A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia: And how £6 8s. became £8,000Hulme, E. (Edward)
History
A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia: And how £6 8s. became £8,000
Hulme, E. (Edward)
Hulme, E. (Edward), 1818-1904; Immigrants -- Australia -- Biography; Victoria -- Biography
"two disciples on the road that evening journeying to Emmaus?" But
it could not be said of us that "we were sad," as they were. They
were sad because the "Comforter" had not then come, but we were in
full enjoyment of that "Comforter." And they, also, when the Saviour
revealed Himself, had "burning hearts of love;" and did not our hearts
burn with love also? On our parting, with a good-bye and a hearty
and friendly grip, I shall never forget his kindly words. They were
these--"_Remember how sweet is the day of prosperity to those who have
tasted adversity's cup_." And thus we parted on that memorable day and
evening on the Norwich high road.
I hardly felt the remainder of my long walk. It was rather late in the
evening (or rather night) when I reached home, and, upon entering,
threw the proceeds of my trip into my young wife's lap. Our feelings
may be imagined.
We then went up to London and furnished our first home at Clapham, as
narrated in the sketch of "My Artist's Life." It will be seen that this
transpired before my health broke down from over study.
But to resume. With this £70 from the claim we purchased a good draught
horse, new dray, etc., so that we were enabled to cart our fencing
stuff, and felt quite like getting on. After erecting the fence around
a good part of the allotment, we commenced clearing the land, as there
was a good bit of timber on. Grubbing trees, chopping up, and burning
off, occupied us during the winter. We found hut No. 1 rather cold some
nights, as our fire was outside. I often took my blankets and slept
outside by the large fires, where the large logs were being burned off;
these, also, required "rounding up" during the night. We got about 12
acres cleared, ploughed, and sown with wheat and oats by the month
of June. We started then with the orchard and garden, planted about
50 fruit trees of various sorts, and put in a few vines. This should
always be done as soon as possible, but very few do it. We considered
now we had got fairly started. Thus: A good deal of the fencing done,
12 acres cleared and under crop, orchard and garden dug and planted,
one good horse and dray, also old puddling horse, being light, was
useful for riding, etc.; three cows, with calves, from the station; out
of my son's wages--2 pigs in the sty, and a few dozen fowls. Therefore
we began thinking of shifting the family down. I sold our claim for a
few pounds, and as our house on the diggings was still good, we shifted
the materials down, and erected farm residence No. 2. This put us up
till nearly our first harvest time. Thus we were all together again,
except the son at the station, but he was only a few miles off. Our
youngest child at this time--a boy--was 2 years old. We did not leave
the digging's home, though, without some regrets. God having blessed
us with many peaceful years of comfort and independence, and, although
we had not saved much money, it did not interfere with our happiness;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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