Australian Tales - Setis

it to say, that after seven months' voyage, I reached my destination in
safety, and was soon afterwards installed to my office.
“Viewing the enlightened state of the colony at the present time, you
could form but a faint conception of what it was nearly half a century
ago, sir; but I do not mean to allude to that subject further than my story
requires me to do. Of course, you know that there were comparatively
few free settlers here in those days, and there was not much free labour
to be obtained. I had a large number of convicts, or assigned servants, to
superintend, and the duty was not a light one, I assure you. Some of my
men were very difficult to manage, in fact were incorrigible rogues; but I
could give you many cheering instances of fidelity and good principles
which I experienced in others under my charge. I could also tell you
some harrowing stories of cruel scenes which I have witnessed, if there
were any advantage in recurring to the revolting annals of those penal
times, which will surely never be revived in this land.
“I had many disagreeables and privations to bear, and many dangers to
encounter during the first five years of my residence in this colony; and
often as I sat in my lonely cottage in the interior, have I been disposed to
doubt the prudence of the step I had taken in thus isolating myself from
civilized society, and from those near and dear relatives and friends for
whom my heart yearned with a fondness which at times induced
melancholy thoughts and purposes. Those seasons of sadness were
transient, however, for I usually felt buoyed up with a hope that good
would spring from it; and I was not without occasional little proofs of
that which it would perhaps not be modest of me to further mention.
“The postal communication too, in those days was very irregular, and
often protracted; still every ship which arrived from England brought me
letters from my mother and Nanny, full of endearing tokens of affection
and fidelity. I wrote them by every opportunity, and I need scarcely say
that I remitted to my mother ample funds to provide her with every
comfort she required. Rather strange to say, sir, I had a man as house
servant (a convict transported for poaching) who was born in the next
village to Beechwood, and at one time had worked for Mr. Roseley. You
have no idea, sir, what pleasure it used to afford me on dreary winter
evenings to hear that man talk about the woods and fields around my
native home, of old Mr. Roseley's peculiarities, and his pretty daughter
Nanny's excellencies, though of course he did not know how warmly I
was interested in that young lady. Poor Jem Traps was an honest fellow,
though he was a convict; and his simple stories of rustic life around
Beechwood were as entertaining to me as a fiddle is to a sailor. But I
soon got more agreeable companions than Jem to cheer my drooping
spirits. An important change took place about that time in my position
and my prospects.”