Australian Tales - Setis

Jonathan made many admiring comments on the cattle, for he was a
judge, and knew all their best points better than a butcher. They were a
well bred and well fed lot of cows, so he could honestly say a good deal
in their praise: but he was most eloquent on the qualities of Daisy, which
was certainly a handsome animal. In thus expressing his opinion, he was
not insensible to the fact, that he was on the most direct road to the
dairyman's good graces, and before they had finished their survey, Mr.
Skimmer thought Jonathan was a nice sort of young fellow, who knew a
thing or two about cattle and dairy feeding.
As they emerged from the cow shed, Jonathan's anxious ears caught the
sound of cart wheels, accompanied by the jingling of tinware, which was
sweeter music to him than the chords of a grand piano, for he knew that
Phoebe had returned from her afternoon's milk service, and on turning a
corner of the dairy, he saw her descending from the yellow cart, her
pretty face blushing beneath her little round hat, like a ripe love-apple in
a strawberry basket.
“Hallo! welcome home, my girl,” said Mr. Skimmer, then he added,
nodding towards Jonathan, “here's Mr. What's-his-name come to see us.
Please to tell us your name, mate.”
“Jonathan Sprouts,” was the modest reply.
“Thank ee. Well, Mr. Sprouts will stop and take a cup of tea with us,
Phoebe, so get the kettle boiling quickly, there's a good girl.”
Chapter II.
“WALK this way, Mr. Sprouts,” said Mr. Skimmer, proceeding
towards the house. “What have you got in your bag? Excuse me for
asking; but if it is anything that can run away, bring it inside.”
“It's a foine ripe water melon. I carr'd an over from our garden, 'cos I'd
a notion Miss Phoebe ud like to have en. I loike em uncommon; they be
rate noice things to eat in warm weathur loike this,” replied Jonathan,
turning up the bag as he spoke, and rolling the green monster to the feet
of his deary, who smiled and said, “thankee, Mr. Sprouts, I am very fond
of melons.”
“Take a seat on the sofa,” said Mr. Skimmer, when they had entered a
snug little parlour, neat as hands could make it. “I'll just go and have a
wash, and put on my coat. I'll be with you again in a few minutes; make
yourself happy.”
Accordingly Jonathan seated himself, and while his host was at his
toilet, and Phoebe was helping the handy little maid-of-all-work in the
kitchen, he busied himself in taking stock of the comforts around him.
The house, though small, was very convenient, and scrupulously clean in
every part. There was not an atom of dust, or cobweb to be seen, and all
the furniture shone like a black fellow's face.