bright gaslight to show the road distinctly they got out of their way,
and travelled on till they came to Glenelg, and did not reach home till
near morning. There was a committee meeting about it and such a lot of
talk, for the young girl was staying at the home in King William-street.
But when they went into the details there was nothing to say, except
that we were "new chums." Such were the events of my first Sunday in
South Australia, which appear vividly among the strange happenings of
the past and the planning for the future.
I began to work the next day. Through the skill and kindness of some of
my friends I got over the trouble about my working clothing. Only I had
short sleeves and my arms were burnt by the sun. I did not mind that. I
felt well and strong, and the look of the place was an inspiration. From
where I worked I could see the sea over which I had come. How I watched
the ships coming in and going out, and wondered when I would cross it
again. But the people I was with, well, they were kindness and goodness
itself, and the children--How I did love to scamper over the hills with
some of them when I could get the chance, even if I had to carry them
part of the way. It was a well-appointed and happy home. They
entertained a lot, for there was a grown-up family with such gay and
pleasant manners. They must have been welcome guests wherever they went.
Sir William was in Parliament, and was Minister for Crown Lands and
Emigration. Sir Dominic Daly was the Governor then. The Government House
party came to Sunnyside on festivals and on other days. There was the
Governor and Lady Daly, with two sons and two daughters, young ladies
and gentlemen. The sons in stature and height were so unlike their
father. He must have been brave enough, but he was neither tall nor
stout. I was often in the room as an attendant. I liked to hear the
Governor talk. I always helped in waiting on the assembled guests. How
the times have changed since then! The young ladies from Sunnyside and
the Miss Dalys and many others belonged to an archery club. Shooting
with the bow and arrow was a favorite sport both for ladies and
gentlemen. There were targets all about. One was at the Government farm,
which is now called the National Park. More than once I have been sent
to assist in spreading lunch there when they had their customary
meetings. How exciting it all looked to me. The bright activity of the
young people and the scenery were so entrancing that I was glad I came
here.
Lizzie and the cook got married. I used to go to town once in every
three weeks, but soon found where to get the omnibus both in and out of
town. I always went to the home to look for my young friends of the
voyage, and we were so pleased to learn of each others' welfare. I found
many who had not got such a nice home as I had. And I told my mistress
of one young girl that I thought would do in Lizzie Ross' place. So the
lady asked the master to call at the Servants' Home and ask this girl to
come. He did so and told the matron to send her on my recommendation,
and she came and stopped at Sunnyside till she also got married. That
girl grew very attached to the family of Sunnyside and kept the respect
all her life. Only to see some of them was a joy for Mary. She came from
Scotland, and she and I got into the same train at Glasgow. So we went
out on the same Sunday every other week and came to town together. All
was well for a long time, but Mary had given her affection to a young
man on board the Morning Star. He was the baker of the ship, and when we
landed in Adelaide he went out with some exploring party.
I received some letters from home and I sent some. I had good news to
tell of what I had seen in Adelaide. Those were prosperous times. The
gas was getting laid on in the streets, but in some streets they had
only oil lamps. Four of the brothers already mentioned went to work as
plumbers and gasfitters at first. They were all plumbers and painters
except one, who was a mason. There were no unemployed in the streets in
those days, and no poor children without boots. Everything, too, was so
cheap. So many of the houses have been pulled down in all the streets
and the place has so changed that if one had not seen the alterations he
could not believe it to be the same place. All the time I was hoping to
get my relatives here. I gave a full description to my master of the
reason I had come out to the colony and had left all my friends. He told
me to rely upon him to do what he could and showed much sympathy. I was
anxious to get all the family out together, so as not to have any more
partings. A great peace settled on my mind when I found that Sir William
would use his influence in securing the dispatch of six persons with
assisted passages to Adelaide. There was a lot for me to do, as it would
at least cost £20 for me to send the land grants to them, and may I add
here that I saved that in one year from 10/ a week. After subscribing
for the voyagers, it amounted to just the same, as my wages in Glasgow,
which were six pounds a year, so I had enough for my needs.
It is hard to explain about the kindness of the people of Sunnyside.
The gardener and his wife and family lived on the domain. As he was the
very first man I had spoken to of the South Australians, I used to go to
him and his wife, and tell them of my hopeful desires. I saw that man
the other day in town, and he looked as upright as he did many years
ago. And we talked of the long ago days. If it were not for the craving
of the lone heart for love and for kindred, there would have seemed
nothing but brightness, peace, and plenty at Sunnyside, Glen Osmond.
Satisfaction being mutual, the year went by so quickly. If this should
fall into the hands of any of this household, concerning which I have
such happy reminiscences, I hope they will pardon me if I refer to a few
of the incidents that appealed to me.
It was good to see the fruit that grew there of every kind. Some I had
never seen before. My chief wonder was at the grapes, and the making of
wine. I had read about the wine-press, but I then saw a great number of
people gathering in the grapes, and then watched them crushed and the
juice put into a large vat. I was not long there before it was known
that I had a terror concerning snakes. There were some about, even
amongst the vines. The boy from the stable saw a dead one at Sir Thomas
Elder's place and dragged it all the way to put in the laundry to give
me a fright, but the coachman saw him and took it from him, and brought
it to where I was, and told me not to be afraid. It was such a size when
he put it down at its full length, and told me if I saw anything like
that to get away from it. I was thankful I did not see it unawares. The
boy thought it would be fun. A governess came daily on horseback to
instruct the youngest child. The eldest son went to college. The young
master and some other youths about his age would ask in a gentle way if
they could melt some lead to form bullets for their guns. The laundry
was not far from the carriage house. While working I could hear them
tell of their playful merriment and of the birds' nests, just like the
boys in Scotland. It may not be out of place here to add that some of
those youths so full of frolic, are men of dignity to-day in this State.
The young gentleman used to bring his trifling property and ask if I
could let them stop there where he could find them, as the housemaids
were always putting his trappings where he could not find them. All had
horses who were old enough to ride, and so had the ladies also. If no
man were there I would help the ladies to mount if they wanted help, and
very pretty they looked.
The eldest daughter married a gentleman who owned a farm, near Port
Augusta. It was a gay time. The Parliamentary caterer and his waitresses
were there for days, and there was a breakfast in great magnificence for
a hundred guests, with a ball in the evening. Such wealth and beauty I
never saw before. The wedding service was performed at the Scotch Church
in Wakefield-street. How feeble it all looks in written words. Only in
some way to show the experience gained in early years, I had taken the
letter I brought from Glasgow to Dr. Gardner, on North-terrace, and I
often went to Chalmers Church with the friends who were so kind to me on
the voyage. One of the gentlemen took a leading part in the singing, and
I went with his wife and family. All of those five brothers mentioned
went there, and many others who came in what we called "our ship." On
more than one occasion the master and mistress took me and left me at
the Manse the night before a tea-meeting so that I could help. My work
was always done at the end of the week, and I gladly helped the others,
answering the door, bell, or otherwise, and amongst ourselves we had
merriment in the home-time. One of the housemaids was married, and I got
another of my fellow-passengers to come to Sunnyside. I knew by that
time that some treaty was in hand to obtain the earliest passage for my
people in the first ship that would come with assisted passengers. I
began to be busy in preparation to meet my relatives. The time would be
coming soon when I would want to go away, and the thought way
disagreeable to me. I did leave Sunnyside, but went back years
afterwards. One Saturday afternoon I was in attendance, and I was told
to bring in the decanter and cake to the library. There were two or
three men there looking so weary and dusty. I learned while in the room
that one of the men was John Macdouall Stuart, the explorer. I hardly
knew then what exploring meant. At any rate those men looked broken
down, but the master was so pleased to see them.
I had a letter to say that my people were coming by a ship name the Art
Union when there were the number required. I cheered up, for although I
had plenty of everything and friends included, when I saw other girls'
eyes fairly shine when they talked about home, I hoped to begin life
afresh and to forget about the past. I looked forward not the least
discouraged. When I thought of what a sea of water divided us, I tried
to be practical. I came to this distant land in the hope that they might
better their fortunes and that happiness would be ours. But I must soon
turn out of the home where I had been sheltered and happy, and where I
led a new life in this new land which was still strange to me. Anyone
who lived in the full safety of family ties could not understand the
dread I had to leave Sunnyside. In all the years past I could yield to
the wishes of others, I had so far cared but little for my own
preference. Now I must decide for myself what I ought to do.
Time passed on. The young master went for a long visit to his young
married sister at Port Augusta. He brought back a good sized kangaroo.
He asked if I was at Sunnyside yet, and being told I was he wished the
man to take the kangaroo out of the hamper and let him loose in the
laundry. It was late, and I did not know anything of this. But the young
master was so used to putting his odds and ends in there that he thought
I would not mind. I went in the morning and opened the door, and when I
did so this kangaroo made one bound for the opening. I had never seen
one, even in a picture before. The sudden spring it made for the door
and the length of its tail frightened me, and I was insensible with
terror. I ran shrieking to the house, and the kangaroo rushed through
the vines down the gully. All the bedroom windows were thrown open, and
everyone had seen "him." I leave anyone to guess what I thought I had
seen. They had some trouble to find the kangaroo, but it was not put in
the laundry again.
On looking back from now I intend to say a few words to young serving
maids. If any of the incidents which happened to me in my early life
also happen to you, the fact that I got through them may convey some
courage to you. I think you will see that pleasure is possible in life
as a domestic servant. Only let our needs be natural, and let us lead a
life without vain, empty show, not trying to appear richer than we
really are, or to spend all our money on dress and amusements. I noticed
the difference between this colony and Scotland. The pleasant evenings
we passed would not be understood now. Pleasure with unrest has led and
will lead our young girls to spend money they cannot afford to make a
show. How did they manage before there were so many clubs and the
so-called friendly societies? They all go to the club now, and the home
is too dull. The hearth is solitary. Men and women are spoiled for home
life. Many would have us believe how good it is to be seen smiling and
talking on some platform, and to care no longer for home in the old
sense of the word. In the rush for and the love of excitement very heavy
demands are made on the endurance of the working woman. Perhaps I do not
see the humorous side of life, but that no doubt is because it has been
all so real to me.
I often went to the coachman's house to see his wife and children, and
more so when the carriage was out late. She was a nice, pleasant woman,
and there were some pretty little children. We often laughed about the
man with the kilts. My shipmate, Mary, the cook, was sought for in
marriage by the baker of the ship. I was her bridesmaid. They had the
goodwill of everyone. I sorely missed her. She was older than I, and so
bright, and we went out a lot together. The man went to work at his
trade at Unley, and I went to see them at Goodwood in their little home.
Goodwood and Unley were then in their littleness. There were but few
houses here and there, and no tramcars. How changed all is! One of the
housemaids had her home in Glen Osmond, and kindly took me to see her
parents and brothers and sisters. What pleasure they all gave me, and
they wished to make me glad, because I was a lone girl, so far from all
I knew. My fellow-servant belonged to the Anglican Church in the Glen. I
went with her sometimes. Our lady mistress gave a tray in aid of
something for the church, and had suitable provisions sent there. Then
she graciously allowed the housemaid and myself to attend, as she could
not go herself. The retention of the memory of those days is easy,
seeing that only the other day I saw my helper at that tea-tray looking
so well. She has been a happy wife for many years. Many others with whom
I got acquainted at that time, and who were well satisfied with being
house servants, could be named to-day.
Letters came to say that my people were on the way out. I got restless
and ill at ease, anxious to make some household arrangement for them. I
thought Glen Osmond and the hills were beautiful, but I knew that they
could not come there to live. I could get an afternoon to visit town now
and then. I could have done so more often than I did if I had cared to.
I came to town one afternoon, and went to the home in King
William-street to learn about my ship friends. While I was speaking to
the matron a gentleman came to ask if she knew of a young girl who would
do for a house of business at No. 10, Rundle-street, in the city. She
asked me if I knew of anyone. Impulsively I offered myself, as it would
mean that I would be in town to look out for some place for my relatives
when they landed. The gentleman, too, spoke with such a Scotch accent.
As it would all be a possible help, there seemed to be nothing to do but
to accept the offer, although anguish and indecision was there also.
MY FATHER AND BROTHER ARRIVE.
So I came to Rundle-street, No. 10. It was a butcher's shop then. My
employer had been the shopman, and had bought the business from his
employers, who had lived on the premises. Being a bachelor, he, too,
lived there, and my duties were to attend to his needs and to those of
his shopman, and some youths who slept on the premises, and to prepare
plain meals for them. It was odd to me at first, for everything was
upstairs, except the dining-room. The rooms were plainly furnished, and
I had a lot of time to go out and in. There was no one to say an unkind
word to me. My master had some brothers in a different business. They
came frequently, and were so good to me that I claim them as friends to
this day and will while I live.
I had the hope that I would live with my father and brother when they
arrived. I understood my own intentions, but what would I have done then
if I had thought that men could be so cruel--cruel as I find what the
spirit of bitter cruelty is now. All the world seemed to me so true
then. Although I was thousands of miles from every one who knows me or
cares for me, all the time I felt so guarded and so happy in my efforts,
and I had everything necessary for a decent and comfortable existence.
The lady from Sunnyside would come out in her carriage and see how I was
getting along, and some of my fellow-servants would come and see me. We
could go up to a room and look out into Rundle-street. I was not at all
lonely. And as the time went on, how I watched for that ship to come. It
was expected to arrive about the middle of August, and not in hot
weather like we had.
At last it was nearly due. I had engaged a house for them. It was small,
and I had only taken it for a time. I had some of my shipmates to help
me fix it up. I had to pay two weeks' rent before they landed, awaiting
the arrival of the Art Union. I was there one morning, but the ship was
a long way out in the bay. There being no railway from the Port, I
walked along with my basket full of all sorts of things for them. It was
so rough that no one would go out to where the ship was anchored, except
the health officers. They went, and I waited until they came back, to
learn if all was well on board. In the afternoon someone came with a
boat, and told me if I did not think it too rough he would take me to
the ship. It being decided that no one should be landed till the next
day, I went out in the boat, and I never had such a rough time on the
sea. When the boat got alongside the big ship it banged against the side
and bounded out again ever so many times. I looked up and saw my dear
brother. He was the first I saw. They let down the gangway, and my
brother descended, and when the boat hove to again he caught me, and I
got on the steps and soon found myself on the deck with all my kin once
more. It was quite a year and a half since I saw them. My sister's
little girl knew me, and held me by the skirts. I talked to my father.
The dear man, how pleased I was to think that I had them all here, and I
thought all my trouble was over, which, however, proved not to be the
case.
The boat that I went out in came and went two or three times between the
ship and the shore. I waited on deck, hoping for a calmness, so I could
get them all to come ashore. My sister had a little baby girl that I had
not seen before. She would not run the risk of being wrecked so near the
beach, but my father and brother landed with me. How delighted my dear
father was when he felt his feet on land again. We had to walk to the
Port, and it was dark and cold. When we got to the station the last
train had gone, and we had to get lodgings in the Port all night. I knew
that at No. 10 they would do the best they could till I came. They all
knew where I had gone, and were sympathetic. So I brought my brother and
father to Adelaide, and showed them where the house was that I had taken
for them, and they did not go into a house without something being
provided for them. My master sent a man with a butcher's tray with the
choicest of meat on it for them. He said that the burden I had to carry
was too heavy for my young shoulders.
I was disappointed, and failed to see why my father would not settle in
Adelaide. He wanted to go all over the place. My brother-in-law went to
work at once in some blacksmith's shop, but my father and brother went
up to Moonta. I had promised to go, and be their housekeeper when they
got settled. But learning that Moonta was a mining place it got mixed in
my mind with Slamannan. I could see that my father, at least, did not
like South Australia. I thought that if I went from place to place with
them I would be penniless and without a roof. Still, I felt sure that I
must do what was right, even if I did not know where I was going. So I
wrote and told them I would go to Moonta. Accordingly I went to the
Port, and saw Captain Wells, of the steamship Eleanor. He went to Moonta
regularly. I did not like leaving No. 10, Rundle-street. It was a very
restless time. Captain Wells asked me a lot of questions, and told me he
thought I would not like Moonta, if only because of the scattered
thinness of the population. I got my trappings on board the Eleanor. I
was the only girl passenger on board. In fact, there was no other woman
at all. Captain Wells talked to me about bringing out the Eleanor all
the way from England entirely, and fully under his own control. I then
asked him if he knew Captain Matthews, who was the captain of the
Morning Star, and he told me that he had known him in England. I thought
Captain Wells just such another good man. He was kind to me, and saw
that I was comfortable. He pointed out all the places, and told me the
names. We saw Port Wallaroo and Port Wakefield. The Eleanor ran into
Port Clinton, and there being no jetty, I got into a little boat. Then a
horse and cart came into the sea a good long way, and I got out of the
boat and into the cart, in which I got to land. I could not see any
houses, but was told that there was one house at Port Clinton. A
conveyance was there to take me to Kadina. It went no farther that day.
I stopped at the Wombat Hotel, and how pleased I was to find one of my
shipmates there as housemaid. I was covered with dust. It was my first
experience of the country in Australia. In the morning some other kind
of public vehicle carried me on to Moonta. I got there in the
afternoon. My father and brother were waiting for me on the roadside.
They did not live in Moonta township. Once more I was glad, realising
that they had missed me, and were pleased to see me again.
My father worked at a building in Moonta, some large hotel, as a
carpenter, and my brother, with some of his shipmates, was again in the
mines. Just fancy his coming to Australia only to go in the mines again.
Alas, for my castles in the air. There were scarcely any women or girls
about, and particularly where we lived they were all mining men, many of
them waiting for their wives and families, who had been sent for. Ever
so many seemed to live in one or two little houses like the one we had.
And just think of it! Some men had places dug in the ground and covered
in some rough way. I used to feel so troubled. There was nothing that I
could do except cook and take father's dinner into Moonta every day. The
wee house we had had no garden attached to it, or anything bright about
it, and there were only earth floors. The same kind of houses and
buildings were everywhere, set down anyhow. Some end to end and some
sideways. For the most part they were whitewashed. There were a lot of
trees and scrub, and the worst of it was that my father was so
uncomfortable about the heat, and reproached me for bringing him out to
South Australia. My brother was nice, but it was a hard time for me.
Tears would come as I tried to realise what it all meant. At last when
we had been there about six months, father came home before dinner and
told me that he was not going to work any more at Moonta, but was going
with someone to Angaston, and that we were all going to that town. I did
not know before that he had partly bought the house, but he said that he
had sold it again. I admit that I was glad beyond words. So father
arranged for my brother and me to return to Adelaide, and to take his
tool-chest and all the movables while he fixed up about the house. It
was not smooth and bright for me, as everything had gone wrong, and I
feared that what had begun badly would go on badly. The truth crossed my
mind, and a keen disappointment ensued, for I feared they would upset
all that I had arranged for their benefit. I was not twenty years old,
and anyway I was used to fitting myself into a work-woman. I could see
people were sorry when I went away, and glad to see me again and I had
not been badly treated as a servant.