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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 -■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 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 :id 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. ,. t.. <> ^^, 9). IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 12.8 IM 2.2 S ii£ 11112.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 M 6" — ► Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 S: % "^ iV iV \\ ^N-^ >, 6'^ "• "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 m ■'A^ 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?"' f] '■«'■( I \l i. ■ 98 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 ? " m M "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 f 1 4 m u T|t ll XI 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 ? " (1 "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. IbllU;J ^ * lit :;n n. m m v: I! I 11 i ■ I 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- s' hi i "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. / i1 m ■■■' . 1 1 11 no TIIK YOUNGSTERS OK MURRAY HOME. '■ 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. 1 !< ■^ !«.^;; i ! 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 8 M ■ i 1^ I' m '« ■ m 1 " i; : .1 , »t I m 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. iL m 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 ? " ■|1 m m 'It i P ■ ■■( ' III!-,; 1 Il6 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME I " 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. k le 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. 1i m H t: . i !- iiii: 1^ ? I «(. i> I .'/#> 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 . jm, .„ ,, ,„^i,, „, ,„_ ,^_^^ ^ _^__ ^_^ ^ ii8 t'' — -- 1 THE FISHING PARTY. 119 le m ■y It " 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 " i:sl M I20 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME. I 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. II f^ 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, ■\m •(;,j ■m H^ 122 THE YOUNGSTERS OF MURRAY HOME. , 1 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 *^-„-=^ THE FISHING rARTV. 123 ' f 11 >f >r fn t m 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 li i i'i 1 .! ) 1 - i* I 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. !'•, i THE FISHING PARTY. 125 le Is " 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.