HOW PETER PALMER GOT HIS WIFE;

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2489, 23 June 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW PETER PALMER GOT HIS WIFE;

Ob, THE DIFFICULTIES OF OBTAINING A PARTNER IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE COLONY.

| [By Belladonna.] CHAPTER 111. DISAPPOINTED. The eventful Wednesday arrived, and with it arrived the two Palmers at the Mission Station, and they were very kindly welcomed by Mrs Brown. Upon enquiring for Mary Peter was informed that she had pone to see her mother, but would return first thing in the morning. "That's all riirht," said Peter; "so long as she's back in timo for the wedding that will do me. Of courso, its natural she should like to say good-bye to the old lady. I've never seen my mother-in-law yet," he thought; " and I don't care to either," then ho added aloud—"Have you managed to all that is required for to-morrow, Mrs Brown ?" " Yes," she replied ; " everything is ready. "Here is tho cake," she said, opening a large cupboard, and showing them a large cake, covered with ice. "Oh, that is famous,'' said Peter: " why it's worth while getting married if only to have a good slice oat of that," pointing to the cake, " is it not Bob ?" " Well, I'm not so sure on that point," returned his brother ; "but in this instance I shall be satisfied with the cake leaving out the wife." " You must he very fond of cake, Mr Palmer," said Mrs Brown, laughing. "Yes," said he, laughing too; "I'm like the Lord Mayor's fool, I like everything that is good." Bob wondered several times at Mary's absence the very day that Peter was expected ; but Peter himself seemed so unconcerned that he thought he need not trouble himself. I suppose they understand one another. After tea Bob strolled out into the

garden to have a quiet smoke, and as he

was leaning over the fence thus occupied he heard voices coming in his direction, As they approached one said, "I expecl

there will be a fine bit of fun to-morrow. I should like to see his face when he hears it." " Is she in earnest, do you think ?" said the other speaker.

" Yes, I'm sure she is. She told me last night she wouldn't be his washerwoman or—" and here Bob lost the rest of the sentence.

" Can it be Peter and Mary they were talking about," thought Bob. "Surely not, or Mr and Mrs Brotvn would have told Peter, but I'll keep my own council and see what turns up in the morning. I had a feeling all along that Peter was too sure that everything was right; he's awfully good-natured, but it is a pity he is so self-opinionatp.d." Peter himself was a little uncomfortable at Mary's absence, though pretended it was all right. Women do such queer things some times he thought. Suppose this girl should have run away now, it would make me feel., rather awkward, but not she; she knows a husband like me is not to be had every day. She'll be here in good time tomorrow morning, I warrant. Mr and Mrs Brown, too, began to have their doubts as to whether Mary would return. "Do you remember," said Mrs 8., " she was not to be found when he was going, away that time, and now she is away when he returns. I know she was put out when that parcel arrived. She did not like the dress, so I gave her one of my own that I had not made up. When I said perhaps she would like it better for a wedding dress she thanked me and said she would keep it to be married in." " Did she say she would be married in it to Mr Paimcr ?" said Mr Brown, " No," said his wife, she did not mention his name; but I concluded she meant him when she said she would wear it at her wedding." Thursday arrived, and no Mary. The ceremony had been fixed for 11 o'clock. Peter asked at breakfast if alio had come. "No, sho has not," said Mr Brown, " but I hope she will soon."

" Oh, she is sure to be soon now," said L'eter confidently, "it's only 8 o'clock." His doubts of the night before had vanished. Nino o'clock, no Mary. Ten o'clock, no Mary.

"What can be the matter; perhaps somo accident has happened to her horse. Could you not send a messenger after her," said Peter to Mr Brown.

"Yes, yes, I'll do that at once," and accordingly one was despatched to liurry up the bride-elect.

Peter went oft' to dress himself for the occasion. " I ehant give her much time to dress herself," thought Peter, "for keeping me waiting like this.

Eleven o'clock, no Mary, and no messenger returned. It's too bad to keep me waiting about like this," fumed Peter, as he find Bob walked up and down the garden watching the road for Mary coming back.

"I'm afraid, Peter, that she has gone away on purpose, and does not mean to come back to bo married."

" Nonsense," said Peter, she's not such a goose as that, I'm a chance not to be thrown away. Oh," here she comes and the boy too, she's in hurry enough now. Served her right if I'd run away ; keeping me waiting until 3 o'clock when we were to have been married at 11 o'clock. Como to tho church now, Bob. I'm not going to wait for her to change her dress, or we'll never get home to-night. There's Mr Brown at the church door."

'' Better wait until nlie gets to the houso," said Bob, "remember you have not seon her for a month."

"No, I'll not wait another minute," said Peter emphatically " I've waitod long

enough already." So Bob reluctantly followed his brother to the church door.

" Here she is at last Mr Brown," said Peter as ho came up to him. (t Is she," said Mr Brown looking relieved, " but thur's not Mary he added, as the equstrian drew near and seeing several people at the church door look up to where they were standing, " that is Mary's youngest sister, Annie." " Where's your sister, Mary ?" said Mrs Brown. " Please she told me to say that she's not coming!" "Not coming!" said Peter; "not coming ?" "Not coming!" echoed Mrs Brown. " Why ?" " Please, sir, she has changed her mind, and says she is not going to be married." "Do you mean that she has refused me—mef' Poor Peter almost gasped. " Yes, sir," said Annie, " sho told rae to tell you that she does not like you well enough to marry you," while she could hardly keep from laughing at Peter's crestfallen look, though she had a little pity for him too. "I don't understand it at all," said Peter, looking hopelessly from one to another. " Come to the house with me," said Bob, "the sudden blow has been too much for you, old fellow. Cheer up, and don't let the people see you look like that." Peter suffered his brother to lead him to the house, as he was inoapablo of thinking or acting for himself at the present time. Mr Brown got him a glass of brandy, and after a few minutes ho began to recover himself. "Now you're getting all right,are you not," said Bob, for he was a little alarmed at his brother's look when he got Mary's uulcind message. " There are as good fish in the sea as ever were caught, Peter." " Yes, and I'll have one of them too, that I will. I'll let Miss Mary see I can get a wife in spite of her." " Show her she is not worth fretting about," said Mr B, who was really vexed at the way Peter had been treated, j "Stay hereto-night, and I'll give you letters to the next two station, and you will, I have little doubt, soon find what you are seeking for." "Thank you very much," said Peter, " I ,«hall be pleased to accept your kind offer." At tea, the cake was put on the table. " We may as well eat this now," said Mrs Brown,"' and when you bring home your wife, let me know, and I'll make you another." " Thank you," said Peter, " if the wife ran away, the cake didn't." " No, I kept it under lock and key," said Mrs B, smiling. "Is it not delicious," whispered Peter to his brother, "it almost makes np for the sell to get a good feed like this." " I don't think Mr Palmer has taken his disappointment much to heart," said Mrs Brown to her husband; " did you notice all the cake he eat when at tea." " Whether he took it to heart or not, it certainly did not appear to affect his appetite," remarked Mr Brown. CHAPTER IV. PETER GOES WIFE HUNTING. The next day Peter and Bob started off together ; the former armed with his letters of introduction, and the latter

with the remainder of the cake, whio]

Mrs Brown insisted on his taking with him. When they got to the outside gate, tliey stood a few minutes talking, as they

were going in different directions. Whilst thus engaged, an old Maori advanced, and putting out his hand to Peter, he said shaking him heartily, meanwhile,

" You want a wahine, I got one, you have, she can scrape potatoes, make a wash the clothes, you like." "Oh no," said Peter laughing, " I won't take her from you." " You like take her," said the old gentleman ; "me get young one. " Well that is cool," said Peter to his brother, " here's this old fellow quietly offering me his old wife to scrape potatoes aud wash, so that he can have an excuse for marrying a youug one." " No," he said, shaking his head at the old chap, "me no like the wahine, and he rode off." His destination was 30 miles off, and it was late in the evening when he arrived there, found Mr Hart at home, presented his letter, and told his errand. " I don't think I can do anything for you, Mr Palmer," he said, " for the oldest girl in tho school at present is only 14; but I was at Mr Carrol's last week, and I saw several grown-up girls. ludeed, now that I think of it, Mrs Carrol told mo she must. try and get situations for them soon. I can give you a letter to him if you like." " I should bo oblijred if you would. I have one from Mr Brown, and should be glad of one from you, too," said Peter, gratefully. Mr Hart then took Peter into the

sitting-room, and introduced him to his wife and children, of whom there were two boys, about 12 and 14, and a pretty little girl about G years old. She was very talkative, and soon made friends with Peter, who was really fond of children. The next morning before breakfast she insisted on his going to see her pet hen and rabbit, chattering to him all the time. "Oh, there is the breakfast bell," said Daisy. "Come now." So in they went, and found the family already assembled. Peter apologised for having kept them waiting, and at once took his place, and Daisy insisted on sitting beside him. "lam afraid you hare found Daisy rather tiresome, Mr Palmer," said her mother. " Oh, no, she has amused me very much," said Peter. "You are looking for a wife, are you not?" siid Daisj-, innocently, looking up to Peter's face. "Yes, my dear, I am," said Peter, getting red, though he could Dot help laughing. " Who told ysu?" " I heard mamma tell Susan. Didn't you, ma ?" said Daisy, appealing to her mother. " Hush, Daisy, don't talk so," said Mr Hart, looking a litllo confused, while tho two boys tittered. '•And who is Susan, my dear," said Peter, thinking to turn Daisy's thought. " She's our servant, and do you know what she says," said Daisy, confidentially (not heeding a warning look from her mother) "she says she would have you only—only—" " Only what ?" said Petor, curiously. " Only she does not like t.lie colour of your hair. Did you not Susau who at that moment entered the room with a juy of hot water. " Did what, Mis* Daisy ?" said Susan. "Say you would marry Mr Palmer, only you did not like the colour of his hair." " For shame, Daisy, to be so rude," said her mother. Peter laughed and looked up at Smau. " I'm sorry you dou't like ray hair, but I aro afraid I can't alter it, not even to please you, Susau."

"I beg your pardon, Bir," said Susan, confusedly, as she hastily emptied the jug of water into the glass sugar basin instead of the toapot. Crack went the basin, aud the water ran off the table on to the cat, who was quietly sitting by her mistress. Poor puss gave a loud mew, and flew round the room as if Bhe had been shot, followed by the terrier, who thought there must be rats about. Susan

in endeavouring to beat a hasty retreat, stumbled over the two animals as they scampered about the room, smashing the in hnr fall. Carlo was first up, and mistaking Su w an's rabbit skin slipper for a rat seized hold of h(?r foot, and shook it unmercifully. Susan screamed, and iiy a much shorter time fhau it takes to tell it everyone was on their feet, and all was confusion, one of the boys got Carlo by the tail, but he held fast to the slipper, which fortunately came off, and the dog racd off with his prize. Mr Ilart helped the girl up, who was more frightened than hurt. One of the boys picked up the broken crockery, and after some little time order was, iu a measure, restored. Poor Daisy, the innocent cansi of the mischief, began to cry and had to retire, but the boys could not coutrol their mirth, so Mr Hart said grace to give them an opportunity of leaving the room, and no sooner were they out of the room than there was peal after peal of laughter. " I'm sorry my little cirl was so rude, Mr Palmer," said Mrs Hart apologising. "She did not mean to be rude, I am sure, ' said Peter, "so don't blame her. I am only sorry you have lost your jug and bisin, and poor Susan her slipper.' Daisy now appeared, having got over her tears.

"Go and tell Mr Palmer you are sorry," said her mother.

I Daisy instantly did her mother's bidding, and going up to Peter said, "I am very sorry, Mr Palmer, will you kiss me," which request Peter complied with, and all was right again. " The next time I comc I will bring you a doll Daisy ; but now I must say goodbye," and thanking Mr and Mrs Hart for their hospitality, he soon rode away. He had about 20 miles further to travel and two rivers to ford. Bridges in the back country in those days were an unknown luxury, so travellers had to make for a shallow place, and often had to go miles out of their road to cross a river. The first one Peter came to he got over safely, and after riding some miles further caught sight of the second river and the mission house in the distance heyond. The track winded in and out amoug fern and tall ti-tree, and ever and anon he got a glimpse of the water and then of the house. At last he got to the bank. The river did not' look inviting, but as he saw recent horsetracks, which had evidently not long gone over, and there being no one to ask anything about it he made preparations ' to cross, taking the precaution of taking , off his coat and boots and strapping them firmly to his saddle. After a few plunges ] and snorts he persuaded his horse to enter the water, and all went well until within a few yards of the opposite bank, the water not being up to his girth, when suddenly the animal stumbled and fell on his side, and Peter was precepitated into the water head first, and by the time he had recovered himself anil made his way to the hank, minus his hat, his steed had turned back to where it had come from. Peter began to call " coop, coop," in the vain hope that the creature might be induced to follow him. It just looked at him for a minute, and then turned and cantered off the track it had just come, and was soon lost to sight. Unfortunately Peter was now in a sorry plight, for he had still about three miles to walk. He was wet from head to foot and his coat, boots and hat were gone. '* I wish," he thought as he tried to wring tlie water out of his dripping garments," I wish I had been contcntea on the farm, then I should not have been in this mess. However, there's nothing for it now but to push on. It was dark by the time he arrived at the house, and a deplorable object he looked, but knowing the hospitabi'tty of the country people he did not hesitate to knock at the door and ask for admittance. A nice-looking young girl came to the door, and iu a few words he told her his misfortunes. She asked him in and he sat down by the kitchen fire while Fanny went to acquaint her master of his arrival.

(To be continued.)