Australian Tales - Setis

a life of misery, but you have made a man of me, Grouts. Do you know
that while I lay in bed sulking, and trying to starve myself, I overheard
the merry voices of the children whom you collected to eat my wedding
breakfast, and though it was not welcome music to me at the time, it has
since suggested some important considerations to my mind, which I have
had ample time to reflect upon. The fact is, I have seen that my life has
been a waste; I have been hoarding up money, and living in selfish
idleness — burying my talent in a napkin, as it were — and totally
neglecting the most important concerns of life; but I hope I am now a
wiser, and a better man. If God spares me, you shall see some of my new
plans in operation very soon, and I trust that thousands of poor children
in this land will be permanently benefited thereby. Forgive you, indeed!
ha! ha! ha! You are the best friend I ever had in my life. Ho! ho! ho!
Your salve made me smart for a time, but it has doubtless saved me from
life-long heart-ache; at all events it has softened my heart towards my
needy fellow-creatures around me, and let me feel the luxury of doing
good with my money. Give me your hand, Grouts! God bless you, my
boy! This day fortnight is Christmas Day, you know, and you must dine
with me, so don't say nay. You shall see such a gathering in my paddock
on that day as nobody ever saw there before. I have invited all the poor
people I can find to a good dinner, and I am going to give them a
Christmas-box beside. Ha! ha! ha! won't it be glorious to see hundreds of
poverty-stricken mortals filled with joy and gladness?”
* * * * *
Not long afterwards Mr. Gummy married Widow Mayberry; and it
would be worth while for any old gentleman afflicted with chronic
celibacy, to peep into Gumberry Lodge now. Mr. Ben Spry is a master
wheelwright. thanks to the timely aid of Mr. Gummy, and his buggies
and bullock drays are generally approved of. Kitty makes a devoted wife
and a careful mother. Grandfather Gummy may often be seen frolicking
with her children, like a sunny old soul as he is; and when he has done
playing, he has always got useful work to do, “to visit the fatherless and
widows in their affliction.” His home is full of harmony, and his heart is
full of love; but if care-clouds perchance overshadow his brow on rare
occasions, his loving wife gently pats his bald head, then coquettishly
rattles the lid of the pomatum pot (which is kept as a chimney ornament),
when his face brightens up in an instant, and he laughs like a kilted
Highlandman trying on a pair of top-boots.