The anti-monopolist., 1874-10-01
A Heroine at the Digsings.


Q853), we find a letter written by a
young lady, who, owing to family mis-
fortunes, found it advisable to emigrate
to Australia with her brother, their
whole capital to start with being f3OO.
Both were strong, active and hearty,
and though brought up in luxurious
and fashionable style, they resolved
not to be particular as to any reputable
line of industry that might cast up.
On reaching Melbourne, which was then
in its rudimental state. they found they
could not encounter worse inconvenien-
ces at the gold diggins, and thither
they went.
81 was resolved" says the lady, s'to
accompany my brother and his friends
to the diggings, and | felt that to do 50
in my proper costume and character
would be to run unnecessary hazard.
Hence my change. cut my hair into
very masculine fashion; purchased
broad felt hat, a sor: of tunic or
smock of coarse blue cloth, trowsers
to conform, boots of miner !;
and thus parting with my sex for
a season Il hoped . better one), behold
me an accomplished candidate for min
ing operations and all the perils and in.
conveniences they might be supposed to
bring. All this transmission took
place with Frank and Mr.. Ms
sanction; indeed, it was he who first
suggested the change, which grasped
at, and improved on. I could not bear
to be separated from Frank, and we all
felt that should be safer in my male
attire than if I exposed myself to the
dangers Of the route and residence in
my proper guise. We have now been
nine weeks absent from Melbourne, and
have tried three localities, at the latter
of which we have been most fortunate.
We are near water IA first rate article),
and our tent is pitched on the side of
as pretty valley as you could wish to
visit. l have for myself sort of sup.
Elementary canvas chamber, in which
| sleep, cook, wash clothes-that, is my
own and Frank sand keep watch and
ward over heaps of gold-dust and mug
GETS the sight and torch Of which
inspirit me when grow dull, which
| seldom. do, for have constant drop.
pers in. and to own the truth, even in
my palmiest days l never was treated
with greater courtesy or respect. Of
course. my sex is generally known.
am called Mr.. Harry IAN abbreviation
of Harriet;) but no one intrudes the
more on that account. In fact. have
become sort of necessity as am
always ready to do good tura-the
great secret, after all, of social success !;
and never refuse to oblige a neighbor,
be the trouble what it may. The
consequences are pleasant enough.
Many nugget is thrust on
me. whether will or no, in return for
cooking pudding or darning a shirt,
and if all the cooks and >eamstresses in
the world were as splendidly paid as
am, the Song of the Shirt would never
have been written, at all events. NV
own hoard amounts now to about ten
pounds Of gold. and if go on accumu.
lating. even the richest heiress in my
family in former days will be left i'm
measurably behind. Sometimes, when
I have few idle hours, I accompany
Frank and his comrades to the dig.
gings, and it is rare thing to watch
the avidity with which every bucket
is raised, washed, examined, and COM
mented upon. Wild the life is, Ger.
tainly, but full of excitement and hope;
and, strange as it is, almost fear to
tell you that I do not wish it to
end. You can hardly conceive what
a merry company gather together
in our tent every evening, or how
pleasantly the hours pass. Tea and
coffee We have in plenty, for every one
brings hoard, and milk we manage to
obtain, for among US we have imported
two cows, which cost US about ESQ each,
but that is q mere trifle. Cake of vari-
Gus kinds l manufacture. thanks to old
Betsy D for teaching me; and as
for liquor, We sometimes have little
wine, brandy. or arrack, and sometimes
not. And then we dance to the music
Of q German flute, played ny a real
German, or We sing glees or quartets.or
talk Of Moore, Byron, Burns, Goethe.
Shakespeare and the musical glasses.
etc. until midni1ht. and sovn.4;x~..