Eleven Thousand Miles for a Wife.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 December 1893, Page 7

Eleven Thousand Miles for a Wife.

[Specially written for the Southern Cross.]

(By Van Hatta.)

I had been in Australia for some years, and one day, while talking over old times spent in Canada with another Canadian who was also residing - in Sydney, we got desperately home sick, for be it known that all our cousins, our uncles and our aunts were there ; so that the effect of our conversation was firstly, the aforesaid home sickness, and secondly, the arranging of our affairs in Hew South Wales, so that we could leave them for a time, the purchase of our tickets and thirdly, a voyage to San Francisco, and then across the American continent to Canada by the Union Pacific Railway"; so that wit him .two months after that particular confab we found ourselves at Toronto : my friend consenting to accompany me on my visit to my relations if I would repay the compliment by going with him on a tour to his afterwards. Some would think we made up our minds very suddenly, but the fact is that one does not need much persuasion to return to their native country, after being’ exiled for years and finding themselves in a position to travel. It was on the 23rd of December Jack Sydmore and I alighted on the platform at the General Railway Depot, Toronto. Wishing to surprise my aunt and cousins, I had not previously informed them of our intended visit home ; in fact we had decided to have some fun with them, for you see I had been away for some years, and had become a full-set young man with a complexion well tanned by the hot Sydney summers, and had grown a thick dark brown heard, which rny barber trimmed a la military, viz., to a point. So that it would not be easy to recognize in the bearded and | sumbroAvned man, the bare - faced | sapling of eighteen, who had been | sent to Sydney to quill-drive at the desk of his father’s friend. It Avas the knowledge of these facts which suggested to me the idea of tormenting my kind-hearted relations for a little time. So upon arriving at the station we hailed a sleigh, jumped in, and aivay we drove to my aunt’s residence, Ho. 20, Oxford Ave. That sleigh drive Avas very satisfactory, for it Avas something to make our hearts glad. There were the dear old familiar streets covered with snow well beaten doAvn. in the centre of the roadway; the merry jingle of the small hells (which are attached to and form a part of the winter harness), the [sAvift quiet gliding of the sleigh OA'er the crisp snow as the horses trot briskly along, the flapping of the fur rugs which hung over the hack of the scat, the people in their great heavy fur top coats and caps, all of which was so thoroughly homelike, and dearly familiar to us. Anxious as we were to reach my aunt’s place, Ave asked the driver to make a greater distance than was necessary. At last, however, Ave reached Ho. 20. Mary, the housemaid, showed us into the draAvingrooin, and then asked us, ‘ Avhat names please ?’ ‘ The Messrs Henderson Bros., lawyers from San Francisco,’ replied Jack. Off goes Mary looking very curious, for the visit of strange lawyers from so great a distance puzzled her not a little ; but it evidently puzzled rny dear old aunt considerably more, for she came in looking rather serious. I could scarcely refrain the impulse to make myself known, for I loved the dear kind old soul dearly. ‘ Mrs Kerrson, I believe ?’ said I, rising. ‘Yes, I am Mrs Kerrson pray be seated, gentlemen. My housemaid informs me that you are lawyers from San Francisco, and I therefore presume that you have called on a matter of

business ?’ ‘ You are rig-ht, madam, said Jack. ‘We have come all the way from that city to see you especially.’ ‘lndeed! Then, gentlemen, it must be a matter of some importance,’ said my aunt, looking very uncomfortable. ‘Yes, it is a matter of great importance. It concerns your nephew, George Kerrson, who went to Australia some years ago, and, although it is decidedly unpleasant for us to be the bearers of bad news ’ ‘ What has happened P He can’t be dead! Tell me it my dear George still lives !’ ‘ Calm yourself, my dear Mrs Kerrson. lie is still alive ; but, alas, it is to dishonour, for ’ ‘ Never ! never ! ! M}' George dishonest! ! ! It can’t be—you dare not say that the charge is true.’ ‘ Well, madam, we are very soi ry, but my brother here can prove that on several occasions when I have bad transactions with him he has unlawfully kept money and valuable papers which were my own property.’ ‘Gentlemen, I do not believe a word of all this you say. To me it seems a clear case of blackmail, therefore I request that you leave my house immediately, as I cannot allow myself to be so insulted.’ We made no effort to depart, but sat there looking sweet and bland. This so irritated the poor little woman that she moved towards the bell-button to summon one of the men servants, with the evident purpose of having - us removed by force; but before she could reach it I sprang up,- stepped forward, and grasping her in my arms kissed hei twice before she could recover herself. Oh! what a look she gave me! Well, it was positively dangerous! ‘Aunt, don’t you know me P’ For one brief moment she gazed in a half-puzzled manner into my face, and then exclaimed —‘ Oh, you dear, naughty, bad, darling boy! Of course you are my George —how stupid of me not to know you : but you are so grown, and this bushy stuff on your face (and she gave my beard a vicious tug) ; but who is the other Mr Henderson P’ said my aunt, mockingly. ‘ A Canadian from New South Wales, who has come home with me to see his people, too. Mr Jack Sydmore, my dear aunt, Mrs Kerrson ; and vice versa' Of course aunt scolded me for trying to take away my own character, but years of absence in the far-off Australia, of which but comparatively little is known amongst the stay-at-home Canadians, made me quite a hero with my aunt and cousins, my friend also coming in for a share of the same cousins’ interest. The next day we were out driving nearly all day in our aunt’s sleigh, or rather cutter (which is a superior kind of sleigh —a winter equivalent for the buggy and carriage). As we drove along the vicinity of the wharves we could see parties of skaters, and here and there an iceboat (a three-cornered platform deck with steel runners underneath, upon which it glides, rigged out with proper canvas sails). About two miles out in the bay we could see Ned Hanlan’s Island, where the ex-champion has for many years owned a hotel, where crowds of friends and admirers steam, sail, and pull over in the summer time; skate, walk, and drive on the ice in the winter time. On the outer side of the island is Lake Ontario; the part lying between the island and Toronto is known as Toronto Bay.

To-night , is Christmas Eve. Besides having much to say we hive much to see, for Christmas Eve, like Christmas Day, is something to he remembered. All is hustle, business, and merriment. The shops are beauful—the drapery (or, as we term them, the dry goods shops) are most artistically arranged, the butchers’ shops hare pork and beef fantastically cut and bedecked with different colon red tissue paper, while on the door-post there hangs brown bear and carcasses of venison, poultry, Ac., galore. The faces of the customers were brightened into a healthy red by the stinging cold of the snow and frost ; looks of pleasure beaming in each face from the thought of a good, jolly Christmas dinner. But the hooktellers and the toyshops —these are

the kings of all the other shops afc Christmas Eve, for here Daddy Christmas holds forth in all his glories, only he does not serve behind the counters himself; here it is that he keeps his stock of presents which delight both young and old. Books, ornaments, and all sorts of pretty, useful things, besides trumpets, tops, tin swords, bugles, dolls and drums. We snv misery—those who had. not money to purchase a Christmas dinner, nor toys for their children—and our hearts ached; still, it was pleasant to see so many happy—-so many full of real innocent merriment. The rest of the evening we spent quietly with my cousins and aunt, seated around the big half-red-hot coal stove, and my relations were held sped bound with our account of Christmas in Australia. They could scarcely believe that people are overcome by heat at this season of the year —that shopkeepers work without their coats, with their shirt-sleeves rolled up ; but I assure you Jack and I realised the difference in the climates, for it seemed as if nothing could make us warm, so thin had our blood become after our sojourn in the semi-tropical New South Wales. Jack was particularly interesting, for he had been cmongst the blacks, and on this evening he spun some fine yarns about narrow escapes, &c. Minnie, my pretty cousin, seemed especially interested in Jack’s stories, so much so that although it was rather early in the day for me to prophecy I imagined a picture of the future which gave me delight, and which I dare scarcely hint to my readers. Christmas Day was already planned for us. We were to go to church in. the morning, and after dinner we were to drive out a few miles to a large farmer’s residence —-a Mr Anderson — where friends and acquaintances of the family were coming for many miles around to partake in a real jolly evening party. The day was a clear, bright,'"frosty one. Cold? Yes, very cold; some 20 deg - , below zero. It was a bit rough on Jack and I, but then we did not mind it very much,, for there were plenty of fur rugs and fot-warmers. My cousins all being out of their childhood did not hang up their stockings, so that we eichanged presents at the breakfast table. They seemed greatly delighted over some Australian curios which we had brought for them. The boomerang they wanted Jack to show them how to throw ; but Jack, the rascal, who could never manage one in the least, said that the frosty air had a peculiar effect on the Australian wood, and advised them to leave it till the summer. They did. We had just finished dinner when Cousin Tom shouted — k Hello, here is the Bob-sleigh;’ and, sure ; enough, drawn up to the gate was the long farmer’s Bob-sleigh (an equivalent to the waggon, with a w.iggon-box on sleigh-runners) ready to take us to farmer Anderson's. What fun it was to get into one of these conveyances — no seats, but the bottom tilled with straw, down upon which we seated ourselves, carefully and snugly tucking the fur rugs around us, and packing ourselves as close as sardines in a box, Jack somehow managing to get packed next to Minnie. Away scampered the horses as if they were dancing a gallop to the merry tinkling sounds which issued from the harness I bells. Soon we were out on the coun- ! try road, passing and meeting otherj pleasure parties, but not without many 1 a hearty 1 A merry Christinas to i you ’ and ‘ thank you—same to you, I and many of them.’ Soon wc reached the farmer's hospitable roof, and after much hand-shaking, expressions of peace and good will, and removing of wraps we found ourselves comfortably settled in a Ion*;, warm dininghall. The worthy farmer had known, me as a boy, so we had much to talk about and many questions to ask. The evening went cheerily along. There were young maids and old maids— fat, funny, slick, slim and pathetic ; young men without a sign of hair on their faces, grown men with, brawny hands and bushy boards, olet

men full of political history and memories of pioneer life ; but every •one seemed happy. To start with we had light refreshments, for the most •of ns had driven some distance : then ■came music, songs, recitations in the •drawing-room. Jack must have found Minnie good company during the drive, for it was somewhat remarkable how often I saw them together during the evening. They sang duets together, danced together, and did drooping wall flowers together until I felt quite sorry for the young men who wanted Minnie, and the young ladies who wanted to,dance and flirt with the handsome Canadian \vho had been all the way to Australia, hut had escaped being killed by the blacks. Then there were forfeits and all sorts of games. About 12 o clock we had supper, after which the diningroom was cleared of its furniture, and the fiddles commenced. At first it was graceful, dignified waltzing, but soon came the square dances, with all the jolly rollicking fun, until the contagiousness of it became too strong Tor the old dames and gentlemen, who threw themselves into it with many a jolly laugh and passing jest, and vied with young couples as to who could dance the hardest and merriest; clapping their hands occasionally to make the fiddles go faster. Our hostess, a fine, hearty old duchess, had secured as her partner a young college professor who was much stronger in the head than in the legs, so that the •quick time of the music got too much for him, and Dame Anderson too •energetic in the swingings and turnings of the dance ; he looked pained, his knees trembled, and down he went, somehow managing to bring the fine old lady on top of him. Someone helped the old lady up, and I went to sympathise with the poor professor, hut he had gone; and np to date I have not been able to see him to express my sorrow at the painful catastrophe of which he was the chief victim. Not till after the clock struck six in the morning did we find ourselves in the Bob-sleigh jogging along towards home. All went well until w r e got more than half back, when ■suddenly over went the sleigh, and out we all tumbled into the, snow. How it happened no one seemed to “know. We were singing an old college glee at the time, so that we did not notice the driver. The general opinion was that he had done it purposely. However, as no one was much hurt, and it gave Jack a chance to brush the snow from Minnie’s dress and ask her a lot of anxious questions as to whether she was much hurt or not, we forgave the driver on bis promising ‘ not to repeat the offence.

Great were the variety of pleasures and pastimes "which we indulged in ■during the week following. One day •over "to a hillside to enjoy the delightful sport of tobogganing, -then for a paper chase on snow shoes across the snow-covered fields and meadows. The girls looked very pretty in their costumes made of blankets with the coloured borders forming the ends of the long double - breasted coats, the pretty knitted toques (or caps) and moccasins on the feet and bright woollen sashes round the waist; the men in correspondingly pretty costumes, making quite a picture of the toboggan-slide and snow-shoe parties. The time went so rapidly that it seemed only a few hours to New Years’s Eve, when we all went to a fancy dress skating carnival held in a large rink. The ice is obtained by flooding the floor of the building with water and leaving the windows open so as to allow it to freeze. This night the ice was in good form, perfectly smooth, and as hard as glass. We all dressed up to represent certain characters, Jack and I coming out as Australian stockmen, which was quite new to our fellow countrymen. It was a most brilliant scene. The place was lighted up with electric light, most of the costumes very handsome, the ringing of the steel skates, the glistening of the nickel plated ones, and the varying motions ■of the vast assemblage, the charming figures cut by the graceful skaters,

and the amusing performances of the awkward squad, who generally managed to fall right in front of you, and would pull you down too if you were not very careful, made the evening a very pleasant one, and well worth taking part in. Now was it fate or perhaps, readers, you may knoxv, for I never have quite decided the question for myself, that made my cousin Minnie fall and sprain her ankle on that special occasion, for she was a good skater, and it was queer that she should meet with such an accident when Jack was near her; hut happen it did, and we all went home earlier than we had intended, .Jack looking absurdly anxious, and Minnie appearing more comforted by his expressions of sympathy, than at her brother’s and mv own words.

Aunt had retired on the. plea of a bad headache, and the hoys and I went to a watch meeting. Minnie could not go, and Jack, poor fellow, said he felt too tired, but when we came back from the church, we found Jack still out of bed, and worst of all he was sitting very close to the sofa upon which reclined the poor crippled Minnie. It appeared to me that they looked very guilty, and so they were, for although we had only been in Toronto a week, Jack and Minnie had fallen desperately in love with each other, and so Jack, finding an opportunity of popping the question, had popped it while we were at church, and beeiTaccepted, subject to the approval of her mother and eldest brother, who, in this instance, did the service of the dead father.

The next morning the required cousent was given, and in the course of a few days Jack and I went to see some of his people. The reception accorded with that received from my own people, only I did not fall in love with one of Jack’s cousins or sisters or aunts. We remained in Ontario for nearly three months. Minnie completely recovered from the accident, she and Jack went to church fora certain purpose, the consequence of which was that we started on our return journey with our party made up of Mr and Mrs Jack Sydmore and your humble servant. It was the jolliest Christinas holiday that I ever had, for besides a visit to my native country, I gained for my cousin a man whom I respected and loved very much, and a home where I am loved as a brother, for I live with them now in Sydney, and Minnie is very kind to me, for she says I brought her the best Christmas present she ever received —meaning Jack!