat and put the milk on
the table for the man."
Kat ran off for the pannikin. She and Rat had
often practised milking their own goat at home.
The little girl had quite got over her former terror,
as it was evident from the neat appearance of the
hut, to say nothing of a few books they had noticed
on a shelf, that no black fellow lived there, whoever
the occupant might prove to be.
The goat submitted quietly to the milking process,
and even to some petting and stroking on the part of
the children.
The pannikin was put inside on the table, and
beside it Hubert laid his fish.
Then once more they sat down on the log to wait.
It was quite dark now, save for the brilliant star-
light ; for the little moon was no longer visible.
Not a sound was to be heard, except the occa-
sional weird note of a distant curlew, the not
unmusical croaking of hundreds of little frogs and
the constant humming of the mosquitoes.
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COCKATOO ISLAND.
135
These last were quite a pest.
Poor Bertram would soon have forgotten all h.s
troubles in sleep, had not the tiny tormentors kept
him awake and unhappy with their stmgs.
>. He is so sleepy, Hub," said motherly Olhe at
,,st •■ 1 will lay him on the streteher nis.de for
awhile 1 feel sure the man will not mmd !
They talked quite familiarly of " the man " now.
So Bertram was carried into the hut and deposited
on the stretcher. Naturally, the child objected to
being left alone among such strange surroundmgs,
and Olga was obliged to sit down beside him until he
should fall asleep.
Presently Kat slipped in too and curled herself
up at the foot of the bed, and a few mu,utes after
Rat and Hub entered, remarking casually, that after
an they might as well be in as out. They groped
around until they found a pile of empty haff-
sacks in a corner, which made a very comfortable
'*' Soon the two little ones were asleep. Then Rat's
fair head began to nod, and finally he wr.gg ed to
Ihe floor, put his head on the chaff-sacks and n> a
few seconds he too was slumbering peacefully.
Hubert made valiant elTorts to keep awake He
and OlUe talked together in low tones unt. th y
.ould think of nothing more to say ; he felt hnnself
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136 THE VOUN(;STKKS OK MURRAY HOME.
growing more and more drowsy, and then silence
ensued.
Deep, dark silence ; unbroken by any sound of
splasiiing oar, of approaching footsteps or of human
voice.
Hour after hour slipped by.
Hubert had long since succumbed to nature and
joined the others in the Land of Nod. Only Ollie
remained awake to watch and wait.
She fought bravely against the sleepiness which
nearly overpowered her as her accustomed bedtime
drew near and passed. Then, as often happens,
she felt herself quite wide-awake again and began
to think over their position, picturing things to
herself in a very tragic light, as even grown folks
are wont to do when they ponder their troubles in
the small hours of the night.
A great dread of the unknown occupant of the hut
stole over her. She imagined him to herself re-
turning, mad, drunken, fierce, blood-thirsty ! Twenty
times she started to her feet in wild alarm, fancying
she heard a stealthy footstep drawing near. But it
was only her fancy, excited by the brush of a bird's
wing, or the falling of a twig outside.
The loneliness was terrible.
Should she not awaken Hubert to bear her
company ? It was a strong temptation, but she
COCKATOO ISLAND.
^17
put it from her iii tlic unselfish goodness of her
heart, and continued her soHtary vigil.
At last she remembered that she had not said her
prayers that night, though many a voiceless prayer
had sprung from her heart to God during those
hours of watching.
She knelt down by the stretcher now, and bending
her face over her hands, she repeated her usual devo-
tions. Afterwards she felt calmed and strengthened,
realising all at once that they were in their Father's
hand. Half-sitting, half-kneeling, with her head
against the cot, she tried to drive all terrifyinp;
thoughts from her mind by repeating all the hymns
she could remember.
At last a peaceful drowsiness stole over the child's
senses, and before she even knew that she was
sleepy, good, faithful Ollie was asleep !
Next morning, what rubbing of still sleepy e;
(S
What stretching of stiff limbs ! What exclamations,
as the children took in their unusual surroundings
and recalled their adventure of the night before !
On the table lay the fish, and beside it was the
pannikin of milk.
"The best thing we can do," remarked Hub, "is
to make a fire and cook that fish for our breakfast.
I'm hungry enough to eat a pine log 1 "
''Here's a bag half full of flour. Make us a
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138 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
damper for breakfast, OHie ! " This from Kat, who
had been poking her inquiring nose into the packing-
case cupboard.
*' May I have a drink of the milk, please ? " asked
Bertram ; and he looked so wistfully at the tin cup
that Ollie was distressed beyond measure,
" What ought we to do, Hub ? " she cried. " The
things aren't ours to use and yet we can't starve ! "
'• Not while there's anything to eat, you bet ! "
replied her brother emphatically. "Don't be a
goose, 01. Of course papa will pay the man for all
we eat, and more too, so all we've got to do is to
make ourselves as comfortable and jolly as possible."
This seemed the only reasonable course to take,
and it is quite certain that they were soon all very
jolly and quite as comfortable as children want to be.
Ollie, to whom the terrors of the night before
appeared, in the light of the morning's brilliant
sunshine, as a bad dream only, fell to mixing a
damper. /
There were flour and salt and even baking powder
among the stores, also tea and a tin of cocoa ; sugar,
of course, and jam— a good bag of the former and
four tins of the latter.
Hubert lighted the fire and got the fish ready for
cooking.
They all had a little drink out of the pannikin, and
COCKATOO ISLAND.
139
after it had been washed by careful Ollic, Rat and
Kat were despatched with it to search for the goat
in order to obtain milk for their breakfast.
This meal was partaken of standing, the only
chair being the canvas one in a corner, which
showed a tendency to collapse when they attempted
to move it.
Having had nothing to eat since the ham sand-
wiches of the afternoon before, the children were
ravenously hungry. The fried fish, with Olga's
rather doughy damper, tasted delicious to them, and
not a morsel of the repast was left.
Afterwards, Ollie tied a chaff-sack around her for
an apron, and set about washing up the various
dishes and utensils used, of which the shanty did not
boast a large supply, however.
When this business was accomplished, they sallied
forth to explore their new domain. Hubert had
promised to catch enough fish for dinner, but first
they all went to ^he other side of the island, carrying
with them a red rug from the stretcher, to hang up
as a signal, in the hope of it being seen by some
passing boat.
Arrived at the foot of the big red gum, their
original landing-place. Hub set about climbing it.
As the trunk was smooth as glass, devoid of
branches for many feet above the ground, this was
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I40 TIIK VOUNHSTERS OF MURRAY HOMK.
no easy task. They dragged up one of the logs on
which they had sat to cat their sandwiches the night
before, and placed it against the big tree, in a
slantmg position.
Along this Hul.ert cianibered, and it helped him
a good way up the straight and slippery trunk.
With legs and arms clasped around it he then
mounted further, inch by inch, until at last he
brought himself within reach of a branch strong
enough to bear his weight. After getting as far
out on it as he dared, he proceeded to haul the
red rug up from below by means of a stout cord.
This was one of the fishing-lines, put into his
pocket for that purpose before beginning the ascent,
and it also served to tie the rug firmly to the tree.
The children watched him breathlessly, for it was
really a dangerous undertaking.
He made short work of the descent, however,
and once more on terra firma he gazed with much
satisfaction on their signal of distress, as it waved
in the breeze. . , ^
'* I wonder what the goodman of Cockatoo Island
will say when he sees one of his blankets decorating
that old gum-tree ? " he said with a laugh.
" He'll think the crows carried it away to build
their nest with," answered Bertram, always ready
with ideas.
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COCKATOO ISLAND.
141
Soon the little island resounded with the shouts
and laughter of the children^ who, throwing them-
selves into the enjoyment of the hour, were bent
on making the most of their unexpected picnic,
"IT WAS KKALLV A DANUEKOUS UNOKKTAKIMJ."
without a thought of fear or trouble about their
position.
Dinner was very like breakfast. Hub supplied
them with a good dish of fish, and Ollie once more
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142 THE YOUNr.STKRS OF MURRAY HOME.
baked scones. She had also discovered potatoes in
a httle shed outside and had boiled some. Scones
and jam made a very good sweet course, with the
best of appetites for sauce.
The children were unanimous in considering
their adventure the best fun in the world.
As the establishment could only boast of four
plates, Hub ate his dinner from the lid of the billy-
can, holding it with one hand while he used his
spoon or fork with the other. There were two
knives, two spoons and two forks, so they were
divided between them as fairly as possible in the
first place, and exchanged when necessary.
They contented themselves with water for a
beverage, and they took turn about to drink from
the pannikin. To be sure, there were two cups
and saucers in the cupboard, but these were reserved
for their evening meal, when tea should be brewed.
"We must not be too luxurious! " said Ollie.
After they had taken the edge off their appetites,
Rat, with an air of importance, announced that he
and Kat had made a discovery.
" And we'll take you to see it after dinner ! " he
concluded.
" What is it ? " they asked curiously.
"We don't know exactly, but it's a funny little
place, any way."
COCKATOO ISLAND.
143
So after dinner was cleared away, they all followed
Ralph, who led the way through the scrubby under-
growth, into the middle part of the island.
" There it is ! That's the place ! " he called out
at last, pointing triumphantly to a small open space
among the low bushes.
They all looked.
" It's a bower-bird's playground," announced
Hubert, as soon as he had observed it. " I saw one
once before when I went shooting with papa."
The playground, or bower, was a small space
surrounded by arching bushes ; it /as about three
feet long, two feet across, and wa^ strewn with
every pretty and curious object the little , ids who
built it could collect. There were a numbi:r of
little white bones and pieces of broken bottle's and
crockery. A steel buckle and a plated ring, evidently
off some old harness, were there ; but what sur-
prised and amused the children most of all, was
a tiny doll's teacup, intact, which, when they had
examined, they recognised as belonging to a former
tea-set of Katrina's, long ago broken and lost, the
fate of all that young person's toys.
" I'll take my little teacup back, just to remember
the place by," she said now, with a grand air.
" No, don't, Kat ; perhaps the bower-birds want it
to play with ! " exclaimed Rat.
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144 'T^'F. YOUNGSTf:RS OF MURRAY HOME.
But Hubert, a close observer of birds and beasts
and their ways, declared the bower long since
deserted. Whereupon they each selected a little
curio to take away with them as a memento of the
spot.
After Kat had seized upon her teacup, Bertram
chose a small piece of blue " willow " china ; and
Ralph the nickel-plated ring, while Hub and Ollie
each took a round white vertebra, which had at some
remote period helped to make up the backbone of
a gigantic cod.
That night the children slept comfortably on beds
of boughs, the preparation of which took a good
deal of time and trouble.
Hub and Rat constructed a kind of " wurly " for
themselves, outside, and beneath the shelter of this
they made their bed. As the nights were warm
they required no covering more than their clothes.
Bertram and Kat shared "the man's" bed, as
before, while Ollie's couch was made of green twigs,
like her brothers. On this she slept a sweet and
dreamless sleep, to atone for the broken rest of the
night before.
CHAPTER XII
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V THE WANDERERS* RETURN. >
IN the meantime, what effect had the children's
absence produced at Murray Home ?
It was already getting dusk when nurse, with
Baby, returned from visiting her sister.
''What! not back yet?" she inquired of Mary,
who was in the kitchen, keeping the tire burning
brightly and the kettle singing, all in readiness for
the little mistress who would not come home that
night.
" No ; not yet, but they can't be long now," she
replied ch«_erfully. .
"Miss Ollie ought to have brought them back
sooner," said nurse severely, as she set about pre-
paring Baby's (evening meal of bread-and-milk.
While the little one ate it she chattered incessantly
of the " drate big nss" that Hub was going to catch
and bring home, ijiterrupting nurse, who was giving
Mary a long account of the new baby*
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146 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
•" It's that knowing, Mary, as you wouldn't believe,
and already takes notice surprising ! "
" You don't tell me I " said Mary.
Not an uneasy thought was given to the absent
children as long as the daylight lasted, but when
it grew dark, and still they did not come, things all
at once began to look serious.
William was called up from the barn, and after a
hasty consultation between the three servants, he
set off down the road to the billabong to look for
the missing ones.
Returning three-quarters of an hour later, he
reported that he could find no trace of them what-
ever. He had followed the bank both up and down,
for some distance, and had kept up a constant cooee-
ing, but could neither hear noi* see anything of the
children.
The news that the Olsen children were lost spread
rapidly in all directions, and all kinds of reports
about them were soon current. Some said they
were " bushed " ; others, that they were drowned ;
and 'he subject was in everybody's mouth.
Their old friend, the doctor, heard a report of the
accident in the township about ten o'clock that night,
and immediately ordered his horse to be put in the
buggy, and hastened out to Murray Home.
In the meantime William, with some other men
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THE WANDERKKS' RETURN.
147
from their own and the neighbouring plantations,
was searching the scrub which lay beyond the Olsen
estate, in the vicinity of the billabong. They were
all provided with lanterns, and their flashing lights
and resounding cooees must have somewhat alarmed
the bird and beast denizens of those parts, accustomed
to a peaceful night amid the silence and solitude of
the open bush !
When the doctor reached the house he found
another friend of the family,, Mr. Robertson, just
arrived. Together the two gentlemen harried to
the billabong and joined the searchers.
All night they beat the bush in every direction.
At one time, even, the children were not far distant
from them, for all the country opposite the little
island was thoroughly explored. The glancing
lanterns might have been seen by them and the
cooees heard, had they remained on the near side
of the island, but as it was, no sound reached them
to disturb their slumbers, and the searchers passed
on, all unconscious of how near to them the wander-
ers had been.
At about half-past four, when the first grey
glimmer of the dawn was visible in the east, they
all with one accord turned their steps towards the
water.
The shouts ceased ; they extinguished their
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148 THE YOUNGSTEKS OV MURRAY HOME.
lanterns and drew near together, a grave and dis-
heartened group.
" Could they have gone on the water ? " queried
the doctor, after a pause during which no one spoke.
" No boat," replied William briefly. " The boss
always keeps the boat in the river by the house."
'' Hold there," exclaimed Long Tom, who, in spite
of his lame foot, had been one of the most untiring
searchers. " Seems like to me 1 heard some talk
of Sam McGregor fetching the boat around to the
billabong, to have it handy for crossing over to
his place; leastways, while he was workin' at
the far end of the lemons."
Sam McGregor was a man who lived on the other
side of the billabong, not far from the river, and who
occasionally did work (or Mr. Olsen.
*' By Jove ! So he did ! A week ago ! " William
was aghast at his own forgetfulness. '* 1 gave him
the padlock key and he ain't never brought it back
again neither ! "
Hasty investigation revealed the fact that the
boat was gone, the oars, likewise, from their usual
hiding-place.
Matters now began to assume a more and more
serious aspect.
Within an hour the boat was discovered on the
. river bank, a short distance from the mouth of
I(
THE WANDKRKUS' RETURN.
149
the billabong and on the opposite side. It had
drifted among the branches of a fallen tree which
lay half in, half out of the water, and there it
stuck fast.
After this it was of course generally believed
that the children were drowned, though the doctor
and Mr. Robertson refused to give up hope, since
the boat showed no signs of having been capsized or
damaged in any way, and both oars were still in it.
A telegram was despatched to Mr. Olscn in
the city, but, in order that the parents might not,
while still at a distance, be overwhelmed by the
disaster which appeared to have befallen them,
no mention was made of the children. It simply
read, —
" Your presence is urgently required at home."
Sufficiently alarming, surely ! At least so thought
Mr. and Mrs. Olsen, as they read and re-read the
message. It was so vague, and therefore so terrible.
'<One of the children must be ill! Baby, no
doubt ! " said the mother at last. Then, with
feverish impatience, she added, "How soon can
we go ? Oh, how soon can we go ? "
The Httle fishing expedition took place on Thurs-
day afternoon, you will remember. The message
had been sent at noon, on Friday. It was not
delivered until two o'clock. The one daily train
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150 TIIK VOUNdSTKKS OF MURKAV HOMK.
had started an hour before ; impossible therefore
to leave until the following day. They would be
able to catch Saturday's river-boat, however, which
would bring them home oh Sunday evening.
It is not necessary to dwell on the painful hours
of waiting that had to be endured by the anxious
parents. A telegram asking for particulars had
remained unanswered, so they could but posses,
their souls in patience, endure the suspense and
wait until the mystery could be explained.
The five children, in the meantime, were leading
a happy, Robinson Crusoe sort of existence. ,
The provisions still held out ; they had ceased to
trouble themselves about the owner of their dwelling-
place, and they lived in perfect confidence that very
soon their friends would find them and their
adventure come to a happy ending.
Olga had anxious moments, it is true. She was
glad her father and mother were away so that they
would not be frightened about them, and she only
hoped they might get home safely before their
parents' return.
Frequent excursions were made to the spot where
their signal of distress still hung aloft, but so far
they had seen no sign of a human being.
They had been in bathing several times. It was
Hub's idea. . .
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'A long sand-spit ran out into the water just
opposite the hut ; the water was sliallow for quite
thirty yards from the shore, and it formed a dehght-
ful bathing-place.
A comical sight they presented, had there been
any one there to laugh at them, beside themselves !
Some of " the man's " chaff-sacks were made to do
duty as bathing-dresses— a hole cut in the top for
the head, one in each side for the arms, a piece of
twine tied round the waist, and the costume was
complete !
'< I say! Aren't we swells?" exclaimed Hub,
when on Sunday evening they stood together on the
shore, ready for their dip.
Kat and Rat had their bags cut down to a suitable
length for their short legs ; Hub had pulled his up,
so that it fell, blouse fashion, over his girdle of
string ; but Ollie, being a tall girl, wore hers full
length, and it only reached a little below her knees.
Bertram capered around, untrammelled by a
garment of any kind, and enjoyed splashing in the
warm water hugely.
For half an hour they disported themselves joy-
ously, like gay young porpoises, and then emerged,
dripping.
" I'll race you home, Ollie ! " cried Kat ; •' home,"
meaning the hut, of course.
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152 TIi'F- YOUNr.STERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Suiting her action to her word, she set off at full
•ipced and ran straight into a tall, thin man, in a
faded black suit with a small cap on the back of his
head, who stood gazing in unfeigned astonishment at
the group of children coming out of the water.
" ' What ! all these pretty chicks at one fell
swoop!'" he recited with a dramatic flourish of the
hand.
The children fell back in astonishment, and Hub,
guessing rightly that this was no other than " the
man," whose hospitality they had been enjoying,
unasked, for four days, was about to begin an
explanation, when the stranger continued, still
dramatically, —
" * I can call spirits from the vasty deep,* " which
was certainly not appropriate in the face of such
shallow water !
The children were not familiar with Shakespeare,
and failing to recognise " the man's " quotations,
they began to fear he was mad.
Olga, catching up Bertram in her arms, was about
to run away with him in great alarm, she knew not
where, when the new arrival, suddenly dropping into
a natural tone, called out, —
" Don't be frightened, young lady, don't be
frightened. Bless you, I wouldn't hurt a hair of
your head ! " then added once more poetically, —
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" She set off at full speed, and ran straight into a tall, thin man."
Murray dome.] [Pagf 152
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TITE WANDERERS RETURN.
153
"•A daiighter of the gods! Divinely tall
And most divinely fair.'"
Ollie paused, still doubtful of the man's sanity.
" We came here to fish, and our boat got away,"
Hub blurted out at this point.
" We are Mr. Olsen's children," added Ollie.
" Ah ! I do not recognise you, but that is not
surprising considering," and he glanced at their pecu-
liar garb. " * The coat makes the monk,' is a French
proverb, and really you do not look unlike a juvmile
order of monka," tie continued, laughing.
" We've eaten up nearly all your stores," remarked
Rat, anxious to confess the worst at once.
" But papa will pay you for everything," added
Kat cheerfully.
The man laughed again.
" Luclxily I've brought a good supply of victuals
back in the boat with me," he said.
While this conversation was going on, Bertram
had slipped out of Ollie's arms, and approaching
the late arrival, stood looking up in his face intently.
** Hallo ! " he said at last, and held out his hand
politely.
He looked such a comical little figure, clothed in
nothing but his Uf.ual air of dignity, that they all
burst out laughi'ij^. Only Bertram failed to see the
joke and maintained his grave demeanour.
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154 T'l'-' VOUNdSTEKS OK MURRAY HOME.
Then Ollie said hesitatingly, —
" If you don't mind, I'd like to go up to the hut
and put on my things, and Kat too."
" Certainly, young lady ! By all means ! Make
yourself quite at home ! " was the courteous reply.
•"Use hospitality without grudging and thereby
entertain angels unawares,' " he continued gravely
as he watched Oliie's retreating figure, apparently
unconscious that his quotations were very much
mixed.
While the girls were getting into their clothes.
Hub eagerly explained their whole adventure to
" the man," who listened with much interest. At
the conclusion of the tale he promised to take them
home directly, without even waiting to have some-
thing to eat ; which was kind of him, for he admitted
to the boys that he had had nothing but a bit of
bread and cheese since early morning.
*' Did you see our red flag hanging up ? Your
blanket, I mean," asked Rat.
" I did, sonn^. I landed on the other side to see
what it meant ; but as I could make nothing of it,
I left the boat there and took a short cut across
home."
"Is this your home?" asked Bertram, who was
allowing the kind stranger to help him into his small
garments, , •
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THK WANDERERS RETURN.
155
*' As much of a home as I've got," answered tlie
man, rather sadly. " ' 'Mid pleasures and palaces,
you know."
Bertram only looked mystified, however, and
remarked irrelevantly, —
" You've got the goat ! "
" Yes, the goat and I have lived here for ahout a
year, now. I employ my time catching fish, which
I send down to the city by the steamers. I've been
up the rive.*, fishing, this last week ; that's how
you missed me," he continued, turning to Hubert.
'' Last night 1 stopped at MuUagulloo to lay in a
stock of provisions, and they told me at the store
about five children being drowned in the river.
They'll be a trifle surprised when you walk in on
them, five healthy-looking ghosts ! "
" Did they think we were drowned ? * asked Ollic,
who had by this time joined the others.
*' They did, indeed. Found the empty boat, you
see."
" Oh, how badly they must be feeling at home !
Let us hurry back!"
And so it turned out that before the sun had set
on that Sunday evening, and at the very moment
that the steamboat carrying the children's parents
had put them ashore at the foot of their own garden,
the wancerers returned.
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156 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
•What a joyful surprise to all when they met under
the verandah! Who could describe the scene of
happy confusion that followed, the questions, the
explanations, the generc?l rejoicing ! Baby, fat and
jolly as ever, came in for hugs and kisses innumer-
able, which, considering that siic alone of all the
family had stayed quietly at home without trouble
or adventure of any kmd, was surely unreasonable !
In the midst of it all Mary came with a beaming
face to announce that tea was ready. She and nurse
had already introduced the new cook to the kitchen,
with satisfactory results. For Mrs. Olsen in the
midst of her anxiety had remembered to bring some
one back with her to take Ollie's place.
Straightway they all discovered that they were
very hungry.
The solitary inhabitant of Cockatoo Island, " the
man," was then for the first time remembered ; they
looked for him everywhere, but he was not to be
found. He was evidently a quiet and retiring man,
and after escorting the children as far as the house,
and witnessing their happy reunion with their
parents, he had contrived to r.lip away unobserved.
This was a disappointment to them all, for the
children had already/ conceived a great affection for
their new acquaintance. Mr. Olsen promised that
they should accompany him the next day to visit
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THE wanderers' RETURN.
157
their friend at his island home, when he would take
the opportunity to repay, as far as money could, all
the children owed to their host of four days. The
kindness and nice feeling that had prompted the
lonely fisherman to see the children safely home,
and then steal unnoticed and unthanked away, they
could only feel grateful for, and hope some time to
acknowledge in some other way.
They continued to talk of him while they took
their tea.
<'He keeps saying bits of poetry all the time,"
Hub said. "At least, it sounds like poetry," he
added doubtfully.
" I have heard of the man before," Mr. Olsen
remarked, " although I have never met him. Some
say he is a gentleman ' down on his luck,' as the
saying goes, but no one seems to know much about
him."
" At any rate he is very kind and good," was
Ollie's verdict.
Long did they linger over their evening meal that
night, for there was so much to hear and to tell.
After every detail of their life at Cockatoo Island
had been explained to their father and mother, and
commented on by them, there still remained to give
an account of the terrible storm and of Hub's exciting
experience en that occasion.
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158 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURKAV HOME,
"Well done, my boy," his father said warmly.
"Always stick to your post whatever happens."
And with ihese few words of praise and a kiss from
his mother, the boy was more than content.
Suddenly in the midst of a thrilling description
of the dramatic representation of " One-Eye, Two-
Eyes and Three-Eyes," a crash of broken china was
heard, and Baby was discovered prostrate on the
table, half in, half out of her high chair, quite over-
come by sleep. Even the noise of the broken tea-
cup which was thrown to the floor as she slipped
over, failed to rouse the sleepy child.
" The darling I " cried Ollie, picking up the little
sister and once more fondly hugging her as she
carried her off to the nursery.
The party then broke up, and before long, one by
one, all the other members of the household followed
Baby's example, without, however, breaking any
china as they fell asleep ! Then a restful silence
descended upon Murray Home, and excitement and
anxiety alike were forgotten by all in quiet slumber.
And so, having seen our little friends to a happy
tennination of the chief, and most delightful ad-
venture of their Christmas holidays, we will bid
them a hearty good-night 1
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CHAPTER XIII.
HOW IIUBKRT GOT HIS GUN.
IN giving an account of how Hub came to possess
a gun of his very own, it is neccssaiy to begin
at the beginning and tell about the phiUppina, which,
though only a small incident, belongs in the tale.
It was in the midst of the grape and peach season,
when the children simply lived on fruit, and might
be seen at any time out of school hours, in the shade
of the trees and vines, simply gorging themselves
from the inexhaustible supply at hand. To be sure,
they did not eat much at the table in these days,
but no one wondered at that, or objected when, even
before the pudding appeared, they would ask, one
after the other, to be excused.
One day, however, was an exception to this rule,
for there were nuts and raisins for dessert — a
very favourite dish. Moreover fat, double-kernelled
almonds were plentiful and philippinas were being
offered and taken on all hands.
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l60 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
■ " Papa, will you take one with me ? " asked
Hub.
" If you like, my son," replied his father, a little
taken aback by the request, for philippinas were not
exactly in his line.
" What shall jit be for then ? " asked the boy
eagerly.
" If you win it you may ask for what you like,
Hubert; so long as the request is reasonable, of
course," was the generous reply.
" Oh thanks, papa ! How jolly I "
"What will you ask for. Hub?" the others
demanded with interest, but their brother would not
tell.
" Wait till we see if I win it," he said. ' Whereby
he showed his good sense.
Mr. Olsen was an early riser.
Hub was not, except when he had a fishing
expedition on hand.
Nevertheless the next morning he was up with
the lark.
For there are larks along the River Murray, mud-
larks they are called, because they pick up a plentiful
living on the muddy banks of the river and creeks.
Hubert surprised three of these black and white
songsters when he came out next morning. They
were taking an early dip in one of the irrigation
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MOW HUBERT GOT HIS GUN.
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ditches in the garden, and they resented the interrup-
tion to their morning toilet, and flew away with
shrill chirps. At the peach-tree he found some of
their big brothers, the magpies, who were foraging
for breakfast, spying out worms and spiders, with
their wise heads all on one side. They flew away
too, with much swishing of wings and tails, and
watched from afar while he filled his pockets with
rich yellow peaches. Then they returned to their
quest, and the mud-larks to their bath, while Hub
took up his stand by the glass door leading from
the passage. He knew that his father would soon
come out through it, and pass on down to the barn
for his usual morning confab with William.
Three peaches had been despatched, and a fourth
had been sampled — no more — when a step sounded
in the passage, and Mr. Olsen appeared, looking
very tall and immaculate, in a clean white duck
suit. - ;
In the agitation of the moment Hub lost his
head and hastily crammed the whole of the peach he
had just attacked into his mouth.
It was a great mistake, for the words he wanted
to say could not find their way out by any means
whatever now 1 Moreover, in his frantic efforts to
dispose of the peach, he swallowed the stone too. It
stuck in his throat, and there he stood a gurgling,
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162 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURKAV HOME.
spluttering, choking spectacle, before his father's
astonished gaze.
Mr. Olsen looked at him for half a minute blankly,
not realising what was the matter ; but at last per-
ceiving that the boy was actually black in the
face he became alarmed and began to thump him
vigorously on the back.
" G— g— g— ood — morn— Philippine," poor Hub
managed to gasp at last.
" Do you generally swallow your peaches whole,
Hubert ? " demanded his father, continuing the
thumping mechanically.
*' Thanks, papa ; that's all right. It's gone down
now ! " said his son, moving off and beginning to
nib his back rather ruefully, for the treatment had
been severe.
" I'm glad to hear it. I really thought you were
choking!" Mr. Olsen said in a relieved tone.
" A peach is not like a cherry, you see, Hub. And
really, in future, I should advise you to make two
bites of it I "
" I did ! " replied Hub seriously, "just two ! It
would have been all right, if it hadn't been for the
stone. But I won my philippina, any way ! " he
added with satisfaction*
"I believe you did, my son* I should certainly
not have thought of saying, ' Good-morning, Philip-
it
now 11U15ERT (iOT Ills GUN.
163
pine ! ' to you wh(Mi you were in a Irangling
condition ! Wi 11, no doubt you have fairly earned
it. Vv^hat do you want me to give you, 1 lubert ? "
" A gun, papa," and the boy cast down his eyes,
ashamed of the audacity of his request, when he
heard it actually put into words.
'• A gun ! Well, really ! " began his father in
agitated tones. " A pop-gun 1 suppose you mean ? "
he added more calmly.
*• No, papa," Hub said scornfully, "a real gun, I
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mean.
" I said a reasonable request, Hubert, and 1
consider this one of yours anything but that. Why,
boy," he continued impressively, " I did not possess
a gun until I was fourteen, and glad enough I was
to get it then. How old are you ? "
'' Nearly thirteen, sir."
"Just so! An absurd request! Wait for
another year at least, my boy, and then ask me
again and we shall see. Now think of something
else for the philippina."
"I don't want anything else if I can't have the
gun," replied Hub gloomily.
" As you wish," said his father, and walked away
displeased.
It was a bitter disappointment to Hub, and he
chose to consider himself much aggrieved. For a
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l64 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURKAY HOME.
few hours the gun had seemed almost within his
reach, and now all his hopes were dashed to the
ground — and all because his father had not had a
gun of his own until he was fourteen ! At least,
that was the way in which Hub chose to look at it.
He felt sure, with boyish conceit, that he was as
well able to handle a gun at thirteen as his father
had been whenayear or more older I Before making
the request he had characterised it in his own mind
as a " piece of cool cheek," and had nerved himself
up to it accordingly, being willing to dare anything
on the chance of gaining a gun. But now he forgot
all that and thought only of his disappointment.
One mouth later, in the beginning of April, they
had a fortnight's Easter holidays, and Ollie accom-
panied her father and mother on a trip to the
city, while Miss Kowshorn, the governess, stayed at
home with the little ones. Hub had been invited to
spend a week at Sandy Ridge with their neighbours,
the Hawthornes.
A visit to Saiidy Ridge, which was a sheep
station owned and managed by Mn Hav/thorne,
was accounted a great treat by all the children.
Therefore, Hub did not envy Ollie her glimpse of
city sights, but went off rejoicing in the prospect of
unlimited riding and rabbiting, and of good times
generally at the hospitable home of his playmate
HOW ihji?t;kt cot his Cl'N.
'65
his
he
George. The run lay along the river, and the house
stood on the top of a high, red cliff overlooking the
wattT ; an old-fashioned rambling place it was, with
endless outhouses a!id sheds, and dependent huts
dotted here and there in all directions.
One morning at the breakfast-table, when the
happy week had been reduced to half its length,
Mr. Hawthorne, after a silence that had lasted since
he first took his seat, suddenly burst forth on the
subject of his thoughts.
" Those cursed dogs ! " he cried vehemently.
" Three more fat ewes dead this morning in the
Little Paddock, and four others that are bound to
die within a day or two ! Tl.at makes twenty
within a month. No money in that, Mrs. Haw-
thorne, I can tell you ! l^ut I'll shoot the curs,"
he added fiercely, " if I have to stay in the saddle
twenty-four hours on end to find them!"
" Are they wild dogs ? " asked Hub.
" No, boy, but they couldn't be worse if they
were," replied the squatter angrily. " They're tame
dogs that travel up here every night from Mullagulloo
for the express purpose of worrying our sheep.
Shecp-killcrs, that's what they are ! "
** Have you any idea what dogs they are, father ? "
asked George. ^'
" I can't make up my mind whether there are
Hi
iii
i
; .:*
l66 THK VOrN(.STEK^ OF MURRAY HOME.
I
\f
two nr three of them, or only ^me/' answered he.
" Mo! than once I've i-aught sijijht of a whitish-
looking^ brute sHnkini; off behind the l)ushes, but
I've never been able to get near him as yet."
" Generally there are two or three together,"
remark<^d his wife.
" \'rs, but this time, somehow, I think there's
only ome, though I mav be mistaken. But he's a
prrfert lievil ! He's worse tiian h.alf-a-do/.en to-
ler! I'd give ;^io this minute to sec him
IT** lier cried, bringing his clenched hand down
••n the taiile with a force that made all the breakfast
itHrn^ rattile.
"Blcttiu-, raorr was said then, but the boys talked
tbt waeaar awtr between themselves afterwards.
They were b«titi very anxious to lay eyes on the
animal wino hati done so much damage, and Hubert
especially was iired with a mighty ambition to
capture him. Mr. Hawthorne and one of his
shepherds were going down to the Little Paddock
after dusk to lie in wait for their eneni}^, and George
had begged that he and Hub might go too, but this
had been refuseil.
"If we get a chance to shoot at the brute, the
fewer there are hi the way the better," said his
father.
In the afternoon Hub thought out a s.hcme of
HOW IIUHERT COT IIIS OUN.
i6;
lie.
sh-
>ut
, I
his own and imparted it, with great secrecy, to
George. He was disappos'ited to find thac the
latter's ardour had cooled off. George was deep
in an inteiesting book of adventures, and considered
it less trouble to read about thrilling scenes than
to sit behind a bush for hours watching and waiting,
and perhaps all for nothing in the end.
So towards evening Hub set oft* by himself,
nothing daunted by George's indilTerence. Ih had
a mutton-bone wrapped in a newspaper in one
pocket, and a piece of rope coiled up in the other.
Me had also asked Mrs. Hawthorne to excuse
him from tea that night as he might be a HUle
late ill getting back. As the boys often stayed
out fishing until the last ve.stige of daylight had
disappeared from the sky she did not think anything
of this, especially as tea was to be half an hour
earlier than usual that night. Only, in the kindness
of her heart, she gave him a huge piece of cake to
sustain him until his return.
Full of the joy and importance of a possible
adventure, he made his way to the Little Paddock,
It wap) only a mile away, and he soon found the
sheep nibbling contentedly at the short dry grass.
The fierce summer had left not a trace of verdure
anywhere ; all was grey or brown or yellow ; even
the trees looked shrivelled and parched. Never-
l6S nil-; 'lOUNCSTKRS OF MUKKAV HOMK.
'i
tlKl( ss, then' was plenty of food for the sheep for
weeks to come, as Mr. ilawthorne had explained to
Hub that very day.
** Bless you ! They grow fat on the dry grass
and seeds!" he said. "And when that's done
they'll eat tlie buslies — some of them, at least."
The country was slightly undulating, and along
the horizon, where the sun was setting in a glory of
red and gold and violet, a line of box-trees marked
where a billabong lay, and beyond that again red
cliffs rose against the sky, and at their foot the
river ran. -
But here thei^e was no sound or smell of water.
All was still, except for the occasional bleating of the
sheep. They were drawing together for the night,
a brown and dirty-looking multitude, surrounded by
a constant cloud of fine dust whicii they knocked up
with their restless trotters.
Hubert ehose a hollow among the little hills and
valleys and sat down under the shadow of a needle-
bush, where Ik could keep an eye on the flock
without being a prominent object in the landscape
himself. There he waited patiently, scanning the
bushes for a sight of the shet p-killer, and hoping
ardently that h( would appear. Jf only he could
once set eyes on the dog he was willing to trust to
the inspiration of the moment to effect a capture.
■Mfe"'
HOW HUHFKT <;oT HIS GUN.
169
iL-
But after all it was a very slii^ht chance. In a
couple of hours Mr. Hawthorne and Herder Tim
would be on the spot and his opportunity would be
gone.
One hour passed and it began to grow dark. The
sheep were huddled together and had given up nib-
bling at stray bits of grass or shrub. Hub was
feeling very disconsolate ; he began to fear his
waiting would all end in nothing.
He had had time to think of everything that had
ever happened to him, or that he ever hoped would
happen to him in the future. He had taken two
letters out of his pocket and read them, one Irom
his mother, and one from Ollie, although he knew
already every word they contained, Tiiat was
before it grew so dusk ; but he still held them in
his hand. His mother hoped lie was enjoying him-
self, and was killing plenty of rabbits, so that there
might be some food left for Mr. Hawthorne's poor
sheep. Ollie was . having a glorious time. She
had been to the opera once and to a concert, and her
letter was full of musical rhapsodies, which did not
appeal in the least to her brother. An adventure
like the present one was a great deal more to his
taste : that is, if only
Stay ' Was that not something white slipping
past that hop-bush ?
t: ■
'II
Hi.
m
m
m
m
IS-!
I/O THi: VOUNdSTKKS OK AfUkKAV IIOMK.
Hubert crunched the letters into his pocket and
leaned back further into the shadow of the bush.
The moon, had not yet arisen, and it was now
almost dark.
Again he saw a glimmer of white, this time a
little nearer, and then the dog itself appeared in full
view.
At any moment Mr. Hawthorne might arrive.
Now was his chance or never !
The animal was some distance off as yet, but it
was coming along quietly and rapidly, at a sloping
gait, tail down.
Hub's idea was to come to an encounter with it
before it molested the sheep, for once in the excite-
ment of the hateful, worrying chase in which such
dogs delight, he knew that it would be impossible
to catch him or even to get near to him.
So he waited until it was within a hundred yards
and the sheep began to move uneasily, as if vaguely
conscious of coming danger. Then he stood up and
whistled.
The dog stopped instantly and pricked his ears,
but as the sound was not repeated he fell again into
his slinking slope, but moving cautiously and
stopping every now and then to reconnoitre. When
he came within fifty yards of the sheep he gave a
low growl, followed by a short bark. Then
m
HOW IIUHKKT (;(vr HIS (".UN.
171
Hubert whistled sharply rigain and stepped out of
his hiding-place into the open.
The cur, a rather large dog of a very uncertain
terrier type, growled again, but in a difterent key
this time, and made as if he would run away.
Just then the moon appeared fnim behind the red
cliffs on the river. Only a narrow edge of the full
round disc ; but it was enough to cast a clearer light
on the scene. In that light, Hub got a distinct view
of the enemy and even thought he recognised him.
"Jim Santy's dog, Rover I " said he to himsel£
It was a happy inspiration.
" Rover ! Rover ! " he called, and the dog stood
still and waited.
Gradually Hub approached him, and as he drew
quite near and Rover showed signs of moving off
again, he pulled the mutton-bone fr< m his pocket
and held it out invitingly.
That settled the matter. The dc^ sat down on
his haunches and one could see his eyes glisten
in the moonlighL
Poor creature ' He wa^ a melancholy specimen of
a dog, gaunt and thin, and his appetite, which was
after all a legitimate one, being for cooked mutton in
this case, was the cause of his destruction !
Hubert threw him tbr- boru-. and as he seized it
the boy slipped over his rkeck the iKX>se ^:4' rope,
A
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11 5
172 THK VOUNGSTKKS OF ML'RRAV llOMK.
which he was holcUng, ready, in his hand. It was
not (piitc sucli an easy thing to do as it may appear
to he on jKipei, hut the main tiling was that it was
managed successfully. The dog struggled and
barked and snap[)e(l, hut as the knot tightened
" 111 lil.Ul' I'ri.I.l'.l) Till". MiriONHON'K KROM Ills I'()<KKT."
%
Hhi>
II I
around his neck he had to give in, and Hub led him
in triumph away.
At the paddock gate he met Mr. Hawthorne and
the man.
"I've got him, Mr. Hawthorne!" he shouted as
HOW HUHKRT COT HIS (iUN.
173
«
soon as he saw thcin. *' It's Jim Santy's do};,
Rover ; I've seen him two or three times before I "
"That looks likr the hrutc, ceitaiiily," said thi>
squatter, eyeinj; llub's <|uarry closely as tliey caiiu
up. Me was a white dog with black blotches tm
his skin, vvhich showed through the thin, bristly hair.
*' ir it's 11. n Santy's, he can well spare one out ol"
that half-starved ral)biting gang of his. \'ou think
it's the right dug, boy ? "
** He's the sheep-killer and no mistake, sir," cried
Hub, still all excitement, " for he was going for the
sheep when I caught him ! "
** You've done a good deed, Hub, and you deserve
something for it. These sheep-killing dogs are
almost as great a curse as the rabbits in their way.
They must be kept down. And though I think as
much of a good dog as any man can, it'll be a juire
pleasure to me to put a bullet through that brute's
skull ! "
Mr. Hawthorne pulled out his revolver to put his
words into action, but Hub would not stay to see
the shooting. He gave the rope into Herder Tim's
hands and hurried away.
The boy had enjoyed the capture and had even felt
a thrill of fierce joy when it was accomplished ; he
also knew that it was necessary and right that an
animal that did so much harm should be slain, but
! j.
li'l
1m|
^'
n
t-
174 Tin-: vouNc-.sTKRs of murkav iiomk.
he could not briii^ himself to see the ckcd done in
cold blood.
The report (,f the rovolver, that followed him,
fVL.. made him feel sick and uncomfortable, and he
huiried on faster than ever.
That is the difference between the heat of the
hunt and the deliberation of slaughter, explain it if
you can, you wise people of the world !
When they were all back at Sandy Ridge in the
sitting-room, and the affair was being talked over by
every one, Mr. Hawthorne said again, in his bluff
and hearty way, —
"I^said I'd g. t £io to see that dog dead,
and I'm not the man to go back on my word I Say
what you'd like to have, Hub, my boy, within that
limit, and it's yours ! "
Hub hesitated. He almost made up his mind to
say nothing at all, but then he reflected that he
might never have such an offer in his life again.
Would ^10 buy a gun? He did not know, but
he rather thought that ;^io would buy anything
in the world I
^^ " Well, sir," he said at last, with great diffidence,
"if I'd had a gun I could have shot old Rover on
the spot I "
" And missed him, ten to one ! " cried the squatter
with a hearty guffaw. ''Never mind, boy, you
MM
now nunr.KT (ior iiis c.vk.
175
shall have the gun ; and ail I ask is, that every time
you see a n bbit or a sheep-killer, you'll think of me
and shoot him ! "
So in this way Hub got his gun.
It was an old one of Mr. Hawthorne's, of light
weight and suitable for a boy to carry, but it had
cost more than ;^io when it was new !
He took it home with him at the expiration of
his visit and showed it to his father with fear
and trembling, at the same time telling him of the
adventure with the dog.
" When can I use it, papa ? " he asked in con-
clusion,, and he was fairly quivering with eagerness
to hear the answer.
"Well, Hubert," replied his father with delibera-
tion, ** I must admit that you are more of a sportsman
than I was at your age, and you have fairly earned
your weapon. How soon will you be thirteen ? "
For it was one of Mr. Olsen's little peculiarities
that he never, by any chance, could remember either
the age or the birthday of any one of his children.
** On the first of June, papa."
" Then on the first of June you may enter into
full possession of your gun."
i.'i
Ff "
i
^^ilAPTKR XIV.
I^OCKK'i-Mo.vj.Y.
I^WO months hitvv niu\ ;,
'^■•-•"•^^.ss. (J„|y ti-^ „, ' •""' "'•■'"y "-ecs were
was as vivid as eve,-, while the rJ7 7 ''"""•
ancl gold, among ,he leaves ^ '"""''' ^'"•"''^^
For one week Hub l,ad been in Wissf„l
°f '"« gun. It was the constnnt P««»ession
fr-' Lour in the day and" T , "'''■'"'°" "' '""^
p--™.-«ed, it wouid L Z:^ 'V >' "^^ ''^■™
A'-ady not a few crows ., ,^'^'' =" -S^' too.
-----ohisunel ;X'td"^
*ean,c.d of the dueks h ^ ' "' '" "'■^'" "^
May, when she was four year ^ uT ', "' "'
-"ed Dollie, very .uch'to h, h t' 'T '""
^76 ^"'^ S^^'^s own
i !■
I'OCKF.T-MONKV
177
sati.sfartion. Thi- rliildrcii's hirtlidavs cajiic, mostly,
ill one batch at this time of the yi'ar, ami (imiiij; the
month of May Kat and Rat had also relfhratci!
tiicir natal days, and iiad attained the mature at^c <•("
eight and nine years, resjH'etively.
" HI;KTKAM AXl) DOLLIK WKKK I'LAYIXG AT K.IN(;S AM) (^UICKNS."
When Bertram wished to be very severe with his
httle sister he still called her Baby, an indignity
which she never failed to resent.
They both were arrayed this morning in old
dressing-gowns of their mother's. Bertram's was
plain and unadorned, of an old-fashioned Paisley
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178 TIIK YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
shawl pattern, but DoHie's was a more modern affair
of pale blue cashmere and lace. It was a good deal
the worse for wear, to be sure, but, nevertheless, it
was very becoming to the little maid, with her
bright chestnut curls and rosy cheeks.
Bertram was the king, of course. He had a black
velvet smoking-cap of his father's on his head. It
was generously decorated with gold braid, and the
little ones considered it an excellent substitute for a
royal diadem. Indeed, Dollie was filled with tearful
envy. She wanted a crown, too, because she was a
queen.
" Never mind, Doll," said Bertram cheerfully.
" I'll find a sceptre for you instead. That's the
stick, you know, that kings and queens carry in
their hands."
There was an old parasol handle among other
rubbish in the nursery cupboard. This Bertram
brought to light and presented ceremoniously to his
noble consort. It had a gilt ball on the end and
made a very fine sceptre.
Thus having divided the insignia of roydiiy with
strict fairness, the two little ones went on with their
game, which consisted chiefly in each one presenting
to the other, with great ceremony, the various
objects that made up the nursery furniture. Bertram
was quite an adept at playing king, and behaved
I
affair
deal
5s, it
her
in
rOCKET-MONKY.
179
himself throughout with truly regal dignity and
condescension.
" My dearest queen, will you accept this cushion ?
It would give me great pleasure ! Please look how
beautifully it is embroidered with yellow and green
silk. That black part is all the loveliest velvet."
The cushion in question was a dilapidated old
thing, covered with faded cretonne which had done
duty in all the children's games for years. But
imagination is a great beautifier, and we all know
that Bertram had a lively fancy.
" All right, king," replied Dollie with alacrity,
" I'll take it for mine."
" You ought to say * I thank your Majesty,' and
make a deep bow right down to the ground, like Kat
has to do in the dancing-lesson."
" I sank your Massty," repeated Dollie with
docility, and then she tried to make a curtsy, but the
folds of her queenly robes got in the way of her
short legs and she tumbled down. There she lay,
laughing, a jolly little heap of cashmere and lace.
Bertram, who was bent on maintaining the dignity
of his position, looked on with severe gravity.
*' You don't make a good queen. Baby," he said.
" I'll get Kat another time."
The little girl hopped up in indignant haste.
"I'm not^a baby, I'm a queen, and I'll hit you
i
1
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*
; t
1 80 THE YOUNOSTKRS OF MURRAY HOME.
with my sceptre if you talk to me like that, you
naughty king," and she came on with the parasol
handle held threateningly aloft.
" Let's have a game of cards, your Majesty," sug-
gested Bertram on the instant, anxious to appease
the irate monarch before the blow descended.
"All right," said Dollie, much pleased, as she
dropped her sceptre and resumed her usual smiling
expression of countenance. It was not every day
that Bertram would condescend to play cards with
her, because of her very vague ideas as to their
names and values. Not that the little boy knew
much more about them himself, but he thought he
did, and that made all the difference.
" You give me a lot of naces, Bertram," said she,
when they were both seated on the floor dividing
the old pack of cards between them.
" I told you before, Baby, that it's ace, not nace.''^
" Ace,^^ said Dollie, quite meekly. " Please give
me a lot. And kwings and kwins too."
For when Bertram divided the cards he had a
way of sorting them over first, which, I am compelled
to confess, was very much to his own advantage !
They were still intent on their game, Bertram
giving endless advice and explanations to his little
sister, which she listened to cheerfully, and as cheer-
fully disregarded, when Mrs. Olsen came in, followed
I
POCKET-MONEY.
iSl
I ; J
by Rat and Kat. The latter was pulling energetically
at her mother's arm.
" Mamma," she said, "you promised soon to begin
giving us pocket-money every Saturday, and we
want you to begin now.'*
Mrs. Olsen drew a purse from her pocket as she
looked thoughtfully at her little daughter, without
speaking.
" My ! how fat ! " exclaimed Rat, gazing at the
bulging sides of the receptacle with eyes to match.
" How much are you going to give us, mamma ? "
" Call the others," was the only reply.
" Hub ! Ollie I Come along to the nursery 1
Quick I Mamma wants you ! " resounded through
the house and garden as the two children ran about
in much excitement to find the others.
" What is pocket-money, mamma ? " asked Ber-
tram, as he removed his braided cap and slipped out
of the dressing-gown.
" It is money to keep for your very own, to buy
things with."
" Must you keep it in your pocket ? " asked Dollic
wistfully, feeling around in her short frock for the
place where the pocket ought to be but as yet was
not. " 'Cause, you see, I haven't got any pocket."
" Mamma will give you a little box to keep your
pennies in, my pet," replied her mother ; and then
I
i
:]
! I
Jitli
1 82 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
the others came rushing in and formed an eager
semi-circle around her.
Mrs. Olsen opened her purse, and took from it
first a sixpence, which she handed to Ollie, and
another, which Hubert received ; then followed a
threepenny piece each for Rat and Kat, a penny
for Bertram and the same for Dollie.
" Now, children," she said, interrupting the
chattering which followed this distribution, " I want
you to be careful of your money, and not to spend
it foolishly or selfishly. Every Saturday you will
receive the same amount that I have given you
to-day. Try and save as much as you can, so as
to get a little sum collected to buy something really
useful with, or a nice present when birthdays come
around. Remember," she went on, turning to the
two older ones, "your pocket-money should teach
you the value of money, in the first place, and how
to spend it, in the second."
Olga pulled out her own pretty grey lizard-skin
portemonnaie and slipped the sixpence beside a
half-crown and several odd shillings which it already
contained. For ever since her return from town
Ollie had been saving towards an object that lay
near to her heart, but which she had not, as yet,
confided to any one.
Kat and Rat already had their heads together
; i
i!
t
ij.
I'OCKET-MONKY.
183
talking over the relative merits of ** almond rock "
and bananas, so it is to be feared their mother's
little lecture did not make much impression on
them.
Little Dollie was happy rattling her penny in the
box with a pretty picture outside which had been
given to her ; while Bertram, wise young man in
his generation, handed his back to his mother,
asking gravely to have it kept for him in a safe
place.
As for Hub, of course every one knew his money
would all be spent on his gun. Hiis father had
promised to supply him with empty cartridge cases,
once used but still good, and allowed him the use
of his own loading tools and a limited supply of
powder and shot, and all the money the boy could
raise would be needed to supplement this allowance.
For it took an immense amount of ammunition to
keep Hub going in those days of early enthusiasm I
For several weeks after this the giving out of the
week's pocket-money, in the nursery, every Saturday
morning, was an important ceremony never by any
chance overlooked by the children, no matter how
much interested out-of-doors they might be. And
so far, sad to relate, not one single penny had been
saved by any one, except OUie and Bertram. The
latter had expended twopence on a tin 'umpet
:m
m
1 84 TIIK VOUNCISTEKS OK MURRAY HOMK.
which he bought from an Afghan pedlar, but he
still had one penny left in his mother's safe keeping.
The midwinter * holidays had begun, for it was
the last week in June.
The weather was clear and sunshiny in the day-
time, but inclined to be frosty at night.
Hubert did nothing but shoot all day long. Pop !
pop ! his gun might be heard at any hour of the
day, generally from the direction of the billabong.
None of the children were allowed to go with him
on his expeditions, for fear of accidents.
Ollie, since school ended, had been helping her
mother look over a great accumulation of feathers
from slaughtered ducks and fowls, which were kept
in the barn and were to be made into pillows. It
was tiresome work and occupied several days, and
the feathers and down clung to Ollie's frock and her
soft fluffy hair for several days more 1
" If you only had a few more feathers you'd be
just like a pelican, Ol, or a crane, or any of those
big birds with long legs ! " was Kat's not very
polite remark as she watched her sister come
through the glass door into the nursery, one
Saturday when Mrs. Olsen was handing around the
weekly allowances.
* In Australia the so-called midwinter holidays take place in
the latter part of June.
POCKET-MONEY.
185
Ollie really did look funny, for she had small
feathers and down all over her head and dress, and
a number of larger quills stuck in the soft woollen
jacket she had put on to keep her warm in the
draughty barn. Her legs were long and her frock
was short, for ever since the summer Ollie had been
growing with a rapidity that had left her wardrobe
quite in the rear !
" My dear child, why don't you put a towel around
your head like I do ? " exclaimed her mother aghast,
as they all laughed at her appearance.
" I do so hate to have my head bundled up ! And
they'll wear off by degrees ! " replied Ollie cheerfully,
as she went out again to give herself another
ineffectual shake, the other children following to
watch the operation.
" Hub ! don't shoot Ollie by mistake ! She isn't
a crane although she looks like one ! " called out
Rat to his brother, who now arrived on the scene
with his gun in one hand and in the other a small
bird he had just shot. *
** Here, Ol," he said, " I shot it for you. You can
have the wings for your hat," and he held out a
pretty green and red parrot. The body was sleek and
glossy as in life, but the little head drooped, forlornly
limp.
*' Oh, Hub 1 " cried his sister, in reproachful tones.
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" how could you shoot a rock-pcbbler ! They do no
harm at all and they are so pretty ! "
" They're not any prettier than the cockatoos and
lots of other birds that everybody shoots," Hub
said, a little crestfallen, for he had expected Ollie to
be delighted.
" The ' cockies ' do so much harm they must be
shot. But I do feel sorry for them and for all the
poor things ! " cried Ollie in a burst of sympathy.
"Thank you all the same, Hub, but I don't want the
wings for my hat, and please don't ever shoot a
parrot again ! "
" Give them to me ! " interposed Katrina ; *' I'd
like them awfully ! "
So Hub handed the dead bird to the little sister
instead of the big one, but the gift did not give him
much pleasure.
Ollie was too tender-hearted in his estimation,
but he would not vex her by shooting another
parrot; that is, if he could remember. For Hub
was very fond, in his quiet way, of his elder
sister.
Among the changes of the last few months at
Murray Home had been the introduction of a boy
as assistant to William. It was the duty of this
youth to black the boots, clean the knives, chop
wood and do other odd jobs about the place. His
I'OCKKT-MONKV.
187
no
name was Sam Sewen, which the children, with
their usual love of nicknames, had shortened into
Samson.
When, a little later, Hubert came out of the
nursery, jingling his solitary sixpence against his
pocket-knife, Samson, who was walking past with
a wheelbarrow, remarked carelessly to him, —
** I suppose you've heard about the circus."
" Circus ! No ! What about it ? " asked Hub, all
eagerness in a moment.
But as Samson merely wheeled his barrow along
without stopping or looking back, he was obliged to
run after him.
" What is it, Samson ? Tell me ! " demanded
Hub as he came alongside.
" Big circus at MuUagulloo next Saturday, that's
all."
** Wouldn't I like to see it ! Are you going,
Samson ? "
" I don't know. Perhaps," was the cautious
reply.
The two boys walked side by side down to the
barn, Hub, full of eager questioning, and Samson
taking a teasing delight in withholding as much
information from him as possible. By the time
they had reached the barn door, however, he had
managed to find out that there was to be only one
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performance, which would take place on Saturday
night, and that the tickets were eighteenpence for
children and half a crown for grown people.
While they were talking Samson, who was a far
craftier individual than the mighty man whose namt.'
he bore, had been hatching in his brain a scheme of
his own.
"You'd better not say anything about the show
up at the house," he remarked. " Of course your
father wouldn't let you go."
" Why not ? " asked Hub, taken aback. " You
bet I'll ask him, any way."
" You'd better just shut up about the whole thing,
I tell you I " Then he added, as if making a generous
offer : " Find the cash for the two of us and I'll take
you there right enough, and no one'U know nothing
about it."
Hub looked at him for a moment without speak-
ing. He was trying to take in this deep scheme of
Samson's.
" The posters are all over stunning pictures," con-
tinued his tempter. " There's a woman on horse-
back ; my ! but ain't she a beauty ! And there's a
fellow jumping through hoops of fire, and another girl
twisting snakes all around her body."
Hub's eyes grew big and his breath came quick
at the mere thought of such wonders.
•day
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POCKET-MONEY.
189
" I've just got to go," said he at last slowly.
** My mind's made up on that point."
"I'll take you there right enoUj^- /' repeated
Samson. "All you've got to do i« to tind the cash
for the tickets."
Hubert pulled out his solitary sixpence and eyed
it doubtfully.
"Why do you think papa would not let me go? "
he demanded at length.
" Oh, he'd think it a bit too rough ; or, maybe, a
bit too lively for his sweet little son," replied Samson
with a scornful sneer.
" You shut up ! " retorted Hub, his blackest scowl
clouding his face.
He was almost as big as Samson, who was an
undersized boy for fifteen, and what was more, he
had a temper, as we know. Samson knew it too,
so, not wishing to make him angry, he quickly
changed his tone, and continued, —
" There's not a scrap of harm in the show, I
promise you, only heaps of fun. But of course it'll
be a bit late when we get back, and your father
wouldn't like that most likely."
Hub looked thoughtfully from the sixpence he still
hela in the palm of his hand to Samson's face, and
then back again at the money.
" I'll think about it and let you know," he said at
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last; for he was quite as cautious in his way as
Samson, and, without another word, he turned
Soon the report of his gun was to be heard at
heTd'h rr"t '""" ""= '"'^"' "'"^"""g- -hither
he had betal<en h.mself to make up his mind on the
important matter.
I i.:
CHAPTER XV
INDUSTRIOUS HUBf:RT.
HUB was bent on getting some work to do. The
whole family were astonished at the remark-
able energy and industry he all at once began to
display.
But he did not work for nothing, by any means.
It was well understood that whatever he did must
be paid for.
"Cook, what will you give me to keep you
supplied with kindling wood these cold mornings ? "
he asked the woman in the kitchen the Monday
following his conversation with Samson.
•'Nothing, thank you, Master Hubert. I don't
see why I should pay you for doing Samson's
work."
" But I heard you pitching into him this morning
because he hadn't chopped you any."
"It's Iiis work all the same, Master Hub."
And that was all the satisfaction he could get
from cook ; for his offers to grind coffee, to stone
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192 TIIK ^'OUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
raisins, and even to peel potatoes, were all treated
with scornful silence.
His next appeal was made to his father and was
more successful.
" Papa, didn't you say you wanted a lot of bottles
washed, to bottle that cask of wine that came up
last week ? "
" I did, my son."
"Please may I have the job?"
" Certainly. But you didn't seem very anxious
to undertake it when I spoke of the matter before.
What has made you change your mind ? " inquired
Mr. Olsen, eyeing him curiously.
" I want to earn some money," replied Hub,
looking down, and tying an end of string he held in
his hand into knots.
" Then you shall have a penny a dozen for all
you can do," said his father ; and luckily for Hub's
peace of mind he did not ask what the money was
for.
So all that day Hub was busy collecting and
washing bottles. He used a handful of coarse shot
to clean them with, and as soon as they were
bright and clear, he stood them on end in the
clothes-basket to drain. Needless to say he soaked
himself with water from top to toe, and caught a
cold in consequence.
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INDUSTRIOUS IIUliERT.
»93
No one had ever seen the boy work so hard ;
it was an astonishing sight, for Hub was lazy about
everything but fishing and shooting. At intervals
through the day, all the members of the family,
from his mother down, came out to watch him, and
"ALL TH\T DAY HUB WAS BUSY."
tease him with questions as to what he was doing it
for. The only answer they got was a surly growl,
or, in the case of the smaller ones, a request to mind
their own business.
After all his labours, he only earned ninepence,
a J he could not hope for more the next day, as he
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194 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
had already cleared up every old bottle he could lay
his hands on.
" Fifteenpence/' he repeated to himself for the
twentieth time, as he went to bed that night, " and
sixpence more next Saturday makes one-and-nine.
It takes another fifteenpence to make three shillings,
besides the shilling Samson said we ought to have
for lollies and nuts. Where it's all going to come
from, I don't see ! "
Hub was tired after his unusual exertions, and
he felt discouraged and low-spirited as well. An
uneasy conscience is not a cheerful companion, as
we all know, and that is what he had carried about
with him all day.
Besides, his head was aching and his throat sore,
the result of the wet clothes and feet.
Next morning his cold was so bad that his
mother said he would have to stay indoors and
nurse it, particularly as it was raw and cold out-
side.
When he heard this sentence pronounced, Hubert
looked up with a face full of dismay. Had it been
any one but his mother who had said it, he would
probably have rebelled outright, but this gentle
mother's word was law, so he only looked at her
with such an utterly woe-begone countenance that
her heart melted within her at the sight of it.
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INDUSTRIOUS HUBERT.
195
" What is it, Hubert ? Cannot you bear to be
parted from your gun for a single day ? "
" It isn't that, I want to earn some more money,"
said he, speaking in a low voice, and as if the words
were being dragged out of him.
" What ! more money I " exclaimed his father.
" Whoever heard of Hub caring about money ? "
put in Ollie.
" Or work ! He*s generally so lazy ! " added Rat.
They all insisted on regarding his new fad as a
huge joke. Only his mother was sympathetic, as
usual, and began to set her wits to work on his
behalf.
The result was that soon after breakfast Hub was
cosily established at a little table in front of the
dining-room fire, copying out household receipts in a
round, clear, hand, a very cheerful invalid, wi'ii a
flannel around his neck.
This work kept him busy all the morning and part
of the afternoon, and when it was done and his
mother handed him a shilling as payment, he would
have been quite happy, had not that troublesome
conscience kept worrying him, and urging him to tell
his mother everything and let the circus go.
But he would not listen to this good advice.
Conscience asked too much. He felt he could not do
it ; at least not yet.
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The next day he was well enough to go out again.
He wandered about from morning till night, looking
for odd jobs by which to earn an " honest penny,"
and they nicknamed him " The Unemployed," he was
so anxious to get work to do, and yet so incapable of
doing anything useful !
The days slipped by till Thursday night, when Hub
was counting up his money as usual. "A regular
miser " Rat declared he was getting to be. The sum
now amounted to three shillings and one penny
more.
He had earned sixpence from William for helping
him clean che harness on a rainy afternoon, and
Ollie had amiably agreed to his proposal that he
should dig up her garden for her, and put in some
sweet-pea and mignonette seeds, all for the small fee
of threepence. Then there was an odd penny from
his father, for cleaning a gun.
All told, it came to three shillings and a penny.
There would still be his next Saturday's pocket-
money to add to it, but beyond that Hubert felt that
his resources were exhausted, as he cudgelled his
brains in vain for a scheme to raise a few more
penr. on the morrow.
He would not ask for it, or borrow it, for, by some
reasoning of his own, he tried to persuade himself
that because he had earned the money, he had a
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INDUSTRIOUS IIUHKUT.
197
right to spend it as he liked, which was a poor
excuse for the deceit he was intending to practise on
his father and mother.
Friday morning brought a surprise for them all,
however, but most of all for Hub.
No sooner were they seated at the breakfast-table
and grace said by Mr. Olsen, than Katrina, bursting
with importance, announced, —
" There's going to be a circus in the township
to-morrow ! "
" How do you know ? " was the general inquiry.
*' Oh, William told me all about it. They were
talking about it in the kitchen this morning when
I went in to ask cook for some bread and jam ! "
The children were all as much interested and
excited as Hub had been when he heard the news
from Samson the Saturday before, and such a babel
of tongues followed Kat's piece of news that no one
noticed the boy's silence now.
A circus at Mullagulloo ! What an unheard-of
event ! What a delightful experience in store for
them, if only they might go !
What though their father assured them it would
be a ..wretched performance not worth seeing? They
begged and implored to be taken ! Even Olga added
her entreaties to the rest, throwing her arms around
her father's neck as she whispered coaxing words
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q
in his ear. Only Hub was passive, but the others
did not notice it in their excitement.
At last they extracted a promise that should there
be an afternoon performance they might go to it.
More than that Mr. Olsen would not consent to, for,
in his opinion, the evening entertainment would not
be suitable for them to attend. Besides, it would
be much too late and was not to be thought of for
a moment, he said.
Hub listened with downcast eyes while his father
was speaking, without heeding much that was said,
for he was trying to make up his mind what to do
under these changed circumstances.
He came to the conclusion at last to let matters
arrange themselves, for if he was able to go in the
afternoon of course he should not want to go at
night.
They were not kept long in suspense, for soon
after breakfast the news reached them, through the
usual agency of the butcher and baker, the only
daily visitors at Murray Home, that the circus people
had arrived that morning in the township, and that
they were going to give an afternoon performance
at two o'clock on Saturday, especially for children.
Never within the memory of the younger children
had there been a circus at Mullagulloo. Hub and
Ollie could dimly recollect that once before, long
INDUSTRIOUS IIUI5ERT.
199
ago, the township had been thrown into a state of
unusual excitement by the arrival of a travelling
show. They even remembered hearing accounts
of tight-rope dancing, a trained monivcy, and other
wonderful doings, but they were looked upon as too
young to be taken to sec anything for themselves.
To every one of them, however, the very name of
circus suggested all the glamour and magic, all the
wonders possible and impossible their childisii
imaginations were capable of coiiceiving.
Bertram looked forward to seeing lions and tigers
and elephants, in fact, a complete menagerie such
as his picture-books had made familiar to him, and
Dollie, who always believed everything Bertram told
her, cherished the same hopes ; but the rest were
more reasonable and were content to look forward
to feats of horsemanship and jugglery and snake-
charming, with perhaps a monkey in a red coat and
cap to delight their hearts as well.
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rHAPTER XVI.
CATCHING MICK.
HUB'S example had been catching. Kat and
Rat were fired with an ambition to earn some
money too.
A number of schemes were talked over and even
tried by the pair, but given up again as unprofitable.
It was Kat's brilliant idea that they should manu-
facture perfume and sell it to the various members
of the household. Their mother was called upon to
furnish them with bottles. Empty ones from the
medicine shelf would be just the thing, they said,
for they were small, and had such nice little corks.
These they washed in many waters, but after all
their efforts a slight odour of castor-oil clung to one
and of paregoric to another.
" Never mind," said Rat, " the scent'll smell
stronger than that ! "
They made their perfume by chopping quite fine
the leaves of the lemon-verbena and half filling the
bottles with them. They even foraged among the
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CATCllINC; MICE.
20 1
borders for one or two early violets which they
added to the rest ; and lastly the bottles were filled
quite full of water and vigorously shaken. The
perfume, when quite done, looked very much like
boiled spinach diluted with water.
Rat and Kat assured their mother and OUie and
the family generally, as they went from room to
room hawking their wares, that it smelt "just lovely."
But, privately, Kat informed her brother that she
wasn't sure but that she liked the smell of mint-
sauce better, herself!
Of course Mrs. Olsen bought a bottle from each
of them. It was good to encourage local industry,
she said. The housemaid, Mary, purchased one
also, and so did Ollie, but after that there was no
demand for this choice variety of perfume.
" You'll be sure to want some more when you've
finished that bottle, mamma, so we'll keep the rest
till then," Kat had said, and they put the four bottles
that still remained of their stock-in-trade upon a
high shelf in the nursery cupboard.
Then they went about jingling their pennies and
looking for further fields to conquer.
They tried tidying up the back-yard, feeling sure
their father would approve of such a good work and
perhaps reward them with more pennies. But when
they had got together a great heap of odd pieces of
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202 THE YOUNGSTKKS OK MURRAY HOME.
wood, scraps of paper, old bones, and so forth, the
temptation to set light to it was more than they could
resist. They slipped into the kitchen while cook
was down in the cellar and carried off a box of
matches, and soon both of them were kneeling on
opposite sides of the heap, setting light to 'very
protruding twig or inviting end of paper.
This was delightful but dangerous, for soon Kkt's
pinafore was discovered to be on fire. Ralph,
always equal to any emergency that called for cool-
ness and common-sense, ordered her to sit down on
it instantly. Kat did as she was told, for a wonder,
and so the tiny flame was put out. A large hole
with an ugly black border around it, was the result,
however, and the children, when they saw it, decided
that they had better go in and confess their escapade
to their mother.
Of course they got a serious talking to, and they
did not get any pennies, which was punishment
enough, perhaps. Katrina was put into a clean
pinafore, and once more the twain sallied forth,
seeking " fresh fields and pastures new," for their
enterprise.
Sundry lesser undertakings filled the rest of the
day, such as the building of a hen-coop by Rat,
with his sister standing by to hold the nails and
make suggestions. It would have been a very good
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CATCH I N(; MICE.
203
hen-coop, only that, when it was finished, they
found they had forgotten to leave any opening to
put the hen through, which certainly took away
from its usefulness. Kat finished up the after-
noon by trying to milk the cows. W.lliam, who
had offered her sixpence for the bucket fall of milk,
stood a little way off, smoking, and laughing at her
efforts.
She did succeed in getting the pail half full, and
was feeling very proud of herself, when all at once
old Harebell managed to slip her head out of the
bale, and with a kick of her heels and a switch of
her tail she was off, upsetting the milk-pail and
sorely frightening poor Kat, as she pranced around
the stable-yard ; for Madam Harebell was a wild
thing.
Next morning Mrs. Olsen herself hit upon a plan
for helpi!;g the children carry out their idea, and
it suited their taste exactly. She had been looking
over her stores and she found in all directions
damage done by mice. They had eaten the rice
and made nests in the flour, and nibbled holes in the
bags of oatmeal. Therefore it occurred to her to
offer her two energetic youngsters a penny a dozen
for dead mice, and to supply them with mouse-traps
and an unlimited supply of bait.
The offer was accepted with enthusiasm, and for
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several days after that the children could think
and talk of nothing but their mouse-traps and the
number of their victims. They managed to catch
a great number. Rat had already earned twopence,
and Kat needed but two more to make up her
second dozen.
On Friday morning their attention was drawn
from their new occupation for a time by the all-
absorbing interest of the coming circus ; after dinner,
however. Rat remarked to his playmate, —
" I'm going to have a look at my trap, Kat. I
forgot all about it this morning. Mine's in an
awfully good place ; in the harness-room. Where's
yours ? "
'* Mine is in the dairy. Cook says the mice come
after the butter and cream just dreadful ! "
They ran off in opposite directions, but soon met
again to compare notes.
Kat had found two victims in her trap and she
had already been to her mother to collect her second
penny. 1 -
As for Ralph, he came running up from the barn,
in great excitement, holding on high the round red
trap, with three long black tails depending from it.
From the fourth hole a large and lively mouse was
hanging, held by nothing but the tip of its tail,
which was caught under the wire !
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CATCHING MICE.
205
" We'll keep it in a box for a pet," they decided,
after watching it and playing with it awhile.
But that night, after tea, another idea came into
Kat's head, and her brother, as usual, was only too
willing to carry out any scheme of mischief of her
devising !
Hubert had earned no more money that day.
Indeed, he made no effort, to do so, for since it had
been decided that they were all to visit the circus on
Saturday afternoon Hub's fit of industry had come
to a sudden end ; he had given up, gladly enough,
the idea of the more exciting evening performance,
with Samson as a companion.
When the latter was told of this change in the
programme, he made out that he thought himself
very badly treated, and he even accused Hubert of
being "a mean sneak," as he called it, to go back
on him in that way.
The two boys had a wordy quarrel, which, if
Samson had dared run the risk of losing his place,
would have gone farther and come to blows. As it
was. Hub was in a bad humour for the rest of the
day. Even a tramp along the billabong, with a
shot at some ducks, which resulted in his bringing
one home with him, v/as not enough to restore him
to a serene frame of mind.
That night Rat dawdled long over his undressing.
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2C6 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
He was usually ready for bed long before Hub, but
this time his big brother was before him.
It was cold in their room, and Hub barely moved
back the bed-clothes as he quickly slid himself
under them and drew the blankets almost over his
head.
Scrabble ! scrabble ! What was running up and
down his legs, so soft and slippery ? For an
instant he could only think of snakes, and was out
of bed again with a yell, in the twinkling of an eye.
" There's something in my bed. Rat ! I believe
it's a snake ! "
" There aren't any snakes this time of year,"
returned his brother, chuckling inwardly. " It's
too cold."
** I tell you it must be a snake. I felt it," and
arming himself with a stick, Hub cautiously turned
back the clothes.
A large grey mouse sprang almost into his face
and vanished in a trice through a crack in the wall.
It was not hard to guess the culprit now. Rat's
face was crim.son, and his eyes were almost starting
out of his head with suppressed laughter. As soon
as Hub's eyes lighted on him, he understood that it
,>as a joke that had been played on him.
" You little good-for-nothing ! I'll teach you to
play tricks on me ! " cried he wrathfully, as, unable
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CATCHING MICE.
207
to control himself any longer, the little boy burst
into a shout of merriment.
But poor Rat soon had to laugh with the other
side of his mouth, as the saying is.
Hub seized him by the back of his pyjama suit,
and after giving hun a good shake, he deposited him
outside the bedroom door, which he shut with a
bang and then locked it.
But before he got into bed again he looked care-
fully between the sheets, for fear of another fright.
Now, I must explain that the boys' bedroom
opened on to a narrow corridor which ran through
the house from side to side, at right angles to the
main hall. This corridor had a French window at
each end, giving access to the verandah, which
entirely surrounded the house, and these glass doors
were generally left open. Consequently, when Hub
dropped him outside, Rat found himself in a very
cold and draughty place.
He did not think about the cold for some minutes,
however, he was so busy chuckling over the re-
collection of Hub as he leapt out of bed, of the yell
he had given vent to, and especially of the very
careful way he had turned back the bed-clothes and
the expression of his face when the mouse jumped
out ! He had a great mind to slip over to Ollie's
room, at the opposite end of the corridor, and tell
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Kat, who slept with her elder sister, how well their
joke had turned out ; but on second thoughts, fear-
ing he might encounter his father, he refrained.
" I say, Hub, let a fellow in ! It's getting cold
out here ! " he called out when, after a while, his
recollections no longer sufficed to keep him warm,
and he began to feel cold shivers running up and
down his back. »
. No answer from within.
Rat began to rattle the door-knob and knock
gently at the door ; he did not want to attract the
attention of the rest of the family by making too
much noise.
. But in vain did he rattle or shake, or command or
entreat. Hub would not relent. Rat must be
punished for having dared to make him ridiculous.
A fresh flood of anger came over him whenever he
thought of that hateful " scrabble, scrabble " about
his legs, and the way his heart had thumped as he
jumped out of bed.
Hubert's temper was his worst point, as all the
family had cause to know. Besides, he could not
see anything funny in practical jokes, more par-
ticularly if he happened to be the object of them !
Half an hour passed in this way, and Rat's con-
dition was becoming rather pitiful. The boy was
always keenly sensitive to cold, and by this time he
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CATCHING MICE.
209
was blue, while his voice shook so as he begged his
brother to let him in, that Hub began to think he
was crying and decided that in a minute more he
would open the door.
"'GO INTO YOUR ROOM DIRECTLY, SIR '"
The affair was to have another pending, however.
Mr. Olsen had been outside talking to William,
and now, entering the house hastily through one of
the French windows mentioned above, he almost
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2IO THE VOUN(]STERS OF MURRAY HOME.
stepped upon his small son, who was crouched in a
shivering heap by the bedroom door.
" What ! Ralph ! Out of bed at this hour ! Do
you know it is nearly ten? And undressed too!"
he continued, looking at him more closely by the
dim light of the small lamp which hung on the
corridor wall.
" Go into your room directly, sir ! "
" I can't ! " sobbed R.at, crying in earnest now.
"Cant? What do you mean by that?" And
his father seized the door-handle with one hand,
and Rat with the other, meaning to put him forcibly
inside the door.
But the handle refused to turn and the situation
suddenly dawned on him.
" So you are locked out ? "
" Yes," in a tremulous voice.
" By Hubert ? "
" Yes," this time very faintly.
" Hubert ! Open the door this instant ! " Mr.
Olsen called out in angry tones.
Hub had slipped out of bed at the first sound of
his father's voice, and he now hastily threw open the
door.
"It was because " he began, anxious to
explain matters, when he caught sight of his father's
angry face.
1PV-I I m
CATCHING MICE.
21 I
" Not a word, sir ! I understand perfectly ! Your
abominable temper again ! "
Hub did not a<-tempt to say anything after that,
for he was as angry as his father and could not trust
himself to speak.
In the meantime Rat was standing in the middle
of the floor ; he was shaking violently, but it was as
much from nervousness as from cold now.
" Get into bed, Ralph," his father said kindly.
" You are thoroughly chilled, I see. As a punish-
ment for this cruel treatment of your little brother,"
he went on in stern tones, turning once more to
Hub, "you shall not go to the circus to-morrow
afternoon with the others."
Not go to the circus ! Rat could hardly believe
his ears as he heard this awful sentence passed
on poor Hub.
" Papa," he said timidly, stopping short as he
was about to scramble into bed, " I put a mouse in
his bed, you see ! "
But his father either did not hear this confession^
or failed to take in its whole meaning, for he only
replied, —
" Not another word from either of you to-night I ''
and strode out, shutting the door after him.
A few minutes later their mother came in, bring*
ing a drink for Rat. It was hotf and sweet
pi L
11
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212 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
and comforting, and soon warmed him inside and
out.
She did not speak to Hub at all, and that young
man fumed in a secret fury under the bed-clothes,
for he felt himself a very much injured individual.
"Hub! I say, Hub!" Rat called to him in
apologetic tones when their mother had left them in
darkness after a brief good-night.
But Hubert would not respond to any friendly
overtures, and Rat went to sleep feeling very
uncomfortable.
Who would have thought that one small grey
mouse could bring so much trouble and vexation of
spirit in its train ?
11
"^Tf^r
CHAPTER XVII.
AT THE CIRCUS.
MR. OLSEN'S word was like the law of the
Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
The sentence he had passed on Hubert was
not recalled, even though his wife begged him,
privately, to remit what was, in truth, a most severe
punishment.
Kat and Rat looked quite melancholy as they
drove off with the others, leaving Hub standing
on the verandah, dark and gloomy, a little distance
from the starting-place.
Quite a large party there were to pack iuto the
waggonette, for the servants came too, except nurse,
who was elderly and scorned anything so frivolous
as a circus. They had an early lunch, and by a
little after one they were on the way.
Hub listened to the clang of the distant gate,
which announced that they had entered the main
road ; and then, with a heavy heart and a slight
smarting of the eyes which he could not help, he
213
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214 THE VOUNCSTKKS OF MURRAY HOME.
turned his steps down the yard to where Samson
was busy chopping wood.
Of course every one about the place had heard
of Mub's disgrace, Samson among the rest.
As Hub came near to him, the boy looked up
from his work with a triumphant grin overspreading
his ugly face.
" Well ? " he asked. " I reckon you've changed
your mind about to-night now, eh ? "
Hub did not answer immediately. A hard struggle
was going on within him.
Conscience said : " Submit to your father's punish-
ment, and stay at home." Pride added : " Don't
let Samson crow over you. Tell him he can go
by himself." On the other side was temper,
urging : " It was Rat's fault as much as yours and
more, and he's gone to the circus, so why shouldn't
you ? " While as a constant undercurrent to all
these suggestions, was the thought : " I was going
to do it before ; I have the money ready in my
pocket. What's the use of staying at home ? "
The money ! Yes. He slipped his hand into his
pocket and felt it. What a pity to have worked so
hard all for nothing !
** I suppose I might as well go," he said at last ;
but he did not look at Samson as he spoke.
" Right you are ! " replied that young man cheerily,
AT THE CIRCUS.
215
Wl\
;on
up
ing
and he was wise enough to keep from making any
more joking remarks. " I'll have your pony saddled
and ready at half-past seven, about a quarter of a
mile down the road. I reckon Prince '11 carry the
both of us to the show and back."
" All right," said Hub. " But, Samson, I've only
got sevenpence to buy nuts and lollies with. We'll
have to get along with that unless you've got some
money."
V* A pretty poor lay-out that ! Sevenpence for
refreshments ! Well, maybe I can find another
sixpence somewheres."
That night, soon after tea, Hub disappeared from
the library, in which room the winter evenings were
generally spent.
No one thought it strange that he should go
away, since he was not able to join with the others
in talking over the afternoon's entertainment, and
must be feeling his disappointment so keenly.
How surprised they would all have been, could
they have seen him slip out of the house a few
minutes later.
He evidently wished to escape observation, and
therefore immediately ran across the lawn and
plunged in among the lemon-trees which surrounded
the place. There, the shadows were already deep,
and no one could possibly see him from the house.
)i m
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216 THIO YOUNdSTKRS OK MURRAY HOME.
After going a round-about way through the
orchard, he came out on the road at last. Once
there, he began to run, straight and fast, until he
came up to Samson, who was already mounted on
Prince, the pony. He was hidden from view by
a bush on the roadside, but came out as Hub
ran up.
" Jump up behind ! Quick ! " he said.
Hubert thought that, considering the pony was
his, he should have held the reins and Samson sat
behind. But there was no time for a dispute then,
so he did as he was bidden, and in a few seconds
the two boys were galloping along on the road to
MuUaguUoo.
Four miles to travel, over a hard and moon-lit
road ; past open wastes of \n\< ultivated land, where
the box-trees cast broad yi].idows, and the bushes
looked silvery-white with the moon's rays on them ;
past an occasional plantation, where hedges and
regular rows of fruit-trees, with lights gleaming
through them, marked a neighbour's habitation.
"We're late," remarked Samson after they had
gone half the distance in silence. " We ain't passed
nobody on the road."
" Hope we'll be able to get in, that's all ! " replied
Hub, digging his heels into the faithful Prince's
sides.
AT THK CIRCUS.
217
The little pony had a heavy load on his back,
and was not able to keep up his usual good pace.
An involuntary recollection crossed Hub's mind of
that former occasion, when Prince had carried him,
oh ! so swiftly, over that very road. It was when
little Dollif had been bitten by the baby-snake, and
he had galloped post-haste, to summon the doctor.
But he put that and every other tender thought
away from him to-night.
For Hub was deliberately deceiving his father and
mother for the first time in his life, and he could not
have done it if he had not hardened his heart to the
utmost first.
Arrived at last at the big round tent in the middle
of a vacant allotment, where they were holding the
circus, they saw a man with a big drum sitting at
the entrance. They had heard other musical
instruments in the distance, as they came along,
but these players had already gone inside.
" Hurry up, young gents ! You're a bit late for
the show, but I guess you'll find one or two good
seats in there yet ! " called out the man with the
drum, as they came in sight.
There were quite a number of boys and young
men hanging about the canvas door, watching from
afar for a glimpse of those delights which the state of
their finances would not allow them to take part in.
'M
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2l8 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
"Why don't they come in?" whispered Hub
to Samson as the latter roughly elbowed his way
through the little crowd.
"Ain't got the cash, I s'pose," was the indifferent
answer, and Hub looked at them over his shoulder
pityingly.
He only wished he had money enough to buy
tickets for them and invite them all to come in.
But there was no time for indulging in such
thoughts, for the boys were already inside the tent,
and some one was pushing them, not very gently,
into two vacant seats in the very front row of the
i ude board benches which rose, tier upon tier, to
the top of the tent.
For a moment or two the lights dazzled their
eyes. Hubert was conscious of nothing but a
very strong smell of sawdust and smoky kerosene
lamps, mingled with an aroma of the stables. Not
that this peculiar mixture was unpleasant to the
boy's nostrils ; on the contrary, it seemed to belong
to the dissipation of the hour, and stimulated him
agreeably. He no longer felt injured ; he no longer
felt guilty ; but he set about enjoying this first
circus cf his life to the full.
A clown was performing tricks and cracking jokes
which drew roars of laughter from the audience ;
and the ring-master snapped his long whip and gave
AT THE CIRCUS.
?I9
the poor fellow terrible cuts with it, to punish him
for his endless stupidities. Hub could not keep
back a shudder as the long whip cracked and the
clown twisted himself into contortions of the greatest
agony.
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"THE LADY OF TUK I'OSTICKS."
" Does he hit him really ? " he inquired of a man
on his right, a big, fat farmer who had been laughing
till the tears rolled down his cheeks.
" Not much, he don't ! " was the cheerful reply.
" Else the clown would want bigger wages than he
gets. My word ! "
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220 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Then he looked at Hub curiously, and, turning to
his neighbour, whispered, —
" One of Mr. Olsen's boys, if I don't mistake.
Most likely he's slipped off on the sly."
In the meantime a silence of delighted expectation
had fallen on the audience.
The lady of the posters, whom Samson had de-
scribed to Hub, was led with much ceremony into
the middle of the ring by the ring-master. She was
dressed in bright pink tights with green and gold
velvet trunks, and a great quantity of yellow hair
hung loose over her shoulders. A page followed with
her steed, a white horse of the boniest description,
with such a sad and dejected air that one could not
help feeling sorry for him.
The lady mounted and cantered around the
ring a few times, then stood on the animal's bare
back and went around again. After this, hoops
covered with paper were held out for her to jump
through. Last of all, the hoops were set on fire
and the lady in pink tights sj^rang fearlessly
through them, amid thundering applause from the
spectators.
Then came the usual interlude with the clown,
who tried to imitate all the feats of hurst manshin on
a little nag of his own. He tumbled oii and oif his
horse with the same ease and indifference, and rode
IHM
AT THE CIRCUS.
r;2i
on its head and its tail, and even underneath it,
cHnging to its body with arms and legs.
*' My word ! Can't he ride, though ! " cried Hub,
who was beside himself with excitement and delight.
After this the page, who was a particularly ugly,
tow-headed boy, brought around a basket with
oranges and apples, lollies and ginger-beer. Samson
and Hub spent each a sixpence on these dainties.
They divided a bottle of ginger-beer between them,
and they each had a bag of sweets and nuts.
There was a general crunching of apples and
cracking of nuts on all sides now, accompanied by
the popping of the ginger-beer corks. The clown's
jokes were more irresistible than ever, and the fun
was fast getting upr'^arious.
Hubert could not understand half the sparring that
went on in the ring, but he did not like to show his
ignorance, so lie laughed loudly when the rest
laughed, while he secretly wished the snake lady
would make haste and appear.
There was a great deal to be seen before that,
however. Two men, who were brothers, and the
joint owners of the circus outfit, gave an exhibition
of jumping, balancing, and acrobatic feats generally.
Then the clown's pony was again brought into the
ring, mounted this time by a monkey in a red coat.
The boys enjoyed this part of the entertainment
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222 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
very much, for the monkey was a sharp little fellow.
He deftly caught the nuts thrown to him by the
audience ts he galloped around, running up and
down the ;.? orse's back, to its evident irritation,
for it tried han but failed, to shake the little creature
off.
Then once more the two acrobatic brothers
performed, with the lady in pink tights helping them
this time. A trapeze was put up from which they
swung by hands or feet, turning somersaults in
mid-air, and similar performances.
Hub felt himself getting very sleepy while this
was going on, and even Samson gave a huge yawn.
The thrilling sight of the pink lady suspended by
her hair and swung gently to and fro by one of the
brothers in the high trapeze was not enough to
rouse them for more than a minute or two.
But when at last the snake lady appeared. Hub's
excitement knew no bounds. He was wide-awake
in an instant, and watched with fascination the
sleepy-looking reptiles as she twisted them round
her ned: and arms, and played to them with a little
instrument something like a flute.
He never noticed that the new performer was
only the lady in pink tights, transformed. She was
now clad in a flaming red dress and had her arms
and neck bare.
^ssa
"^v
AT THE CIRCUS.
223
I
It was with difficulty that the snakes were made
to go through their part at all. They were stupid
and lazy, for it was a cold night and very likely they
resented being taken away from their warm blankets
at such an hour.
" Ladies and gentlemen," said one of the acrobatic
brothers, appearing at the end of the performance,
" our regular programme is now finished, but I
beg to announce that there will be a Song and
Dance Concert to follow immediately, which you
are all invited to remain for. There will be
no extra admittance, but a collection will be taken
up and refreshments will be passed around as
usual."
" Come on," said Hub, as the more sober-minded
of the audience began to rise in their seats and
move towards the door.
" Not much. This'll be the best fun of all. Sit
down."
" I'm going; you can do as you like," replied Hub
with dccioion. ' .
" And leave me to hoof it back alone ! I said you
were a mean sneak ! "
Hubert flushed angrily.
"The pony is mine, I suppose," he retorted.
"Besides," he added, "I've only got a penny and
that isn't enough for the collection."
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224 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
"
" Better come along now, young chap," said the
farmer, clapping him on the back.
" Yes, I'm coming," replied the boy, looking up
in his face and wondering uneasily if the man had
recognised him.
So he left Samson in his seat and hurried out, all
eagerness to be home again now that the show was
over.
Prince whinnied softly as his young master
approached the tree where the boys had tied him a
couple of hours before. The air was clear and
frosty ; the moon was already low, but it was still
as bright as day. It was an exquisite night and
acted as a tonic to the boy's excited brain and heated
imagination.
** I won't let old Samson ride ydu again in a
hurry, my boy," he said, as he patted his pony's
neck.
Then springing into the saddle, he was oif like a
flash. For the little horse appreciated his lighter
burden, and was, besides, eager to be back in the
warm stable at home, with his nose in the chaff
again.
HHMMI
CHAPTER XVIII.
SEVENPENCE.
Tll
WHEN Hubert left the library on Saturday
night the children followed him with their
eyes, which were full of pity.
"Poor Hub!" said Dollie, after he had gone.
" He didn't see that lovely lady, or the monkey, or
anything! "
"I think it was mean to put a mouse in his
bed ! " added Bertram virtuously.
Rat and Kat looked crestfallen. Nothing could
have made them more penitent for their piece of
mischief than the terrible consequences it had had
for their brother.
Rat had even found it impossible to properly
enjoy the circus that afternoon, for he could not
forget Hub, standing solitary on the verandah as
they drove away.
The fire burned brightly and the room was cosy,
but nevertheless something seemed to weigh upon
them all.
225 15
111
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226 TFIE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Before long Baby and Bertram were summoned
by nurse to go to bed, and after that mamma read
aloud to Kat and Rat while Ollie crocheted diligently
at a shawl she was making for her mother. But
even the delightful adventures of " Alice in Wonder-
land " did not seem to interest the children much
to-night, and when at eight o'clock Mrs. Olsen
closed the book and said, —
" To bed, little folks ! " there was not a dissenting
murmur from either of them.
** I suppose Hub's gone to bed already," said Rat,
as he kissed his mother good-night. Then he
whispered softly in her ear, " Kat and me are just
awfully sorry about that mouse."
" I know you are, dear ; but you didn't mean any
harm," was her comforting reply, whispered too ; and
then they went off.
Rat got his lighted candle from nurse in the
nursery. He was able to go to bed quite by himself
now, and Hubert always blew out the light, except-
ing occasionally when their mother came in to have
a last peep at them, and then she performed this
service for them.
The little boy was surprised when he entered the
bedroom and found it empty, but he concluded that
Hub had gone out to talk to William about some-
thing, and began getung himself undressed, feeling
^mi
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SEVEN PENCE.
227
rather glad that his brother was not there to make
him uncomfortable with his gloomy and reproachful
countenance.
He was such a kind-hearted little fellow and felt
so sincerely sorry for the trouble he had brought on
Hub. He hardly even remembered by this time that
Hub had shut him out in the cold and was for that
reason punished by his father.
" I'd like to make it up to him somehow," thought
Rat. "I wonder which of my things he'd like
best?" And he drew aside a curtain which hid
from view some shelves where the boys kept such
of their belongings as were not scattered about the
house and grounds.
There was a box of dominoes, a mouth-organ, a
money-box, and several other toys more or less
hopelessly damaged, on the lowest shelf, which was
Rat's.
" He'd like the dominoes," murmured the little
boy, " only there are such a lot of them lost, so I
won't give him those. He wouldn't say ' thank you '
for the mouth-organ, and I don't believe I could give
it to him any way," with a solemn shake of the
head, for this musical instrument was Rat's dearest
possession.
Then, as his eye wandered to the money-box, he
exclaimed joyfully, —
II
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228 THE VOrNf}.STERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" That'll be just the thing, ril give him my
pennies. That'll please him more than anything,
since he's got to be such a miser ! "
Fortunately the slit in the iron box was quite
wide, but even so it was a work of time to shake
out first a threepenny piece, that week's pocket-
money, then four pennies, the result of his efforts
at earning money.
" Sevenpence ! That's not so bad ! Hub'll think
a lot of it, any way."
And smiling to himself he put the little pile of
money on a chair beside his bed.
Then he quickly finished undressing and jumped
under the blankets.
*' Hub's sure to be in in a minute," he said to
himself. " I'll just leave the candle, and I won't
go to sleep."
Alas ! for poor Rat's resolutions ! In five minutes
he was sleeping as soundly as ever a little boy slept
in his life !
The candle burned on. Fortunately it was a long
one. An end of it still remained when Hub, at
half-past eleven, softly turned the handle of the
door and came into the room.
Next morning when Rat awoke his elder brother
was still sleeping heavily.
He partly dressed himself, and then, boy-like, he
mm
SF.VEN PENCE.
229
could not resist the temptation of giving Hub a
shake and caUing him. As there was no response to
this, the shaking and calling became more energetic
by degrees, till at last they took effect.
" Wake up, Hub ! Whatever makes you so
sleepy ? You'll be late for breakfast, even though it
is Sunday."
For breakfast at Murray Home was an hour later
than usual on Sundays.
Hubert sat up, rubbing his eyes.
" I thought I was at the circus," he said, " and
the monkey had eaten all my lollies and nuts, and
snatched off my " Then, suddenly, he remem-
bered everything, and with a quick, wide-awake
glance at Rat, he was silent.
The little boy was touched by Hub's words. He
thought he had been dreaming of sights he had
not seen, in spite of all his hopes !
" Look here, Hub ! I've got sevenpence. You
can have it if you like," and hurrying over to his
own bed. Rat returned with the little silver piece
and the four pennies, which he pushed under
Hub's very nose, and left in a heap on the counter-
pane.
Hubert looked at his little brother in astonish-
mient. A queer feeling of mingled shame and
gratitude came over him.
. 1
II
230 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
«i
But the money did not tempt him, although Rat
had called him a miser.
** I don't want your pennies, Rat ! Keep them
yourself, old man," he said, a trifle huskily, as he
pushed the money aside and got out of bed.
Rat was disappointed. He was vt-ry much
astonished as well that his magnificent gift was
not accepted ; but he did not say anything, and
the two boys continued to dress in silence.
Presently, while Rat was standing in front of
the looking-glass, patting his head in the curious
way he called brushing his hair, his eyes fell on
the candlestick where the candle was burnt to the
socket.
" Why, just look at our candle ! " he exclaimed.
" It was a new one last night, and now it's every
bit burnt ! You must have forgotten to blow it out.
Hub ! "
But Hub answered never a word, and Rat came
to the conclusion that, in spite of all his efforts to
conciliate his brother, the practical joke, with its
unhappy consequences, was not yet forgiven.
He was mistaken in this, for Hubert bore him
no grudge, and was, moreover, thoroughly ashamed
of his own conduct, which looked so black compared
with Rat's harmless joke. Pride kept him silent,
however, and he only looked out of the corner of
dMi
■■■iMMilMIII
HMM
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I '■
SEVENPENCE.
231
his eye, indifferently, at Rat, as, before leaving the
room, the little boy gathered up his pennies, which
lay scattered among the bed-clothes, and, one by
one, slowly and sadly dropped them back into the
money-box.
If a sense of secret guilt often weighed heavily
on Hubert in the days that foll< wed, it did not lead
him to confess his wrong-doing to his father and
mother. He buried his feelings in his own heart,
and listened in silence when the other children
relapsed, as they often did, into reminiscences of
the circus.
His gun continued to be his constant and only
companion. The boy was a born sportsman. It
had been the same, as we know, in the summer,
with his fishing, before the present of the gun had
changed the current of his thoughts. Then Hub
would sit by the hour on tne river bank, a line
in his hand, quite happy and content ; and now
his interest never flagged, and his legs never tired,
as long as a crow remained to be shot, or a flock
of ducks to follow up.
If he found it lonely, tramping about the place
on his solitary expeditions, he did not complain,
and indeed was hardly conscious of such a
feeling.
Rat was too young to be a companion for him, and
'
Nil
232 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
as for Samson, Hub avoided the boy as much as
possible since the Saturday night they visited the
circus together, that Saturday night the remem-
brance of which was sometimes sweet to him, but
more often bitter.
CHAPTER XIX.
'1' n
OLGA S SAVIN(;S.
OLLIE was sitting, pensive, in front of the fire
in the Hbrary.
It was a glorious wood fire, such as one may see,
at the proper season, in any of the wide, old-
fashioned chimney-places of the Colonial country-
houses.
Wood is still plentiful there, and is used with a
lavish hand, with results that are comforting to the
body and very pleasing to the eye.
In this particular fireplace the matted roots,
twisted and knotted, and with stringy ends poking
out in all directions, were piled one above the other.
Their dark red-brown was turning, all along the
edges and in the hollow places, into gloAv^ing coals,
while the broad, red flames shot up the chimney and
lighted the room in a fitful, charming way. For it
was already dusk, but the lamps had not yet been
brought in.
OUie was curled up in her father's armchair,
233
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234 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
M
thinking. She gazced into the fire, whose ruddy
flames made her yellow hair a pure, bright gold, and
lighted her face so softly that the plain features were
subdued and only the pretty, kindly eyes shone out.
Her head she leaned on one hand, and with the
other softly jingled something in her lap.
The dancing fire-light showed a gleam of tilver
coins passing through her fingers.
Was Olga turning miser, too ?
She gathered up the money and counted it from
one hand to the other.
■ Two half-crowns, one shilling and eight sixpences.
Ten shillings in all.
It would take three times as much as that to buy
the desire of Ollie's heart — a violin.
Never mind. Ten shillings was a good start.
Perhaps on her birthday her father might? give her
half a sovereign, or even h.ore, as he had done more
than once before. He would certainly do it if she
only asked him, but Ollie was very shy of putting
forward her own wishes. She had not even told
any one what she was saving her money for.
Of course all the family knew that she was fond
of music. Her governess said she played remark-
ably well for her age, and her father and mother
were agreed that Ollie possessed talent and must
have superior advantages when she was older.
Li-...-:'Ai
IWMiWIIW iW-iHgBBW Wn
■ UIJIIIU JI1U-...T I
olga's savings.
235
But no one had guessed that the girl longed to
learn the violin, and, above all, to possess one of the
pretty, graceful instruments for her own, all the time
that she was practising so faithfully on the anti-
quated piano in the schoolroom.
Some months ago, in a paper, she had seen violins
advertised for thirty shillings. Perhaps they were
not very good ones, but to Ollie a violiii was a violin,
and that consideration did not trouble her.
She cut out the advertisement carefully and hence-
forth kept it folded in her little p(Mtc-monnaie, near
the gradually increasing savii,
The purse was quite heavy now with so much
silver in it, and she meant to ask hi r father for a
half-sovereign, in exchange for her ten shillings.
It was for this reason that she had brought the
money into the library and sat down before the fire
to wait for Mr. Olsen to appear.
When she had finished counting her silver shi
let it slide into her lap again, and then, with iiuth
hands clasped behind her head, she began to dream.
The weeks and months that must pass before her
great wish could be realised, sped swiftly in her
fancy. Already she had posted the letter containing
the thirty shillings and an order for the violin. Then
she thought she could see the queer, long-shaped
parcel that would be handed to her a few days,
MM
(■HI
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1
11
I 111 '
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1
S , 1 ';
1
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236 THF YOUNGSTERS OK MURRAY HOME.
perhaps a week, later. With what eagerness would
she undo the wrappings, the children forming a
group of wondering spectators around her, of course I
The case would be lined with bright blue velvet — at
least, so she pictured it to herself.
And the smooth, polished violin, how snugly it
lay there ! How nicely it fitted in !
Gently she would lift it out and, with the bow in
the other hand, she would put it under her chin, so !
And, suiting her action to her fancy, Ollie withdrew
her hands from behind her head, and in imagination,
she held the beloved instrument and gently moved
the bow across the strings. She could almost feel
the cool surface against her chin, and what sweet
music she seemed to hear !
Would it really be so lovely ? she wondered.
And she continued to move her hand backwards and
forwards as if playing the violin of her fancy.
Mr. Olsen was standing in the doorway, un-
observed, watching his little daughter's rapt face
and gentle movements. She looked very sweet and
even prett\ in the soft fire-light.
** Oh, papa ! " she exclaimed as she caught sight
of him at last ; and even the dim light could not hide
the crimson blushes that overspread her face, as,
springing up in haste, she sent the silver coins
jumping and rolling all over the room.
Of a; AS SAMNdS.
^37
A lamp was brought in, and it took quitt^ a tinui
to collect them all again.
In the meanwhile the other children came in too,
and mamma, and there was a great deal of astonish-
ment expressed by the little ones at the amount of
Ollie's savings. -
Papa willingly gave her a small gold piece to
put in her purse, instead of the weighty silver,
but Bertram and Baby and even Kat thought that
Ollie had lost a great deal by the exchange.
The next day was Sunday, and on the following
Monday Ollie went for a walk along the river bank.
It was the season of the gathering in of the
orange and lemon crops. All day long one could
see the forms of men and boys moving here and
there among the trees which surrounded the house.
They were the pickers, and the snip ! chip ! of their
shears sounded sharply in the clear air.
At a little distance from the house was the large
packing shed, where there were other busy wr)rkers
disposing of the fruit as it was brought in.
The pungent odours of the rich orange and the
delicate lemon filled the air.
Holidays would soon be over for the children.
One week more and Miss Kowshorn would be with
them, and lessons would fill a good many hours of
each day.
I
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238 THK YOUNOSTEl.S OF MURRAY HOME.
For a week past work had been begun in the
pubHc school, but their hoHdays were to be longer
than usual, on account of the wedding of their
governess' sister, which was to take place that week.
Miss Kowshorn had written to ask Mrs. Olsen's
consent to her staying for the event, and of course
it was readily given.
Ollie was alone when she set out for her walk.
The little ones often came with her, but they were
busy this morning making " peep-shows " with the
few bright flowers left in the wintry garden.
"I'll go as far as Jim Santy's," she said to
herself, " and I'll ask how the sick baby is to-day."
Jim Santy was a rabbiter, whose wife and large
family lived in a wretched shanty on the bank of
the river. He was nearly always away from home,
and he spent most of the money he earned killing
rabbits, on drink. The woman was a poor, shiftless
creature, whose hard life and many troubles had
long ago broken what little spirit she had had.
She received the many kindnesses shown her by
the Olsen family without any sign of gratitude, and
she showed no interest in any person or anything,
not even excepting her own children.
"Good-morning, Mrs. Santy I " said Ollie, as she
came up.
The woman was sitting on the doorstep of the
,k
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■!■■
■
OLGA'S SAVINGS.
239
to
hut, holding in her arms a sickly-looking baby a
few months old.
She did not reply to OUie's greeting, but
"'GIVE HIM TO ME A MINUTE, THEN.' "
answered when the latter asked her how the baby
was, that " he was that tiresome she didn't get no
rest day or night."
" Give him to me a minute, then," said kind-
le
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240 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
hearted Ollie, although the child was far from
inviting, with its dirty face and dirtier clothes.
Mrs. Santy seemed thankful to be rid of the
baby for a while, and she jumped up quite briskly,
for her, as she handed it over.
" Poor little thing ! It's not very heavy," said
Ollie.
** You wouldn't say that if you had to lug it
around with you all day," replied the woman
crossly.
After which she went inside the hut and left
Ollie to amuse the baby as best she could.
The little creature was not troublesome, but
seemed content to look into her face with its grave,
inquiring eyes, and occasionally poke out a thin,
dirty finger to touch the bright steel buttons on
her dress.
Presently, from among the bushes, and behind
the wood-pile, other children peeped out and then
gradually came near.
There were three of them, all dirty and unkempt,
with old, and yet dull faces.
•' Why aren't you at school, Tommy ? " Olga
asked the eldest, a boy about ten years old.
" Ain't got no shoes," was the reply.
*' Perhaps our boys might have some old ones
that would do for you," said Ollie ; but she was a
i
=??'
OLGA'S SAVINGS.
241
y>i^^
little doubtful, as it was only a short time since their
mother had made up a bundle of clothes and shoes
for Mrs. Santy.
" They wouldn't be no good for me ! " replied the
boy. " I can't wear nothing except what's made
a-purpose. Look here ! " and with an ugly grin on
his face Tommy stuck out his bare foot for OUie to
see.
Six toes ! Six toes on each foot, making them so
broad that no ordinary boy's boot would go on them.
Ollie was sensitive, and she shuddered at the
sight of the boy's deformity.
Trying to hide her disgust and not hurt poor
Tommy's feelings, she looked quickly away, and
then, after a moment, back again, right into his face,
as she said, —
" Then why don't you get a pair made. Tommy ?
It's a pity to miss the school."
"Shoemaker ain't been paid for the last pair yet,
and he won't make any more without he sees the
money, he says."
" How much do they cost ? "
" Five shillings," replied the boy, and looked at
Ollie eagerly ; for Tommy had been a good scholar,
and he did not stay at home in the poor little shanty
at all willingly.
The baby began to fret just then, and Olga turned
16
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K H B I
242 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
] : tl
m
from Tommy, to walk up and down and sing a
little song to him.
All the while she was doing it she was conscious
of a very curious sensation. It was as if something
were weighing her pocket down heavily.
There was nothing in it, to be sure, but her hand-
kerchief and the grey lizard-skin purse, and that did
not weigh much now, with its one little gold piece !
All the same Ollie felt it dragging her skirt as it had
done when it was full of silver.
She put in her hand and pulled it out.
Tommy watched her with sparkling eyes.
But she only looked at it wistfully a moment
and then slipped it back again. She did not seem
to be thinking of Tommy, who, greatly disappointed
when the purse vanished so quickly from his sight,
began to kick the hard lumps of clay about, with his
poor misshapen feet.
The baby was quiet again, and Ollie stepped
inside to hand him over to his mother.
The woman was not making any attempt to clean
up the house, but sat listlessly beside the open fire-
place in the small, untidy kitchen.
" I must go now, Mrs. Santy," said Ollie. *' Here's
baby."
She received the child in her lap without a word,
and Ollie said good-bye and turned to go.
'•?'
olga's savings.
243
Something held her back in spite of herself. It
almost seemed as if the little grey purse was alive
and was tugging at her dress.
" Does Tommy like to go to school, Mrs. Santy ? "
she asked suddenly, turning back when she had
reached the door.
A gleam of something human and motherly shone
in the poor woman's face.
" Tommy's a real good scholar," she said proudly.
" But what's the use o' talking ? " she continued,
changing again to her usual dull, indifferent tones.
" He's got no shoes and he sha'n't go barefoot to
school if he never gees ! "
" Will you get him son'e shoes if I give you the
money, Mrs. Santy ? " asked Ollie, who had the
little purse in her hands again.
" It'd have to be the price of two pair, then,"
returned the woman, and in spite of herself an eager
look came into her dull, faded eyes. Shoemaker
says he won't make any more till he's paid for the
last and the next pair too."
" Yes, I know. Tommy told me. Ten shillings,
isn't it?"
Mrs. Santy nodded.
Ollie opened the purse and from its innermost
receptacle drew forth the dear half-sovereign.
'' You'll be sure and get the shoes for Tommy, and
244 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
1 I
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not spend it on anything else, Mrs. Santy ? " she
asked a Httle doubtfully as she handed it over.
Mrs. Santy's only answer was to call Tommy.
The boy was not far oflf evidendy, for he was
inside the door almost as soon as his name was
uttered.
" There's ten shillin' for you/' said his mother.
**The young lady gave it. Better go straight to
shoemaker and have him make them shoes so's
they'll be ready for next week."
Tommy took the little gold piece, looked at it
curiously, and finally popped it in his mouth for
safe keeping. Then, snatching up a ragged cap he
darted out of the house without a single word to
any one, and quickly disappeared among the bushes
in the direction of the township.
Ollie followed him out through the door, but more
slowly.
** Good-bye, Mrs. Santy/' she called back, and she
got a kind of grunt in answer, that was all.
Poor Ollie 1 It was hard to make fjuch a sacriiice,
and to hear not so much as a " thank you " in
return.
But she did not think of that. She knew Mrs.
Santy too well to expect gratitude from her, and
besides, though he had not said a word, she felt
sure that Tommy was gratefuh
11
OLC.a's SA\'INr.S.
^4S
Still her eyes were dim and her breath came in
a choking kind of way as she hurried along the
path towards home. She did not notice the broad,
shining river, or the grass and bushes all glistening
with moisture after the frosty night. She never
even saw a pair of pretty red, green, and yellow
parrots which darted swiftly from tree to tree in
graceful play.
Ollie had done many kind and unselfish deeds in
her short life, but not one had cost her so much as
the parting with her cherished half-sovereign.
Not that she regretted it for a moment. Shoes
were so much more necessary and important than
violins, she told herself! But the pleasant fire-side
dreams were all scattered ; the possession of the
longed-for violin seemed too far oft' and unlikely to
cheer her now.
Of course she would go on saving, but, oh dear !
it would be a long, long time before she would have
another little gold piece to put in the inner pocket
of her lizard-skin purse !
CHAPTEJl XX.
THE RECEPTION.
IT was Katrina'.s brilliant idea. She talked the
matter over with Rat, of course, and then the
two together submitted their plan to their mother.
"We want to have a kind of a 'recepting' for
Miss Kowshorn, mamma," explained Kat. ** All by
ourselves. But of course we'll invite you and
papa ! " she added, for fear her mother migtit feel
hurt. .
" A ' recepting,' my dear ? " said Mrs. Olsen
vaguely.
" Yes. We'd call it that. Only it would be a
kind of supper, in the nursery, really, you know."
" I see. A ' reception,' you mean. And what
would you have for supper ? "
" We'd all do somethmg," Rat struck in eagerly.
" I'm going to find mushrooms, and Hub'll have to
shoot some ducks or catch fish. Ollie will make
cream bonbons, of course, because that's what she
can do best. What'll you do, Kat ? "
ill
THE RECEPTION.
247
f ti
"I think I'll bake potatoes in the nursery fire,"
said the little girl after considering a minute, ancf
added cheerfully, "And I can make toast too ! "
Mrs. Olsen was a little doubtful about it at first,
but at last consented to let the children manage the
affair altogether by themselves ; and since Kat was
the originator of the idea, she was allowed to be
mistress of ceremonies all through.
Deep consultations and busy preparations now
filled each hour, for it was Saturday morning when
Kat laid the matter before her mother, and the
reception, as they all called it, was to take place on
Monday, on which day Miss Kowshorn would
arrive.
The first thing to be done was to issue the
invitations, which were written out, with a vast
expenditure of ink and paper and labour, by Katrina
herself. Only one was sent to any one outside of
the family, and it was to Mr. Philip Beston, the
solitary fisherman of Cockatoo Island.
Since their adventure in the Christmas holidays
qui^^e an intimacy had sprung up between the
children and their kind deliverer, who had seemed
very pleased to respond to the advances made to
him by the Olsen family. All money compensation
for the " hoard and lodging " of the children during
their foar days' residence on his island had been
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248 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
flatly refused, but an offer of friendship on the part
of Mr. and Mrs. Olsen was not treated in the same
way, and afterwards Philip Beston became a frequent
visitor at Murray Home.
He was a man of thirty-eight or forty, a gentleman
by birth and education, but who had spent most of
his life seeking for gold and adventure, moving from
one popular mine to another, or sometimes joining
exploring expeditions into the interior of the
Continent. Fortune had never smiled on him in
any of his enterprises, and at last he had turned from
the exciting life of a wanderer, miner, and explorer,
and had established himself on a, green islet of the
Murray, where he had lived a simple and solitary
life for more than a year, the fish he caught and
sent to market furnishing him with sufficient means
of livelihood.
It soon became evident to everybod}'^, however,
that Mr. Beston did not come to Murray Home to
see the children only, or even their father and mother.
There was another attraction.
" Of course, Mr. Beston is just as nice and as
funny as ever," Ollie remarked more than once to
her mother, '• but I do think he likes a great deal
better to talk to Miss Kowshorn than to any of us,
mamma ! "
To which Mrs. Olsen had answered, —
ttBrnrntBOEs
THE RECEPTION.
249
I
" Very likely, my dear ! "
Greta Kowshorn was a German girl, with fair hair
and large, light blue eyes and prim, kindly, domestic
ways. She had, moreover, a great deal of shrewd
common sense and a great deal of sentiment with it,
and the solitary fisherman of Cockatoo Island
seemed to find the combination very fascinating !
At least this was the conclusion the young folks
had all arrived at, so, under the circumstances, it was
natural that they should decide to send him an
invitation to their party. Saturday afternoon Hub
handed him the following invitation, Kat's unaided
production.
<' Dear Mr. besion, — Will you come to a recep-
shun we aie making for miss cowshorn. It's to be
in the nursery. We are all helping. I have to write
the bil of fair, so good-bye, from
" Katrina Oi.sf.n.
**it's on Monday."
. Mr. Beston immediately composed the following
reply which Hub took back with him : —
••'Dearest Kat, many thanks
For your kindness. I'll come.
Of course, to the feast
And the welcoming home,
I'
250 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Or 'reception/ you say,
or Miss Kowshorn, my friend.
I'l" help too, if I may,
And my tribute I'll send.
If a nienu you're writing
Why, put 11 in thup.
From your friend, Philip Beston,
M»i''ray lobster, with sauce."
When Katrina read this poetical note, her face
beamed with smiling importance.
"Mr. Beston is my very best friend ! " she declared,
as she danced around on the kitchen verandah,
where she was busy making a selection of superfine
potatoes for the supper. She paused in the midst of
her jig to read over the lines once more.
"What does ' meenew ' mean, Hub?" she then
asked.
Hub, who was learning French, was able to tell
her that it meant the same as bill of fare, and the
word so tock Miss Kat's fancy that she decided then
and there to put it on the list of eatables she was
engaged in writing out.
On Monday morning Dollie and Bertram went
with Rat to look for mushrooms. The two little
ones carried a large basket between them, and Rat
walked on ahead with his hands in his pockets,
itKiiSMMMNiiiiMiiiiiiMir
THE K INCEPTION.
251
m.iking funny attempts at whistling, which was an
accomplishment he was bent on acquiring. Hub
laughed his pathetic efforts to scorn, but Rat perse-
vered in spite of him. It was a comfort to him now
to know that Dollie and Bertram would not think of
making fun of him, however little tune tliere might
be in his notes !
They were walking along the coach road, for there
was a flat about a quarter of a juile from the house
on this road where one could always find mush-
rooms in the right season. It was early in the year
to find them now, but there had been some warm
days to bring them on, and when the children
reached this spot they had not long to search for the
soft, pinky-white things.
Some were very large and almost black under-
neath. These had been longest above ground and
were left, arid the smaller, fresher, delicately-tinted
ones chosen.
Only Dollie, to Rat's disgust, would pick the
biggest ones she could find, and as she generally
managed to gather up a lot of sand with hers too,
her help was really not worth much. Rat grew
almost cross as his advice and commands alike were
treated with calm disregard by his little sister.
When the basket was half full they thought they
had enough, and turned to go home.
i
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2C.2 THE VOUNr.STERS OF MURRAY HOME.
' i''
" ril carry the mushrooms," said Ralph.
" No ; me'll carry them myself," returned Dollie,
seizing the handle. The little maid was in a
refractory mood that day.
" You'll spill them, Dollie, I tell you ! "
" I'll help her, Rat," Bertram put in, in his most
dignified tones. " They'll be quite safe if / hold the
handle."
Rather unwillingly Rat agreed, and so the little
procession set out.
All went well until about half-way home, when
suddenly, around a bend in the road, a flock of
sheep came upon them.
A man on horseback was driving them, and two
shepherd dogs were running backwards and for-
wards, barking and yelping as they kept the sheep
close together. ' .
The children had barely time to get out of the
road, and alas ! in their hurry the two little ones
stumbled and fell over the basket. Dollie, with her
little arms stretched out, came down in the very
midst of the mushrooms !
Rat caught hold of his sister with one hand
and the basket with the other and dragged them
both out of the road. But when the sheep had
gone past, and they looked into the basket to see
what damage had been done, nothing but a mass
*^*'*'t,'' *'3?T' '^•(^•^
'•r-ti.4-^*f*^^*ii>-
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THE RECKl'TION.
253
of broken, sandy bits remained of all their fine
collection.
DoUie began to cry.
Bertram said consolingly, —
" Well, it was your fault. Baby. You would carry
the basket, you know. But I wouldn't be so silly as
to cry about it if I was you ! "
As for Rat, he was too much disgusted to say a
word at first.
He tipped the basket up and poured its contents
on the ground, and with it empty on his arm, he
escorted his little brother and sister back to the
house.
" Stop crying, Dollie," he said at last, for the little
thing was still sobbing bitterly. " If it was any-
body's fault it was the sheep's."
" But there won't be any mushrooms for the
reception," objected Bertram.
" Oh, yes, there will ! " answered his brother.
" But I'll go myself and leave you little things at
home this time ! "
And with this withering remark, he let them in
at the gate and turned back alone for another search
over the mushroom flat.
When the company assembled in the nursery at
half-past six, they saw a table decorated with flowers
in quite the orthodox fashion, and spread with a
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2 54 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
varied assortment of good things ; for everything had
been put on at once to save time and trouble in
serving.
Katrina stood near the head of the table and
shook hands with every one as they came in. No
one had told her to do this, but she imagined it was
the right thing.
She held in her left hand a piece of white card-
board, large and square, and when all were gathered
around the festive board, she gave it to her father
with the request that he would read it out loud so
that every one could hear.
So Mr. Olsen read as follows : —
MISS COWSHORN'S KECEPSHUN.
Bill of FAnt.
Mccncw.
Ducks (shot by Hub).
Creame lollies (Ollie made them).
Baked pototos (done by me).
Butterd Toste (me too).
Lobster sallad (Mr. beston sent that).
Mushrooms, stewed (Rat got them).
Dollie and Bertram got some too, but they smashed
theres.
Tea, bred and buter and little cakes. We could not
make them, so mamma gave those.
miiii
THE RECEPTION.
255
After the reading of the bill of fare came the
eating of the feast.
Mamma poured out the tea and papa carved the
ducks, Miss Kowshorn helped the lobster salad and
Ollie the mushrooms.
Kat insisted on every one eating at least one
baked potato and a piece of buttered toast, and her
papa made her very proud by saying that her
contribution to the bill of fare was the best of all.
Of course there was a great deal of laughing and
joking over the children's supper, and Miss Kowshorn
declared it was quite the nicest reception she had
ever had.
Hub was called upon to make a speech, but
nothing would induce him to attempt it.
Then Mr. Beston pulled him on to his feet and
would not let him sit down again, until at last he
gasped out, —
" Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse me. I
can't make a speech ! "
Afterwards they adjourned to the drawing-room
and had a little dancing. Dollie and Bertram were
sent to bed, but the four older children went through
a quadrille and a couple of polkas, Rat and Kat
capering around the room in a very lively manner.
Ollie would have danced nicely, but her partner.
Hub, was a stick ; he hated dancing, and in spite of
'11
if
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2;6 TIIK YOUNGSTERS OF MUKRAV lluMi;.
Ollie's t'ntreati»*s he paid no attention to the music
at all, which was really trying.
Afterwards Ollie played a waltz, and of course
Mr. Beston invited Miss Kowshorn to dance it, and
even papa and mamma took a few turns around the
room, in memory of other days.
The children thought it a huge joke to see their
dignified father dancing, but Mrs. OKsen could re-
member a time, not so very long ago either, when
Karl Olsen was the best waltzer in the ball-room,
and she had blushed with pride and pleasure when
he put his name down for five dances !
That night Ralph dreamt of sheep and mush-
rooms. The latter were as big as tables, and the
sheep were dancing on the top of them to the polka
tune Miss Kowshorn was playing.
Hub dreamt of shooting wild swans.
All night long the great black birds were flying
over his head and he shot at them again and again
but never brought down a single one.
There was a reason for this dream of Hubert's,
and you will hear of it later.
%^
CHAPTER XXI.
KATRINAS APOLOGY.
IT was Friday, and the first week of -school was
nearly ended.
The air was chill and foggy, but in spite of that
Miss Kowshorn had been for a walk between break-
fast and school time.
Kat and Rat were engaged in a friendly game of
marbles, when they saw her pass down the garden
path which led to the edge of the river.
As she disappeared beyond the rose bushes,
Katrina all at once remembered something.
" There ! " she exclaimed, pulling out of her small
pocket a crumpled white envelope, '' Mr. Bestongave
me that to give to Miss Kowshorn, and I just as
nearly as anything forgot all about it ! "
" I don't suppose it matters much, for he sees her
often enough not to need to write to her ! " remarked
Rat philosophically. " When did he give it to you,
Kat?"
257 • if • ^
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25S T!IK \OlJN(;.STKRS OV MrRRAV IIOMK.
" Oh, just before breakfast. I took a run down
the garden to see if there was any iec in the
\vaterinj;-ean. I \n\i some water in it last night on
purpose."
'• I didn't think you were such a silly, Kat.
There's never any ice when it's foggy. Didn't you
know that?"
" Why not? I'm sure it's cold enough ! " replied
Kat.
And she laid the note on a green clump of violets
while she rubbed her blue fingers and began to
argue fiercely with her brother as to whether it
could freeze on a foggy night.
In the meantime Miss Kowshorn returned from
her stroll along the river bank.
She was disappointed, for she had hoped to see
somebody that morning and he was not there.
Tlie solitary fisherman generally managed to row
up from his little island at that hour every morning
and exchange a few words with his blue-eyed
German friend before they both set about the day's
duties.
For things had already advanced farther between
Miss Kowshorn and Mr. Beston than any one
supposed.
When he was obliged to start on some distant
expedition at an earl'er hour than she could meet
fi\: ^ . .fit I WM i
KATKINA'S AI'OLOC.V
259
him, \u' always loft a little letter in a rortain hollow
tree near their trysting-place.
This morning the missive had been handed over
to Katrina instead, tor the reason that the tog was
so heavy it might be expected to blister and damage
the white paper and make it unpleasant for his
lady's fingers to handle, if she ventured down to the
river at all.
Marum-scarum Kat had of course forgotten all
about it, and when the school-bell rang at nine
o'clock, long before she and Rat had settled their
dispute about the fog and the frost, she forgot it a
second time and left the poor little note lying on its
damp green bed, while she need into the bedroom
to wash her grimy hands.
Nothing went right in school that morning.
Miss Kowshorn was not unjust, she was ne^- .■
that ; but she was harder to please than usual.
Hub, too, was more than usually trying and
inattentive. Mis eyes were fixed on the window
when he ought to have been studying his history ;
cind instead of doing his sums he covered his slate
with funny drawings of flying birds with guns pointed
at them, and in the act of exploding.
Even Bertram got into trouble over his pot-hooks,
while Dollie's little joke of " B for Mr. Beston,"
which she made regularly every day, failed for the
ii
26o TIN". VOPNC'^TTR- OF MTRKAV HOME.
first time to firaw a smilr fnun the downcast
governess.
I'liings came to a climax in the botany lesson.
r)f)llie and Bertratn had been dismissed, and the
four older children gathered around the tabl«' to pnll
some specimens ot weeds and flowers to pie'^es, and
to listen to Miss Kowshorn's explanations.
5iat had discovered some funny little grubs on her
pknatr. and found their antics very absorbing. And
thii* was the cause of the whole trouble.
"This green cup which supports the flow<r-leaves,
is '• ■! the calyx," said Miss Kowshorn.
:rina, you are not paying the slightest atten-
Look at me wheni 1 am speaking ! "
oniv watcliing these funny little beasts,
\ lorn. I>o look what queer legs they've
got, ;uii\ hem- quickly they get about with them ! "
" This i^ not the time lor watching little beasts,
Katrina. lasten to me."
But Kat Daid no attention.
'* It's just as good to know about insects as about
flowers," she said to herself, and continued to watch
her little crawling things with great interest.
(^llie was studying a more advanced lesson in
botany, and her head was bent over her book.
Hubert's face was a perfect blank. He looked
past his teacher and out tlirough the window, and
tio
M
' 4 ^fii
I II naiilfcilliapKl-
KATKINAS AI'OLOCV.
jCu
any one could tell that he i\\i\ not hear a won! t'.at
was said.
Rat gave half his attention to tiie lesson and half
to Kat's little grubs, but the latter were certainly
the more interesting of the two.
At last Miss Kowshorn's exasperation could be
kept in bounds no longer.
•' Katrina! gather uj) those leaves and stalks aiul
throw them into the tire ! "
"All right, Miss Kovvshorn. As soon as I've
taken the little beasts olV."
"(jather them up just as they are, Katrina, and
do it this instant ! " insisted her governess.
** I Vv'on't burn my dear little beasts, and you're
a cruel thing to tell me to," cried Kat, with angry
indignation.
Another time Miss Kowshorn, who was not cru( I
might not have insisted, but this morning her temper
had been too soi"ely tried.
" Do as 1 tell you, Katrina," she said, with a set
mouth and a red lace.
'* I won't," replied that young woman flatly.
There was silence for a few seconds.
Ollie looked anxiously from one flushed and angry
face to the other. Even Hubert withdrew his eyes
fr(jm the window and seemed interested to hear
what was going to come next.
f
j62 Tm-. \(U'nc.sti;ks ok .Mri<RA\' iioMi':
I
As Ir)!- Kat, he gazed opeii-niouthed, while his
cy< s (iaiiccil with excitement and fun.
'* School is dismissed," said Miss Kovvshorn at
length. "Only Katrina will stay behind until she
has apologised for her insubordination."
"I'll ncNcr!" quoth Kat to Rat in a whisper, as
the others put away their books before leaving the
room.
*' You'd better ! " was his cautious rely.
Miss Kowshorn set her little pupil a copy to write
and then began to gather up the botanical debris
herself
She did not throw the leaws and stalks in the
lire, however, but can'ied them out of doors. And
Kat, watching througli the window, saw her put
them down on the ploughed ground of tlu 1< mon
orchard.
In spite of her.self the little girl felt softened.
•'After all, she's not so cruel," she said to herself.
*' Slie was only just mad." A state of affairs quite
within Miss Kat's comprehension.
She wiote her copy with some care and then
gazed out of the \\ind(jw, and began to wonder what
theri' would be for dinner.
Just then Sam.son and llub passed by, talking
earnestly.
Kat's eyes sparkled witii curiosity.
%
KATKINA S .\I'()LO(.\,
^(\>
his
at
-he
;is
he
"1 wonder what tluyVc talkitij; alxuit ? " sht
th()u;j,ht. "IIiil) i-an't brai" Samson ; but I suppose
they are friends at;ain now."
KAl KINA S \l'Ol,(P(;v.
Miss Kowshorn had come in and was sitting near
the fire knitting, and reading a book.
Katrina glanced at her over her shoulder and
1 '
264 TIIK VOUNdSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
•Si-'
wondered if after all she would have to apologise,
for there was no sign of giving in about Miss
Kowshorn's face.
Then, all at once, she remembered the letter, and
she felt very guilty and uncomfortable.
" Please, Miss Kowshorn, it's out in the garden,
on top of the violets," she said.
" What is out in the garden ? " asked her
governess coldly. ** Your apology, Katrina ? "
"No, Mr. Beston's letter."
Miss Kowshorn sprang to her feet ** as if she
was shot," to use one of Hub's expressions.
•' What do you mean, Katrina ? "
*''rhe letter Mr. Beston gave me before breakfast
to give to you. I forgot all about it," faltered the
little girl.
But Miss Kowshorn was out of the room before
she finished speaking, and while she was gone, Kat,
whose '' insubordination " had died a natural death,
set about composing her apology.
" I'll do it in poetry, just like Mr. Beston," she
said.
When, after quite a long interval Miss Kowshorn
came back, with I'osy cheeks and a very soft light
shining in her blue eyes, Katrina handed her a slip
of paper, on which the following lines were written,
in large, sprawling letters : —
?^?w«s
KATKINAS AI'OIAK.V. 26$
"Dear Miss Kowslioni.
1 bf;, your pardea
And I hope you will not
Your heart harden."
This was Kat's first original couplet, but it was
by no means her last.
It is hardly necessary to say that the apology was
accepted.
11
I
•
HI
h
VUAVVVAi XXII.
A WILD SWAN.
W'f
II EN Katriiia saw lluh and Samson pass by
schoolroom window, they were talking
as tollows : —
"You might tell me whi le the piacL is, Samson,"
said I lub.
"I won't tell you, but I'll take you there if you
like. The water's fairly black w^ith swans ; I'll tell
you that much. They're as thick as a flock of
geese."
Hub's eyes glistened.
" It'll take all day to go," continued Samson, '* and
we'd have to start before daylight."
" But you said last Saturday you couldn't get off'
for a whole day."
*' Oh, 1 can manage it all right if only you don't
blab."
Hub made no reply to this, but only looked
closely at his companion and listened for what was
to follow.
2bb
A \VIT.1» SWAN.
26f
*' I'll tell the boss that my father net ils lue home
for a day to help him haul posts lor that ieiiee he's
putting uj). I le'll let me otV like a shot, toi" that.
Then you and me'll shj) away together before tlay-
light, and nobody will be a bit the wiser, if only you
can keep your mouth shut."
More deceit! A feeHng of disgust came over
Hubert, and he looked from .Samson's sallow face,
with its s?',»all, mean eyes, to the ground.
And the worst of it was, theix- was something
about this boy's crafty ingenuity he could not help
admiring, while he detested it.
Once again the temptation was greater than Hub
could, or would, resist.
To shoot a swan ! That would be to reach the
summit of his ambition.
After all, he told himself, it would be Samson's
lie, not his. He would tell his mother he was
going out shooting, and would i..ake an early
start before breakfast. For the rest, he had only
to hold his tongue, and in spite of Samson's
sneering remarks, this was not difficult for flub
to do.
So they settled that they were to start at half-
past five the next morning, and Samson clinched
the bargain by remarking, —
** Of course you'll furnish the cartridges for the
i i
f i
ill
p
m
i'i\
268 TIIK VOUNCISTKRS OF MURRAY IIO.NrK.
party. I'm goin' on your account, you sec. I don't
care nothing about shooting swans niyselt!"
** Will, then, il* 1 supply the cartridges 1 ought
to have all the gaine," ansvveretl Ilui), who knew
perfectly well that Samson was just as keen about
shooting a swan as he was.
" Not much you don't ! Hut it's just like you to
want to grab everything ! "
In the end Hubert had to agree to the elder boy's
proposal, although he felt that, as usual, Samson
was " getting at " him.
** Don't ' ••get the tucker," was the latter's parting
injunction, when Hub left him, to spend the rest
of his spare time that day loading carlridges and
wondering how he could persuade Mary to make
sandwiches enough to keep him and Samson going
all day, without arousing suspicion.
Saturday morning was even more foggy than the
day before had been.
Heavy, damp and cold, the grey mist rolled itself
out, a broad strip on either side of the river.
The boys had no difficulty in getting away with-
out being seen, as they hurried from the house at
such an early hour that the sun's rays had not
yet any power to pierce the thick fog. It com-
pletely enveloped them, and chilled them to the
marrow of their bones.
A WII.P SWAN.
269
" licastl}' weatluT I " exclaimed Samson, "(iive
us something to eat, Hub. 1 fijulilu't lay hands on
a bite befon- 1 cleared out."
"All right, we'll have our breakfast. I coa.xed
as much out of Mary as 1 could, and 1 think she's
given us a pretty good lot."
So they tramped along through the mist eating
their sandwiches and feeling much refreshed by
them.
Samson led the way up the river until they
came to a creek, where they turned, and followed
along its banks for an hour or more. The creek
was several miles in length and broad, though
shallow, and was bordered by box- and gum-trees.
After walking about two hours they reached a
place where the slow stream seemed to widen out
into a broad basin. Here Samson said they could
not fail to- find plenty of swans, so they sat down
and waited patiently for the fog to lift.
It must have been ten o'clock before at last the
sunshine began to gleam brightly through the mist,
which turned from grey to pearly white, and at last
vanished altogether, leaving in its place myriads
of twinkling drops of water, shining on every leaf
and blade.
And then the day's sport began.
The quacking of ducks was to be heard at a little
III
IJ
' I I
*^ fi
IV
i
i
m
270
Till-: VorNr.sTKKs OK MrUK \\ lloMF
(listaiK'f, and Dcai" l>y stttnd a i;rac(tiil j4t"<'V licmii
ill shallow watt-r. Samson raised liis mm to (ire at
it, but lliil) put h\<< hand 011 his arm and ordered
him to stop,
*' See there I " he whispered.
Ill the distance the dusky forms of three black
swans could be seen ^lidin^ along the water.
"You'll frighten them away if you shoot. Let's
creep along the edge till we come opposite to
them."
It was some hours after this, however, before
Hub brought down his first swan.
The boy had been too excited to aim straight at
first, and Samson was the only lucky one, for he
had killed a swan and several ducks.
They were engaged in following uj3 the remainder
of the flock of ducks, when Hub, as he came out
from behind some bushes, saw suddenly a great
swan, the biggest they had come across that day.
It rose and flew over his head and he shot it in
the body. It faltered in its flight but rallied agiin
and continued to fly out over the scrub.
Hub, with his gun in his hand and his eyes fixed
on the bird, ran as fast as his legs would carry him
in the direction it took. He had run a considerable
distance when at last down it came with a thud, at
his very feet.
in
11
A WILD sWAN.
I low i)roiKlly the boy ga/cd at ill Ills liist big
gatiK
. »
It was a vt TV large l)ir»l and so hcavfk ibat he
could not hold it at arm's length.
Some miiuitcs wrvc spent in adii)ii"ing his jirize,
" HK TKII.l) I'IKST.ONK DlRKC'llON THi;N ANOTllKK."
smoothing its glossy black feathers and looking for
the spot where the fatal shot had entered and done
its work.
Then it suddenly occurred to Hubert that he was
alone.
He looked about in search of Samson, but he
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(716) 872-4503
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372 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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found himself surrounded on all sides by thickets
of lignum bushes and other scrubby growth. In
runningAfter the flying swan he had so completely
lost his bearings that he had no idea in which
direction the water lay.
As he thought it over he felt sure he could not
have come more than a few hundred yards through
the scrub. So he set out at random to make his
way back.
Dragging the dead swan after him he tried first
one direction then another, but everywhere the bush
was thick and pathless, and he only grew the more
confused in his efforts to find his way.
There was no tree high enough to afford him an
outlook over the scrub, although he scrambled as
high as he could into one or two of the tallest bushes
to make the attempt.
" What a fool I am not to cooee I " he exclaimed
at last, after ten or fifteen minutes spent in wander-
ing about ; and he gave a succession of ringing shouts.
But they brought no answering call from his
companion.
Hubert felt bewildered.
It was clearly impossible that he could be at any
great distance from the spot where he had left
Samson, and yet why did not the boy answer his
cooee ?
A WILD SWAN.
273
The reason was a simple one, although it did not
occur to Hub.
During the time that he had been following
the swan and afterwards admiring it, and while he
had been aimlessly wandering around in the scrub
—really going farther away from the creek, if he
had only known it— Samson had continued to follow
up the ducks the boys were after before Hub
saw his swan.
So when Hubert began to cooee they were really
at a distance of a mile from each other, and this
distance went on increasing instead of growing less.
Consequently Hub's cooees were not heard,
When he was quite hoarse with shouting, he
bethought him of his gun, and shot it off a number
of times in succession. Ihese reports did reach
Samson's ear, but they did not alarm him in the
least, for he simply concluded that Hub had fallen
on some good sport lower down the creek.
Fearing to go further into the scrub and perhaps
lose himself more completely than ever, Hubert
decided to remain where he was until Samson
should come and find him; for he felt sure that
before long he must be missed.
He might have remembered that it was not
Samson's way to trouble much about any one but
himself ; but this thought did not occur to him.
18
t
.
IWW"*^^'-'
274 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
He laid the dead bird on the ground beside him
and sat down on a log, quite cheerfully, to wait.
But gradually as the time slipped by, and there
was still no sound or sign of Samson, and as,
moreover, a chilliness in the air showed that the
sun was getting low, a feeling of uneasiness crept
into his heart, and by degrees, in spite of himself, it
grew stronger.
Was he bushed ? .^
It would almost seem like it I
There crowded upon his memory all the terrible
stories he had ever heard of travellers in the Austra-
lian bush dying of cold and thirst and exposure,
within perhaps a few hundred yards of the road, the
spring, the house they were looking for.
Would this be his fate ?
No, surely not 1 . . . -
And yet it had happened in other instances
where it had seemed no less unlikely.
At least he could be brave.
He would not do as others had done, wandering
aimlessly about until the shoes were worn from their
feet and their flesh was torn and bleeding.
He would not lose his senses out of sheer terror,
as had happened in one case he himself knew of.
A poor woman, a shepherd's wife, who lived
not far from MuUagulloo, had tried to take a short
■;
A WILD SWAN.
275
cut through the bush, on her way home from a
distant neighbour she had been visiting. She
lost her way, and when she did not return that
night search parties were sent out to beat the
bush in all directions. They found her on the
morning of the second day, her shoes worn from
her feet, her clothes hanging from her in tatters,
and she herself, poor thing, quite mad. Every one
had said she must have lost her reason from sheer
fright, for thirty-six hours spent in the bush, in
the perfect weather of early summer, was not enough
of itself to bring her to such a pass.
Hub had often seen the poor madwoman, and
he could not help thinking of her now. So he made
up his mind that whatever happened he would
not lose his head, or waste his strength walking
mile upon mile through the pathless bush.
A saucy wag-tail came and perched on the end of
the log near him, and then flying past him, brushed
his shoulder with its wing, and pecked at the brim
of his hat.
Hub glanced into the bush behind him.
" I suppose its nest is in there, and it wants mc
to go away," he thought, but he did not trouble
to look for the nest, as he would have done at
another time, or to watch the little bird's flutterings.
He examined his swan again, and tried to call
;.
I t
276 THE YOUNGSTERS OK MUKKAV HOME.
back the feeling of joy and pride with which he
had first looked at it.
But the gnawing fear at his heart would not be
kept down.
He was bushed. There could be no doubt of
it now. Would he be found again ?
There is no child, brought up in a simple and
earnest religious faith, who does not instinctively
turn to God in any great trouble or danger.
Hub did so now.
He covered his face with his hands, and prayed
from the depth of his heart.
" Oh, Lord," he said, " I have been a bad boy,
I have been deceitful and disobedient, I have carried
sin about in my heart all these weeks, and have
never been really sorry for it ; I am sorry now.
Forgive me, O Lord ! And if Thou dost bring
me safely home out of this danger, 1 promise to
go straight to papa and tell him everything ! "
When Hub lifted up his head again, he saw,
circling high in the air right over him, a flock of ducks.
With his usual quick observation he noticed
the direction they took as they swerved around.
Then, like a flash, it came to him that his prayer
was answered !
Was it not more than likely that the ducks were
flying towards the water ?
1
A WILD SWAN.
277
At any rate he would proceed in the direction
their flight indicated and make another attempt to
get out of the scrub, in the firm belief that thus had
his prayer been answered.
The boy took his bearings as well as he could and
then pushed boldly on through the tangle of bushes,
taking care to leave such a trail behind him that
he could retrace, if necessary.
It seemed to him that he must have walked more
than a mile, and he was beginning to lose hope and
heart again, when, quite suddenly, tlie scrub opened,
and, behold, the broad expanse of the creek, where
the reflections lay clear and deep in the late after-
noon sun, was before him.
11 1 1
;: ;
I
CHAPTER XXIII.
UVn CONIT.SSFS.
As he reached the edge of the water, at the very
clump of bushes where he had shot his swan,
who should he see, not fifty yards ahead, but
Samson.
'* Hallo ! you^re there, are you ? " he called out as
Hub drew near. *' I was beginning to wonder what
had become of you. Did you kill anything that
time you were popping away so tremendously ? "
" No, I didn't," answered Hubert shortly.
He suddenly made up his mind to say nothing
to his companion about his adventure. After all,
what need was there? And he dreaded Samson's
jeers.
'• My word ! but I've had beastly bad luck,"
continued the latter in his coarse, rough voice."
** I've been following up those blessed ducks the
whole afternoon, and never got a shot at 'em ! "
" It's late, Samson. We must hurry up."
278
flTTn CONFESSES.
279
' Right you are ! It'll be dark before we're
back."
So the boys wasted no more time in talking, Init
sho'ildering their guns and their heavy game they
made what slow speed they could along the way
home.
At Murray Home, in the meantime, Hubert's long
absence was causing a great deal of uneasiness.
*< He said he was going shooting, and that he
would start before breakfast," said Mrs. Olsen to her
husband, " but, of course, I never thought of his
staying away beyond dinner-time."
" Do you know in what direction he went ? "
inquired Mr. Olsen.
<' No ; but he always goes to the billabong. He
is too young to go out by himself so much, Karl,"
she added, in anxious tones. " I have always said
so, always ! "
" The boy must have some liberty, Alice. But it
has always been understood, although I have given
no direct orders, that he is not to go beyond the
limits of our own place."
" He never has done so before. We could always
hear him shooting from the house. But to-day no
one has heard a single report."
The more she thought of it the worse it seemed,
and finally Mrs. Olsen sank into a chair and put
28o THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
hrr hands over her face, quite overcome with horrible
anxiety, while her husband slowly paced the room
without speaking.
He was really very much concerned for Hub's
safety, but he would not give expression to his
thoughts for fear of adding to his wife's trouble of
mind.
It was when matters had reached this point that
Hub himself came into the library, dragging his
huge swan after him.
The boy looked white and exhausted, for he had
walked many miles that day, and had, as well, under-
gone a severe mental strain. His clothes were torn,
and his hands scratched by the scrub through which
he had passed.
" Papa," he said, without giving his parents time
to speak a word. " I want to tell you something."
It was easy to see that he was worked up to an
unusual pitch, and his manner was very earnest.
" What is it, my son ? " asked his father.
** I went to the circus that Saturday night when
you all thought I had gone to bed."
" You went to the circus ! " exclaimed his father
in astonishment.
" Yes."
"Alone, Hubert?"
** No, sir. With Samson."
^
Till 11 rO.JFESSFS.
281
I-
^
"Who paid for you?" Mr. Olsen asked next,
after a pause.
" I paid, with the money I earned, mostly."
** Did you pay for Samson, too ? "
" Yes, sir."
" I sec," said his father ; and *hat was all.
There was silence for a few seconds that seemed
like hours to Hub. Then he suddenly remembered
that he had not yet confessed that day's doings, so
he blurted out abruptly, —
'• 1 went out shooting wild swans to-day."
"Oh, why did you say nothing about it, Hub,
my son ? " Mrs. Olsen now exclaimed. " How
could you be so cruel as to cause us such anxiety ? "
" We did not mean to be so late," faltered Hub.
He was all at once aware that he was doing what
Samson would have called " playing the sneak," but
he did not see how he could manage to leave his
companion out of his confession.
" PVe" said his father sharply. "Samson again,
I suppose ? "
" Yes, papa," answered Hub, " but he only went
to show me the place."
"I see," said Mr. Olsen once more. "And it
was in order that he might be able to show you the
place that he told me that lie about helping his
father to haul posts ? "
' 1
wmmimmrm'^'^
282 THK VOUNC.STKRS OF MrRKAV HOME.
Hill) did not answer. He found the ♦ask of
confession even harder than he had imagined.
" Why did yoii want to tel! us this just now,
Hub dear? " asked his mother gently.
" Because I got buslied and I thought perliaps
I'd never be found. And then — I said — I'd tell you
and papa as soon as ever I got home."
With that the tired, over-wrought boy broke
down. He slipped into a chair, and leaning his
head on the table, sobbed unrestraincdlv.
Poor Hubert !
At the sight of him his father's sternness melted
in a moment, for he realised that the boy, usually
so quiet and self-contained, must have undergone
much to bring him to this pass.
"My son," he said in grave, kind tones as he
put his hand on Hub's shoulder and bent a little
over him — " my son, I am grieved that you could
ever have deceived your mother and me in this
manner, for I do not think we merited such treat-
ment at your hands. You did very wrong, Hubert,
but now you have confessed your fault all is for-
gotten and forgiven. It is as if there had never
been anything between us, Hubert."
Mrs. Olsen had said little during this interview,
for she felt that it was better the boy should talk
to his father alone. Now she came up to the table
UVW CONFKSSES.
283
where he still sat with his head buried in his
hands.
" You are tired out, Hub, and ch ! so dirty. Get
your hands and face washed, dear boy, and I will
see about something for you 10 e.it."
Hubert felt like a different boy after drinking the
hot cocoa and eating the eggs and bread-and-butter
and cake his mother set before him— "killing the
fatted calf" for her dear, prodigal boy.
Then and there he bade farewell to that guilty
conscience which had been his secret companion for
so many days and weeks, never for one small
moment in all that time allowing him to forget its
hateful presence.
His heart was brimming over with thankfulness
to God and love to his father and mother, and it
felt so wondrous light that he could have danced
along the hall back to the library, in spite of his
tired, aching legs.
When Hub came back first the children had all
been in the nursery, listening to Miss Kowshorn
while she read aloud. But when he returned from
the dining-room he found them all in the library,
gathered around the dead swan which was still lying
in the middle of the room.
Dollie was sitting astride of the huge bird, running
her fat fingers through the short, black feathers, with
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284 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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the thick white down underneath ; and Bertram was
gravely measuring the length of its neck with a
tape-measure taken from his mother's work-basket.
The little boy had made a slight mistake, how-
ever, and had begun to measure from the wrong end.
" Just forty-four inches long ! " he announced
triumphantly, as Hubert came in. " That's an
awfully long neck, Hub 1 "
Later that evening, when all the children were
sound asleep, and onl}' their father and mother were
left by the cheery fire for that last half-hour's chat
which is always so pleasant on a winter's night, Mr.
Olsen said to his wife, —
" I think we must send Hubert to school, my
dear Alice."
" I was afraid 3^ou might think some such step
necessary," she replied with a sigh.
" But I am sure you agree with me, nevertheless."
" I don't like boarding-schools for either boys or
girls as young as our Hubert, but still I have felt for
some time that Hub was not getting on as he should.
His studies with a governess do not interest him
enough, and besides, the boy is quite without com-
panions of his own age, and is lonely, though he
does not know it."
" All of which difficulties will be overcome if he
goes to school."
HUB confessb:s.
285
Mrs. Olsen did not answer this time, for she was
considering another plan of her own, which, if only
it could be carried out, would set at rest all the
anxious thoughts she had had of late on Ollie's
account, as well as Hub's."
" That Samson is a bad boy," continued Mr. Olsen,
a minute or two later. " He must be sent away."
"Hub begged me to intercede with you on
Samson's behalf. I don't think he likes the boy —
quite the contrary — but he does not want to be the
means of doing him an injury."
" That is natural and right of Hubert, but Samson
must go, nevertheless."
'* Keep him for a few weeks longer and then
dismiss him," said his wife.
This seemed a good suggestion, and Mr. Olsen
was willing to agree to it.
So when, more than a month after, Samson was
told that his services would no longer be required,
neither he nor Hubert guessed that his fate had
been decided on the night of Hub's confession.
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CHAPTER XXIV
L' i
MRS. SANTY's baby.
SEVERAL weeks passed uneventfully. . There
was school through the week, a long holiday
on Saturday, when all were free to do as they liked
from morning till night, and Church on Sunday,
with a walk or a drive in the afternoon, or perhaps
a visit from some friends, to vary the. monotony.
So the days slipped away till the first half of
August was already gone, and Ollie took an illu-
minated calendar down from the wall one morning
to count the days until her birthday.
She would be fourteen years old on September i st.
Ollie was very tall for her age, with thoughtful,
womanly ways. As long as the younger children
could remember she had been a " little mother " to
them, and from the time she was six years old she
had been her mother's helper and companion. Still,
she was not what people call " old-fashioned." A
Very child's soul looked forth from her grcy-bluc
386
MRS. SAN TV's BABY
287
eyes ; and when she told simple fairy-tales of her
own imagining to the children, or listened to Hub's
confidences and gave him sisterly advice in return,
she was never priggish.
But now Ollie was growing up fast ; there was no
denying it. Her father and mother perceived with
dismay that their little girl was already a big girl
and would soon be a young woman.
" Two weeks more, Hub," she said as she hung
the calendar in its place again ; " two weeks more,
and then I'll be fourteen."
" 1 only wish it was me ! " sighed her brother,
ungrammatically. " I'd be at college then, and
having some fun, instead of moping up here with
Miss Kowshorn to teach me ! "
" Be patient, my son ; be patient I " returned his
sister.
" Patience be hanged ! " said Hub.
At this moment, Kat, the usual purveyor of news,
came flying into the nursery, followed by the other
children.
'* Oh, Ollie 1 " she cried, "just think ! Mrs.
Santy's poor little baby died last night 1 "
" Oh, how sad ! " said the girl, and her eyes filled
with tears.
The little creature had breathed its last, after eight
months of suffering existence, and when all was over
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288 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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the apathetic mother had dressed it in a clean night-
gown and laid it in its rough cradle with a sigh of
relief and not a single tear for the little life that had
ceased on earth.
The children searched the garden for flowers to
deck the small coffin. Not many were to be found,
but they filled up the basket with the delicate white
blossoms of a wild shrub, which they discovered in
full bloom. It was ahead of its time, but the weather
was unusually warm for the season of year.
Then Ollie, with the basket on her arm, set out
for Mrs. Santy's hut. Her mother had gone on
before her.
It was the first time that death had entered, how-
soever remotely, into Ollie's life, and the thought of
what she was going to see this morning was infinitely
painful to her. But she did not shrink from it on
that account. Moreover, she felt a desire to say
good-bye to the poor tiny mite she had often held in
her arms since the morning she had given her half-
sovereign to Tommy's mother.
In the little hut she found her mother helping
Mrs. Santy to set things in order for the simple
funeral which was to take place that afternoon.
The baby was still lying in the cradle in the
middle of the room, for the coffin had not yet arrived.
It looked as if it were asleep, Ollie thought, as she
MRS. SANTY'S baby.
289
stood beside it; the expression on the small, thin
face was more tranquil and happy in death than it
had been in life.
Poor little thing! Why should it have suffered
so ?
Already Ollie's young heart felt oppressed by the
mysteries of life and of death. Tears fell fast on
the flowers she placed all around the little white-
robed form. It all seemed so sad— the dead baby
from whose face the look of pain had hardly passed,
and the dull-faced, indifferent woman, who had not
known how to give her child a mother's care.
Yet the tlowers were lovely. They were still
warm and fragrant from the hot spring sunshine.
Ollie felt their sweetness steal into her heart and
comfort her.
The little one was at rest, and it was better so.
How much better even Ollie, child as she was, could
perceive.
And God, who made the beautiful flowers to
gladden the hearts of men, would one day wipe
away all tears .
Tommy came in while Ollie was looking at the
baby.
His face was washed, and his hair brushed, and
the new shoes, still in good repair, were well
blacked ; this neatness so improved his appearance
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290 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
that OUie wondered why she had never noticed
before what a nice-looking boy Tommy was !
He brought a Httle wreath of white everlastings
with yellow centres, the first wild-flowers of the
rw!
HK BKOUGHT A WREATH OK WHITE EVERLASTINGS.
season, to lay at his baby brother's feet. He had
made it himself, and as he placed it on the cradle
he began to cry, and ran out of the hut again,
quickly, so that Ollie should not see his tears.
MRS. SANTYS BABY.
291
" Mamma," said Olga to her mother, as they walked
along the river bank towards home, ** do you
think Mrs. Santy has any heart at all ? She never
seemed to trouble a bit about the baby, and she
seemed almost glad to have it dead, though it is
dreadful to say so ! "
•* Poor woman ! She has had such a hard life,
Ollie ; so we must not judge her. After all, how
could she grieve that her baby's suflferings are
over ? "
" Yes, mamma, 1 know. It isn't that, I mean,
exactly "
The girl did not feel able to explain her real
trouble, which was that the world se^^med all wrong
to her that morning with so much pain and trouble
in it !
Perhaps her mother guessed at some of the
thoughts that were disturbing her daughter, and
which were the same that have made many an older
head and heart ache.
" Dear Olga," she said, " remember our Saviour's
words, 'Let not your heart be troubled.' No one since
the beginning of the world has been able to under-
stand the mystery of our being, nor why ' the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth until now.' Never-
theless, there is a reason, and our Father, who is
a ' faithful Creator,' knows it. We must trust Him.
292 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
Take the good things He gives you, my child, rejoice
in them, and pass on your joy to others. In that
way your blessings will be multiplied and will
give joy to many, like the miraculous loaves and
fishes."
Ollie smiled, though a little sadly, into her
mother's face, for she caught the meaning of her
words.
" You mean, I should be happy and not sad,
mamma ? "
" Yes, dear. Let yours be the mission of joy."
They walked on in silence a little way and then
Mrs. Olsen began to talk of other matters, and Ollie
answered with her usual interest, but her mother's
words had sunk deep in her heart and she never
forgot them.
When in after years she had sorrows and troubles
of her own and she felt inclined to wear a sad coun-
tenance and seek for sympathy, instead of giving it,
she kept a brave smile on her face instead, and
never failed to be to others a true " missionary of
joy."
Arrived at home they found Bertram and Dollie
playing in the garden.
''We're having a beau'fle fun'le for Kat's poor
doll," explained the little girl.
** You see, mamma," put in Bertram, " her arms
MRS. SANTY'S baby.
293
and legs were off, and her head was broken, and
she just had to die."
His mother laughed in spite of herself.
" Mary gave us a candle-box to put her in, and
it just fitted her exactly, and we made the hole in
the ground all nice and flowery."
"And Kat's making us a grave-stone!" inter-
rupted Dollie.
"Yes, and she's got to stay in the hole till
to-morrow and then we'll resurrect her. Don't you
think, mamma," he added wistfully, "that when
she's resurrected she ought to have a new head ?
Then she'd do for a new doll for Baby."
Mrs. Olsen promised to consider the matter and
then went into the house, whither Ollie had preceded
her, for the young girl could not sympathise with
the children's innocent play just then.
The week following the death of Mrs. Santy's
baby, there was an agreeable excitement at Murray
Home.
The engagement of the German governess to
Philip Beston was formally announced, and the
latter was invited to lunch to celebrate the occasion.
All day Miss Kowshorn's face was like the pro-
verbial April day — not an Australian one, dear
children!— it was tears one minute and smiles the
next.
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294 THE VOUNC.STEKS OF MURRAY HOME.
It was understood that the wedding would take
place in the Christmas holidays.
•' Are they going to live in that little bit of a house
on Cockatoo Island ? What fun ! " cried Kat, who
was all excitement at the news.
Rat was more practical.
"I heard William tell cook that it took a heap of
money to get married on," he said, " and I shouldn't
think Mr. Beston gets much for the fish he sells."
In due time, however, the children heard that
Mr. Beston's resources were not limited to the
island in the billabong, as every one had thought.
He had kept an interest in the mine he had been
working at before he came to live on the Murray,
and this mine had unexpectedly turned out to be
a good one, quite a Bonanza, in fact.
So at last, Philip Beston, to his own surprise more
than any one else's, found himself a rich man.
When the good nev/s from the mine reached him,
you may be sure he lost no time in coming to see his
German sweetheart, and after that followed an
immediate interview M/ith Mr. Olsen, when the engage-
ment was announced, as before said.
The happy pair were to go for their wedding trip
to Greta Kowshorn's old home on the Rhine — the
Rhine, lovely river of poetry and romance, how
different in the German girl's eyes to the broad,
MRS. SANTV'S \\A\)\.
29$
sluggish waters of the Murray, vvitli its ragg(;d fringe
of gum-trees and its bare, red cliffs 1
The children were enchanted witii the romantic
situation.
" It's just as good as one of OUie's fairy-tales,"
Kat declared, "and better!"
They were never tired of talking of the good
fortune of their friend, the solitary fisherman.
They also one and all decided where their own
honeymoons should be spent.
Bertram and Dollie, of one mind as usual, settled
on a trip to Adelaide, which would take in all the
sights, not forgetting, of course, the Zoo.
Nothing less than a voyage all around the world
would satisfy Kat ; while Rat was divided between
the opposite attractions of the North and South
Poles. .
"Where are yon going to go when you get
married. Hub ? " Bertram asked his eldest brother.
"Oh, I couldn't be bothered getting married at
all," said he, "but I'd like to go and shoot buffaloes
and bears and things in the Rocky Mountains ! "
^ " You're going to get married, aren't you, OUie ? "
the little boy then asked, turning to his sister— for
he was not at all satisfied with Hubert's decision.
"Oh, I suppose so, some day," answered Ollie
with her ready blush, " and I think I'd like to go
I
296 THE YOUNCISTEKS OF MURRAY HOME.
to Switzerland for iny wedding-tour. Perhaps we
might do Venice and Rome as well," she added
pensively.
*• Who are ' we,^ Ol ? " asked Hub teasingly.
And Ollie laughed, and blushed more than ever.
CHAPTER XXV
WILD HARRY.
PEOPLE were not generally as fond of Katrina
as they were of her two sisters. No one
could help liking Olga ; and Dollie, in spite of
frequent naughtinesses, was so full of fun and
laughter, and so lovable and kissable, that she
invariably took all hearts by storm and kept posses-
sion of them ever after.
But with Kat it was different. She was not
nearly so affectionate, outwardly, and she had such
an aggravating way of always wanting the thing
that no one else cared about, and doing the things
that nobody wanted her to do. So the elders
thought her a troublesome child, while the children
found her a lively but exacting play-fellow.
But underneath her irritating "/ays Kat had a
very warm heart, and though she often tyrannised
over the little ones, she was never really unkind to
them ; and she would never desert them, no matter
what the danger or dilemma.
297
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298 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
This was proved by a little adventure that befell
Kat, Bertram, and DoUie, a few days after Miss
Kowshorn's engagement was announced.
When school was over at three o'clock, and Ollie
had gone to her music-lesson, Kat said to her
mother, — %,
" I saw some everlastings just beginning to come
out when we were driving to church on Sunday,
mamma. They were just along the road n'ot far
from the gate. Can Bertram and DoUie and I go
and see if they're out yet ? "
Mrs. Olsen said, '' Yes, but don't be long, Katty.
And mind you take good care of your little brother
and sister." ,
" We'll just go there and pick them and then
come right back, mamma."
Then she added, as she threw her arms around
her mother's neck, in a ** rapture," —
" I ant so glad the weather is getting a little bit
hot, for now all the pretty wild-flowers will come
out, and I just /ozv them!"
The three children were soon on their way,
Kat, all eagerness to gather the first wild-llowers,
dancing on ahead of the two little ones, until she
remembered her mother's words. Then she came
back and took Bertram by one hand and Dollie
by the other, and they walked along sedately
i
WILD HARRY.
299
until they came to the place where the everlastings
grew.
A little later all the roadside would be carpeted
with different varieties of these flowers, white,
yellow and purple, ber.ides other beautiful wild
blooms which grow along the Murray in profusion
during the short spring months.
Now there were only a few flowers here and there
to be found, besides many buds half open and more
stiU quite closed, like silver balls.
The children succeeded in collecting a good many,
and Kat sat down to arrange hers in a nice bunch.
. She quite forgot what she had said to her mother
about coming straight back.
Kat was always forgetting !
In the meantime Bertram and Dollie went on
looking for more flowers, and they called out to each
other joyfully whenever they found a good clump.
There was a bend in the road just there and soon
they passed around it, out of sight.
Kat could hear their voices quite plainly, so she
did not trouble about them, but went on arranging
her bouquet. It took a good while, for each little
flower-stalk had to be taken separately and carefully
added to the bunch, so that the top would look an
even, smooth surface of yellow and white, for these
everlastings had the appearance of daisies, silver-
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300 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
white with yellow centres. This was the children's
idea of a perfect bouquet.
When she had arranged the flowers quite to her
liking she began to think about the little ones and
to remember uneasily that she had not heard their
voices just lately.
She ran round the bend in the road in a sudden
fright, but no small children were to be seen.
Katrina was terrified in a moment, because she
knew there was a blackfellows' camp not very far
from where they had been picking their flowers.
It was partly hidden from the road by the box-
trees and bushes of all kinds growing on the flat,
but Hub had pointed it out to her the last time they
had driven that way.
" That's where your friends the blackfellows live,"
he had said.
She could even hear the barking of their dogs from
where she was standing.
Kat was desperately afraid of the native black
people. She was by no means a coward where there
was real danger to be faced, but since her babyhood
she had had this dread of the aboriginals and
nothing could make her overcome it.
There were not many blackfellows about Murray
Home. If there had been more no doubt the little
girl would soon have grown accustomed to them.
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WILD HARRY.
301
I
Sometimes a small party would come and camp in
the neighbourhood of the township for a few weeks ;
but often for months not one would be seen.
Lately there had been a few about. One very old
man called Wild Harry, with his lubra, Jinny, had
come several times to Murray Home, to beg for
flour and " baccy " and clothes. They were always
kindly treated and received what they asked for, and
so they came again and again.
The other children liked to look at them and even
talk to them from a safe distance, but whenever Kat
saw them coming up to the kitchen door she fled
into the house and would not show herself until they
had gone.
So now, when the little ones were nowhere to be
seen, Kat's first thought was naturally of the black-
fellows.
They must have stolen her little brother and sister
away, she thought, and perhaps they would carry
them off into the scrub, and no one would ever see
them again !
She had heard more than one story of white
children being carried away by the blacks, and Kat
never forgot such tales. She often lay awake at
night thinking about them, only dropping cff to
sleep when Ollie came into the room bringing with
her a sense of security.
302 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
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Katrina ran up the road calling " Bertram ! " and
** Dollie I " at the top of her voice ; but there was no
answer, and very soon her heart failed her com-
pletely.
A little way on she came in sight of the camp
among the trees.
The " wurlies," or iiuts, were built of branches of
trees and strips of bark, put together in a rough,
careless fashion to form some kind of shelter.
There were no blacks to be seen near them just
then.
Kat stood still to consider the situation.
How could she go back to her mother and tell
her that she had let her little brother and sister
wander away, that they were lost and that she
believed the blacks had got them ?
She pictured to herself her mother, overcome by
grief and terror after hearing all she had to say, and
she concluded that, before telling her the awful news,
she would go a little nearer to the camp and see if
perhaps she might catch sight of the two children.
So, with shaking limbs, the little girl moved
slowly in the direction of the huts, for she was
indeed very much frightened and it needed a mighty
effort to take each step.
, Suddenly her heart jumped nearly into her mouth,
for there she saw sitting on an old stump in front of
camp
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" ' Pitch it louder, pickaninny. Me not hear you berry well,' said
the black fellow. '
Murray Home.]
[Page 303.
WILD IIARRV.
303
.,#*
said
r« 303.
her, Wild Harry, with a large, opcii-bladeci knite
lying beside him.
He was a repulsive-looking old man. His hair
and beard were thick and grizzled, and his face, all
shrivelled and wrinkled, was jet-black and as shiny
as if it had been greased. His eyes were the same
colour as his skin, and the part of them that should
have been white was a light coffee colour, which
gave such a horrible look to his face it was no
wonder Kat was frightened.
However, she managed to overcome her terror
enough to come a few steps nearer to him and to
ask in a trembling voice, —
" Did you see a little boy and girl ? "
'' Pitch it louder, pickaninny. Me not hear you
berry well," said the blackfellow, looking up and
taking his. knife in his hand.
When Kat saw him take hold of the knife the
little courage she had left seemed to ooze out of her
finger-tips and leave her quite limp and unable to
run away, as she felt a wild desire to do.
But she remembered Bertram and DoUie, and
nerved herself once more to be brave for their sake.
And when she saw Wild Harry begin to use his
knife for the harmless purpose of cutting up the
** baccy " for his pipe, she was very glad she had
done nothing foolish.
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304 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" Did you see a little boy and girl ? " she repeated
again, as loud as she could.
" You come longa here, missy," was the old man's
only answer, and he beckoned to her with one long,
lean, black finger.
Kat's face was very white, but she managed to
make her legs move, and walked slowly up to him.
When she was near enough he caught hold of
her dress and pulled her closer still.
Then, peering into her face with his horrible-
looking eyes, he said, —
'• You Mr. Olsen him pickaninny, me tink. Berry
good, berry good I You come longa me — me show
you."
With that he pulled himself slowly from the
stump — for Wild Harry was very old and stiff — and
beckoning to Kat to follow him, he toddled off
towards the nearest wurly.
Once more Kat felt inclined to fly for her life.
The old man was still carrying the open knife in
his hand, and the sight of it was far from reassuring.
But she thought of her mother and the little
brother and sister, and bravely followed on.
As they came up to the hut at least a score of
lean, sorry-looking dogs, who had been lolling about,
basking in the sun, came up barking noisily and
jumping up at them.
WILD HARRY.
305
The blacks always go about with a multitude
of dogs in their train, to help them in their hunting ;
wretched-looking animals, who have the appearance
of never having had a satisfactory meal in their lives !
Kat was not afraid of the dogs, however. She
pushed them away from her with her hands when
they came too near, and followed after Wild Harry,
who went around with his slow, feeble steps to the
other side of the wurly.
There, playing happily, were Bertram and Dollie,
and near them, squatting on the ground with a pipe
in her mouth and a shawl over her head, was the
old lubra, Jinny.
She had a kind smile on her face, and even Kat,
when she looked at her, ugly and black though she
was, felt sure she only meant to be kind to the
little brother and sister,
" Just look, Kat ! " said Bertram, running up as
soon as he saw her. " Look at all the pretty things
Jinny gave us."
And he plunged his hands into his pockecs, and
pulled them out again filled with curious stones and
pretty shells.
Dollie had some plumes from the white ibis to
show, and a large green emu egg, which she was
carrying carefully in her pinafore, for fear of break-
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20
3o6 TIIK VOUNC.STKRS OK MlTKK.\^• IIOMK
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*' We met Jinny coming along the road," explained
Bertram, after Kat had looked at everything, "and
we just a.sked her. to show us her house, because
we wanted to see what it was like."
" So she brought us right off," continued DoUie,
"and 1 think she's such a kind black woman," and
the little girl took hold of jinny's hand affectionately,
while the old lubra smiled and patted her rosy
cheeks.
But Kat was unable so quickly to recover from
her fright. Wild Harry had seated himself on
another stump and was slowly sharpening his knife
on a piece of steel. Moreover, she remembered now
that it was getting late, and that their mother would
be anxious if they did not soon appear, so she
refused to go into the wurly, though invited to do
so by Bertram and Dollie, who seemed to be feeling
quite at home in the blackfellows' camp, but bade
a prompt good-bye to Jinny, and hurried home with
the little ones as fast as they all could go.
The little girl had not fully got over her terror,
and her face was still quite pale when she came in
to her mother at last, breathless and excited, and
told her the whole of their adventure from beginning
to end.
" I won't be quite so much afraid of blackfellows
after this, mamma," she said in conclusion. *' If
.^.^-~-*.« , -*fiL^&s*i, . AittfcMi!K«brtrt*W*v. i^
Wli.I) IlAUkV.
307
I could just sluit my eyes and not I(K)k at tlu'iu,
1 don't think I'd mind them a bit."
"That will be one good thing gained from the
adventure, Kat," said her mother. '* Do you think
it will make you more thoughtful and careful another
time as well, my little daughter ? "
" I don't know, mamma, but I should think it
ought to ! " replied the little girl.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Tin: VIOLIN.
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'"'P^HE first day of September dawned warm and
J- bright. The weather was wonderfully hot for
the time of year, and every one predicted a sudden
change to cool again.
As Ollie dressed herself on that morning the
children came, one after the other, to offer their
birthday gifts. Kat had hers ready under her
pillow, and she pulled it out and thrust it into
Ollie's hand before the latter was well awake.
" It's only a needle-book," she said deprecatingly,
" but I made it all myself."
" It's very pretty, Kat ; and the blue will match
the lining of my work-basket nicely. Thanks ever
so much."
Next came Rat, who pushed a flowery birthday
card under the door.
" I wanted to buy you that pair of lovely pink
vases at Jones' shop," he called out to his sister,
308
THE VIOLIN.
309
" but I only saved sixpence and that wasn't
enough I "
" I'd rather have the card, any way, Kat," returned
01 lie, who very well remembered a hideous pair of
pink vases, with green leaves and bright blue
flowers, which had been in that particular shop-
window for months.
Next DoUic and Bertram, eacli armed with a box of
chocolates, arrived on the scene, and they insisted on
being let into the room, for they wished to administer
fourteen kisses and " one to grow on " to their sister.
OUie objected to the last one, for she said she was
taller than she wanted to be already !
This ceremony, which was followed by several
dips into the chocolate boxes, lasted some time, but
at last the little ones took their departure and Ollie
was able to finish her dressing in peace.
As she went along the corridor she was wondering
what her father's and mother's present would be.
She could not help hoping it might take the form of
money ; for Ollie had not yet been able to replace
the little gold piece that had gone to pay for Tommy
Santy's boots.
At the dining-room door Hub met her and
gave her a birthday kiss, in his shy, reserved
fashion.
*' Many happy returns of the day, Ol," he said.
310 THE VOUNGSTEKS OF MURRAY HOME.
' J'
and then he slipped something soft and warm around
her neck.
It proved to be a pretty collerette, made from the
downy breast of the swan which the boy had shot.
It was lined with white satin and fastened with a
silver clasp, and altogether was quite an elegant
affair. For Hub had consulted his mother about the
use he wished to make of his swan's skin, and she
had sent it down town for him and had it made up
handsomely,
" Oh, how lovely, Hub ! Whatever made you
think of such a thing ? "
" It just came into my head," answered her brother
carelessly ; for Hub never liked to be thanked,
although he was as pleased as Ollie herself over the
swansdown tippet. -
Then they entered the dining-room together, and
here the best surprise of all awaited Ollie.
On her plate way a huge parcel of a shape so
unmistakable that, at the first glance, Ollie ^r-'e
a single " Oh ! " of rapture, and flew at her father and
then at her mother, hugging and kissing them alter-
nately, in an ecstasy of delight.
" Don't you think you had better open it, my
dear ? " suggested her father at length.
*' Oh, yes, of course ! But I know what's in it ! '
gasped Ollie, quite out of breath.
1^
THE VIOLIN.
I I
The parcel undone, revealed the long black case
of Olga's dreams. She opened it, and, strange to
say, found it lined with bright blue velvet, just as
she had wished. The violin lay in it, looking even
more brilliantly polished and beautifully marked
•■'e
'
"'HOW iniJ V'OU GUKSS 1 VVANTCD IT, "Al'A?"'
than she had been able to picture it to her mind's
eye.
"How did you guess I wanted it, papa?" she
asked at last, having exhausted all exclamations of
admiration and delight. " I thought no one knew."
"You told me yourself, Olga," replied Mr. Olsen,
smiling. ^
t.'
1''
'Vt
Mi'
S i
Pi
ft.
312 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
" I told you, papa ? Then it must have been in
my sleep 1 " exclaimed the girl, much mystified. '
" You were dreaming, if you were not sleeping,
I fancy. Do you remember that night when you
sat before the fire with the money in your lap, whi'^h
you afterwards scattered all over the room .'* 1
stood and watched you playing your imaginary
violin, my little daughter, and I made up my mind
then that a real one would suit you better."
"The next thing will be to learn to play it," said
mamma. " Shall we tell them of our intended plan,
Karl '^ " she added, turning to her husband.
" If you think best, my dear," he replied.
" Well, children, it is this. After the summer
holidays, when, as you know. Miss Kowshorn is
going to be married to Mr. Beston; we intend to
take a house in town for a time, so that Hub can go
to college, and Ollie can have lessons on the violin
and other advantages."
" Hurrah ! " shouted Hub, and seized his breakfast-
plate as if he meant to throw it up in the air instead
of his cap ; but, fortunately, he thought better of it.
Ollie said nothing, but she hugged the dear viol: .
so tight that it almost hurt her.
The announcement created in:mer,sc exci'.ement
amongst all of them. To live in tcvvn. to see the
beautiful shops, to ride in the tram-cars, to visit the
3
A-
%
THE VIOLIN.
3^3
Zoo, perhaps even to see the ocean and play on the
sands — what a vista of delightful experiences to
children brought up in the country !
They could not have believed that, before three
months of city life had passed, they would be
longing for their dear Murray Home, with its
unlimited space and its endless opportunity for
play.
But that was all in the future.
Bertram was the first to slip from his seat at the
breakfast-table.
As no one was paying attention to him, he began
to handle Ollie's violin, which she had put back in
its case while she ate her breakfast. He liked to
feel its glossy surface and rub his finger gently up
and down the bow.
Presently he grew bolder, and lifting it out of its
resting-pl?ce, he began to swing it backwards and
forwards.
His mother caught sight of him, however.
" Put it back, Bertram, instantly ! " she called
out.
Ollie turned around in haste.
" Oh, do put it back, Bertram ! " she cried in
alarm ; "I wouldn't have you drop it for the whole
world ! "
The little boy carefully replaced the violin.
314 THK YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
;|l
" Mamma, wouldn't you drop it for the whole
world ? " he inquired, going around to his mother
and lool'ing gravely into her face. " You would for
the whole , /, wouldn't you, mamma ? "
"I don't . jnk so, Bertram," she replied, smiling
at his seriousness. " What should I want with the
whole world ? I would rather not have it, I think ! "
" But then, mamma, you would have every single
thing you wanted ! "
" And a great many things 1 don't want, Bertram."
The little boy considered for a minute, then he
said earnestly, —
. " Well, but you could give away all the things
you didn't want, you see, and keep all the things
you did want ! " ^
" Bertram, you are a philosopher ! " cried his
mother, laughing.
" Or a political economist," put in his father.
I
There was to be a grand display of fireworks that
light to celebrate Ollie's birthday.
A large case full of blue and yellow and red paper
things had arrived from town a few days before, and
all the children were in a state of excitement and
impatience to see them " set off."
A few friends had been invited for tea. There
were the Hawthorne children, Mollie and George,
THE VIOLIN.
315
the only child-friends of the Olsens near enough for
visiting, and Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne; also Mr.
Edwarde^, the clergyman, and his wife ; their old.
friend the doctor, and, of course, Philip Beston.
Besides these, there were two young men from a
Government Survey Camp a few miles away, who,
when they came, were as lively as schoolboys out
for a holiday, joking with the elders and romping
with the young ones with equal enjoyment.
After tea they all assembled in the drawing-room,
except the two young surveyors and Hubert, who
went out to make preparations for the ** Pyrotechnic
Display," as Rat insisted on calling it, grandly.
'* Well, my dear sir," said the doctor, addressing
himself to Mr. Beston, *' allow me to congratulate
you on your late good fortune ! "
" I had been unlucky all my life, doctor, but we
have changed all that," replied the solitary fisher-
man, with a wave of his hand in the direction of the
sofa, where his betrothed was sitting talking to Mrs.
Hawthorne.
" You lost no time, if you will allow me to say so,
in laying your heart and fortune at the feet of a fair
lady," said the doctor.
" Sir," replied Philip Beston, '* according to a
Latin saying, 'OppoiLunity has hair in front but
behind she is bald ; if you seize her by the forelock
3l6 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
you may hold her, but if suffered to escape, not
Jupiter himself can catch her again.'"
" I hope you are not talking about me, Philip, for
I am bald neither behind nor before!" said Miss
Kowshorn, who had mistaken Mr. Beston's flourish
of the hand for a summons, and now joined the little
group, saucily nodding her head, on top of which
her thick flaxen tresses made quite a pinnacle.
" Mr. Beston," interjected Katrina at this point,
** I do wish you'd marry Miss Kowshorn next week,
instead of waiting till Christmas ! Then we wouldn't
have any governess, and we'd have to go to the
city right off."
" What do you say to that, Gretchen ? " asked
Philip Beston, taking her hand ; for the solitary
fisherman was nothing if not sentimental. ** Our
little friend Katrina would approve of Tennyson's
lines, I am sure —
%
»f
P
1 i ■■
I i
" ' A week hence, a week hence,
Ah, the long delay.
* * * ^
"'To-morrow, love, to-morrow,
And that's an age away.' "
Miss Kowshorn blushed. She was always rosy-
cheeked, but now she became pink all over her face.
" Philip ! " she exclaimed, " you do talk too much
poetry 1 "
THE VIOLIN.
3^7
But in spite of this remark Mr. Beston volunteered
a little more poetry.
He recited in Olga's honour Jean Ingelow's pretty
verses, " Seven Times Two," standing in the middle
of the room and delivering them in his easy, expres-
sive manner.
After that the young men came in, and requested
the company to adjourn to the lawn as the Pyrotech-
nic Display was about to begin.
J
II
CHAPTER XXVII.
FIREWORKS.
l!'
: 1 ,
THE night was cool and the staHight brilliant .
and there was no moon, which made it all the
better for the exhibition.
A few seats were brought out for the accommoda-
tion of the ladies, who were grouped together in the
shadow of the big, round summer-house ; while the
children flitted about as near to the scene of action
and to the big barrel that held the supply of fire-
works as they could get.
The two young surveyors had constituted them-
selves masters of ceremony for the evening, while
the boys, Hub, Rat, and George were their devoted
and admiring slaves.
The elder gentlemen, being quite content to let
the young people manage things to suit themselves,
were enjoying their pipes and their talk not far from
the ladies, and Ollie was seated on a high box near
the " arsenal," as they called the big barrel. Frank
Woodcot, the elder of the two youths, h;
put her
3'^
FIREWORKS.
3^9
up there, saying that as she was the Oueen of tlic
Day, she had only to call for what she wanted, and
a rocket, a Roman candle or a Jumping Jack would
be instantly produced, according to her orders.
Ollie, however, preferred to leave the ordering of
the display to others while she sat on high and
enjoyed it all.
Bertram and Dollie kept near to her when they
were not dancing around the fizzing fireworks, but
Kat stood alone at some little distance, with her
hands pressed to her ears, for she was a nervous
child and shivered all over every time there was an
explosion ; although she liked to watch the pretty
coloured stars and the flaming streaks of light as
well as the others.
As for Mollie Hawthorne, who was nearly as old
as Ollie, though nothing like so tall, she ran here
and there as the fancy took her. Sometimes she
talked to Ollie.
" Don't you think the Roman candles are ever so
much prettier than the stars up in the sky ? " she
said to her once, when a fine shower of red, green,
and purple stars had just fallen amid "ohs!" of
admiration from the children.
"Oh, no! They're only so much nearer," Ollie
replied, rather shocked at the idea, though she
hardly knew why.
4
■': i
320 THE YOUNCiSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
"That's just the reason I like them better," said
matter-of-fact MoUie. " The stars aren't much good
except to make it a Httle bit bright when there isn't
any moon." And then she ran off to watch a
monster jumping Jack, which was hopping wildly
about the lawn with several excited children in its
train.
" I just wish I was Miss Kowshorn and going to
marry Mr. Beston," she said with a sigh, next time
she came up for a chat.
" He's a nice man but I don't think I'd like to
marry him," replied Ollie, who, if the truth were
told, was a little bit romantic and had already a
girlish idea of what a lover ought to be like.
" Oh, I didn't mean him" was Mollie's quick
retort. " Only, to have heaps of money and go just
where you wanted to would be just lovely, don't you
think so ? "
" Yes, it would be nice," Ollie agreed thoughtfully.
" I'd like to go to Germany and study music. Miss
Kowshorn has told me so much about how they live
there and what they do at the conservatoires
and "
But Mollie was off to watch a big Catherine
wheel spin around, and Olga was left to build
castles in the air by herself.
** I can't see what there is in this cavern of a
w 3
11 I
FIREWORKS.
321
barrel," exclaimed Frank Woodcot, after rummaging
about for some minutes to find what he wanted.
•' Fetch me a candle, like a good fellow, Rat."
Rat was off like a flash and soon returned with
candlestick and candle.
" Now you hold it for me while I hunt for those
Bengal lights," said the young man, and Rat,
pleased to be of importance, held the light aloft.
He did not hold it very straight, however, for his
head did not come a great way above the edge of
the big barrel, and as he leaned over, intent on
watching the movements of the young surveyor, the
candle slanted more and more.
All at once it slipped from the socket and fell in
the midst of the fireworks. Young Woodcot tried
to catch it, but was not quick enough. It fell
through a network of rocket sticks, and before he
could get it out a bunch of fire-cracker- was alight.
And then it was too late. The catastrophe had
already befallen ! ,^
Whizz ! Bang ! Pop ! pop ! pop !
This was a Pyrotechnic Display with a vengeance !
" Put it out ! "
" Turn it over! "
" Stamp on them !"
Every one was shouting different orders all at
once.
21
322 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
The boys made frantic efforts to overturn the
barrel, in the hope of stopping the explosion, or at
least of lessening the clanger, but they only suc-
ceeded in emptying its contents in a heap on the
grass, where they fizzed and banged in a fury of
fire and smoke until they had exhausted them-
selves.
Rockets and Roman candles were shooting in all
directions ; the Bengal lights flared intermittently
and the noise of the successive explosions was
deafening.
Besides, there was a corjtinual shouting and scream-
ing, and at a little distance, where the servants had
been watching the entertainment on the verandah,
Mary was shrieking " Fire ! fire ! Help 1 help ! "
at the top of her voice.
The whole thing lasted perhaps two minutes.
Then the uproar subsided as suddenly as it had
begun, the last " firework " exploded, the last
cracker popped ; the Pyrotechnic Display was over,
and there only remained to "count heads" aid see
what damage had been done.
Mrs. Hawthorne and Mrs. Edwardes had been
sitting side by side when the explosion occurred,
and the husbands of the two ladies had rushed to
their protection. But in the extraordinary confusion
of the moment a slight mistake occurred.
FIREWORKS.
5^3
Mrs. Edwardes was seized by Mr. Hawthorne,
while the latter's wife was enfolded in the clergyman's
arms !
When the excitement was over they soon dis-
covered their mutual mistake, and began to make
many apologies and enter into long explanations,
which were interrupted h ■ roars of laughter from
the young surveyors, who took in the situation at a
glance and of course thought it a huge joke.
" I'll be bound Beston didn't make any mistake
when he flew to his young lady's assistance!"
laughed Frank Woodcot.
After all no one was hurt.
There were a few trifling burns, and some singed
hair and eyebrows, not to speak of damaged clothes,
— but nothing more serious.
Ollie, who was in the very midst of it all, had
thrown her thick serge skirt over her liead, and
waited till the fiery blast had passed over.
Kat was at a safe distance to begin with, while
Mollie Hawthorne had taken to her heels at the first
explosion, and escaped all injury.
The others were too dazed to think of running.
When all the rest had come to light Bertram was
discovered last of all sitting on Dollie's prostrate
form in the shelter of a bush.
" For goodness ' sake, Bertram, what are you
324 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME.
doing ? " cried his mother ; " and what is the matter
with Dollie?"
" Oh, nothing," rephed Bertram serenely, ** only
she tumbled down when the noise began and
wouldn't get up again ; so 1 just sat on her, to keep
her safe, you know ! "
Dollie was now persuaded to stand on her feet
again, and after examination was found to be quite
unharmed, only very frightened and tearful.
" Mr. Edwardes," said Bertram, gravely addressing
the clergyman. " Is that what it's going to be like
in hell?"
" I — really don't know, my boy," replied that
gentleman, considerably embarra.ssed, as he always
was by Bertram's unexpected speeches.
"Awfully jolly, if it was!" exclaimed Rat, quite
forgetting for the moment that he did not mean to
be there to see !
So the Pyrotechnic Display ended in laughter and
fun, and the evening wa?. concluded inside, with
music and games.
First Bertram and Dollie bade good-night to the
company and were whisked away by nurse ; the
little girl as jolly as ever, though sleepy, and
Bertram solemn but quite wide-awake.
An hour later Rat and Kat took their departure,
the latter loudly protesting that when they lived
^.i*4alcj«<.>:ir>l>M:w»><MM<«MM>^'-
FIREWORKS.
325
re,
ed
in '' the city," she was going to sit up till ten o'clock
every night.
Hubert and Ollie stayed until their visitors had
all taken their leave, then they also said good-night
to their father and mother and disappeared.
And to you, too, dear children, who have read this
little story, Hub and Ollie, Kat and Rat, Bertram
and Dollie, must one and all now say farewell.
The happy days at Murray Home are soon to
come to an end, and will never again be renewed.
For it is useless to expect, when once the old order
of things is changed, that it can ever be restored
again as before. Many things happen in a few
short years. It is true that these children will
see many more happy days, and will often again
visit their old home, but it can never in the future
be to them just the same as it has been in the past
—the scene of thtir who.e life and the background
of every thought.
Could we look ahead a few months, we should
be pleased to see Hub, a tall school-boy in a glazed
hat, much more devoted to his books than of yore,
and exhibiting a mild enthusiasm for cricket very
different from his former passionate devotion to the
gun, which hangs in his room on the wall, unused but
still loved. And we should find Rat, already thinner
and longer, as good-natured and as mischievous as
326 THE YOUNGSTKKS OF MURRAY HOME.
I \
I Mi
ever, dividing his aftections equally between his
football on the one hand, and a familiar friend of
his own age and sex, a little boy rejoicing in the
name of Sammy Grunt, on the other.
We should discover Kat, bereft of her former
inseparable playfellow, consoling herself by becoming
the leader of her class in lessons, in play, in smart
pinafores and in everything else !
Bertram and Dollie we might meet every day
going hand-in-hand to a neighbouring kindergarten
which absorbs their youthful energies for several
hours daily to the great relief of the family at home.
And lastly, we should not be surprised, but rather
the reverse, to find Ollie devoting herself to her dear
violin with such ardour that the red and brown
of her cheeks has already faded and the freckles
entirely disappeared, leaving a pale and sweet-faced
girl who goes her way unspoiled by all the praise
and love that fall freely to her share.
For Ollie possesses the talisman of a single heart.
A single heart, dear children, is a heart devoted
to the one true and pure aim of life, that of doing
one's duty or — and I think this is the best wa}' of
putting it — pleasing God.
And with this parting glimpse of our young fi lends
we must rest content.
Finis.
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The Family Gift S2.Vi\v.s— continued.
Famous People and Famous Places. Illustrated.
Cheerful Homes; How to get and Keep Them. Author
of "Buy Your Own Cherries, ' &c. (Also Cheap Edition, 2s.)
Helen. By Maria Edgeworth.
Our Helen. By Sophie May.
From Log Cabm to White House : The Lifeof General
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Reed>ford ; or, Creed and Character. By S. K. Hocking.
England's Hero and Christian Soldier: TheLileof
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The Manners of Polite Society.
Beeton's Great Orators and Great Orations.
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Only Give me a Chance. A ^tory founded on Fact.
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The Illustrious Heroes of the Bible. Edited by Dr.
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True Nobility: Memoir of Lord Shaftsbury. By Dr.
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Ice- World Adventures. Illustrated.
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Year One of Republic, and Citizen Bonaparte.
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Historyof the Anglo-Saxons. By Francis Palgrave.
True Royalty: Life of the Queen. By Dr. J. W.
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Last of the Incas. By Gustave Aimard. Illustrated.
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Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith. Forster.
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102 IVIiss Edgeworth's Moral Tales.
103 IVIiss Edgewortii's Popular Tales.
104 Wild Sports of the World. By James Greenwood.
105 Brave British Soldiers and the Victoria Cross.
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Robinson Crusoe. Memoir and Illustrations.
A Popular History of Rome. By D. Rose. Edited
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Irish Wonders: Ghosts, Pookas, &c. D. R. McAnally.
Real Greatness. By Dr. J. W. Kirton.
The Fair God. Lew Wallace, Author of " Ben Hur."
116 Life of John Bright. By Francis Watt. Illustrated.
117 Willis, the Pilot. A Sequel to "The Swiss Family
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The Good Physician. Bv Mrs. Veitch.
The Way to Victory. Edited by J. W. Kirton, LL.D.
Stanley In Tropical Africa. Bv Ronald Smith.
122 Conquerors of the World : The Races of Europe. By
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123 The Teeming Millions of the East. By G. T. Bet-
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126 Short Plays for Drawing-Rooiii Performance. By
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127 Ascutney Street. By Mrs. Whitney. Illustrated.
128 The Great Gold Lands of South Africa. By
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129 In the Cheering-up Business. By MAiiY Lee.
131 Life of Wellington. By Prof. C. D. Yonge. lUust.
Women Writers : Their Works and Ways. By C. J.
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The Pot of Gold. By Mary E. Wilkins. lUust.
A Golden Gossip. By Mrs. Whitney.
A Humble Romance. By Mary E. Wilkins.
139 Women Writers : Their Works and Ways. Second
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140 The Christian Growth. By Dr. J. W. Kirton. Illust.
Til The Rajah's Second Wife. By Headon Hill. Illust.
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The Gates Ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.
Little Women. By Louisa M. Alcott.
Good Wives. Sequel to "Little Women." By the same.
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8 I've Been Thinking. By A. S. Roe.
9 Ida May. By Mary Langdon.
10 The Lamplighter. By Miss Gumming.
11 Stepping Heavenward. By E. Prentiss.
12 Gypsy Breynton. By the Author of " The Gates Ajar."
13 Aunt Jane's Hero. Author of " Stepping Heavenward."
14 The Wide, Wide World. By Miss Wetherell.
15 Queechy. By the Author of " The Wide, Wide World."
16 Lookiiig Round. By the Author of " I've been Thinkingr."
17 Fabrics: A Story of To-Day.
19 The Winter Fire. By Rose Porter.
20 The Flower of the P'amily. By Mrs. E. Prentiss.
22 Patience Strong s Outings. 3y Mrs. Whitney.
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27 Fireside and Camp Stories. Author of "Little Women."
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30 Wliat Katy Did. By Susan Coolidge.
31 Fern Leaves from Fanny's Portfolio.
32 Shadows and Sunbeams. By Fanny Fern.
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38 Gypsy's Year at the Golden Crescent By the same
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48 Our Village : Country Pictures. By Miss Mitford.
49 Woman Our Angel. Sequel to " Looking Round."
50 How Marjory Helped. By M. Carroll.
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52 Melbourne House. Author of "The Wide, Wide World."
54 Dunallan. By Grace Kennedy.
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56 Jessamine. By Marion Harland.
57 MissGilbert's Career. By J. G. Holland.
58 The Old Helmet. Author of " The Wide, Wide World."
59 Forging their Own Chains. By C. M. Cornwall.
60 Daisy. Sequel to " Melbourne House." By E. Wetherbll.
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62 That Lass o' Lowrie's. By Mrs. F. H. Burnett.
63 The Years that are Told. By Rose Porter.
64 Near to Nature's Heart. By Rev. E. P. Roe.
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Julia Ried, By " Pansy."
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The Fain God. By the Author of "Ben-Hur."
Sense and Sensibility. By Jane Austen.
Pride and Prejudice. By Jane Austen.
Emma. By Jane Austen.
Northanger Abbey. By Jane Austen.
Honoured In tiie Breach. By Julian Magruder.
An Unexpected Result. By Edward P. Koii.
Naomi. By Mrs. J. B. Webb.
Beuiah. By Augusta J. Evans Wilson.
Infeiice. By Augusta J. Evans Wilson.
Miss Lou. By Edward P. Roe.
Jim the Parson. By E. Bedell Benjamin.
St. Elmo. By Augusta T. Evans Wilson.
At the Mercy of Tiberius. By A. J. E. Wilson.
Vashti. By Augusta J. Evans Wilson.
Macaria. By Augusta J. Evans Wilson.
Inez. By Augusta J. Evans Wilson.
Elrad,the Hie. By Joseph Hocking.
Holden with the Cords. By Mrs. W. M. L. Jav.
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Hope and Rest. By Elizabeth Wetherell.
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Tip Lewis and his Lamp. By "Pansy."
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A Golden Gossip. By Mrs. Whitney.
A Humble Romance. By Mary E. Wilkins,
Daisy in the Field. By Elizabeth WETbERELL.
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A Journey into the Interior of the Earth. Vkrns.
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The Ice Desert. By Jules Verne.
Five Weeks in a Balloon. By Jules Vernb.
The Mysterious Document. By Jules Vbrnx.
On the Tracl<. By Jules Verne.
Among the Cannibals. By Jules Verne.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Part I.
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From the Earth to the Moon. By Jules Verne.
Around the World in Eighty Days. By Jules Verne.
Two Years Before the Mast. By R. H. Dana.
Round the Moon. By Jules Verne.
Sandford and Merton. Illustrated.
Baron Munchausen : HisTravels and Adventures. IllUBt.
Robinson Crusoe. With many Engravings.
A Boy's Life Aboard Ship, as it Is. Illustrated.
Life in a Whaler: Adveniuics in Tropical Seas. lUust.
Grimm's Fairy Tal 33. Illustrated.
The Marvels of Nature. With 400 Engravings.
Wonders of the World. With 123 Engravings.
The Boy 8 Own Book of Manufactures and Indus-
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Great Inventors. With 109 Engravings.
The Boy's Handy Book of Games. Illustrated.
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Arabian Nights' Entertainments. Dlustrated.
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The Young Marooners. By F. Goulding. Illustrated.
The Crusades and Crusaders. ByJ. G.Edgar. Illust.
Lion Hunting. By Jules Gerard. Illustrated.
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38 The Backwoodsman. By Sir C. F. L. Wraxai.l.
39 The Boy's Book of Modern Travel and Advsnture.
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41 The Little Ragamuffins of Outcast London. \\y
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46 Life of W. E. Gladstone. By G. R. Emerson.
47 Fifty Famous Women. With Portraits.
48 Bible Heroes. Edited by Dr. J. W. Kixton.
49 First Heroes of the Cross. Edited by Dr. J. W.
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50 Thrilling Adventures in the Arctic Regions. lUust.
51 in Search of Franklin. Illustrated.
52 The Sailor Hero. By Captain Armstrong.
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56 Marvels of Heat, Light and Sound. Profusely Illust.
57 Marvels of Invention and Scientific Puzzles.
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58 Marvels of Earth, Air and Water. Illustrated.
59 The Tiger Slayer. By Gustave Aimard.
60 The Last of the Incas. By Gustave Aimard.
61 Pirates of the Prairie. By Gustave Aimard.
62 The Prairie Flower. By Gustave Aimard.
63 The Trapper's Daughter. By GusrAVE Aimard.
64 The White Scalper. By Gustave Aimard.
65 The Indian Chief. By Gustave Aimard.
66 Hunting Adventures. By "The Old Shekarry."
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70 Marvels of Electricity and Magnetism. Illiiatrated.
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