Year: 1866




and very little notice was taken of him
as he wandered about the vessel. He
learnt that there was accommodation for a
few cabin passengers, bpt that all the
berths except one had been engaged by
Il doctor who was emigratng with his
family.


"Tom would have gone in the steerage,
but as his parents expressly desired him
to take II cabin passage, he hastcned to
the companv's offices and engaged the
only remaining berth. The ship was TO
sail on the following day, and at twelve
/ clock she was tugged to the mouth Of
the river where she remained until the
/ following mornings ebb-tide and "A fair
wind took her ont to sea.


"For few days but little was seen of
the passengers; but as the sea sickness
abated they appeared one by one. Tom
soon made friends with his fellow cabin
passengers ; he began by taking notice of
the little children, and won his way
through them to their parents.


"The family consisted of five children,
the eldest, girl OF about sixteen, and
four Others, boys and girls


"Tom soon made himself favorte
with all Of them, but more particularly
with Mary, the eldest. Young as they
were-she only sixteen, he but twenty
their attachment soon grew into love. In
Mary, Tom saw all he had ever dreamed
of as lovely in woman; her gentle care
OF her young brothers and sisters, her re-
spectiul love for her parents, and her
delight at being able to help them in any
way during the long. tedious voyage, all
tended to render her more beautiful in
Toms eyes. Her sweet face and girlish
figure were the least of her charms


"How many, many happy hours were
spent on that voyage when, seated to-
gether on the deck, the young lovers
talked OF the past and the future


"The life TO which they were going
was full Of unknown charms to them.


"AIarys education had been that of
gcntlemans daughter, yet she never
shrunk from the work that was before
her.


"IIer father had decided upon emigra-
tion to try and find independence for
himself and family. The son of country
surgeon, he had for years seen his faith
er's struggles to keep up appearances in
spite of what might almost be called pov-
erty, and finding himself surrounded by a
large family, and his practice not increas-
ing, he determined to emigratc.


"a couple OF thousand pounds which
he possessed woIld enable him to embark
in sheep farming in the new colony, and
he hoped by industry and perseverance to
amass a sum Of money that would enable
him after Il few years to return home in
dependent. The days flew quickly by in
forming plans for the future No words
of love were breathed between the happy
boy and girl for they were little more,
yet they felt they were all in all to each
other, and that was sufficient their love
never made them selfish, and many bles-
sings were showered on the young girls
head by the poorer emgrants in the steer
age for denying herself those things which
were luXurcs on board ship but necessa-
rles even to the poor on shore she had
stopped many baby's fretiul cry and
eased the aching heart of its poor mother.


1.-The long voyage was at last over.
They met with many difficulties. and suf-
fcred numberess priyalions but they
were determined TO looE only on the
bright side


"Iom purchased the next rhccp-run
TO the doctors, which was situated three
miles up river, on the opposite side;
, he worked hard, for now he was ailianced
to Mary, and when he was twenty-five
years of age it was arranged that they
should be Carried.


"Few weeks passed during the years
they had to wait, but Sunday morning
found Tom joining his dcvotlons with
those of the doctors family; no work but
what was absolutely necessary was done
on this day. The doctor and his wife
had well cultivated minds, and dld not
allow their children to grow up in ignor-
ance; though they did the work of shcp-
herds and laborers during the week, they
never neglected anything that could tend
TO elevate their minds, and the stores of
knowledge possessed by father and moth
er were freely impaired to their children.


"When Blanche, the next eldest to
Mary, was of an age to take her sisters
place in the household, Tom and Mary
were married.


Twelve months of unalloyed happiness
was theirs, when the birth of baby
boy served to make their cup of joy over
flow. Mary was just able to sit up, her
mother, who had been with her during
her illness, had returned home leaving
her daughter and infant in care OF a
nurse.


tom was obliged to 90 to distant
part of the farm to inspect his hocks, and
would not be able to get back until the
following day lie left home cheerful
and happy, Intending 10 Give his wife .
delightful surprise on his return, by bring
ing one of her sisters back 10 stay with
her for IA few weeks


"As Tom journcyed on, higher up to-
ward the sources of the river, he found it
much swollen by the very heavy rains
that had fallen lately; but it gave him
no uneasiness; he only thought of the
happiness Of again embracing his wife and
/ little one.


1It was verv lato Mt niobt u,han Ton,