Australian Tales - Setis

commodious house, replete with every convenience and comfort I could
desire, except one — that first essential in a house — a wife. That
desideratum was wanting; but as I was now able to offer a home, with
every luxury the colony could afford, I thought the time was come to
send for Nanny. Then came the next posing question, how was I to win
her father's consent. I did not for a moment think of her coming without
his sanction; but how to overcome his obstinate prejudices was the
question which knocked my bump of hope as flat as a florin. Many
sleepless nights I spent considering that difficulty; and many times, both
by day and night, I sought Divine direction in the matter, for I felt how
essential a wife was to my happiness, and to my usefulness too. At length
my mind seemed directed to a certain course just on the eve of a ship
sailing for London. The vessel was a regular trader, and I was well
acquainted with the captain, so I explained my plans to him
confidentially, and arranged with him for the accommodation of my
darling Nanny, old Mr. Roseley, his son, and his son's wife and children;
also for my dear mother, my sister's orphan children, and an uncle and
aunt, with a lot of cousins, who were barely earning a livelihood in
England. Every kith and kin belonging to the Roseley and Dovecott
families were to be comfortably accommodated in the ‘Dolphin’ at my
expense, if they chose to come to Sydney. The captain promised to see
them personally, and try his best to induce them to accept my liberal
offer before he let his cabins to other passengers; but he would use
special efforts to bring out Nanny and her father, and my mother. At the
same time I sent home money sufficient to provide them all with
necessary outfits; and I promised to do my best to settle them
comfortably in the colony, and to have board and lodging ready for them
on their arrival. No one will be able to tell me that I was shabby enough
to neglect or scorn my poor relations after I had risen in the world, Mr.
Boomerang; and though I have not often met with grateful returns, I am
satisfied at having performed my duty, if some of those I have helped
have neglected theirs.
“Now comes a very remarkable part of my story, sir. About two
months before the Dolphin reached England, old Mr. Roseley's house
and barns were burnt to the ground; so he and his son Matt were totally
ruined, for they were not insured. Of course it was a sudden downfall to
them, and they felt it severely, for they were all rather proud in their way,
except Nanny. They had lots of sympathy while their buildings were
blazing, in fact a good deal more than they wanted, but it vanished with
the smoke; or the only tangible shape it assumed was in a subscription to
buy the old man a razor grinder's barrow, for he was remarkably handy
with edge tools, and had never seemed happier than when he was doing
odd jobs as an amateur tinker. His simple-hearted friends thought they
could not buy him an article more to his taste; and withal, it was a cheap