Australian Tales - Setis

am not sure about that, but never mind, she has very often said thankee
since then. That was the first time I ever set eyes on my dear Nanny; and
little did I then think that that wee tiny girl would prove to be the best
friend I ever found in the world, and would gladden my life with the
genial influence of her love — would prove to me a greater treasure than
all my gold, even if it were multiplied ten thousand fold, and worked into
filigree jewellery.”
“Hush, hush! Davy my dear,” said Mrs. Dovecott, while she gently
patted her husband's lips with her hand. “You must not praise me any
more, or Mr. Boomerang will think me a vain old creature to sit here and
listen to you.”
“Well, well, my lass, I won't if it makes you feel uncomfortable,
though I have not said half as much as I should like to say about you,
bless your little heart!”
“Some folks would say it is all nonsense to talk about a boy of seven
years old falling in love; but I can certify that it is quite natural for all
that,” continued Mr. Dovecott, addressing me. “You will believe what I
say, Boomerang, and I assure you I fell in love with that little girl, who
had lost her shoe; though I did not know I had fallen at all, till I got
home; indeed, I did not even then know the name of the strange feeling
which came over me. It was a peculiar sort of sweet sensation, with a
tingle in it, more like brimstone and treacle than anything else I could
then compare it to; and I used to feel it strongest when I crossed the
brook, or whenever I saw a little shoe with a hole in it: and I sometimes
used to dream that I saw a little girl picking a waterlily, and crying
‘Hoo — o — boo — o! I've lost my shoe!’
“About twelve months after that occurrence, the same little girl came to
Dame Tingle's school, and I felt so glad, though I scarcely knew why.
Whenever I bought a half-pennyworth of hard-bake or bulls-eyes, I
always saved some for little Nanny Roseley. She used to look so pleased
when I gave them to her; and one day she gave me a young turnip, which
I thought was as sweet as a golden-pippin, and it was nice and warm too,
through being carried in her pocket. I remember the first wicked act
which love tempted me to commit, and I did not soon forget the penalty I
paid for it. One morning I was going to school, and in passing Squire
Leveret's garden, I saw a bed of lovely pinks just inside a briar hedge. I
thought how much I should like one of those pinks to give to Nanny; and
without stopping to reflect on the sin I was going to commit, I worked
my head and shoulders through the hedge, and was in the act of picking
the flower, when I was strikingly conscious that some angry person was
behind me, with a stick in his hand; indeed the evidence of that was plain
enough five weeks afterwards. I withdrew my head and shoulders in a
very short time, when to my great dismay there stood Squire Leveret,
with a savage look, and the ashen switch in his hand, which had