ON AN AUSTRALIAN FARM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 May 1910, Page 4

ON AN AUSTRALIAN FARM.

A Serial Story By "STEELE RUDD." CHAPTER IV. AN UXAPI'KKOfATKD PIiIOKKXT. L L I ''' T 0!Ullt ' n alveng- • ill' tli' rest to-mo'iiw," old John observed thoughtfully, closing and bolting tliu heavy bum door fehat croaked oil its rollers, "an' soon 's '11 be carterl to tli' railway then we's go !to the * city, lads." "The city isn't worrying me nine;! ilather," Jaiiu'ts alihiwcirecl indiiffcireutly. "I'd .sooner put the time in completing my sulky." "But 'n. nioost go, lad," the ]wir- <• nt insisted. "The .-ioolky can keep till 'n comes back." "\ou wouldn't civtcJi nio staying I behind," lather," Peter broke* in. "lla! lia! ha! 1 wouldn't stay behind for w hundred sulkies!" "Nihil, thee wouldn't, lad," his parent chuckled. " Thee; be summit lalike a {[113 in tliet respect. 3 Peter." "lla, ha, .ha; ha. hah!" roared Peter. "Ves, like old TOlll. Fa tiled. He'll nuver stay behind, even if he's told to." "Ah-h, lahktt old Tom," old John agreed. "Lahke old Tom. ' ) Then leading the way across the r yard he attended to the rugging and feeding of the draught horses, while the sons saw tw the wants of the cows and pigs. 1 It was 'then getting dusk. "He bo ttgoin' to grow to a faline . colt," old John said in admiration of a handsome draught yearling, placing his arms about the hairy tjundruped's neck and fondling it. "Ah thenk as Alt moit put '11 into tli' Show next year." "By Jove, yes," Peter approved with a giggle. "J would, if I were you, Father. Show him in Jnines's sulky. It'll lie finished in about another year. Ha! ha I ha!" "Show you iu James's sulky!" his ' brother growled in disapproval, t :'Me?" and Peter laughed more. "Von wouldn't get me in it," he added, "unless there was a certificate to say lit was safe for a maw to trust himself in it. Ha! ha! ha! "What do you think, Father?" "For a man," James said, "i't would he safe enough—but T don't know about « donkey!" Peter didn't laugh. He didn't see any occasion to. "Well. Ah dersen't thenk Ah could get into ft, from the sahze on 't," the parent pu!t in pleasantly. Peter saw occasion to laugh now, an'l lie did .10 vigorously. "T _ don't think anyone could get into it. Father," he said. ".Tames must be making it for a go-cart for little Andy. Ha! ha! ha! And • he'll harness one of the sheep or old Tom in it for him." Just then Poll.v and Tilly, who had been to the towiship, shopni 112; and consulting the dressmaker there in record to their outfit for the citv. drove into 'the vnrd. ; James stepped forward and lielp- , cd his siste-s to alight, and tonk ehnrfe of the horse. "Mv \vr'l!" Peter cried, walking round the bnrrnrv in <1 lordlv S'-r» of way, "jolly time to* com© homo. . . . .And just l™k at poor old 'Whistler, sweating like "WeH, we would much rathe** 1". swented like a fool. Peter." Tillv answered, throwing back her veil and displaying a pair of rosy cheeks ancK an even set of white teeth, "than he should talk like one." ! _ James, who a.lwavs enjoyed Tilly's ' little digs at her brother, ehuckied 11s lie unbuckled the traces, and 1 looked across to see how lie was ' relishing it. But to Peter it wis all water on a truck's back. ' "Tt. would look a deal better," he ! rattled on, "if the pair of yon were in the shafts yourselves tan- ' den! fashion. Ha! ha, ha! And 1 old Whifftler on the seat. What f'/> vmi think, Father?" '' Old John's eyes twinkled a lot: ' but lie didn't make known hi* thoughts on the matter. v "Father couldn't be bothered 11 thinking ahout anything so ridiculous," Tilly 'retorted, hiding her- v self up 'with parcels taken from the buggy. , 11 "Ha, ha, ha!" from Peter. "You're i*ight. Anvtliing more '• ridiculous than you two, no 0110 n could imagine." _ Tilly, standing with arms encircI'ng the brown paper parcels, frowned contemptuously at him. "You're an incorrigible ass, Peter," she said, then burst out laughing. a Petor caflmlv lifted an enintv ptcr bucket, grensv and dirtv, that he l!l hiad set oni the ground some nii.n-nt-es before, and with a loud "Ha ! ha! ha!" Stood, it on top of Tilly's sa parcel*. ' Pc

Tilly (lew Into n helpless and useless passion. She attempted to kick Pctur, and calh'd upon old John to do things to ■'him. The parent with a broad smile took possession of the greasy bucket nmd eet- it down. "He shouldn't be allowed to (to a ■thing like that, father," Tilly stormed. "That's nothing funny 1" Oh, lot 'him alone, and come "long, Tilly," Potlv advised. "Mother will be .ill behind with the ■'ten- if w& don't hurry." "Yes," Peter shouted after 'them, as they hastened through the gate, "hurry up and do something, and let us have our tea. I want mine; and James wants to begin work, lie's been loafing all da v. Ha! ha! 1 ui I * " Some porkers, squealing wildly, atitraoted old John. "D.ml 'n fowl all th' pegs, lad?" lie asked, turning to the sties. "Feed them!" Peter answered. "T gave tlifm all the separated milk, and enough boiled corn to do t.heni a year. The more those wretches ge;t the more thev want." "That be th' wi' all pegs," old John remarked, peering over at .a number of purebred Berkshires. Then, ail'ter admiring them (or a few moments: "Thev be eomin' on, them c.haps, lad." "Not as fast as they ought," Pe:er .answered. Peter was in charge of the pig department on the faint, and had the interest of the swine at heart. "I'm going to try old Jimmy "Winn's dodge on some of them, father," he added, with a philanthropic smile. "What Ik> the't, lad?" inquired old John. "Cut theiir tails off," said Peter. Old John looked curiously at the chief of the pig department, and broke into a rambling chuckle. "Cut 'n 'tails off?'' he echoed, "what—-to. make 'n sharter?" "To make them grow," said the oilier. "And while I think o; it. lie continued, "I'll begin on a couple now." Away he trotted to the toolhouse: and with a fresh smile on hi* face, returned carrying a pair of gaping hedge-dippers in his hands, the blades of which repeatedly snapped together like the jaws i f a sliark clewing upon space. "What! wi' yon things?" from old John in .astonishment. "Ha! ha ! hah!" Peter lan-hed. slicing more of the a + mosnhere with Mi<* murdcrou s ; looki'ii" - implement. "Th!•=•' oii'j'hf to do the 'trick, eh. I'athnr?" "Hotter fak" 'n a knahfe. lad," vhe p'lf'.iiit' adri s r rl . nniduoiii'r hi. c ' I'fn i|"' openi'ur fli,> -Ida' 1 ". Thic is the thi'v ii'st you watch." And with th." clippers agape Peter leaned across the sty rails. ""Watch now!" he urged a second time. Old John, with a grin, watched. A half-grown hog wandered up. nosed the clippers inquisitively, then grunted and turned his tail to them. I'eter clicked back a giggle. His hands trembled. Then "klang" w.-ii ; i the blades, .and off went that pig with a deafening squeal, a.nd with the clippers dangling and .jangling behind it. "Ha. ha. ha! Blow it!" cried Pstor. "They lapped." "Ho! ho! ho!" laughed old John. " I liee will have to step in an' get 'n back now, lad." "lea. father! Tea! Come te v l+'a. father!'" called little Andy, swinging himself to .and fro on the garden gate. "All raht, mnh hoy," old John answered back. "lea! lea! Tea. lather!" came from little Andy again. And leaving Peter in the sties lighting with the squealing swine for possession o! the hedge clippers, the parent made his way to It'he house to tidy hiniselt and prepare tii preside over the vvening meal. Dash wood, Grani.y, James, •and Tilly filed in and took their places. Po'lly, with a long white apron over her dress, flew 'in -and out the kitchen with the various dishes. ''We're all behind .to-night, father,' Mrs Dashwood said apologetically. "It's easily known the girls have been out to-day." "All behahnd lakhe th' cow's tail, luoother." and old John squeezer! his sulky form into it.s chair, and proceeded to rattle the carver on the steel. Having fin,ished carving Tie piiH down the knife and fork and .nodded to Granny. Granny placed a .hand over her forehead .and prattled off a- long ami incoherent grace, to which old John and .Mrs Dashwoad added a reverent "Amen." "Oil dear!" Tilly sighed, "I think Granny repeats the whole of the New Testament. Pass the salt, if you please, father." Then with the "a.tlle of cutlery and crockery, mingled with cheerful speech a.nd Laughter, the meal went merrily 011. "Whatever is Keeping Peter?" Mrs Dashwood enquired, noting the prolonged absence of the cheerful one from the family board. Old John thought of the hedge clippers, and raised a. chuckle on his own account. "T heard him going to his room a minute ago, molther," Tilly sai l, "but be'l he .another hour yet. Peter takes as long to tidv himself for tea as it takes some brides to dress for their wedding." "I think we'll he a good while getting ready for ours," Polly said with a laugh. "Indeed!" Tillv .answered, "speak for yourself, Poll, T don't intend to bo an old maid." "He parts his hair in the centre now," James remarked, reverting to the absent Peter Avith a grin. "AII-I1," said old John, digging deep into the butter, "Ah ncdtice he bo adoiu' tJi-et." "Yes, and it makes liini look quito a ninny," Tilly added with a laugh. "A man who parts his hair in the centre is a weakling always, I think." "It baint be very man as can, mall girl," and old John, smiling hugely, passed his palm over the smooth surface of his bind crown. Hie family laughed morrilv. "What they be alaughin' 011?" Granny innocently asked of Tilly, "We're all laughing because tatheir can't part his hair in the centre, granny," Tilly informed her. "Swengin' partners in the centre!" said granny, and caused a treflh burst of merriment. "Swinging partners in the centre! 111111 inured .James, wilth an amused look on his face. Just then Peter put in an apipeara.nce, \\ earing a new necktie ll of many colours, and a huge smile, iind in his hand he carried; a dainty ooking board box fastened with riblion. 11l bet none of you can guess a-hat's in this," he began., holdiiif ip the box to view. Oh, some one has sent him a. -a len tine." Tilly hazarded. JMter shook his head and grinEvery one stared curiously at the )ox, which he kept well out of 'each. A box of pocket hand kerchiefs rmnjris girl," said Polly. ""What do you call those things hey buy for kiddies?" suggested nines, looking at his "A dummy," Tilly broke in with laugh, "and just what lie wants." "Show me!" Polly cried, making snaltch at the box. But Peter avoided her. "Pshaw! he has nothing!" Tilly lid, and curiosity threatened to pter out.

"It wasn't meant for me, anyway," Peter remarked adroitly. Their curiosity went up again wilth ii hound. "Oh, it's something for me—it was addressed .to me, and he's taken it!" Tilly cried in alarm. "It waa sent from the s hool. Give it up, Peiter, if it isn't for youl" amd. rising from the table made a frantic effort to gain possession of the valuable. "Ha! ha! ha! You're pretty iiear it," Peter laughed, "hut you'to not quito right." "It is for me. I know by tlio way lie's going on," Tilly insisted in despairing tones. "It's something from Mary St.. Olair. Mali'© him give it up, faither!" "Guess again, first," from Peter. "Ah, do, Peter!" Tilly resorted! to tact, "and I'll never say anything to offend you again. Ah, Peter! you know how I've 'always loved von as a sister? Peter!" "Isn't she a hypocrite!" from Polly. "Just lt'fc me peep a>t th.» address," and Tilly lifted her eyes pleadingly to her brother's. "Well then, sit down, and you can have it," Peter consented. Tilly, smiling triumphantly, «at down again, in a. hurry. Peter placed the coveted packet before her, Ithen stood by winking at, old John. Polly made movement to assist her sister in the opening process. But Tilly would have 110 hands oth'or than her own touch the precious packet. Tilly was a selfish girl where presents were concerned. "I don't know the writing," she said, "biift it is sent to me." Peter winked again. "Someone he a sen din' of yow summit to wear to the city," suggested old John roguishly. "Oh, T lmne it is," and Tilly jerked the lid off. The next moment she dropped it all 011 the table with a shudder, and gasped: "Oh. you beast!" "Ha! ha! ha! Hah! ha! hah!" And Peter danced a war-dance round the table. Polly looked over Tilly's shoulder, and cried "Hugk!" Then burst into laughter. "W.liiat be it?" asked old John. "Just what you thought, Fiatheir," Peter , choked. "Something for her itio wear to the city. Ha! ha! ha!" "Show '11 to us," and old John reached out his hand. "Throw it out; the horrible thing!" and Tilly shoved away from it as though it would bite her. Peter dipped in two lingers and lifted the contents of the box. "He! he! he!" cried little Andy. "A pig's tail." "Take '11 away, lad! take '11 away!" commanded old John, hold' ill g up both his hands. Mrs Dashwood was horrified. "Peter," she cried, "how dare you!" "A Jilt by jest-—bringing such a thins to the tea table!" Tilly prolt(\sted. rone-wing her attack 011 Peter. "Hilt you're going to Jvear it to the city, ain't von? Ha! ha! iifi!" A.nd Peter dangled the amputated member close to her ear. Tilly bounced up in a tearing p*s>'ion. "Father!" she cried, "da you allow 'that?" "Lad!" old John thundered in a voice tint meant obedience. "Well, give me hack its coffin," Peter said, grinning as ho collected the card board. "I'm going to bury it." "And T do believe," Tilly broke out again, "he actually cut it off one of the poor li'ttle pigs!" "Did you think I cut it off one of the old roosters? Ha. ha, ha!" ami Peter went off cheerfully, to dispose of the trophy, ""Well, next Monda'" said old Jehu, rising from the table, "we'll be amakin' a start for the city." "Xext Monday?" Tilly echoed .jubilantly. "Xext Monday?" Polly cried. "Ah-h, next Monda'." And old John reached for his pipe. (The next instalment of the story will appear 011 Saturday.) BHEEEWBnBMMHBHM