The Young Berringtons, by W.H.G. Kingston.
________________________________________________________________________
This is quite a short book that had been published in parts in a
children's magazine. One branch of the Berrington family had been
established in Australia for a long time, and had built up quite a
profitable station. Another branch of the family had been living in a
wealthy style in London, when their business failed, and they had just
enough money left to make their way to Australia, to join their cousins.
They find that life is not going to be all that easy. A mob of original
inhabitants were in the neighbourhood, and were threatening them. Who
can blame them? A terrible storm comes, and blows the roof off the
house. Then the river floods, much higher than it had ever done before,
and the house is destroyed. So is much of the stock. The decision is
made to look further inland for a better place to start a new station.
That is the part of the story that gives the book its second title, "The
Boy Explorers." They do find a suitable place, but are once again
attacked by aborigines, whom they beat off with great difficulty.
Eventually they make peace with the aborigines, and all begins once more
to go well. The various people, adults and children, are well drawn,
especially two rather tiresome ones: Hector, one of the children brought
from Britain, and Mrs Berrington, the wife of the original settler, who
has a dreadful habit of fainting every time anything stressful occurs.
________________________________________________________________________
THE YOUNG BERRINGTONS, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.