The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-15
THUNDERBOLT.

or three of us, young bushmen, were stay
ing at Wyalia, the head station of neigh
Dor. on the marches of Queensland and
New South Wales, and thoroughly enjoy
ing the hospitality of our kindest of host
esses, a lady who commanded the allegi-
snce of every young fellow for fifty miles
round. Ladies were few and far between
In the bush in those days, and Mrs. Kaye
had at her call 4 troop of dashing light
horseman, her neighbors and liege vas
sails, who would have ridden fast and far
at her behest.
Railways were afar off in the good old
times" and the screech of the locomotive
had then never scared the wild cattle in
the granite ranges, nor had the electric
telegraph stridden over the great gray
plains with its long stills, nor played
strange music on its Eolian harp for the
lonely shepherd to wonder at. \ Journey
to Sydney was an affair of a weeks hard
travelling, and not 10 be undertaken
lightly.
On this occasion friend and chum OF
mine and l were riding down country to-
gether on our way to Maitland, thence
meaning to take a boat for Sydney, and
we we're hating our first night at Hayes
Wvalla station. Half dozen of us were
sitting In the wide veranda, after tea,
watching the violet light fade from the
great range of mountains visible TO the
eastward. across the plain at our feet, and
had announced my intention OF buying
buggy and harness in Sydney and driv-
ing back the two horses which l was rid
ing down country. When, as in duty
bound, / asked Mrs. Kaye what commits
sions | could do for her in Sydney her
lord and master, from behind his big
pipe, warned me:
Don't be too rash, young mani You
may be taken at your word and have more
on your hands than you might bargain
for"
NO fearw quoth l, Loyalty.
well, you are good boy" said Mrs.
Kaye. Il have a commission. There is
something / want very much. But it viii
be too much trouble; you viii not care to
do it for me-"
So of course l vowed that nothing could
possibly be too hot or too heavy for me to
bring up country II by so doing 1 might
please my hostess.
swell, then. bring me up a housemaid."
What! q young woman, How on
earth am 10 get hold of one?'
''Oh. you foolish fellow! Why, 60 to
the immigration depot, Of course, and hire
one"
L
been just a little rash
"Bnt, Mrs. Kaye, how am I to choose
one? What do l know about house
maids?"
'Oh, just bring me up the prettiest
girl you can see among them-a nice
looking one. / am sure you know what L
mean
why, she'll be married in a month,
like the last one, says some one.
"Oh no! The last one squinted. 1t is
only plain women who marry the first
man who asks them; the pretty ones are
much more particular; they are used to
being made love TO. If Mr.. G. will bring
me up pretty girl, she will turn up her
nose at anything short OF an overseer;
very likely set her cap at one of you
young gentlemen. Besides, all the men
on the station will be counting her, and
there is safety in numbers. | have tried
ugly ones until / am tired; they will
marry anybody, and never last me any
time at all"
So, under promise OF reward, and hay
ing to endure chat from the mankind
present, 1 engaged to hire and bring up a
country maid Tor Mrs. Kaye of Wyalla.
We made an early start next morning,
my friend and !, each with a spare horse,
making long journeys over mountain and
across the great Liverpool range to Murur-
rundi, whence by rail to Maitland. On
the evening OF the fifth day from Wyalla
We were steaming between the towering
black cliffs which form the magnificent
entrance TO Sydney harbor. OF Fl Mac
quarrie we passed a beautiful London
ship Just coming to anchor. We knew
by the rows of heads which lined her bull
warks that she was full OF immigrants, and
i was wildly reminded of Mrs. Kayes
commission.
Once housed at the club, we scarcely
knew what first 10 do, the excitement and
whirl of Sydney was so pleasant TO us.
However, we bought some cut tobacco
and paid a visit 10 the outfitters who, OF
course, knew exactly what we wanted and
guaranteed to renew our responsibility Of
appearance in q miraculously short time
Seasons were good in the good old times"
tallow up, and cattle, both fat and store,
IN request. so OF course my agents were
delighted to see me and forthwith asked
me to dinner. At my friends pretty
house down at Rose Bay | sat at dinner
next to charming young matron, who,
as Sydney matrons often were in the
good old times to bachelor sQuatters
fresh from the bush, was very kind to me;
listened to my perplexities about Mrs.
hdye COMMISSION, laugneQ at 0eF theory
about pretty handmaidens and their mat
rimonial ambitions, and volunteered TO go
with me to the depot and select "Mopsa'
who should fulfill the necessary condi-
tons.
NV friend was the wife OF a government
official, and as such enjoyed certain privi-
leges not granted to the general" So
next morning saw me at the depot with
my chaperon, where, certain ceremonies
having been gone through in the Office, We
we're presented to the matron OF the new
ly-arrived ship-a genial dame-on whose
shoulders the weight of responsibility, in
the shape OF four or five score young
women, sat lightly. We were ushered
into great bare hall, among lot of some
sixty girls Of all scriptions-ex-London
slaveys. fresh-caught Irish maidens, with
'sthe mark of the dogs teeth" yet in their
heels, tall daughters Of the plow." and
some poor girls who might few months
before have figured in picture of Hoods
Song of the Shirt"
All looked fat and healthy after four
months of sea air, the usual condition OF
newly-landed immigrants; but the Sydney
mosquitoes had had notice of their arrival,
and had Toasted on fresh and healthy
British blood. So the poor girls, for whom
a paternal government does not provide
mosquito nets. were one and all distigured