Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-19
RACHEL LINDSAY.
A SOuth-AustraIIan story

a ASOuth-Australian story
Toward the end of November, about
two years ago, l received the following
curt note from my brother Donald,
who, like myself, is sheep farmer in
South Australia:
My DEAR JERRY-Lizzie sends her love, and
hopes to see you when your shearing is over,
MS usual II you'll say what day, I'll fetch
you from Ballarat. Yours atfectionately,
DoN GARDINER.
N. B.-,Just begun to wash the wool. Liz
zie's sister says she has seen my apparatus at
COnolly's, but don't think It. Ask Connolly.
Connolly was a neighbor of mine, and
he CHANGED to have brought me Doh's
letter, and to be lighting his pipe at my
elbow while read it.
"Conolly," said I, edo you know
any of Mrs. Gardeners sisters? She
has an unlimited number, believe, for
l have met fresh one-sometimes two
fresh Ones-every Christmas for about
half dozen years, and here is still an
other never heard Of She appears to
be acquainted with you and this neigh
bOrhood-"
80 yes; that's Cinderella" inter-
rupted Conolly, as he distracted bun
die of newspapers from our joint post
bag and began to rip the wrapping
from them. Haven't you seen Gin
derellaP She was never out of Tas-
mania, suppose, until last spring,
when she was staying up here with the
Macdonalds. The Macdonald girls
called her Cinderella because she had
always been the one to stay at home
and keep the house while the others
went about. Her proper name is
Rachel. . Jerry, Jerryr' he broke out
suddenly, laughing in what seemed to
me very offensive manner (my proper
name, may mention, being Gerald
"your sister-in-law Lizzie will be too
many for you. She won't let you es-
cape this time. She has kept Rachel as
her last card"
If ever l marry woman with such
a name as that / hope | shall be hen
pecked husband for the remainder of
my lifev' retorted angrily, seizing a
paper-knife and beginning to tear away
at the AuStrdldSidn, so as to drown fur
ther conversation upon what was very
sore subject.
My brother Donalds wife Lizzie was
as good and kind a woman as ever
breathed, but, like many young wives
in happy circumstances, she was a
matchmaker. And, being impulsive,
ELUSIVE and not quite-what shall call
itP | don't like TO say she was not
quite lady, but that would suggest my
meaning-she did not pursue her cali
ing with that tact and Judgment which
its delicate nature required. Ineed not
say more, except that she had num-
Der of spinster sisters. and only one
bachelor relative, who lived all by him
self in ingle-blessedness on his own
fine and thriving property, and that |
was that male victim. beg pardon OF
all the Misses Lindsay for using such a
term; | was not victim rs far as they
were concerned. But | did feel it hard
that should be laughed at wherever
went as the captive knight of half a
dozen fair ones, when | had never had
the choosing of one of them.
When | received the above letter
had just seen my last wool-bale packed
on the last bullock dray and started or
its slow journey to Melbourne; and the
day after set off myself on my yearly
visit to Don. He was less fortunate il
respect of sheep shearing than |, for
III tAh NOOl ulSlll
where an exceptionally wet and wintry
spring had kept everything behind
hand, he had still all his troubles tC
come. thought of that as l buttoneC
myself into my ulster, which was glaC
of that cold morning, though Christina
was only month off; and L reflected
that | should be the only unemployed
man at the disposal of the household
until the shearing was over, and fore
saw Gas | thoughD the consequences
| made up my mind, however, that
would defy Lizzie's Vaccinations in
more systematic manner than hereto
fore. May be forgiven for so priggisl
determination.
1t was midnight before reached Bal
larat, where Don usually met me; bu
upon this occasion | found Telegram
stating that he was too busy to leav,
his farm and would send for me mex
day. So had one game of pool at tn,
club and went to bed, and next morn
ing enjoyed an hour or two over newly
arrived English papers and periodical
and solitary lunch; and then the ia
miliar old ramshackle buggy and tn
beautiful horses Don was famed 70
made their appearance. and set off ol
the last stage of my journey, When
arrived at my destination it was darl
and raining heavily; and the groom
who opened the stable gate told me tha
my brother had not long come up from
the wash-place and was interviewin,
shearers at the hut. / was wet AM
muddy, so / went straight to my room
without aulvina, faY. psg -,
law, who was usually in her nursery a
that hour, and proceeded to make my
self respectable for dinner. Presently
heard Don about the passages 9TH
house was weather-board, and tn
partitions extremely lighD asking tn
servants where l was; and then hi
head and half-bared neck appeared il
the aperture between my door and tn
door-post.
"Glad TO see you, old boy; but Tn
too dirty to come in, said he. :" Seer
LizzieP''
"Not yet"
"Seen Rache1?n
mot yet. But / say, old man, ,woul,
you mind telling me how many NOR
sisters you've gotP'
"No MORE" said Don with grin
"She's the last one, and she's the bes
of them all"
"Then / hope may be allowed 70
once 10 enjoy the society of one of Liz
zie's sisters in friendly way"
grumblingly responded for ! may a
well admit that Don and / had had con
fidenees Of old on this subjecD. " Don
you think you could give Lizzie notiol