Australian Tales - Setis

increase his surgical practice,” for doctors in general have more than
enough legitimate work at the present time.
I took warning by the downfall of the two ladies, however, and picked
my way along very warily, for a tumble in the mud is decidedly
unpleasant to my taste. To say nothing of the risk of sprains, broken
bones, and bruises, a person never looks so well, directly after he gets up,
as he did before he fell down, and he always loses dignity, in proportion
to the number of spectators around him, and the quantity of mire which
may be sticking to his apparel. Besides, if he were to be unfortunate
enough to dislocate his hip, or break half his ribs, five minutes would at
least elapse before he saw signs of genuine sympathy among the byestanders;
for it seems as natural for one person to laugh at another's
downfall, as to laugh under the influence of tickling fingers. I observed
as I went along that pipeclay footpaths are common in the eastern
suburbs of the city; and if I confess that I wished two aldermen had
slipped down, instead of the two ladies before mentioned, I hope it will
not be supposed that I bear ill-will to the worthy civic dignitaries of that
ward. On the contrary, I have great respect for them; but I thought it was
probable, if such a mishap occurred to them, that they would take it as a
reminder of neglected duty, and would forthwith send a few Corporation
carts, and labourers, to sprinkle a little sand over those glycerine
pathways. It is not likely that those poor ladies would have influence
enough to effect so much public good; besides, I think that either
pipeclay or clay pipes are less distasteful in the hands of the male sex,
than in the gloved hands of delicate females.
As I continued my walk, I noticed an unsavoury steam rising from the
damp, mouldy dwellings in several of the narrow lanes of the city, where
the sun's rays slanted down on them; and I wished that some Australian
“Peabody” would come nobly forward, and erect model-dwellings for the
poor, and do his own heart good at the same time. Then I began to
speculate whether any of those persons who have lately found the
influenza so terrible to bear, even when surrounded by all the comforts
which wealth can produce, ever thought of their poor sick neighbours in
some of those grimy hovels, who have to suffer amidst poverty and a
lack of common necessaries. How acceptable a few old clothes, a few
bags of coal, and a little delicate food would be to some of those
unhappy ones, I thought; and how easy it would be for those rich folks to
spare such trifles.
The wild, murky clouds soon began to wrap up the sun, and to damp
my spirits at the same time, so I hastened home again to my snug
fireside, thankful indeed that I had those comforts, and heartily wishing
that everybody else had a home and a fireside. Anon, the wind began to
roar round my chimney-pot again, and the hard rain to patter on my
window-pane; the gloom of night gathered around, and the lighthouse-