Transcript of Isabella Keenan's Recollections - Margaret River and Districts Historical Society

This is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated summary and full transcript of the recollections of Isabella Keenan about her life in the southwest of Western Australia. The original audio podcast can be found on our YouTube channel @TheOldSettlement.

Please be aware that the summary and full transcript are both generated by AI which is considered experimental. This transcript contains transcription inaccuracies and errors especially when referring to names and locations.

Summary

This reading is a detailed historical account narrated by Isabella Keenan, describing her family life and the pioneering experience in southwest Western Australia (WA) between 1860 and 1900. The manuscript provides insight into the hardships, lifestyle, and community interactions during that period.

Background and Family Origins

Isabella Keenan (born 1874) was the third daughter of Stuart and Isabella Keenan of Glenone, Cape Naturalist.
Her parents emigrated from Ireland to WA in 1859 aboard the ship _West Australia_.
The family was initially very poor; the father began work in Bunbury reaping crops.
The family faced many hardships, including lack of access to schools, shops, and post offices until Isabella was about 20 years old.
Education was home-based; Isabella taught herself reading, writing, and spelling.

Pioneer Lifestyle and Work Ethic

The family was skilled in farm work: bread making, butter, baking, milking cows, horse riding, hunting, and clearing land.
Hard physical work was common for both boys and girls.
They made their own clothes, bedding, and household linens.
Life was disciplined according to the principles instilled by their parents focusing on self-reliance, courage, and religious faith.

Early Living Conditions and Employment Struggles

The family initially lived at remote places like Lockville, Lock Island, and moved to leases like Rainscourt.
Circumstances included conflicts with neighbors, such as disputes over trenching work and livestock.
Economic challenges included difficulties with purchasing stores and being cheated with missing goods (e.g., timber, clothing).
Support from friends such as a water policeman (Mr. Cox) helped establish credit accounts.

Farming and Property Management

Stuart Keenan took leases such as Rainscourt and eventually acquired land at Cape Eagle Bay (named Glenone).
The family managed crops (potatoes, rye) and livestock (cows, pigs, horses).
The family developed farms despite losses to wild pigs, trespassing cattle, and destructive neighbors.
The importance of partnerships and leasing arrangements is highlighted, including deals with local landowners and settlers like the Bustles.

Community and Local Relations

Relations with neighbors, other settlers, timber workers, and Indigenous people are described.
Notable events include:
- Election campaigning and successful lobbying for legislation allowing landowners to obtain timber from their own leases.
- Conflicts involving trespassing cattle and removing livestock by neighbors (some with legal battles).
Description of local cultural and social activities: dances beginning at age 22-24, children's play, and community gatherings.

Education and Health

Limited formal education; children learned through home study and self-teaching.
Health was managed at home by the mother, who acted as the family doctor.
Common illnesses, injuries (like ringworm, warts, typhoid fever), and treatments with remedies like castor oil and homemade caustic are mentioned.
Deaths in the family included children lost to accidents and childbirth complications.

Social and Domestic Life

Daily chores included milking, feeding calves, cooking, baking, cleaning, and garden work.
Food was often home-produced, with hunting and fishing supplementing diet.
The family raised pets and animals (pigs, cats, dogs, kangaroo rats, opossums).
Christmas and community celebrations, picnics, and dances were part of their social life.

Challenges of Transport and Travel

Transport was by horse, bullock carts, and later by buggy.
Difficulties with roads, bridges, and natural obstacles affected travel.
Mail delivery and communication were limited; letters and parcels were managed with care.

Accounts of Specific Incidents and Anecdotes

Legal disputes over land, fences, timber, cattle brands, and local resources.
Story of John Boyle O'Reilly's escape from a chain gang via a whaling boat.
Various personal stories of family members, neighbors, and workers in the area.
The opening and exploration of local caves, their promotion as tourist attractions.
Experiences with Aboriginal camps and Indigenous people, including interactions with children and the use of traditional fishing methods.

Later Years and Developments

Land acquisitions and sales affecting the family’s farming operations.
Transition from isolated living to more established farming communities.
Changes in management and ownership of surrounding properties.
The inception of local infrastructure like post offices and roads.
Developing social connections through visits, courtships, and marriages.

Overall Significance

The manuscript reflects the pioneering spirit, resilience, and adaptability of early settlers in WA.
It documents the cultural, economic, and social dynamics of rural life over several decades.
The account underscores the role of family and community support in facing challenges.
It illustrates the gradual transformation from wilderness to organized agricultural settlement.

Note: The manuscript is a valuable historical document, providing personal perspectives and rich detail about pioneer life in southwest WA. It serves as an oral and written family history, as well as a source of wider interest for those studying Australian settlement history.

Full transcript

This reading is being done from Isabella Keenan's handwritten recollections of her life in the South West of WA. She wrote it in 1955, when she was 81, and it covers mainly the period between 1860 and 1900. The manuscript is a bit frayed on the page edges. There are no margins and not much punctuation. I've decided to record it mainly for family and relatives, although there may be others too who are interested. Isabella Keenan, third daughter of Stuart and Isabella Keenan of Glennon's Cape naturalist, born at Glennon Cape naturalist, in 1874. My childhood memories. How I came to write these reminiscences is because my sons and daughter were constantly asking after me narrating my early life and experiences to write about them. They were so persistent in their request that at last I consented, and this booklet is the outcome, I can assure my readers that everything I have written took place exactly as I have described it. Isabella Keenan, the writer of this booklet now 81 years old, never went to school in her life, never saw her school until she took her own children to school in 1923. She never saw a shop or a post office until she was 20 years old. All the schooling I got was my mother and sister. Lizzie taught me my ABC and my first book. After that I had to read. The other school books. And when I came to a spelling, I didn't know I wrote on my slate and asked what it meant and kept on writing till I got to know. I could spell my other sisters had to learn the same way. There was a big family of US and mother had to work hard to keep us, and there was no schools 9 miles to the nearest and money was hard to get. As you see by this booklet, we didn't do too bad. We made up our minds that we were all going to learn to read and write and all other things that were useful. We could make bread, butter, cakes and we could milk, handle cows, handle horses, ride hunt cattle and horse. We could do garden work, plant potatoes, clear land, grub, ring bark, trees, do fencing anything on a farm. We never learned to dance until we were 22 or 24 years old. We made all our own clothes, everything, even the sheets and pillows. Towels, tablecloths and patchwork quilts, and help father with the hay and chaff cutting and the cleaning of the wheat to send away for. Now. Picked up all the potatoes and grated them for sale. Often when rain came early and the swamp got very wet, we would go in barefooted up to our knees in some places to dig and gather the potatoes out. We worked as men and good men. Father would rather have one of his girls to help him than two of the boys. The boys were stronger but didn't like work. Harry was a good Bullock driver and horseman. Bob was a good man with the axe. He was a good timber man and could take his place anywhere in. The. Timber. Those two boys, like the timber station and used to cut off now and again for a few months and take the Bullock team. There would be a wait two or three months and come home at Christmas time. Bringing some friends with them for Christmas and a lot of dirty clothes for washing and mending. The hardships and discipline we encountered in my young life enabled me in afterlife to face difficulties and trials that otherwise I should have sunk under. I have braved many a stormy blast against all odds and the thought of how my mother and father battled against all hardships has at all times encouraged me to battle on to persevere and win through. All honour, I say to those brave pioneers, both women and men who instilled into their children lessons of self reliance and courage and the love of God which helped to make Australia the magnificent country she is today. My father and mother, Stuart and Isabella Keenan, came to West Australia from Ireland in the year 1859, landed at Fremantle on the eighth day of October. In the ship called the West Australia on her maiden trip. They were three months on the sea, mother, seasick, all the time. When they landed, father had only two and six in his pocket, and he knew that he had to get. Work. At once, as soon as he got mother settled, he was off and he didn't stop till he got to Bunbury, where he got a job of reaping with a sickle, 2 and six an acre. Food. 25 acres there was. When he finished, he entered into an agreement with Mr McCourt to go share farming and went back to Perth for mother. During this time, my brother Jim was born November 1859. Father had made arrangements for their passage to Vance with Mr Cross. In his boat, the wild wave. Which traded between VAS and per. But. It was only a small boat and father and mother landed on New Year's Day 1860 and went to Mr Earnshaw's. When they arrived at Vass on the same day, on the boat was McCarthy's creditors, they had come down to seize all Mccourt's belongings and sell them, so that ended Father's agreement with McCourt and the dairy farming at Blackwood. But he still had the crop to take off. It was said, 50. Packers. This father did father and mother then moved out to lockville on Lock Island to live. Father took a job of trenching to plant vines. Mother as usual, went on with the dressmaking and making men's clothes, shirts, pants, coats. She got plenty of sewing and making to do and was doing alright in fact. She was making more money than father, but she told us all how hard it was on her. As she had come from a good home to the wild Bush and knew no one. Left the land of plenty to save and scratch for a few shillings. She was getting a few little things about her. She had a few bowls and brought a little pig from Mrs Lock. He could only let her have the very small one and one day Mr Lock came along and mother asked him to come and see her pig. It was doing so well. She was proud of it. He went with her to the sky and looked at it. Remarkably well, Mrs Canaan. What you faded on. Ohh Stewart shoots two or three Kangaroos on Sunday and we eat the hind part and the pigs and fowl get the rest with a few cabbage. Leaves. And we feed them with it and. Take the fowls and get a few scraps from the tables. I get a few eggs. Ohh, I see. Stuart Hanson Sunday does he? Oh. Later, Mr Locke went to Perth to Melbourne with his horses. He had some fine race horses and used to go to Perth and Melbourne to the races and take. His. Horses he would be away sometimes a month or six weeks. This time I speak of he was away 4 weeks when he left. He left no one in charge. He had two old ticket men working, trenching. Father was also trenching on the other side of the fence, and the men didn't know how to trench. When Locke came back, his pigs had eaten all the young pigs and all the fowls that came into the style. He had never left any food for the men to feed to the pigs, only grass and water. He was very angry with the young men he rode out to them with his stock whip in hand, and laid it on to them. He then turned to father, lifting his whip, said why didn't you show those men how to do it? Father answered. I was not their boss. I had no authority to speak to them. Block lifted his whip and made as to put it on to father. Father lifted his spade. You do touch me with that whip and I will split you down with this spade. Remember M lock. I am not a poor ticket man. I am as good as you are. Just get that. With this lock turned to ride off again, I will have you up for assault and offer you went to mother and told her he was going in to lay a charge against her husband for assault. He had lifted his spade and charged him with it. Father lifted his spade at the end of the day and started home when he got home, he found mother in tears. Mr Lock had been there and forbid her touch. A cabbage leaf or a blade of grass, and told her she had to get out of it at once. But she wasn't to touch anything there. When Father came, mother blamed him for being too hasty, and father left the house and went out onto the road to think the best plan. He lit his pipe and sat down on a log by the roadside. When, oh, who should ride up? But Mr JG Bussell. Hello, kanan. Just the man I wanted to say. I have had a letter from Mrs Violet Bustle. She wants to lease her place. Can you put me on to someone you can recommend? Yes, I'd like to take it myself, said Father. Ohh. But you are with lock. Ohh that's all over I have left, he told Mr Bussell. What had passed between him and Locke, and they turned and went out to cattle, chosen and drafted an agreement that evening, when Father returned to mother, he had good news for her, and mother was once more happy. They left Locks Island, but they never got paid for the trenching. Father had left his job and that contract was bro. Mother got her pig and fowls and straw mattress, and the few boxes and the things she had, but no money. They had to get food and were strangers. Mother went to town with her few eggs for sale to get food. She went to the police station as the needy. Money was there and oh, to her joy, she met an old school friend, Mr Cox. A water pleaseman and she outlined her position to him and here at once said I can help you. Belle. He called her by her old school name. At that, they went together to Mr Prizes. Mr Prize had just opened a store at the Prize's House, Mr Cox said to Mr Prize. This is Mrs Keenan. I have known her all my life. She has just taken over a lease for seven years of the bustle estate and it Rains court. But just at the present they are short of money. She would like to get a few things on account. I will back her bill up to £100. Or more. And mother opened up the credit account with Mr Prize. She surprised father when he and Mr Cox came out and ordered the team to go to town and bring out the order bag of flour, 10 lbs tea bag of sugar and 1 salt. 4 bars of soap, 3 lbs of washing soda, 3 milk buckets, a dozen milk dishes, a pound of tobacco. Two dozen matches, one large 4 gallon. And so they started on the. Lease. Father had to improve the place by clearing and fencing. He also had to get together all Mrs Bussell's cattle and brand and handle them. Father got all he could make out of butter, potatoes and other produce, but he had to pay £25 per year rent. He also got a third of the young stock. This job was a big undertaking for father. He had to break in a team of bullocks. And break horses. Yes. So he at once sent for his two brothers, Erne and Robert, and they lost no time in coming to him and they were a great help to father and mother. They worked hard and grubbed peppermints out. They cut them into firewood and sold it to the police and hotels. By this means they made enough to pay the rent. Mother was a good butter maker. She knew how to do it and had many prizes for her butter in Ireland and all the butter she could make. She had ready sail for it. She even sent butter to Albany and York and Williams. And she still kept up her dressmaking and men's clothes. And the slack time Father was doing well. He was a worker and a sport as well. He liked horses and races. He used to go to Perth to see the races. It was all by horse in those days. Father had a good horse called Nonsuch. He rode this horse to Perth and when he got up he entered the horse for the town plate. 50 lbs. He got young Bob heaping stone to ride him, and Nonsuch came in, hands down ahead of Mr Locke's prize horses. Nonsuch won the plate. Look was well with father and father was proud and every time he saw Mr Locke, he would challenge him with Nonsuch. All went well, but father got itchy feet. He had read of the goldfields in Bendigo. And it was all the talk. The gold was there, it could be picked up almost anywhere. His brother's children had picked up a nice slug on the brook laying right where the water had washed it. Found. But no more are being found there. Father must go and try his luck. No man knows until he tries his luck. Everything was going good at Raines court. Mother and the brothers were managing and the children were alright. There was now three children. Jim, Robert and Lizzie. Fathers brothers had filled the gap. There was no men needed, the place was going good. Father had taken a contract to cut timber for the Catholic Church in Bath. He had employed 2 ticket men to piksel the timber and they had finished the job and the timber was branded and ready to cart. The men paid and everything was right. Father's next job was to get the potatoes out. He had a bumper crop, 12 tonnes. When he got them out, he would take them to Perth and sell them. Then he would be free to go. This he did. He took the potatoes to Perth and met with the good Marco. He sold them at £10 per tonne and he also had skins and butter 3 kegs which he sold well. He was happy now must get things for mother and children and the boys. This he did. And when going downtown, he met Mr Cox, the water policeman, a friend. Ohh go with you and her. Father brought up half a tonne of flour, 3 bags of sugar, a chest of tea, 2 bags of salt, soap, washing soda rice. Then he bought good shirts for the brothers and trousers and also bought a lot of dress material for mother and the children. And good material to make into strong shirts and coats for men. Mr Cox helped him to do the shopping and father consigned it all to Vass. Mr Cox was with him and saw the consignment go on to Mr Cross's boat, the wild wave. Then Father was happy. He had sent mother 12 months supply. He would be back by that time with his gold. Mother got a letter to say sending goods. But she never got the goods. Mr Cross's brother was skipper on the boat. He could not tell mother anything about the goods. As far as he knew, there was nothing put on for her. Father was in Adelaide and Mother had nothing. Only Father's letter to say that he had even got the things. Time went on. Father had left the timber at the stump that he had cut and paid for and branded. It was his contract for the church. Mr Cross got the ticket men to cut Keenan's brand off the end and cut the timber in at night and stack it in his yard. Card. When mother went to get the timber cart and it. Was. Gone one or two of the ticket men told her what had been done. She went to cross about it and cross told her that he had bought it from the men who'd cut it, that they said it was theirs. Keenan had never paid them for it. Mrs Cross went in and took her oath that she had supplied the men with food while they were cutting it. The men also swore that they had been supplied by Mrs Cross with food. Mother put her account in to show that she had supplied them the goods and food. The police warder also said he had taken food from Mrs Keenan for the men while cutting the timber. They gave the two men who swore that Mrs Cross had supplied them with food and that Keenan had not. They gave those two men six months for swearing lies, but the timber mother never got. Mr Cross had possession of the timber and possession was known. Points of the law. Father was away in the east, but just as mother and Mrs Cross walked out of the courthouse after all the lies she missus cross had sworn here, right in front of them was the policeman with her brother's handcuffed and all the clothes that father had sent down for his brothers were slung across the horses neck. Mr Cox had seen Mrs Cross's brother in the street and put his hand on him and asked where did you get that? Shirt. And he had stammered and said he didn't know at last, he said he bought it where he didn't know. But Cox knew. It was the shirt father had bought and he followed him and searched his camp and found clothes and so brought him to prison. Mother got a few things, but she never got flour or tea or shirts or any of the other goods. Mother has told us all how everyone seemed as if they wanted to get something for nothing. Even old Bob Lockhart came out to take the cow that she was milking. He said that Stuart had swapped with him for another young cow he Lockhart had children and no milk. Them. Keenan also had three small children and one a very sick child who had to have milk food. Lockhart came out and told mother he had come for his car. Mother told him she knew nothing of the swamp and that she would not let him take the cow and the milk from her children. She put up the rails and got into the yard. Lockhart took the rails down and drove the cow out, and mother followed crying and he drove on and on until she was about to enter the town. Mother followed, crying, and then he left the cow. Her mother drove her home. I think Lockhart was afraid that someone would see him. Her mother intended to follow. He had no ground to stand on. Father had said that they might have a cow later, that they could let him have, but no swap. Then old Kinsella had to try and work up something against Father. Some time before Father left, Kinsella came to him to get a. Pair of bullocks. Father had always taken heffers for his third he had no steers, and when Counsellor came. Father saw Mr Bussell and swapped 2 cows with bustle for two young blocks to break. And. The bullocks had bustles brand on and the cows had keenans. Well, when all the trouble was on. Kinsella went to Bussell and told him he had bought 2 bullocks from Keenan just before he left. They had his brand on. Mr Bussell came to mother and told her what Kinsella had told him. Mother remembered the bargain with bustle about the bullocks, and she told Mr Bustle. You remember Mr Bussell, us swapping 2 cows for two bullocks to break in. Well, Stuart sold them to council. Remember their marks, one right off hind foot, White Star on the face. Brushed back horns, the other one dark red with long turned up horns. Can sell. I knew we had bought or swapped with you. Yes, Mrs Keenan. The man is a scoundrel and wants to make trouble. He's a bad man. Mother told us that she thought Lockhart was bullying her. And he thought that he could bully her into giving the cow. But she also told us that there were good men amongst the old ticket men. One thing she told us about father when he was in town and 3 or 4 old ticket men were up before court for being drunk and they were fine, 10 shillings each and they had no money to pay their fines. Father paid the fine for them, mother said. I was wild with him for doing it. But the men didn't forget, Father. They had a big field of rye and it was. Fit to reap and falling down. They could not get men enough. To cut it. A few days after Father had been in town. They father and mother and the boys were at breakfast. They heard the gate click and looked out and saw those men coming in, sickle in hand. We have come to cut your crop for you. And they cut it so good comes out of bad, mother said. Father did foolish things he trusted to honesty. Often he lost and had a lot of trouble over it. Mother has often told us all about the trouble she had over father's good nature and trust in man's honesty. Some time before going over to the east, he sold 4 tonnes of potatoes to a man whose name was Lipsy, who was engaged in the timber. The four tonnes of potatoes at 10 LB a tonne was 40 LB. Lipsy gave Father 2 cheques, each for 20 lbs. Father got him to make the payment that way, as he wanted 20 lbs. To give Mrs Bussell for the rent. He sent the cheques to Mrs Bussell and they were returned. No funds. Mother paid the rent. The cheques were laid aside by Mrs Bussell, a short time after this father bought 4 bullocks off Lipsey at 10 LB. A head. That was £40. At the time when Father bought those bullocks, father didn't know that lipsyte's cheque had been dishonoured. Lipsey said to father when he bought the bullocks. I'm in a bit of a hole. Just at present I will get you to put your name on the back of this promissory note. You will assist me? Father put his name on the promissory note. Time went on. Lipsky gave that promissory note to Mr Macgibbon for payment of a debt. He said those people are well to do. They have just bought a place at the Cape. When father left, he thought all was right and he was quits with lipstick. He had sold him 4 tonne of potatoes for 40 lbs. Lipsey had paid with bad cheque. He himself had bought 4 bullocks for £40 and there had been no money paid so the. Thing was settled. His mind was easy, but when Father came back and they had settled in at the Cape and the Gibbon had father's promissory note and he wrote to father about it demanding payment, he would take beef. But beef was very cheap, so Father saw Mr Yelton. He would bring 4 bullocks at 10 LB a head. Father sold the blocks to Yelverton to work for £40. Yorton agreed to pay me given the £40 for father in a week or so's time. He went out and the Gibbons, someone's father, and got judgement and the bailiff came out and seized everything, even the milk mother had milk that morning. Mother got on her horse, Nonsuch, and rode over to Mr Yelverton's right up to the top station. It was night when she got there and found Yelverton in his. Office. Hello, Mrs Keenan. What brings you here at this hour? I have come, Mr Elberton, about this promissory note mckibbens. Ohh, that's alright. I'll see to that. Mrs Keenan. Don't you worry about it. But I have to you just put the bailiff on and seized everything. I have. Even the milk. I milked this morning. The devil they have, yes. Ohh I'll see into this. You just go home now and I'll fix it. Go home and make a good cup of tea and you take those wet clothes off you. I have to go home to my baby. It will be all right, Mrs Keenan. I'll see to that. But mother didn't see to, leaving it to him. She went home and was up before the daylight and on her way to Yelverton to pick up him and go to town with him. This she did, and when they got to town, they went to every house that was likely to have money that Yelverton could borrow on his timber. From early morning till evening. At last, they saw Mrs. Brown, the parson's wife, come out and go for her evening walk. There. Now there is Mrs. Brown going for her. Walk. We will try the Parson. When the cats away, the mice will play and they went in and saw Mr. Brown and he gave the organ the check for £40. And Mother was able to pay the promissory note. When Father came back from the east, the lease was up at Raincourt and mother had money enough to buy a place. James Chapman was selling his plays at Cape Eagle Bay. He was an invalid, a very sick man, and wanted to sell his property and fix things up before his death, he had people in England. His brother Henry had no children. His sister, Mrs. Smith, had three children. And those would get Henry's property. Mr Bridges only had one child and she had died, so all here were done for. Mrs Chapman's sister was married to a man. The name of Curtis, and they lived in Fremantle and kept a hotel. They both died and left three young children. Mrs Chapman took those children. One of the children died. The other two lived on with the Chapmans. A boy, William. A girl, Millie. Milly married George Lehman and William married Julia Smith in the winter. The Cape to live in Chapman's house. Missus Curtis died after they were married. 11 months. There was no children. Henry Chapman also died and Mrs Chapman became the owner of the Chapman property at Warner up and the Old Cape. Eagle Bay belonged to Henry Chapman's brother James. James was a cripple and a very sick man, and he knew he had not long to live, and he was very anxious to sell his property so he could send the money to his people in England. Which he. It. In 1869, Father came home from the Eastern States and mother's least for seven years. At Raines Court was up, Chapman was selling his property at the Cape Eagle Bay and Bodger up 80 acres, two blocks, 40 at Eagle Bay and 40 at Bodger. Up afterwards named Glennon by father. Chapman also had a grazing lease of 3000 acres. This the Keenan sport. In 1869, Chapman died in 1870 year only just fixed up the sale. Father went down to the Cape to have a look around and to fix up things for mother before she and the children and the cattle and pigs, fowls all arrived. Pigsties had to be made yards for the cattle and the house at Boldra, which was only a slab camp. 2 rooms. There was a nice house at Eagle Bay, but mother would not go to live there as it was too near the sea and the brook and she was afraid of the children getting drowned. So Father had to fix the camp up a bit. He papered the walls with old newspapers and made it comfortable as well as he. Could. Carted wooden staff. Put up a little place for the dairy. He went down to the Cape and saw Chapman's house at the Cape, and there were only three rooms in their house. But he fell in love with the ground around the lake flat. Just the thing for potatoes and a big yard full of stock manure. Father had the good seed potatoes, 5 bags. Mother and he had a talk and agreed. Agreed to as William Curtis, who was in charge at that time. This father did, and they agreed to go 5050. Father would find seed and cart the manure and put the potatoes in and look after them and take them out. Curtis got half. Father, put the five bags of potatoes in and they were a real fine sight. Father hoed them and they were all in flower. Mother and the family arrived at Pooja. And went down and sewed the potatoes and they were pleased. A few weeks after she went to town and on her way home, she called in at neighbours. Mrs Harris's place and Mrs Harris said. How's your potatoes doing at the Cape? Mother said. Oh, they are a nice crop all in. Blossom. Father and I were down last Sunday and saw the. Then Mrs Harris said, Abby, that was her husband's name. Tells me that William Curtis has his pigs running in them. Mother went home and she and father went down to sea. And true enough, the pigs were in them and had rooted the garden from one end to the other. Mr Curtis saw them looking at them but never came to speak to father and mother. That was the end of Father's good seed. He had five or 6 bags of small potatoes. And those he planted on the side of. Hill. And the kangaroo rats is to come at night. The children and mother took it in turns to watch them and lit fires all around and beat old tins and Mack around. They dug a few potatoes, but not many. This was in 1870. Mother had settled in and had started milking. She was doing very well with her cows, milking 8 cows and expected seven more before August. But the cows started to die in as fast as one cow came in. Another died at the end of the season. She still only had 8 cows. Father thought the cattle needed a change from the coast and the ironstone water that they were. Getting. Perhaps to match lime. Chapman's cattle always had a change to Warner up and yogan up. And he thought that was what was. Amiss. The cattle done alright at Raines score, but they had a big run there. So he decided to go and see where he could get an outing for his cattle. The Margaret was the place he went and selected a run. Mr Gurria, at Vance had cattle and his daughter Della, was about to marry a Mr Natty Abbey. Father had taken up a block 100 acres at yelling up about 11 miles from Glenanne, and mother had been very angry with him for running all over the place. Her idea was to clean up the property he had before getting more, so father sold the block to Mr Guerrier, and Guria went to work and build a house on it, and when Natty, Abby and Bella got married, Mr Grier gave that place to his daughter. And when Father went out in 1872 to take up a grazing lease, they took the lease. In the two names Keenan and Abby, 4000 acres they took. They took their compass with them and laid it out themselves. It was a long time before they could get it surveyed, but they got a tracing from the Lands Department. And they were set. Father took his cattle out and Abby took his out. The cattle were doing well. Mr Alfred Bassell had 50,000 acres of Rome, most of which was on the coast. One day bustles stockmen were up the river hunting. They saw strange cattle in the camp at about 10 miles upriver, they went home and told Mr Bussell and Bustle came out with his men block and whip and all set. He had ordered the men to hunt up all strange cattle and take them in and pound. Russell rode up to father and. Said. Hello Keenan, it's you. Are you aware you are trespassing on my property? I have ordered my men to collect all the stock and take them in and I will # them. Father said. I'm sorry, Mr Bussell. If I am trespassing, but I think I am on my own lease. Here is my compass. Have you a plan of your lease, Mr Bussell? I have a tracing down at the camp come and we will look it up. And they went and Bustle, found out Father was right. Buster's run only came up the river as far as yell got up. But they had a friendly talk when Russell explained to father that one had to watch out and find who was who. There was so much cattle duffing going on at that time. Father could understand Jim Garran and Frank Hill had been doing a lot of horse and cattle duffing they had a big brand like a fry pan. They used to get cattle in and make this brand hot and flop it on top of the other brands. And they got away with a lot like that. Until one day they made a mistake. They did some cattle with an earmark. They were caught, and Jim Garran got 15 years. And also Frank Hall. So it was understandable. People had to watch their stock. Boswell and Keenan became friends. In 1870, mother was settled in her little slab 2 room shack. There was mother, father and three children in that little shack, and my mother was expecting a baby. She had to get a woman in to look after herself. And she did this. She got a Mrs stamp from Vass and her and mother had the bedroom to themselves. Lucky it was summer time and the cooking could be done outside and the other room for father and the child. Children, it was a long drag for mother to fetch the water up from the flat onto the hill, and it was a dirty sandy place and the children would play in the sand and would be as black as black children. So Father made up his mind. He would shift the house on down to the flat where the ground was hard and the cover grass was growing and the water was at hand. And this father did. He split a few slabs and put up a three room shack with a veranda and mother, and the children shifted in. It was a very low roof shack and he thatched. It was run. Was. In that house, my sister Minnie and I were born and father started to build another house alongside it was to be a four roomed house with back and front veranda. He got an old man to help him with this as it was to be a house. Jack Simpson was the man's name and a good old man. He was. He built the house a very neat little house, cupboards built in. Mother shifted in just before my sister Annie was born in 1876. The family was growing. There were seven of us children now and father had to build another 2 rooms for the family. Jim and Bob and Lizzie were getting big Jim, 17 years old. Lizzie, 14, and Bob, 12. Father pulled down the old slab shack and built 2 rooms and plastered them inside, and they were nice little rooms. One was Jim's room and the other lizzies. They were thatched with rushes and were thatched every year, so they were clean. Every year after Christmas, father and Jim and Bob would take the cattle out to the Margaret River for the summer months, bringing them back about April or May, just as the winter set in mother often went to town on horseback on old non such this one time I will write about she rode in and went out to Inlet Park to see missus. That one. She took my sister Minnie with her and stayed all night at Chapmans. Mother said to Mrs Chapman. It is only two weeks till rent day. The 1st of March. The 1st of March was rent day. Everyone had to pay their rent on that day, otherwise the land would be forfeited, mother said to Mrs Chapman. My men folks are all away at Margaret and Rent day is the 1st of March. Now, Mrs Chapman, if I left the rent money with you, could you pay it in for me? You will will be going into pay yours. Oh, yes, Mrs Keenan. I could and would only be too pleased to do it for you. I think we all should help each other more than we do. Yes, I will do that. No trouble at all. And it will save you the long ride with your baby. Thank you so much, Mrs Chapman. It is very. Kind of you. And mother left the rent money with her to pay. And send the receipts. Now Mrs Chapman went in and paid the rent for Mother's lease, but she paid it in her own name. Chapman. Not Keenan. And it was some time before mother got word. She was very anxious and wrote to Mr. Price, the secretary, to ask for the receipts. Prize wrote and told her that the rent had been paid. Alright. But in the name of. Batman. Mother got on her. Horse. And went right out to in that park to Mrs Chapman's with prize's letter and Mrs Chapman said, Ohh, that don't make any difference, Mrs Keenan. I am sure you might just as well pay me the rent as pay the government. But Mrs Chapman? I bought it on, paid for that lease. And it is mine and I want it in my own name. It's mine. And now you will have to come to town with me and make write your mistake. And she dogged it and kept at. And at last, Mrs Chapman went in and put it right. Mother had to act and act quick. Father and the boys were away at the Margaret, a mother and the children only at the Cape. A Lizzie, only 11 years old to look after Harry. Another thing I would like to tell you, I have often listened to father and mother going back along the hard old tracks that they had travelled. When they went to the Cape in 1870, the surveyors were surveying the old blocks at the coast. And they were taking levels, and they camped at Glennon. The surveyor's name was Kerry, a cousin of fathers. He had a young man with him learning, surveying the name of John Forrest. Years after Sir John Forrest and Lord Forrest. Kerry had thought of contesting election for parliament. So this father said. You too, you have a good day. It's. I would think I would do all I can to get votes on this side, but if you get in I would ask you to do something for me and the others. That is to have it passed through Parliament, a law that a man be allowed to cut or split all the timber he needs to fence or build on his own lease. That is for his own requirements not to sell. As it is now, a man can't touch one stick of timber on his lease, not even a rail for a yard gate. He has to get a licence and that has to go before a board. To this, Kerry promised he would try and he said Stuart, it will be my first thing. Time went by and Kerry put up and father with the others was at his back. Election Day came, father went to the. Vase. To record his vote. There was quite a lot that didn't turn up to vote out Dunsborough way Father knew they were all for Kerry. Farmers too far to go in those days. It was proxy voting, father, seeing the poor roller at once, got to his feet and collected Mr Gale and Mr. John Brockman, JP, and started to dunsborough to collect votes for Kerry. Father and his old horse, Nonsuit called Smiths Seymours and got the. Votes. Also at Bridges and got theirs, and then Father said there is William Curtis. We will go and get his. And they rode GAIL Brockman and Keenan to Keenan's house. Mother made tea for GAIL and Brockman, and father gave their horses a good feed of rye. He also caught his pony damper and rode onto the Cape for Curtis's vote, leaving Nonsuch to eat his good feed. Mr Curtis came up. And they took his vote and started for Perth on horseback. Father. On Nonsuch it was 930 AM and the votes had to be in Perth to count. By 10:30 AM the next day, GAIL and Brockman changed horses at Fairlawn, but father kept his old horse. They changed horses again. At Norwegian Inn, but father kept the old horse going, gave him a good feed and they stayed for two hours and rode on and got to Perth in good time with the votes in at 10 AM, 24 hours and 20 minutes, something like 160 miles. I have often sat and listened to father and Mr Gale. Talk and laugh over that ride. Father would say. People don't believe me when I tell them. They say that's a good one, Keenan, Mr Gayle said it was done. Alright. I know Nonsuch was a good horse. Kerry kept his word. The move he made was to have that act put. Through. That a man could cut or split timber on his own lease. All he required for his own use. And his lease defence or build, but not to sell. When he put it to the house, it went through no amendments. It also passed the second reading and Kerry wrote to father and told him it had passed through the 1st and the 2nd and he was sure it would go through alright. By the time you get my letter, it will be through the 3rd. And you can now get your axe and wedges and start. Father started on his splitting and was going around. When who should show up riding but Mr Bridges? I like cannon splitting. Yes, I want a few posts and rails to fence my fields. You have no licence. I haven't got one. My man doesn't need a licence. Bridges went right into town to the courthouse, and next day the police came with the summons for father to appear in court. Father took Kerri's letter in and the case was postponed. They had to find out whether it had passed through his law. A message came to say that the act had been passed into law. Father had one or two good neighbours and some very bad ones too. For after Father had split posts and rails and stacked them at the stump to cart. Later to put on the line he had first to clear the line and had to crawl away and didn't get on to the job. As soon as he thought one day he went out. Hunting. And he rode around the heaps of timber. To his surprise, the first two heaps were burnt. He rode on and the other heaps had been lit and the fire had only burned a few and went out. The man had not put enough black boy on to make a strong fire. The man, whoever he was, had not long gone for his horse, had been tied up and had left a heap of manure. When father built his new home on the flat between. The two brooks. He had quite a job at first. He had to get the limestone from the hills. And make a kiln out of big logs. Red Gums dry and then get the stone and break it up. On top of the kiln. Then when it was fine, he lit the kiln and burnt the stone to lie. While this was on Harry, my little brother walked out to the hot ashes and got his feet burnt. The soles of his feet. The skin was cooked. Mother looked after him. She was the doctor. And six weeks later, Harry was running around. Yes, mother was a good doctor. We didn't have much sickness in our. House. Although we all lived in little slab house for a cold, mother always gave us a dose of Castor oil. We didn't like it, but we had to take it. We have all lived to a good age, mother 93 1/2 Father 88. Bob, my brother, 82 Harry, 83. Mini 82 I myself am now 81. Both of us are still in pretty good form. Also, my sister Annie 79 Grace died at 71. Willie is 73. Lizzie died in childbirth at 38. With her child, Jim met his death in an accident with a gun aged 24. Mother had to work hard. We were brought up to respect the laws of God. Prayers, mourning. Night. And no work of any kind on Sunday. We were natural and had a good father and mother. Father would lift his spade or axe on Saturday night and say the day is done. Next morning, he would walk around the farm. And mark his workout for tomorrow. Sometimes you would hear him say well bell. I will want all hands and cook tomorrow. I think I will plant those seed potatoes in the bottom field. That we have just cleared and I think it is as good a time as any and mother and he would talk. It. Over so on Monday morning, we would all have our work set out for US potato planting. One to drive the. Bullets. One to put the manure in rows. And one dropping the seed, one or two, picking up sticks and ferns and making fires. And burning them. We like the job of burning ferns. They made such a nice big lot of SMO. Mother would call dinner. A rush to wash hands and have dinner. The dinner was always nice when we were working there would be fried bacon, potatoes and pumpkin cabbage. A large plate full of bread and butter. Our meals were plain and good. Sometimes we didn't have bread. There was number flour to be had none in town. We grew a bit of wheat and rye and had a small hand mill and we used to put some through the mill. Mother would make rice scones with plenty of butter. They were very nice. As I write, I would like one now. We never get nice cakes and plum puddings like we used to get when mother made them. There is no cooking like mothers, no matter who is the cook. My memory goes back to when my brother Willie was born. In 1887. Mrs Turner came to stay with us. Mother was not too well. Also, Mrs Seymour came. Mother was sick, and Bob and Lizzy were told to take the children away and they did to keep us out of the house. They had to get us up to some amusement. Bob was good at that, but every now and again, Lizzie would go to the House and we were taken over to the hay shed. Father, when he thrashed his wheat and rye, he threw the straw up onto a long shed, which was a shed for horses, cattle, calves and pigs. It was a very clean shed and in one end we often used to play house in the summer. The straw was also put into the yard for the cattle to eat and used as bedding. The boys job in the evening was to go out and muster the cattle and put them in this yard. This was done to get the manure. There was number potato manure such as bone dust and super. In those days people had to gather the stock manure. From anywhere they could. That was one job we children had to do. Pick up all cattle droppings in the field. And all the leaves and rubbish had to be poured into the dry stock yard to make manure for potatoes. We used to get a lot of fun out of getting up on the hay shed and jumping down onto the straw that Father had put out for the stock. When the cows were feeding, we would get on their backs and the cows would buck us off onto the straw. Sometimes we would go around the yard and get bucked off. And get up and on again. Bob kept us away all day at horse racing and buck jumping, and Lizzie brought our tea out to us. When the evening came. We were tired and we went home to the House and we were told that Mrs Turner had brought us a little brother and we all went in to see him. We were not allowed to touch him. He would fall to bits. We just had to look at him. We all remember that day. Harry had a pet calf. He was a big calf for about 8 months and had horns. Harry would go out in the yard and take hold of his horns and put his head between the horns and the calf, and he would push each. Other around the yard and. Right. Every time Harry went in where the steer was, he would come up and they would have a go. But the year after the bullet grew to a bigger bullet and Harry went into the yard. When the Bullock saw him, he came. Harry didn't notice him, but the beasts were Harry and he made a charge and sent Harry flying in the air. That ended the bullet fight. We were all afraid of cattle after that, and we were not allowed to go into the yard while that bullet lived. Which was not too long. But we didn't get over the fight. That was in 1887. Father had taken up another block in 1880, a block of land, 100 acres at Jangama. The improvements had to be made. He had fenced it and cleared it. Half of the. Swamp. About 10 acres and he. Had. Started to build a four room brick house. The men were working, making the bricks. We used to take the dinner up to them. Sometimes it would be mother and one of us, sometimes three of us children. This day we were going up. And as there were three men working on the job. We had a good big load of dinner to take up and it took three of us. We started away early as we had over a. Mile. It was hot. Manny had a big plate full of meat and veggies, and he had the bread and butter, and I had the pudding and off we went and the hot sand under our feet and the sun over our heads. And we got out onto the sand patch where we met a lot of cattle. And one of them was the old cow of curtises, called Wyndham. She used to charge anyone on foot. We all knew her. We put our dinner down and up a tree. Wyndham saw us in charge. She just missed it. I can see that tree as I. Write. And we stayed there, afraid to come down. It was well into the evening when Father came to see what had happened. He found us up the tree, all in tears. All the cattle had gone on to water and we were afraid to get down. Father went to Curtis and told him and Curtis moved her away. Later, Lockhart came out and killed her. For this, everyone was glad and we could go to chingam up when we liked. And so the building went on, and it was a nice house. We often went up there, Lizzie and father, to pick up potatoes when they were digging. But one day, mother sent us out to get some chickweed for fowls. Minnie and Annie and I and Grace. Grace would come. We didn't like grace coming because she was not a good Walker. Often we would have to piggyback her coming home, but we went. And Minnie went to the swamp to get. The. Chickweed and Annie, Grace and I went to the house and howled like wild dogs and cried. And it was all good fun. Many came up to try and stop us, saying you will bring wild dogs. Ohh you are frightened. You are we said to her. And we kept on and at last the dogs answered us up at the top of the swamp and many came running and told us there you have done it. We must get home now at once and off we went, grace lagging along behind Minnie with the grass, the chickweed. And when we got along we heard the dogs howl behind us and we kept on half running until we came to the gully and the dogs were just behind us, grace crying and would not stop. We dropped the grass and took hold of her by the arms and almost dragged her along. The dogs kept on till we got just inside our house. They could hear the row and the children crying from the house. And saw the dog. There was our calves just outside the fence. And next morning Lizzie went up to Jangama to fetch some potatoes down, and when she got to the gate at the swamp, she looked and saw two calves. Bogged. Right side by side and the dogs had eaten 1 poor calf right along the backbone. From his tail to the back of his ears. You could see his insides. The other one was alright. She came home and got mother with the axe and they went back and knocked the car and mother and Lizzie pulled the other one out of the bog and came home and sent Minnie down with a note to Mr Curtis. For the loan of poison. Mr Curtis gave it to her and mother and Lizzie went up and put the poison on the calf in the bog. Leaving us children or shut up in the house with puppy, the old dog. Puppy didn't like being shut up. He wanted to go with Lizzie and mother. As soon as the dog knew that mother and Lizzie were gone, he began to howl. And we tried to make him happy and at first while the daylight was on, we were brave. But when the sun went down, it was dark and puppy kept up the hell. After a while, we fancied that the room was full of wild dogs. Everywhere we looked, we could see a dog's eyes looking at us. Just fancy. And we were frightened to look. At last we got up on the cupboard. On the table. And I climbed up on the Mantel. Ohh, I shall never forget the feeling of fright being shut up. As we thought with a room full of wild dogs. But what a pretty pickle it was for mother and Lizzie to come back and find a room full of children all howling and the dog as well. The House in darkness. In those days, there was number kerosene lands. They used to burn whale oil in lamps. Sometimes a tin with fat. And some rushes put down through the tin at the. Bottom. Also, mother, when she had good oil and fat, she would make 6 candles. She had a candle mould. But we always had to be careful of the candles. The children were not allowed to use them. Also, we were not allowed to have matches. Matches sometimes were very short and we used to rake the fire at night. No matches in the house. Father sometimes used to take a midgee a light with him. And light a fire when he was working. Also, I have known us to have to go to the Cape for a few matches to light the fire. Sometimes in summer father could get a light with two sticks and a little dry grass. He would get 2 Black boy sticks dry. Put one down on the ground. Put a little hole into it. And the other stick he would place in the hole. And then twist it at full speed. At last it would come very hot and the little dry grass would be put on and a fire would start. I have seen him use the sticks. The blacks used to do it this way. After William's birth, the mother went to town for six weeks. She had a lot of dressmaking to. Do. Mrs Bowfell and the two boville girls, Annie and Lizzie. And the Mrs Rose wanted dresses made. Also, Mr Bovell wanted shirts and flannels and it would be a change for her, and she would stay at the ship hotel at Beauville's. It would be home to her. Willie had to be christened Beauvilles and Keenans were good friends and often helped one another. They'd come to Australia together from Ireland and came to vast together. Mother always did dressmaking and the Bovell shirts. I remember. Lizzie. Got a little from mother telling her that she was coming home. Also that John Bovell would drive them out. Mrs Bovell and the 2 girls and Alec and Tom were also coming to stay 3 weeks. John would only stay one night, but Mrs Beauville and the boys were to stay 3 weeks. Lizzie enjoyed it, but oh, they're getting ready for the bow girls. Lizzie had to cook up. She killed 2 hens and baked them. And a large ham and a plum Duff. A nice cake. And had everything good when mother and the Beauvilles came down the hill. Lizzie had tea ready. John Boville he went off hunting for mushrooms and Annie had thought it might be the Kelly gang. We had run off and got up a tree. John came down and he saw us and asked us if there was any mushrooms. We got down. And were quite tame. It was the beauvilles, not the Kelly's. Lizzie and the girls had a great old time around the neighbours and the beaches. And welded those girls. Remember it, but Annie and I had a very bad time. Alec and Tom stayed home with us, and we liked Tom. But Alec, we didn't. The first day there was an old man camped out by the wood heap. And mother and Lizzie had told us not to go near his camp. Or if we did, they would give us a. Good. Whipping and send for the police. We were very much afraid of the police. He would put a chain on us and tie us up in a dark room with only bread and water. No fire, no bed. So it was pretty bad to go near the tinkers cart, but Alec thought that all Bosch he was game. He got us Annie Grace and I in the spring car and he was to. Be the horse. When we all got in, Alec lifted the sheaves and let her tip up children and tinkers tools all went out the back. Then there was a howl from the children. I got my eye cut. Grace and Annie got their legs cut out, came mother very wild with us. I told you not to go near that car and she whipped us all. Alec got off. We had to pick up all the tinkers tools. There is yet the police to come. We and he. And no, we're not happy. We would not have anymore to do with Alec. And we went off by ourselves. Alec followed as we were crossing a log that lay across the brook when we were halfway across, Alec met us and pushed us into the brook and stood and laughed at us in the water. Poor little things didn't get drowned, did you? And then mother and Mrs Beauville came running, and mother again shook us and told us that she ought to give us a good whipping. And she had told us not to cross that log. So we went off with Tom to play at the Play Horse we were playing. Mr Reynolds and Mrs Lockhart hunting the cattle we all had. Stick horses, black boy sticks with a bit of string on one end for a bride. Then we would run around a while we went in for a play before dinner, and we tied the sticks up. And poured a bit of grass and gave the horses a feed. We sat down to our play dinner, a lot of broken up cups and plates. We put other bits out on a box and we had a long slab for a stool. Up comes Alec. He throws our horses as far as he can and gives our table a kick and upsets it all. Then there was another hour out, came mother and Mrs Bovell. What's up? Ohh, Alec says mother. Ohh. Alec. No tails. An hour. And she gave us a switching. Well, what will we do? Where could we play? Not near the house. We thought we would go. Right away down the brook. Get a nice leaning tree. We could build a house there. We set to work getting paper, bark and sticks to make a house. When here comes Alec again, he has got. Onto our tracks. And starts pulling sticks. This time we have had enough. And we made up our minds to duck him in the water. And down we got and grabbed him. He was strong and rough and he kicked. And he got away and went home. We thought we were in for it again. But he didn't Leech on us. By and by and many came down looking for us, and we were afraid. But she said, come home and have your dinner. It is waiting. Mother gave us the talking to for being so far away and told us that the black fellas would get us and eat us. And we were not much afraid at that time of *********** next day we made up our minds that we would go right away in the Bush and make a camp and live on gum and seeds and raid the home safe at night. So away we went after breakfast up the hill, we went. Gum gathering, got a nice lot of gum. Big lumps. We ate all we could. We found a nice place, a clump of bushes all mattered. Together with runners, the Blue Runner, and we got up on top of it. It was strong and we could dance on it. We tried it. It was just a place for a camp. We could sleep on it. A nice bed. And here we lay and ate our gum and our blue runner seeds. They were very nice. All the time they were looking for us at home. No one saw us. Manny got on their tracks and came up the hill calling. Mother was out. We got down out of our hiding place and came home. We could not eat anymore food. We were all sick, very sick all night and for a week. We never went out to play. At the end of. The. Week John Bovell came out. And the bowels the other bowels went home. We were sorry too, for we liked Mrs Bovell and Tom and the girls. But we were glad to see the last of Alec. But when next we met Alex? He was a man and not a bad sort. But poor old Tom was simple. My memory goes back to a very happy day with Father and Lizzie. We went down to Eagle Bay. Father took the bullocks in the plough. He was going to plough the field at Eagle Bay and put in some wheat. There was to be a strip of cleared land and he thought he would grow good wheat and Lizzie would drive the bullocks and I would pick up sticks and bushes, which I did and father gave me great praise for my work which made me work harder. And we had our dinner in the house. But coming home, I was dead beat, yet I would not say so. When we sat down to supper, I could not keep my eyes open while I had my tea. Then I had to wash my feet before going to bed and say prayers. But I was very happy and pleased with myself, for Father had given me praise for my work and it was not often. I got that. Next morning I slept. Father and Lizzie had gone. When I got up Father and Lizzie worked hard to get that crop in. But he never cut one straw. Curtis's cattle got it. Do what we would the cattle would be in. There was a good post and rail fence 3 rails, good broad rails 5 feet fence. But there was always a panel down. Somehow we never could do much with Eagle Bay. Someone thought that they had a better right to it. One instance. When we bought it, Chapman left a table in the house. When Father went down to get the table, it was gone. Some time after he found the legs and part of the side in the gully. Later on he found the other part up the gully. It was not a friend who did that. Years later, a man called at the house and stayed and had tea. He said. All alone. Where are your men folks? Mother said. Well, Jim and Stuart have gone to Margaret's, which was true, and the boys are up at Jim Garma. When Bob saw the man coming, he said to mother. Here comes that old bee. Don't tell him that I'm here and I will watch the bee. So mother didn't say anything. And after tea he went off down to Eagle Bay, down the road with Bob behind on foot watching. And he went right to the fence. Bob was too far behind to see what he did at the fence, but he saw him ride around the cattle and hunt him up. Turned their heads to the fence and he rode away. Bob had been down there in the morning and the fence was all right. But when he got down behind the man, the rails were down. He brought the cattle home and told mother and would have put them in, but mother said for God's sake and your own, don't tell your father what you have seen, for there will be bloodshed if you do. He won't let him off. Her mother kept it to herself and put up with the loss, and we never got one thing out of the Eagle Bay. Didn't matter what we put in. And often a fire would break out and there would be a rush to save the house every year. To burn around the house very often, the fire would be near the house. Anyone reading the first part of this booklet? Will have an idea of the people who thought they bought to be the owners. In those days, the whaling ships used to come around Dunsborough and Eagle Bay. They had a place around about Milla where they used to try. The whales, and this was good for the little farmers around. It was ready money. A sale for butter, eggs and fresh meat or salt and veggies. Also, they could get things very cheap from the boats. Most of them were Yankees. And they had a little of all kinds of tobacco, rum, sugar, tea. These things were cheap and there was a lot of exchange done. About this time, there was a chain gang of prisoners working on the road near Vass. Among them was a man whose name was John Boyle O'Reilly, who was Athenian. And by means of a friend, he got in touch with the Yankee skipper of the boat and arranged the passage to America. Boyle O'Reilly had friends in America and plenty of money over there. It was arranged that the boat was to hang around Dunsborough in Eagle Bay and watch for boil O'reilly's signal, which would be in the small hours of the morning. He would light a fire, then the boat would come in and take him off. So it was by means of a friend that Boyle O'Reilly was got away from his chains and made his escape in the dead hours of the morning. And for two days he hung around the coast waiting for his chance to give his signal. He was hungry and thirsty and went to a camp at Eagle. Bay. And a man camped there gave him a drink of water and a bit of food. The boat was hanging around the Cape by Riley went back along the beach to near Dunsborough and put up his signal and a small boat came in and O'Reilly walked out and about. Or. And the Yankees set off for homeland. The police saw the boat but were too late. Father and mother were always sorry for those poor ticket men and other prisoners. They often told us of the bad treatment the prisons got from some warders. They said the treatment the men got it was a wonder that they didn't kill some of the waters. Mother lived beside the road, where prisoners worked every day at Raines court, and she never had any trouble. And she had no locks on the doors for seven years. She saw those men working on the road, breaking stone. The men would come in and get a drink. Mother always gave them her buttermilk. Sometimes when she was boiling up a dead calf or some kangaroo. For her pigs, they would smell the smell from the road and would come with their mugs and beg a drink of it. And they would dip their mugs in and take. Poor men. On bread and water, working hard. Hungry for meat. Mother's pig food was pretty clean as she never gave the pigs dirty stuff to eat. When fattening, she always washed the wheat before boiling. Often a man would get out on ticket of leave to look for work, and when he got work, if it was 25 miles away, he had to walk back and report. And he reported that he'd found work for how long and what he was getting. The men were glad to get away from the wardens. You could get the very best tradesman for £1.00 for a. Month. And they were good workers from daylight till dark. In some of the old buildings, you will still see the good work. The bricks were made to last. Also the stone and plaster. But as I said before, those men were not treated right. Many employers would find fault with them after they had done the job, and often. Instead of paying them, they would lay a charge against them for something they missed, or something else like that, and they would have them arrested. This was the way Jay Locke of Lockville used to treat his men. Seeing my booklet where Father and he had a brush and a ticket man was nothing. When a free man had him. Unless he had a freeman to stand with him. This is why JG Bussell was so well liked by all who knew him. He never had trouble with any men, black or white. He was liked by all the blacks and the whites. There is another thing I remember about the blacks. They used to come in mobs when the moon was full, about April when the fishing was good. There would be 30 or 40 of those blacks come to go torching. The torch would be a lot of blackboard tops made into long bundles. They would like those, and they also had what they called a Corker that was a spear with a long string thing on the end with the lighted torch they would walk out in the water and spear the fish and run them back onto the string. When they got a load, they would come. In and empty. When the tide was high, the fish came out and slept around the rocks and they would get a good catch. Sometimes it would be a big. Which? At this time I write about, they were camped on the hill above the house at Glenanne, only for a week or 10 days. My sister Annie and I were very much taken up with the little Black boy. He was a very pretty child and we thought we would like to play with him. There was only one child amongst all those. Blacks. His mother was 1/2 cast. The child was about 5 years old and very shy. Annie and I used to go up on the hill to the camp and I would take up a big piece of bread and sugar. He would not come near us to get. It. We would put it on the ground to watch. Here come and get it. And every time we took it up to him, he used to come and meet us, but he would not take it from our hands. At last we left it one day longer and went the second day he came and took the bread from our hands. And I caught him. And Annie caught him and he cried and the blacks came out of the camp, Spears in hand, and we lit off the home. And under mother's bed. The old black man came right to the door, Spearing hand. Mother met him. Well, well mangled, she said. No, picking any not do your picking any any harm. I only want to play with your little picking any my ********** wants to make friends all the same. Brother Munguia went home to the camp. But Annie and I were always afraid of the blacks after that. But Bob used to play tricks on them. The blacks were camping near the home. Father used to get them to shoot Kangaroos. Bob was about 17 years old and he wanted to play Tri. You used to get powder in flasks about 3 LB. In a flask and shot by the pound and the caps. Well, this time Bob had plenty of powder and he was making it up into little powder packets. He would light the end and throw it into the room where he had other boyfriends, but he thought a better plan would be if he made it and threw it into. The Black fellows camp. This he did when Gingrich and Polly were in bed, he threw it in and it went off. Gingrich jumped up, grabbed his spear, and after Bob, Bob into mother's room, ginger. It was wild and told mother he would spear that boy's mother, talked to Jhingree and told him. She would tell Boss and Boss would whip him. The big fella boss. He's a big fella. He'll be angry. He'll whip the boy. And she made signs with the broom to show him. And she gave him some tobacco and he went back to Polly. Bob was playing with the powder another time and he lit the end of his rocket. It went off quicker than he expected and blew right up into his face. His hat was riddled with powder, also his neck. After that, Bob gave the powder away. That was the end of the powder. The next thing on was Harry was learning to shoot. He used to have old guns. Put the powder in first bit of paper on top, RAM it tight, then the shot. Another bit of paper RAM that tight. The last thing was the cap on the ******. Harry, first thing he did was to put the cap on and then he put in the powder and he started to ram the trigger, caught on something and the gun went off and the ram rod went up through the rim of Harry's hat. And that was a lesson for Harry. In those days, every house had a shotgun and every young man had to learn to shoot. For there was number butcher, no shops. No tin meat, no money. Every Saturday evening and Sunday there would be people from Newtown Kindaaa all out shooting the Cape and yelling. There are plenty of Bonham and Crockers now known as Tamina. The young men would come down riding a horse with a bell out and others would know where they were. They would stay Saturday night and Sunday and go late Sunday, taking with them a bag of game 12 or 14, enough for a week. Some of them would salt them, others would boil them all up in a big pot. And take all the bones out and make Braun A Wicks good food. Some Sundays, the birds would take it into their heads to go fishing, and they got a lot of fun out of the torching, like the blacks did. But one night Bob and Harry went fishing off the rocks at Sugarloaf. Bob was 18 and Harry 12. They took the lions and went to the Sugarloaf to fish. There had been some good catches there and they thought there would be other fish there. The wind was good and away they went and they were on the rock for a long time. Harry got fed. Up. And said. While I'm off, I'll make a fire and cook some of those fish. And we'll have a feed. Right, said Bob. And off Harry went. Bob kept on at the fish. After a while, Harry said, hey, old fellow, you'd better give that best. The tide is rising. If you don't come, you'll need your bed sent out. Alright, I will. I'll be there. Those fish are biting. At last he rolled up his loan and made for shore, and the tide was up. Harry, throw me the big line. Harry tried, but the water washed it away, so Bob just had to stay there till morning and wait for the tide to go back. He would tell you how he looked at Harry's fire and a cold shiver would. Run. Through him, then there would be a. Big. Wave and splashing with water. When morning came and the tide went back, he was wet and cold and stiff. He thought he could not hang out much longer. Harry had to help him over the rocks to the fire, and father and mother must not be told. Would. It would make them anxious another time. We will never come here again, Harry, and they didn't. But they went somewhere else later on to the point. Harry and Bob again and there was to be others there, but they didn't come. They took potatoes and oil to make it slick and were going good. It was a good moonlight and the fish were biting good. They had had a good catch and we're going to cook a few. Bob went to the fire to do the. Cooking. When he came back to the Rock, Harry was gone. And. He looked out. He could see Harry in the water about 50 yards out. He looked around to see what he could throw to him. Harry was gone. He looked this way and that. He ran down the beach and all he said. I was in a terrible state. I have to go home and tell them what has happened all at once. He looked around and there was a man with no clothes on, standing at his back. Well said, Harry. I took my clothes off so I could have free use of my arms and legs. I had to swim. I knew that it was no use hanging around here, so I took off out to sea. I rode the waves. It's not so rough out there. I put in at Eagle Bay and came ashore and here I am. No more point fishing for me. And none for me, said Bob. And they didn't go there anymore. It was a big wave that took Harry and the rock was. Slippery. Now we hear of people getting washed off rocks. It's easy. One day, Father, Annie and I went fishing to Rocky Point. Father was doing all the fishing. We did the tea making and getting the potatoes roasted to throw in to keep the fish about. Father called to Annie bring some more potatoes. And she started across the rocks and slipped. Father grabbed her just in time, before the wave took him out. So that was the end of Rocky point for us. I was always fond of little things and I am still at 81 when I was a child I had pet kangaroo rats, opossums, birds, cats. I like my cat. I also had pet pigs. Whenever there was a litter of pigs, I got the very small 1 and I used to feed it, mash and beat it with clean straw. At first I fed it out of an old teapot, then as it got bigger out of a clean tin, my little pig was always the best. Pig. And when it got big, father and mother would have it put in the style with the others to fatten, to kill. But he told me it was too big to be running about. And so one day I remember, Mother said at the breakfast table. Stuart, I think you'd better kill those pigs tomorrow. My feet is getting short. There is five fit now. And there's three more coming on. And if I get those off my hands, I will have enough to feed the others without buying any. The weather is good and the moon is right. Well, if I have to kill undress 5 pigs, everything will have. To be ready. Well, we can do that. Lizzie can lend a hand. And Harry can get the wood. Get big logs and black boy and water to boil. There's a lot to do. There's the big boiler and all the kerosene tins we'll need. And the tubs will have to be filled ready at hand. Now running to the crew. A good bed of clean straw to lay the pig on to clean it up in the morning. Get those children away, Minnie and Grace and Annie, they're all to go to Eagle Bay for the day. Take their dinner and some water. And letting them go when we got back there was 5 pigs cleaned and hanging up. Ohh, my poor pig is one of them. I cry and won't eat my sub. First, they start to Rouse on me, telling me that he was a savage pig and father had to kill him, and the next lot of pigs. I'll get a nice white pig. And so I did. The white pig had a lot of white. I got a little sour pig. I was very fond of her and I had her for a long time. But she never had pigs. She was no use, so they killed her. And that was a dreadful sight for me. Father went to the store with wheat in in a tin and a small cotton rope. He caught the pig around the snout and dragged her out by the nose. Bob pushing her along behind the pig, squealing. They took like this for about 50 yards and then they tied it to the tree and tied it 4 legs together and put her on her back, Bob holding her. Father took his long knife and stuck it in her neck. All this I watched and cried and screamed, but no notice. I will always remember I used to jump up in the bed. Father always killed pigs like that. Later on one day he was going to kill a pig and natty. Abby came along. Everything was ready and father went to the store and caught the pig as he always did. He dragged the pig to the killing table and Natty said. What are you going to do now, Stuart? Tie his legs up and stick it. Hold on, Nat, he said. I'll show you how I do my pigs. And he picked up the axe and hit the pig on the head. Now you can do what you like. I always give my poor things a bit of corn and shoot it while it is eating and it is dead and knows nothing about it. All our pigs were shot after. We were thankful for that. Mother always used to make sausages out of the pigs. It used to be a big job to clean all the insides and get them right for her. The morning after killing Mother had a big job. The salting of all the pigs and cutting up the hams and the sards she used to bone it all and rub it well and put it in a cast when it was 48 hours and salt she would take the bacon up and let it drain and then boil the brine and let it cool. She would test with a potato. If it floated, the Brown was strong. Enough. She would rub the salt. Rub it till it's sweated and then return it to the cask and put the brine over it. When it was in the Brian 10 or 12 days, mother would take it out and drain it. This time she would take it out of the house and hang it up on the big beam and the children and Lizzie would get wet rushes and straw and ferns and set it alight to make the big smoke. And we like this job. The bacon would be a brown colour, mother would take it down and with a clean cloth would rub it clean. And rub it with lard and make it shine and it would be packed ready for town. She always had good sales for her bacon got many prizes for hams. When all was ready, Jim would get the bullocks together and make ready for town. The team never went in without a load. There would be potatoes, butter, eggs and bacon, bananas and hops. Father always grew his own hops and some for sale, and he always had bananas. He grew his own hops and brewed his own beer to get back to the pigs. It was very hard on father to kill pigs. Father's kitchen always had a pig or two hanging in it for home use. What made it so hard for father to? Kill. Pigs was the children were always so upset when pigs were to be killed. Father started to plough the new field and there was a lot of ferns in it. That was a job for US children. We liked that we could set fire to the ferns. In. Heaps. They would make a great smoke. We had to pick sticks and Fern roots from the cloud ground and it was a big job. After dinner, he was going to yoke a young Bullock and we children had the rope on a tree for a swim. And. And we must have our last swing before the rope was taken down. We all went out and Harry had his Minnie, hers and Annie and Grace. Next was mine. And I wanted a big swing like Harries. Harry gave me that big swing and I fell out and got hurt and I was ill for a long time. It was some time before I came to, and when I did, I saw mother at my bed crying. I looked at her. And said. What are you crying for? Ma'am. Father was at the other side. I'm alright. I was ill for two years. We had a run of sickness. Harry had a big wart on his back just where the braces crossed, and it grew as big as an egg and started to bleed. Mother and father were afraid, she wrote to Doctor Byrne and didn't wait for an answer. When she got in, the doctor was out at the Blackwood, and Mr Bovell advised her to see Doctor Bumpus. He lived at Beauville. 'S. She saw Doctor Bumpus and he frightened her. He gave mother some lotion to put on it and asked her to come in again in a week's time for him to see how it was getting along. Mother said it's a long way to come. Well. Could you see me at yelverton's next week? I'll be out there. When mother got home, the cork had come out of the bottle and all the lotion was gone. But Father had been to the post office and there was a letter there from Doctor Brogan telling mother not to be alarmed. It was only a wart or a large mould, and the boys braces had made it angry. And it had started to bleed just how I silk thread around it and touch it with caustic. You can get the caustic at your buttons. Mother did this and it fell off. But doctor bumpers charged £3 for the job. Just after this Grace got ringworm on her neck and it was spreading and Dr Byrne told mother to touch it with caustic around the edges of the ring and it would die away. Mother did this and all was cleared away. Mrs Curtis, little girl had it on her face, her mother told her to touch it with caustic. After this, the measles broke out. Nearly every family had measles. The blacks were dying everywhere. Mr Curtis was in town and he heard that Dawsons had the. His brother in law was down and he called in to see him and stayed there for a while and came home the next day. He had shivers. Bad shivers, and he felt bad and he went to bed. He had the measles. Then the children got them. Mr Curtis got up and was not too well, but he had to look after the children. And his wife and mother went down to do what she. Good. She used to come home and every night she would have a bath at the well and change her clothes before coming into the house. Lizzie always had a good hot bath for her at. The. Well, there were five children and Mrs Curtis all down at once, but we never got the measles. Bob and Jim at the Margaret were right in the bed of the measles. They had them at worklife and the Moriartys had them on the other side of the river. Bob is to go over and out and onto the bed to talk to them. He used to take the. Milk. John Dawson came along. He just got up from the measles and Bob and he slept in the same bed. Bob wanted to get the measles as it was better to get them when you were young. But he didn't get them till he was 55 and he was very. Ill. He was alone at the time at Glenarvon with my sister Minnie, and she had only just got up from them. When Bob went down, Minnie sent to the Cape, to Curtis's or someone to come in and help her, but no one came. But all the loans she managed when they pulled through. Bob got a lot of fun out of this sort of thing. He would get into all kinds of strife. He enjoyed telling about it years after he used to tease US children and tell us all sorts of yarns about things, and we sometimes thought he was wonderful. We were made to do funny things, and one I remember well when we were quite young. We were listening to father and mother and Mrs Curtis talking about a wedding that had taken place at Quintilla, and our ears were open to the talk our wedding. What would that be like? We asked Bob. He would know. Bob tells us, and he says he will show us how The thing is done. You could have a wedding at the Playhouse if you want cake and wine and flowers are plenty. You want a boy doll, Bob says, and a girl. That old doll, McGee, will be the girl and I'll make the man. And he went to the wood heap and chopped out a. Fork. Stick now you have. Him. Tom Rats is his name. Just wrap some rag around his legs for pants and another bit over his shoulder and a good strong bit of rag for your for his arms. The man is made the bride. McGee was to have a spider whip over her face. All brides had spider webs over their faces when they married. He rigged up a lot of old boxes and a place for the Parson. Bob was the Parson. The dolls had to stand up and I had to answer for the groom and the bride. Bob mounts the boxes with the sheet around him. The service starts. Will you take this woman for your wife or will you not? The groom. Is that I will, Sir, to share all your riches. And old and torn pair of britches. That I will from the groom. You will have to live all your life with plenty of quarrels and strife. Married. Now you can do. The rest. I thought it was great. Maggie was now married. Then came the cake and the wine. Cold tea for wine. And pancakes with brown sugar on top. Bob used to get a lot of fun doing these things for us and we thought he was Christmas. One morning my poor old pet cat died and I was very cut up. Bob came and said. We will have a funeral for pause. And a long service. And he was the Parson. Now, Bob said this is what you have to do. You dig a big hole in the ground. And he read from the book. This service, ashes to ashes down the ground. You go with my best wishes. I hope you never grow old. Then the earth was put in on top of pus and we put flowers on top. I thought it was good. My poor cat had a good funeral. Bob said so too. When Jim was mustering the cattle to bring to the Cape. He exchanged our bull with Mrs Brockman and her father for their bull. A big Devon bull. Ours was the butterfly. He brought this bull home with the cattle but didn't get down to the house. He left at the top of Jingam up. And went back in the morning to get them. The bull was gone. He hunted everywhere and went from house to house, looking to see or hear of him. He raped a bustle. And the bull had not come home. He went to the Margaret and hunted the runs from Quorum up to the point. No ball. No one had seen him. Meanwhile, Old Jim Forrest broke to Brussels to buy the bull. Russell wrote and told us that the bull was at Forest. Sent Forrest letter. And Jim went to forest. Oh, that was an old bull. Belonging to Scott or someone and still no signs of the ball. When the season was over about November, father and Jim were putting the hay in the shed and an old black fellow came along. He had been working at Forest and Father said to him. Do you see a bull all the same as that one's pointing to the Bullock. A big fella bull. Yes, I see you, Mr. Way. Down at first. I see him. Forest down. Quinn up. Long time maybe 4 moons ago. Well, the next morning, Jim went down before daylight and came down to the yard and there was the ball. He went to the house and told Forrest he had seen the ball in the yard. Ohh yes, he came in yesterday from somewhere. But the season was over and it meant that there would be very few cows next season. It was well known that any beast that went down to forests never came back. Kenan and Bussell became good friends. They like Jim, he was helpful and dependable. They found Jim was mustering cattle to bring home. And the bustles and Mrs Brockman came to him and asked him to come down to worklife to tea. Now you'll be sure and come, Jim. You're always in such a hurry. We don't get time to talk to you. And you're always welcome at all times. Anytime leave your cattle in there. They won't hurt. There's feed in ferndown in that small field. When Jim got down, he had a big talking too and a leg pull. I'm in a bit of a hole at present. Bustle set Jim, would you help us out? I want to send my team to town. And the men I can't depend on them. It might take them a week or a month to get them all together. We're almost out of stores and I know you won't leave me in a hole. If you say you will do it, we'll keep an eye on the cattle for you and all will be well when you come back. I have Sam Isaacs. Jim promised he would do it. So he left the kettle in Ferndean and took the team, but he came into the Cape with the team. He knew that mother would be wanting to go to town. He knew that there were potatoes to take to town and then that when he got to the Cape it would be his first call with the bullocks. So it fitted in when Jim came mother and Jim went to town taking the potatoes and bacon, and Jim came back to the Cape and out to the Margaret and Bustle was pleased. Jim did the trip in five days, whereas it would have taken over a week. Mother also was pleased. But Bussell had other ideas. He had his eyes on Jim. He wanted Jim. He had the two blocks of land at the bridge, and he had a notice to say the improvements had to be made. And Jim was the man. He wanted help and Jim could do it. So when he returned with the team, he put it on to him. What they could and would do, and Jim said, I'll think it over and have a talk with my people. 2 heads are better than one. So when Jim brought the cattle in, he and mother and Lizzie had a talk over it all. Also, father. Mother and Lizzie could not see eye to eye with Jim and father. But what father saw was Jim was a man, and he had a right to his. Own mind. He said Jim's now 21. And Bob and Harry are coming along. We should not need much help in a year or so. When Jim went out, he was undecided. And he went off to the point and cleaned up the cattle. And later on he got a letter from Patty Brockman. Patty had taken a job of fencing, and he wanted Jim to come in with him, which Jim did. Money was short and the cattle could be looked after now and again. There was Bob and Harry to do that, so he went with Brockman, and Father went out to help. They were fencing at Baran up and Augusta, a big job. Father and Jim and Bob were away over three months, which seemed to us children like years. But we had a very good time while they were gone. But we had no flour. Mother used to grist a bit of wheat in the little hand mill and make cake or bread. But we were not starving. We had plenty of good bacon and salt meat, wild possum quokka, pumpkin potatoes. Cucumbers, onions, cabbage, beans, peas and lettuce and beetroot. Or we could eat of this food. And when Father and Jim came in, they brought flour and we didn't like the white bread. We turned it. Down. As Father and Jim came back, Bussell and Mrs Brockman met them again with the same old thing, and Jim was still thinking it over. Lizzie and Mother had been carrying on and the children were pulling their weight. Jim was a man and was thinking that he had a girl in his eye, and that girl had Jim's well in her eye. She was Annie boville. And he never forgot Jim. She never married, which was foolish of it. Russell put it to Jim and father both and they came to an understanding and agreement was drawn up and mother and Lizzie were dead against it. Jim was strung for, and so was father. They all got very hot over it. So Jim and Father took the bit in their teeth and entered into the agreement with Bussell. Basil would build a House of stone and mud 6 rooms. The house was on the roadside at the bridge. Keenan was to have 20 cows to milk free. Keenan had to fenced the blocks with post and rail and two wires post 12 feet apart. He would pay. Mussel would pay Keenan 10 shillings per 100 for every post mortise and £10 per 100 for the rails. The rails had to be pointed. Father got two and six per chain for putting the fence up. Father had to put up all the yards and stables and sheds on his own account. Also all the outbuildings. Jim got 6 shillings per day when he worked the team for Bustle. But Father got the team free to do his work on the farm, plough or cart or pool. The agreement was signed, the building went on stone and Clay House. That came to rain just as the builders got the walls and the door frames and the window frames and it rained hard and kept on for weeks. The stone walls with the clay got washed down and they gave that best. And started on the other side with slabs face cuts. And it went up. 6:00 rooms. There are 4 bedrooms and a kitchen, a big kitchen, but small rooms. Father likes small rooms, but mother did. This changed the house. It was not as big as it was first set out to be and it made a lot of difference to father and mother. Later on, Father's idea was to get A roadside licence and a gallon licence. Davies and Wishart had a meal at Caradale and there was a lot of people coming and going on the road that had to have accommodation. But the four rooms was far too small. The living room was large, but cooking and eating all had to be done in the one room. And only one fire. The only house between Busselton and Caradale was worklife, and bustles had a big family and always a house full. That was 48 miles from Bridgehouse to Busselton and 25 to Carradale, and a lot of people came and. Went on foot. If you had a horse, you were set. Father built a big storeroom and a man house and a chap house and stables and yards, big stars and fenced and cleared all the land. That is at the old bridge. He cleared it and he did it, and when the house was up, Lizzie went to the Margaret to keep the house for Jim and father. Mother and the children stayed at the Cape and did what they could. We all had to work while Lizzie was at the bridge at the Margaret, she met Jim Armstrong and they got engaged. And then she came home and mother went out and left us. Children at the Cape. When Jim Armstrong got to know that Lizzie had left the Margaret, he could not see her so often. And he spent his weekends there. But the Cape was too far. He got a job at yelverton's ploughing, and he and Bob came in to work at Yelverton's, 9 miles from the Cape. He could come every Sunday, and he did. He was very anxious to get married and as he thought so too. But they had no plans. Where would they live after their marriage? They talked to mother and Lizzie, put their heads together. There were now 2 houses and only one mistress and a family of children. At last, Bob and Jim came in. And joined the talking. The crop was to be cut and they had to cut the swamp potatoes. Bob and Jim Armstrong would cut. And cut the hay. An agreement was fixed. Bob and Jim would rent the place at Jim Garma, the old place they would pay £25 a year for the place. Everything just as it was. Hay, potatoes, pigs, fowls. Mother had to go to the Margaret to look after things. Mother thought she could leave her children and the old place with Bob and Lizzie would have an eye on them. But Jim Armstrong objected to the children, and Lizzie went with him. Lizzie said. I've had enough of kids all my life. I'm not taking it on. So poor mother had it fixed. She went back to the Margaret. And she was unhappy. All these arrangements were going on when we lost our brother Jim, who met with an accident with a double barrel shotgun. The gun got wet after Jim crossed the river. He tried to fire it but could not get it to fire. The powder was wet. Both bowls were loaded, but Jim didn't know that. He had been to Boyd's camp. And got it wet. He put it close to the fire, thinking it would dry out. At last, he took the stock and put the barrels near the hot ashes to send it off, and one bowl went off and Jim waited for the other to go. It was a little bit of time. And he picked it up. And he thought it was not loaded anymore and he went to the fire and lifted it out. And it went off and killed him dead. The shot went right up under his chin. The bird story William Boyd, a small man, a school teacher at Cardale. He boarded himself and he had a nice, comfortable camp A2 room tent. He used to give night lessons to anyone who liked to come. And learn. He also had a day school and he taught a lot of the best men that Davies had in the timber measurements, young men who had never been to school and never had a chance. By this bird made a lot of friends. He lived while himself and always had a drop of whiskey in the camp. Sometimes wrong, and often he would be asked by men, friends. When are you in town? Bring me a few bottles, please. I've not got the money to pay you now, but I'll give it to you when you come back. And boy, didn't forget he brought it at last. He had quite a lot of bottles to bring more than his own bags would hold, so he got over this by getting a packhorse and two jars with overproof in them. He brought one of these consignments out and got it all right. And the men came and got what they wanted. Some of them got plenty and the mill was idle for a day or two. It annoyed Davies, but amused void. His name was posted up as being a sly grog seller in Busselton and Quinaux and Caradale. That was nothing, though those men would not Peach on him. They were men, not pimps. When he went to town, Bogo told him he was posted up at the police station. The police were waiting to catch him. Ohh, he laughed overall. Said. Look here. I won't sell it to you. Where it said, well, you're not the only pub I can get it elsewhere. Bobo, let him have it. When he got to the Margaret, Jim and mother begged him to leave it, he would get into trouble. But narrow those men will never let me down. He went on, and when he got settled down, Jim O'Neill came in and asked him for his bottle. Boyd had a candle alight on the table. O'Neill left the tent floor open. Davies and the police were outside, and we know Jim O'Neill got his bottle on the table, he said to Boyd. What's that? And, Broad said it's the police and O'Neill put the money on the table and the police and Davies rushed in and picked up the bottle and the money and boiled, blew the candle out and went out the back and out of the tent and off. He went down to Ellis and asked him to put him up till he could get a chance to Stow away in a boat, but they said it is more than we can do. We're getting our living here. And off the Davies mill. And if we were caught, that would be the end of us. Bird had to look elsewhere and he's made his way to the Margaret. He had his gun with him. That's all he had. He came down whistling very early one morning and Jim was in the yard milking. The police and Davies were at the house having breakfast. They had been into town. The police to get a warrant to arrest Boyd and Davies to lay the charge. And so when Jim saw Boyd, he put him in the pen where the calves were and he stayed there till the police were gone. And then and when Jim was finished, they went down to breakfast and bird remained there for three days until they could think of what to do with. He had asked for help. Jim saw Mick Moriarty and Ned. They were living on the other side of the river and Nick agreed to help Jim and father, but Ned would not. He said he went into it and he should get the blunt end. So Jim and Mick bore it up the river and found a little island in the brook where they made a little Bush Hut for him and they put him in it. He was not to leave afire in the daytime. Their board remained for six weeks. A few weeks after my brother's death, Yelverton and Beauville were in touch with the ships going to Adelaide. John Bovell was the ship's agent. They made all the arrangements with the captain. And the mates for Boyd's passage to the east one night father took him in across the Bush and into the back of Fairlawn. Then he left him. Father brought his horse and Saddleback and Boyd went on to Beauville's. Beauville expected him and had everything ready for him. Boyd slept in Bowbells hayloft for two or three nights until the ship was ready to sail, and then the captain and mate came up to Beauvilles and stayed late. They left a sack of clothes and bird, put them on. And early in the morning, he walked down the street. And onto the boat. The police came on the boat. The captain had buoyed under a large empty barrel, with only a plug hole to get air. He was there all the time while the police was on board and the police stayed till the boat was just about leaving. So Boyd got away. But I think Ned Moriarty was right. He said he was not worth the help they gave. He never wrote. Mother got letters from his sisters in York. Those those girls came out with mother and father from Ireland and were distant relations. Miss Boyd never married. She was a school teacher at. York. In her letter, she told mother of how her brother got through to Adelaide. When he was nearing the port, a police boat came out to meet the ship and search. They had no idea that blood was on. That. Ship when the captain saw him coming, he lowered his life boats onto one side and he put his men. Into. Them there were three lifeboats. Boyd was in one of them. When the police pulled in alongside all the boats put out as hard as they could go for shore, and they pulled in and Boyd jumped out. And up amongst the people. He went on and he stopped and mixed in with some of those people on the shore. The police boat put for sale and after them, but it was too late to catch them. But the captain had to pay a £200 fine. He told them that it was a put up joke, but he had to pay for the joke. It was all too sad for poor mother and father. They loved Jim and it was a great blow to them. Father was away at the time. Only mother and Jim and Harry were at the bridge. When Jim went out to hunt the remainder of the cattle and to take the gun from Boyd, he was afraid that the police might find Boyd and Boyd might use the gun. So he went to board's camp and got the gun and swam the river onto the. Inside and that was when the gang got wet and would not fire, and they went up the river and camped the night at the Big Bend in the river, 10 miles from the Margaret Bridge. When Jim got shot, Harry, a boy about 13, had to ride down home and give the news. When Jim fell, he fell in the fire and Harry pulled him out and rode off home to give the news. And when he got home, seeing that mother was alone, he went over the river and told the Moriarty Boys and they came across and talked with mother. They sent Harry off down for Missus Brockman to bring her up before telling. Miller. Mrs Brockman lost no time. She came and mother was told the sad news. And Mrs Brockman took mother down to worklife and looked after her. Mother never forgot it for that. Meanwhile, the Moriarty Boys made a stretcher and went for Jim. Harry, also with the Lantern, the two men carried Jim through scrub and mud and wet and rain getting to the bridge in the early morning. Then one of them had to go to report it. Mike Moriarty had been a policeman and knew they had no right to lift Jim until the police had seen him. Bob and Lizzy were at the Cape, and Lizzie sent down for Mrs Curtis and Mrs Curtis came up and took us children down to stay. And Lizzie went to the funeral in Busselton. Lizzie's wedding was put off for six months. Life was very hard. Now I will go back to some of Bob's hardships. In 1880, when they were built in the Jangama House. Savage was the Carpenter. And he made doors and did all the timber work. They ran out of nails. There were no nails at Yelverton's. They would have to get the nails from Busselton. The men were all at work. Bob could go in and get them £12. Bob had never been to Busselton only a couple of times with Jim and the team Bob was to ride out and put the nails on. So he went to get his horse, but he could not find it. And he heard that the lighter. At Yeldon's, boat was going in in the morning, so he got ready early in the morning and walked over and caught the boat. He went up the town to Beauvilles, had dinner, got his nails all in a paper bag. The boat was to leave at 3:00 PM for home. He walked downtown, the nails under his arm. All the town boys came after him. Can you fight? Sucker, look at him. What's he got under his arm? He's a coward. Then they pulled his shirt out and sang giddy, giddy gout shirt hanging out. Bob didn't want to fight and told them that he had nails in the bag and that he had other things to do. They kept on following him. Bob bought a packet of biscuits and started eating. Give us some your greedy guts. While he was bailed up, the boat pulled out and Bob had to walk new boots on 12 inch nails. Off he goes out along the road 22 miles. He didn't know too much about the road. He took the wrong turn at Newtown and went out the Margaret Rd. As far as carbon up. There was no bridge there then and it was dark. Bob knew he was on the wrong Rd. He had sore feet. He had taken his boots off and also his shirt to put the nails in the paper bag had gone to bits and he was tired and hungry and thirsty. He had a drink from a hole at the brook and went up the brook a few yards to see which way the water was running. The bushes would lean the way the water would run, and there in the brook was a dead horse. He had just drank the water below. He turned and went back the way he came on and on, sleepy and tired, sore footed. At last, he could hear the **** crow. He knew he must be near Harwood's, and there he met Father, coming to see what had happened. Father had been to the beach and found that Bob had missed the boat and he was on his way to town to see Bob. He didn't rouse on Bob, he gave him his horse to ride, and he walked. They walked as far as seymours. Then he said to Bob. You go in there to Frede room and have a sleep, and Bob went in. Poor old Fred was just awake and he tucked Bob in and had a good sleep. Bob was 16 years old. I will go back now to mother and father when they lost Jim, their right hand man, and didn't know what to do. Lizzie was getting married, and Bob and father never got on. Harry was young and liked working for others better than home. Bob had it in his head to leave home and work. Minnie was getting useful but still had a long way to go. The others were young Willy, just a baby, three years old. We children could all milk and feed calves and do our jobs, wash. But we were only children. So when Lizzie got married, it will leave mother with more than she can do. There is nothing only to let the place to Armstrongs and Bob will draw up the agreement. Armstrong and Bob take the place as it stands, pay £25 per year. There's good stack of hay and a ready sail at yelverton's 12 tone of hay. There's a good food garden and pigs and fowls and a crop. Also there is 88 head of cattle. They will milk the cows and look after the stock. Only paying £25 a year. Lizzie said she had had enough of looking after the kids, and this meant mother had to get out of her house and leave it to them and take her kids, which she did. And when mother was gone, they took the windows out of the house and took them over to Jim Garma and put them in that house. And they nailed up the windows at the other place. They also pulled down the paled fence from the garden and took the pails up and put them around the swamp. At Jin garma. They cut up the hay and sold it to yell widens, and Bob lived by himself at the old house. Lizzie baked bread and he got his bread from the Armstrongs. They booked it up to him. He helped to cart and cart the chaff and he did the potatoes and got nothing. And when Bob asked where do I come into it, Armstrong had been in and taken the potatoes out and brought out a big load of jams and Pickles and sauces and honey and dates and currants, whisky and every little thing you could think of. Bob remarked. Ohh Jim, the farm would not stand to this. You mind your own damn business. I'm going to feed my wife. She's been starved all her life. So that's it. Bob said, where do I come in? You've got all you're going to get. Do what you like. Bob did. He collected his few head of cattle and his horse and saddle and brought them to the Margaret to sell. Mother bought them from him and Bob went off to. The north. With John Harris, he only got as far as Cossack and turned back. He walked from York to Perth and had no money when he got to Perth he got a job as a yardman for a few days and found out whether furlongs lived. Mrs Furlong was a great friend of mothers and fathers, and when she saw him and got to know who he was, she was pleased. Bob stayed there for a week or so and he worked at odd jobs and wrote to mother and father. And sent them money and they were glad to hear of the furlongs. They had not heard from them for years. They had left Guildford and were very poor. Now Mr Furlong was blind. And Minnie was working in an office. When mother had heard from them. They'd had a boarding house in. Guildford. And were doing well. There was a lot of work going on. A railroad was being built and the men were boarding with the furlongs. Later, a lot of them didn't pay their board, and Bob came home. Meanwhile, the mother was battling along with her little family of five as before. The house had only 5 rooms, the bedrooms were small and there was not much room for lodges. We 4 girls had one room, father and mother and Willy. The baby had one that only left 2 rooms for visitors and sometimes we would have 10 or more people come in for the night and the kitchen. The only room used as kitchen and dining room would be full. Can anyone think what a time mother had to cook in that room and feed them and us all, which she did? We children had a hard time as well as mother, for we had to get the wood for the fire and carry the water from the river about 5. Chains and upper bank. And we also had to milk the cows, 15 of them and feed the. Calves. The calves had to be hung up every evening and brought in and fed before the milking. It was skilled milk in those days. There was no separators. The milk was set in dishes. And skinned and warmed and fed to the calves, which was one job. Sometimes it would be dark and raining and we would be wet to the skin and ohh so cold. And when we came in there would be a lot of strangers around the good. Fire. And we would look at the fire and shiver. Not one of them would move. And mother had told us often. Not to push our way to the fire when people. There. So there was nothing for us. Cold and wet would go to bed. I would pick up my cat. And cuddle her. And keep myself warm. I thought a lot of my cats. I would take my kittens away and hide them so they could not get them to kill, but poor mother. Had a lot of bother with them, they would steal all the same and she didn't like to have a cat killed 1 morning. I remember Jack Bussell was home from the. Yes. And he had set the net to catch fish. He got a lot of mullet in the mouth of the river, and they were fat. They were living on a dead beast in the river. He brought us up a bag full. We could not eat them, but the cats and dogs could and we gave them a good feed. My poor cat was very sick after her feed and she was sick in the house and father was wild. Who would have no more of those damn cats. He took my poor cup by the neck and off he. Went. With her, I followed him. He threw the cat in the river and I jumped in after her and there was a few bushes growing in the river and the cat hung on to them. But she saw me and jumped. And by this time, the water was up to my armpits and I was lifted off my feet and downstream I went. Father followed on the other side of the bridge. The water was shallow and father caught me and brought me out. And I was a wet girl, but he didn't scold me. The cat was at the fireside when we got home. Mother told Mrs Brockman and she gave great praise for my work. I always like cats and dogs and all little things calves I had a lot of cats. They used to take them away and hide them, fearing that they would kill them. I also had a lot of opossums, young ones. I used to feed and look after them. I think I was the only one in the family who did. In the summer time, we used to go possum hunting every night we had a dog puppy. We called him. And after supper, we would say the puppy go find an off puppy would go and get a possum up a tree, then weave Annie or Grace and I would go and get up the tree and shake the possum down and. Puppy. Would catch it if there was a young one, we would bring it home. As a pet. My night Grace and I went up the field with Puppy where he had a possum in a dead red gum tree and it had been ring barked and up we went. Grace on one tree and I on the other. One right up. There were two little possums on the tree and we wanted to catch them. We didn't want puppy to get them, so we climbed out, right, right out on the tree and the limbs broken down. We came possums and all. And we both got hurt. We lay there for a. While. How were we going to get? Home. At last we rolled over and got to our knees and then to our feet and went home and we got in the window in our room. And the window was low and big and we didn't want to tell Mother. Next morning was baking day. And bread making in a big stone oven outside. Meant wood. Getting that was my job, and when mother told me to go and get the wood for the oven, I could not bend over to pick up a stick and she was a while with me for not going. And at last I had to tell her that I had a bad brack and could not bend down. Manny would have to get the wood. Annie and Minnie got the wood and grace and I had a bad day of it and that was near the end of our hunting for a time. Father had bought a big buggy and was running people from Caradale to Busselton and Quindell up, so we didn't see much of him. Only at nights when he would bring a lot of people for the night. And also he would bring orders for butter and eggs and bacon. But this had to be smuggled into the houses. Davies did not allow his men to trade outside and he had a good store on the station. He had everything that was wanted from a needle to an anchor, and it was said he had a gunning licence and Herbert Davies was a first aid man and could set a man's leg or arm. As the doctor could, but if they found the man getting his food from elsewhere, it meant the. Back. Davish used to buy 36 LB of butter every month from mother for his own table. But it was very hard on the men to have to buy their things in the store, butter at 2:00 and 6:00 a pound and everything was dear. That is in the food line. They had an old man in the store who used to put it over them. Davies had bought a lot of bad butter and they had to sell it. It was just fit for cart grease and the men would not buy it at touchings per pound, but Banes that was the man's name. He found a way of selling it. The men would come in and ask for a pound of jam. Veins would not serve them unless they took a pound of butter and they had to take it. This is the truth. But the clothing was good and cheap. One could buy a suit of clothes as cheap as Perth £2.10 for a good suit. Herbert Davies was a good man and he was liked by all. Who knew. Mother was very worried over things that the cake. She had not yet got away the rent. And the old home had been wrecked and ruined. Other people's cattle were running all over the fields. The fences were all down, and her own cattle were not looked after. Father went in, he said. I will let the plates. I will crop it on shares and as he did, he and Arthur Smith pick the crop on shares and many went in with father for a short term and stayed at didn't gum up with Lizzie. Lizzie had a child about 12 months old. While Minnie was in there, one of our cows got the rickets. Carrie Rickets it was. People thought that cattle got in the carry, but there was no carry at the Cape. Other people thought that it was a worm that got in the nose of the beast and went right up the spine. And if you cut the tail off about halfway, you would kill the worm and the. Beast would. Get better. This cow was on the. Coast. Up at catching up and was down to it and they thought that they were go and fetch her home where she could be looked after. So off they went and the horse and dried father Arthur Smith and Jim Armstrong. And Manny and the little baby for a ride. While they were loading the cow, Minnie said. I will go over the hill and look at those cattle on Yonder Hill. And come home across the hill. And she went. And it was later than she. Thought. And she had a look at the cattle and started her home. She got into the thicket. And kept going South trying to get out of the thicket and it came up very dark and began to rain and Thunder on and on she went. She knew that she was going down the hill, but where she was, she didn't know. She only knew this if she was going down. She must strike the forest Rd. An old timber Rd that we used when taking cattle out to the Margaret. And at last she came onto the road. It was only a cattle pad in some places. She sat down under a big red gum tree and rested. She had taken off her shirt and put it around the child to keep it dry. While she was under that tree, she. Thought. Which way is home now? And she listened for frogs. I must go for the swamp. She heard the frogs, but they were not the jangama frogs. But they might be the rotten swamp frog, so she followed along the road and went with the frogs. At last she heard the Jingam up band of Frogs, and she knew she was right. Then she heard the old horse bell. Lizzie was ringing it at the top of the cleared swamp, and she shouted and was home. But the men were all out in the hills looking for her. They had guns and if they found her, the signal was the gun. So when Lizzie went to the house, she fired three shots and the men came home, went to the skin. That tree is still called Minnie's get down. Later on Minnie and I went in to bring the cows out and father came with us in the buggy. He would have us go past Arthur Smith's place and out by the station. It was a long way, but I think he wanted to be with us. So we went past the Alberton station and camped out at Yelverton's Paddock put the cows in the paddock and made up for the night. And our first night under the Moon and the stars, we didn't sleep much. Next morning we were up and we got our horses. And got the cattle together and father started off saying keep the right hand Rd. There are a lot of roads and men timber hauling. They were planning to see, but we went on and on at last. We got one of the timber roads. And only on some old roads that had not been used for years. And we still kept on. After while, Father caught us up, he was wild with the seed taking the horse out of the buggy. And LED the other one up and left Willie and the little fellow about 5 in the buggy crying. Do you know where you are? Yes, I said. I do. We're at Merrylands and I know now which way to go. I have been here before with Harry when taking cattle. When we struck the Margaret Rd, we were to stop till he came up. We were there long before he was, and when he came up, we had. Dinner and came on that place. We had dinner at a place called Willie Obra. From there, we got home to the Margaret before sundown and we were happy to see Grace and. Nanny. They had a lot to tell us. They'd been to a picnic and had a good time. Miss Violet Russell had come to get them and dressed them and taken them, and it was very nice. And they had all sorts. Of. Good things to eat. Mother was away in Busselton when they went, and Annie said. We were so ashamed of ourselves, we felt we ought to thank them for the Nice evening. But we could not pluck up the courage to say so. And I said to grace, you say it and she said no you. And we weren't behind the shared. And talked. But could not bring ourselves to say one word. At last, we made off the home. And just said. Where we were going and we ran away and I felt ashamed of it all. And he said that we were very shy children because we had no other children to play with and we never went out anywhere. Only in the Bush. Minnie did go out a bit. She went to the post office and she had one or two girlfriends and went to people's houses, but I never went out. I was 20 years old and had never seen a shop or a school or a town. I'd only been in two houses. That were not our own. Those houses were courtesies and worklife. I knew no one. Only by sight. And he was just as bad. But Grace had been out a bit. She had been to Carradale Newtown and Quinaux. But there is no one knows how you feel when you go out and you know no one and have not got anything to talk. About. Only what you have heard or read in a book. You can tell a yarn you have read. It's alright in your own house. This talk. But when you meet people, it's not too good. Minnie had been out, could talk a bit, and if there was any message, mother had to send or anything she wanted to know. No, it was always Minnie she sent to do it. So many got the lead on us. Other girls we didn't know how to go about asking. I remember going down to Higgins's to get some flour. Mother had sent Annie and I down to ask for the loan of £20 of flour our team was going to town and we were determined, Miss Higgins that the team was going to town if there was anything that she wanted, we could bring it out well off we went and we saw Missus Higgins. Well, good morning, girls. How is your mother and all, alright? Thank you. Nice day, isn't it? Coincide. Tommy is away. We sat and she talked to us and we answered her. Then she asked what we'd come for. That was a killer. We told her we'd come to tell her that the team was going to town and mother wanted to know if there's anything she wanted. And she wanted to borrow a few pounds of flour to keep going till the team came back. We got the flower and I was off like a kangaroo. We didn't like going to Higgins's as she always asked what we'd come for and that hurt. We saw a lot of people coming and going but never talked to them. They only stayed the night and was going off in the morning. Sometimes we would be left alone to look after the place to get meals for the comers and goers, and to give them a night's feed. We could do that alright and some of the people remarked about the little housekeepers and cooks. We were small for our aged 10 and 12. One lady came. I miss MacGregor and she helped us set the table and wash up and we liked. Her. She talked a lot to us. And she was like, one of our own. She knew mother and Lizzie and all the. Family. Father always kept his horses in the stable and fed them. He had neck ropes. But one night when he came home, the neck rope was gone. The children had taken them playing somewhere. They had a swing up river. But we brought it back and put it where we got it. How could you put it where you got it? It's not there. Now you must have left it down somewhere. Go and get it. We hunted everywhere we had ever been, but no rope. The long catching rope was gone. Bob and Harry were supposed to be cattle hunting and were up river. They came home. We found the ropes behind the log at the main house. We also found the axe which Bella was supposed to have lost when chopping black boys for the calves. But a few weeks later, Elsie Lowe 1/2 cast came along and spilled the beans. He asked how Bob and Harry got on with their wild horses. And he told mother about seeing them and Bob MacGregor camp together. They had a big yard and a good big run, and we're having a good time catching wild horses and riding them. That is where the neck rope was. Also the catching rope. And they all came home, but mother said nothing to the boys. The poor fellows had had a bad time on Kangaroos and damper, and she didn't tell father either, for she was afraid of a row and that he would hunt the boys off. Harry was beginning to fancy himself and had an idea of girls. There was Amanda Stephens same as himself and Edie Adams at Wardcliffe also Miss Violet Bussell. Who had to pull Harry's foot and like to do it and Harry could not keep away from walk lift every evening he would go down there, which meant a clean pair of pants, white male skins and clean shirt. The pants always had to be washed white or we would hear about it and ohh they were hard to wash and so dirty. All the yard muck and milk and he. Used to help. Valet to feed the calves and help wash the buckets. Clean up. And he was a great man, he thought with the girls. Bob had given all that best, but we little girls, had plenty of work to do. We milked and fed the calves and pigs. Kept the calves washed and did a lot of making and mending. We got the wood. And the water and wash the floors of the house and. We. Had to give time to our lessons, reading and writing, so there was not much play time. Our boys had the best of it. They were lucky to have a home for in the good old days. Men worked from daylight till dark and only got 6 shillings a day. If you were in the forest, you would hear the men's axes when the birds had gone home to roost, and they had big families to keep all the week, they would work hard and Sunday would be spent in hunting Kangaroos, birds or fishing for food for the next week. They had big families and the children grew to be fine. Big men and women and good men too. Those class of men are not here today. The men and women of today. Have no backside in them. They don't work. They can't and won't. I've implored some of them to do a bit of gardening work for me 4 days at £2 a day, one chain of ground dug in in a funny sort of a way. I would be ashamed of myself if I could not do it in one and half days and dig it well. That is, as things are now as I write in 1956, but I will go back to 1888. Minnie and I went to the Cape to hunt up the dairy. We got our cows together and stayed at the old house, which had now been registered to a camp. Everything had gone out of the house. Only one table and one. Chair. There was 1 old wooden bed. Some pots and pans, but no cups and sauces. And plates. We had some more mugs. And tin plates and a camp oven. The old oven mother had was gone. There was a few rusty knives and for. Father came in to go ploughing and he brought in our milk dishes and buckets and food. We started to milk. We had to put the yards in order and the calf pens. The dairy had to be lined to keep the dust out. We got 9 cows and off we went. Father was ploughing. We milked and fed the carbs and then I went out to pick sticks and ferns out of the road. Many was housekeeper. Sometimes father would get me to walk along by the horses on the ploughed ground. It was heavy walking. And I took my old boots off. In May and June, father finished the ploughing and went out to the Margaret and took some people up from Caradale to Basildon. Manny and I were alone and father had put two men on to clear the ground down near the brook. Called the plane. And they had finished, and he went to Margaret to get the money to settle up with them. August came. This I remember well the day Jim Armstrong was born August the 13th, 1888. Lizzie was at jingam up. And he was getting the potatoes ready and father was going to go to town and he would take those potatoes in for them. Lizzie took ill. And Father was there. She left the swamp and went off to the house, and father came down to the old place and Jim came with him. Father caught his horses and harnessed them, and off he went for Mrs Turner to nurse Lizzie. Jim stayed on. We were making bread in a camp oven and Jim stayed to see that loaf cooked and when it came out he had a cup of tea and a cut of the bread from the hot load. We didn't know that Lizzie was ill. Father went out and got Mrs Turner and brought her back to Jangama and Mrs Turner. Was only just in time. Father on the road back, he met Jim coming just halfway and father was wild with Jim. He had left Lizzie alone with no one with. Her. Only the little child he had gone 7 miles to bring a woman and was only just in time for the birth. Father told us that Lizzie had a baby boy when he came home. He'd waited to see the berth over before coming away. Lizzie was alright. But wasn't he well with Jim for leaving her on her own? Next morning he went up to see the baby, a long, dark, skinny. Baby, very dark. They had already fixed his name. Clarence James, born August the 13th, 1880. Yeah. When they were still at the old Margaret Bridge, father took up a block in Bob's name. He could not get a block in his own name because he had land at the Cape. That was the Land's Department law. So he took it in Bob's name. He got it, surveyed. He was lucky the surveyors were in the district. Fred Brockman and Ridley. We could not get a further lease of the bridge, John Bussell would be coming home and taking over the estate, and Mrs Brockman would have to move out. So we had to get somewhere else to go. The halfway house was too good to lease. It was ready money, and we had a market for everything we had to. Well. Mother thought it over and so she thought that now her girls and boys were beginning to grow up, that it could be managed to keep the two places. We could go in and live at the Cape and improve it. If he only improved it, he could be helped from the Margaret to this, Bob agreed. But they had first to build a house on the block at Ellenbrook or Glenburn. Mrs brockman. Would shift to Ellensburg. In the old house on the beach. Father was in town and Mrs Lockhart had heard that father was leaving the bridge and she said to him, I say, Mr Keenan, I will see you. That place of mine at the Margaret. I hear that you are leaving the bridge. Yes, Mrs Lockhart, but I've already got a place on the. Ellensburg. I will go there. But I will sell it for you. What do you want for it? £400. Well, when you see Mrs Brockman next, you tell her that Keenan is going to buy. It. He has offered you 500 lbs and she will buy it and Mrs Lockhart lost no time, she told Missus Brockman and Mrs Brockman said. Ohh. Missus Lockhart, don't you sell that place to Kenyon? I want it so bad. I'll buy it off you. And I'll give you the same price as Kanan. And she bought it. And once Father built his house, he was intending to apply for a licence for a wayside house. He applied, but MC Davies opposed him as it was too near to his mill and would upset things. Mother was glad Father didn't get it. John Bussell came home and took charge. Mrs Brockman went to live at Ellensburg and our time would be up. That year, our House was going up fast. Mrs Brockman had built a large. Barn and cowshed on her place. She had given it the name of Burnside. Mrs Lockhart's maiden name was Margaret Burnside. She had a man working on the place. The name of Tim Connolly and the boys used to go over to Burnside and play cards with Tim. He was Irish. One night some cattle came and got into this crop. Connolly was very wild about it. He said it was Keenan's cows. It was not Kenyans, cows, but he came and told us it was. So the boys, Harry and Bob, made up their minds that they would give Mr Connelly's and cattle to. Hunt. They got two big bulls, and when Connelly got into bed. Those bulls started out in the crop ringing and Keenan's bullocks was in the crop, Connelly thought, and he got up and went to put them out. When the boys saw him coming. They stopped the ringing the bell when Harry's Bell was not ringing, Bob went further. ****. He would start off as a Bullock feeding and Connelly was running from 1 bell to the other. He had a lot to say to Keenan's Bullocks and Keenan and what he thought he would do in the morning. In the morning he came over and told mother that the bullocks had been in the crop all night and he had been trying to get them out. He was wet to the skin and he had to leave them. Now the bullocks had had a good feed. And done £50 worth of damage. He expected Keenan to pay for the damage. He could not find the billets this morning or he would have started right up to Basildon with them and put them in the pound. So you now you know what to expect. Mother told him that the bullets were not here, that they were down at wardcliffe. I know that they were Mrs Keenan, for I was up the best part of the night after them. Our boys had it in for Connolly. And he always had a lot of tales to tell. Bob had heard from the furlongs. He was one of the men who was working on the line and got away with 60 lbs. From poor missus Furlong's boarding house. It was not all bored. He got money from her to send to the poor, his poor mother in Ireland. And when Bob was coming home from the NW, he stayed at furlongs in Wellington. Straight. She had been sold up. In the boarding house and everything and she had was sold. And when she came into Perth. She had to go to her house and her husband was blind. Bob had given her. Mrs Connelly's address. And he knew that Connolly was writing to Miss Furlong. He had him very much set and Harry and he lost no time. Anywhere they could to get a trick on him. They did it. One I must tell Connolly used to go down to wardcliffe for his evenings. The days were short in June and wet. Connie would leave after he had had tea, about 6:00. Those two rigged up. A ghost for him. Commonly believed in ghosts and they rigged up one on the Wheatfield. They got a big pig melon and cleaned it out. Put a wire through the middle of it. And hang up bicycle light on it and they cut eyes and the mouth into it. Inside the wire they had lines on both sides and they hung a white sheet around it and they fixed it so that the sheet when they pulled on it. Would spread out. And Harry was on one side and bobbed the other. Poor old Connolly came down. He pulled in a bit to cross the gully. And his horse baulked. And when he saw the light and the white sheet and kindly stopped and looked and turned and rode off as fast as he could to Burnside. He told everyone that he had seen a ghost at the Wheatfields Gully and he asked if there had ever been anyone killed there, and he described the ghost to John Russell. When he came home. He went to Busselton and used to stay at old Mrs Higgins at Seaview. They were very nice people. Old Mrs Higgins always had a drop of whiskey. Tommy Higgins and Lizzie Dawson were engaged to be married. But could not get a place to live. So Mr Bussell, let them the old bridge. Our time was not up for six months and our new House was not ready. Tommy came out and brought his things out and a cart load of. Though. Mother didn't know anything about Higgins and Bussells agreement, and she could not let him put his things in the house. She got them to stack them in the store room and John Bassell came. Then to move us out. Bob was there and Bob just let Bustle setting back, he told John that our lease was not up. Also, if it was up to Bussell, you would have to give us six months notice. Bussell had his big law book with him, and Bob said read your book. So Bussell had to give us notice when our time was up. We moved into our new House July the 12th, 1889 Glenburn on the. Ellenbrook. Father had named the place Glenburn. Our next trouble was a take log that washed up at the beach between Ellensburg and Newcard up the South side of the Bro. Father saw it and he told Mr Bevell. And they put it up and solved it. Bevell bought it. There was another, smaller log near the brook on the South side window. Bell told father he had bought it. He told him to remove it to the farm. Then he would send two men out to pittsurgh. Father and Harry took the bullocks down and brought the log home. Connolly then put the log up for sale and bought it. Then he reported it that the canines had stolen the log and removed his log from the beach at Nukata. Father got a summons to appear. He went in and Bobel was there. Father made his statement and he was asked if he had any witnesses. Yes, father said. I have and he turned to the back of the court and said. I want 2 salons, one from Doctor Lipper. His worship and the other the clerk of the court, those are the two men who sold the log. I have the receipt. The case was dismissed. Connolly got nothing out of that. His next move was to pound a horse. Fred Bussell and Connolly went down fishing to quarrel. OK. They were there for a time, but without getting any fish, they started home and coming around by some trees. They heard a bell and Fred saw a big grey horse which he thought was his. When he looked at it, he saw it was Harry's big Grey and he said that's keenans. And he rode off and Connolly, hearing what was Keenan's thought here, is a chat. Hence, and he haunted the horse along. Fred didn't want to have anything to do with it. He rode ahead and called in and had a word or two with father and mother. He told them that he and Connelly had been fishing and that he had seen the Grey horse we'd been looking for. At the old house. And then he didn't know what Conley was doing. He left me when I went to see the horse and I thought he would catch me up. Anyway. I have cows to milk, so I must go and he went down. And down the hill came Connolly with our grey horse. The horse turned the yard and Conley came after him. Father went out and put the rails up. Behind Connolly and the. Horse. The horse went into the stable, father said. What do you want to do with the horse, Tim? Take him home and pound him. Ah well, with that father walked up and took hold of the reins of Connolly's horse and said. Well, now Connolly. You're trespassing. You're in my yard and. Table. Connelly jumped off the horse. And out through the yard and out on the road, father left the house and followed him, saying he was trespassing and Connolly turned and said, I'll have you in court for this. You can take it to hell if you like. Came back from father the next morning, Mrs Bussell and Connelly rode over. Father, let them take the horse. Connelly went on to Busselton and laid a charge against. Rather, for knocking him off the horse with a rail, Conley had just come out of the courthouse and father walked up an old Mr. Cook. Worthy came out after Connolly had laid the charge and he met. Hello, kenan. What's this you've been doing to Connolly? Knocked him off his horse and took it off him. Ah, said father. There was more eyes than mine watching that. Outlooks Connelly and Father said. What's all this stuff you've been telling? Connolly said. You don't mean to deny it, do you? Look Conley, there was more eyes than mine watching that. Just remember, there's three years inside for telling lies. It never went any further. Case. Dismiss. When John Bussell came home, he got all of his father's old hands back. Sam Isaacs and his family were at Caradale. And he got them to come back to Wardcliffe. There were six children. This was only part of the team of men. He had black Georgie, Elsie Lowe and he was set. He had to round up all the estates, horses and. Cattle. The horses have been running in the Bush for years. And neither broken nor branded. It meant a big job for John. He had to have every man he could get. And so the work started. He built yards in the Bush. He had to have a good run. He was all set. Bob and Harry Kane and his brother Fred, only a lad joined himself. Bob, before starting on the job, had an agreement with John that he and Harry would get one horse out of every three got in. They had a big strip of country to hunt from, Yelverton station to Branna. Off they started John and Bob, Harry and Black Georgie. They started out after a mob of horses and they were going good. One of them heard John shout and he at first thought it was John giving a war cry, but seeing he was not following, they went back to see what was the matter and there they found John. It was a bird's nest in a white antilock, and John was enjoying it. He was eating or sucking the eggs. Some of them had young birders in them. Bird's Nest, said John. I could not carry them home, so I. Thought I would eat them. They turned again to pick up the horses, but it was too late. So they left it for tomorrow. Next day they got them and yarded 12 branded them and roped and led the best of them home Bob and Harry and Ellie Lowe were the riders Bob McGregor had. Join them. They put in a week handing them and had them in the paddocks next week they went on another hunt. They got some more horses, but not the ones John wanted. He wanted the old mares. There were some good mares, half bloods. And one, Bob had his eyes on a Bay mare called Belly 1/2 Blood and a great bucker. Bob wondered a horse that could buck. None of those they had handled would, but he agreed with John to take Belly instead of two of the others, and this was agreed on. Bob always liked to. Have. Everything in writing and so he got John to put it on paper as agreed to. This is to certify that IJG battle do hereby agree. To give Robert Keenan, the mere belly a Bay mare with a White Star. Branded by Mr AG Bussell. It went on and when Father was having the trouble about the log on the beach all at once, this jumped out. Bob Keenan had sold a horse with the Bustle brand on it without any notice. Bob got a summons and the police came out and served it on him. Mother was very upset and they Bob and mother sat up most of the night. Hunting amongst their papers at last they found the paper and all the letters that had passed between John and Bob, the policeman, Hoolihan said. Give me that letter also the agreement and I will take it to bustle. He can't say that that's not his own writing. This he did, and Bussell said. I don't know what ever made me do such a thing. I think I was blind drunk. You know what it means if it goes to court three years. The police took the letters in agreement to the court and the case was withdrawn. Bob and Jack were bad friends, not speaking. John went to town in the backboard and was returning. There was a very wet night and thundering and who shall walk into the house wet to the skin. But John Russell. It had a breakdown, had broken the pole out of the backboard. It was so dark and coming around the bend he had run off the road onto a stump and broke the pole right off. He went up to him and said you dog out of my house. You get wet or no wet. I can't and won't have. You. Oh, Bob, you won't do that to me. Look what you did to me, you big B. If it hadn't been for the fact that I had the foresight enough to get you to put in writing, where would I have been? I would have had no home. It was just luck on my part. I wasn't doing 15 years. Mother kept out of the way and let Bob deal with him and was pleased to hear him speak for himself. John went on his knees to beg to be forgiven, and he asked Bob to forgive and forget, and he held his hand out to Bob to shake hands, saying Bob, I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was doing. I was drunk. You are a gentleman. Bob turned his back to John and said. I am glad you know it. Mother hearing that the row was over came into the room with some dry clothes saying I've been hunting up some clothes for you here. Get those wet things off you. And mother went to make a cup of tea. Next morning, Bob went up the road with John, and Bob took the brace and bit some bolts and the axe. He was away a little time and he cut down a small jar tree and barked it, and he did it up and put the pole in the backboard for John and John went home. Our old man Barber had returned to us and asked for a job. He had been away two years at Caradale mother gave him a job and set him on monthly. She put him to clear the carry flat below the stable. There were a few big carriers, not many, but the trees had been ring barked and were dead. The flat had a lot of ferns on it and other grows. There was house Bush and light scrub. Not much roots. Barbour cleared the ferns off and cut them, and the house Bush. Then he dug the ground over with the spade, took out the Fern roots and threw them on top of the ground. We picked them all up and burnt them, Barber cleared and dug 2 acres like this and mother sewed wheat on it and we girls harried in. We had a pair of wood framed harrows and iron pigs. And it was hard work digging the harrows in, but on and on we went with our garden and we had about two chains of swamp too, and we made a nice garden of it the first year. Minnie and I carried manure out on our backs, about 5 chain. We had to carry the manure from the stable to the swamp. Each day we carried it as we needed it. And the digging was hard and we had to use an axe and Matic as well as a spade. And we put in one bag of potatoes in early November and we got the two chain in and we put in 2000 onion plants, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, beet. Carrot, parsnips, celery, egg, fruit, tobacco, and when father came out at Christmas, he was disgusted with the way we had planted everything on top of the. We would get nothing. He was ashamed of. It. But later when he came out in March, when we had dug up our crop of potatoes, he was proud he had never in his life seen anything like those potatoes. 15 bags and the pumpkins, some of them £100 as much as we could get in one wheelbarrow. We got 18 bags of onions. And sold 8 bags of onions and 9 bags of potatoes to carradale and then we sold a lot of pumpkins to Yelverton store and fed our pigs on others. After this, we always had a good garden. The wheat we had Harrod in was a good crop. Bob cut it down with the sad and we stooped it and put it in sheaves. And when it was fit to cart we carried it in on our backs in rope bundles and stacked it in the barn. And the band just held it. I must say something about our pets. We had a pet EMU and a pet dingo. The EMU is doing alright, but it would often take on soap or anything around and eat it and often got into hot water for pulling things about. The dingo would follow us about go with us after the carves and hunt lizards and grasshoppers. But one day he killed the emu. Later on, we were all down working in the swamp and Mother came down and said that Wretch of a dog has just killed my hen and he has run off with it into the Bush. I wonder, will he come back or will he go? Bush. We will have to go and get. And tie him up. Tagger did come back and when he came we tied him up on a chain in the barn and kept him there for a week. We didn't like the thought of killing him, but we knew it was the only thing to do. And so one day Fred Bussell came along and mother took him down to the barn and asked him to kill the dingo for her. He had howled all the time. He was tied up and he had pulled the horse collars down and torn them up. Fred killed him, and that was the end of our dingo. When a stranger would come to the house, he would always hide. The next year we got Willie to plough the flat and sew it and hard. Right. There was a nice big field, now 6 acres. That was a good one. So we tied it all up and sheaves. And it was carted in and some put in the barn and the other stooped and cut in the shaft. This had to be done by hand, one feeding one on the handle. It was hard work. But. With a little help from Barber, we got it done and there were two men who came along. Barber knew them and they camped on the brook just outside our fence. Their names were Hannon and Bailey prospectors looking for gold. Barbara knew there was some white caught stone up the brook and he took them down and showed it to them. They stayed here a week and went on to Augusta and across the river to the Blackwood. One day, Barbara was reading the paper and he read of a big gold strike at a place called Coolgardie, 300 miles from Perth. The men who found it were Bailey and Hammond. Poor old Barber was excited. His friend Pat Hannon. Would be called Mr Hannon now, and he would only be old Barber. The people down here began to get itchy feet. MC Davies sent a team of camels up. 13 men. Mrs Brockman sent a horse and dray and three men. Connolly at the head of them. Fred Bussell was well set up with a load of stores and off he went. He was away about 3 months when Connolly came home. He had had news from home that his father had died. His poor mother was in great trouble. He had to go and fix things. His mother was calling on him. Mrs Buckman said. Oh, Tim, you're not going to Ireland. What about me? I need you so much. I can't do without you. You are my manager. And if you go, I don't know what I shall do. I cannot do without you. But I have to go back to Ireland. I'm afraid I shall have to do it. I have no money. I will want money and I will go to Perth and see what I can do. How much money would you want? I'll need about 62 lbs, said Connolly. I should think 60 will do. I cannot say, but I have to go at once. Well, Tim, I have no money, but I will give you 12 cows and you can take them and sell them. You will get the best price at Guildford. Tim Connolly got the 12 cows and drove them away. The father that had died was Mr Furlong. And Mrs Furlong had summonsed him and got a judgement for the 60 lbs. He had tried to do her out of it. We know this from Mrs Furlong. Conley didn't go to Ireland to claim his estate. He went back to Kalgoorlie and joined a party with Simon McGregor and another man. Dad put down a shaft about 60 feet and they're not getting anything. And their expenses were too much. There was an old goldfield man from the east. His name was Ishira Owen. He was an old hand and knew a good bit about gold. He kept hanging around prospecting, picking up stone. And making an assay on it. And Fred, Bussell and Connolly would ask. What do you think of our show? And he would answer. Well, you never know. It's only just luck, boys. So the Connelly party pulled up their tents and shifted. As soon as they did, Ishi, Owen stepped on and off he went. In two days, he had struck a rich patch. He put in a drive, and that mine he called the never despair. The Connelly party returned to Margaret. Fred Bussell went share farming with Mrs Brockman and later he went on the rabbit proof fence with his brother de Castella. He was on the fence about two years and came back to help work with the Burnside estate. The Wardcliff estate had been sold and John Bussell was out of. John had married a Mrs Ronald and she had died and left one child, a boy. The Reynolds had taken the child and John had gone free. Mrs Bussell and Mr Brockman had split up, and Miss Bussell had taken illness. Book the old place and 12 cows as her part of the Wardcliffe estate. Mr Bussell's world had said that the girls had to be paid £50 each from the estate and when the estate was sold. They put in their claim against the estate and took the cows. For the money, Violet took 12 cows. Nina, that's Philomena took 12. Miss Bassell took 12 cows. And the old place at Ellensburg and Miss Violet Russell married de Castella. And Mina married Mr Terry. And Miss Bussell lived a single life and died an old age. The new road had been surveyed from Caradale to Newtown, 4 miles inland from the Old Coast Road. The caves were opened up at yelling up and yelling up were the first caves of. We had none of this hole as we called it. How it came to be opened up Fred Seymour and Ned Dawson were out while dog hunting. They caught a lot of wild dog pups and saw some others. They saw some go down little rocky places and when they came to this hole, they looked down to sea. If it were possible for a dog to go down, they said to one another. Next Sunday, we'll bring a rope and go down this and see what it's like. So next Sunday they went out and Ned went down 1st and he had the rope and Fred said to Ned, now you come back Ned and I will go down and see it. And Fred went down and he decided it was a fine sight. What they could see of it. Fred said. We will have a picnic next Sunday and have a good look. We will have black boy torches as candles, so when next Sunday came all the keenans, the curtises and the Seymours went to The Cave. To have a picnic. And we girls and old Mrs Seymour and Mrs Curtis and her girls. And her baby all went down to the first floor. And we had our picnic down there and we gave her a good look over it. We had black boy rushes for torches and candles and plenty of paper and matches, and we went right down to the crystal floor. That is the bottom. No one had ever been below that, and we thought it beautiful. All the people came next Sunday from around Quintilla and some from Busselton. The caves were advertised every Sunday for a long time. The government formed a caves board and Ned Dawson was appointed caretaker. Then they built the caves house in 92, and Mr and Mrs Dugdale were manager and manager. They started the caves in the southwest, the Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave were opened up. Tim Connolly was appointed caretaker and many amusing tales have been told about Tim one. When they were putting the staircase down The Cave, one of the workmen said we must have a ghost in this cave and they collected a lot of old bones, some dogs, some kangaroo and put them in The Cave. They were nicely placed together. But the head, they could not find. They reported that they had found a man's body. And the doctor and the police came out and brought a big coffin. And when the doctor looked at the bones, he said. These are not human bones and went back out, but Connolly always told the people who came to The Cave. That they were the bones of old explorers and they believed it. John Bussell of Wycliffe was the first man to explore the caves and the first man to fetch him under the notice of the government that someday the caves would be an asset to the district. He had the coast reserved for the caves. Jack's story is that my brother Harry was driving cattle through new car dumps thicket. And there is a lot of caves in this thicket. One of the cows gave a calf a poke and centred down The Cave. The Cave is only like a. A hole or a wide well to look at and he went and told John and John thought he would go and have a look and he did. Then you thought I'd go down that. Thing. If only I can get someone to let me down on a rope. So he went to his sister and took her with him with the. Rope. They all the rope that they had at Ellenbrook. And they tied it to a tree, and John went down and he could see the calf. But the rope was not quite long enough to let him write down. And he said, do sister. Go and see if Keenans has a bit of rope and I'll stay here till you come back. He was standing on a Ridge of The Cave. Miss Bussell came, and she got the rope and went back. John had let go of the rope and had gone down and he was with the car. The calf had not fallen right to the bottom of The Cave. The Cave was not a well. But it went down about 30 feet, then took a turn, which made a landing at about 50 feet. Then, when Miss Bussell came back. John told her to send the rope down and he would put it around the calf and come up the rope. And then he would pull the calf out. This he did, he put the rope around the calf's shoulders. And climbed up the rope himself and he and Miss Basil pulled the calf up. John brought up a lot of pretty static diets and after that he wrote letters to the Lands Department and explored all the caves there were on the coast, and he wrote about them. People didn't take much notice of John when he said I have been in the eastern States and in the caves over there. And they have nothing on our caves. John should have been the caretaker. In 19101, the caves were opened. Up. And were a great thing for the South West. This was only 10 years after John Bussell had found some. With them. Mr Gale brought Wardcliffe and he had taken up a block of land up the river at the back of the Burnside paddock and fenced it in for a back run for his cattle. The cattle needed a back run and ironstone water. This paddock made it very encouraging for us, taking cattle up the river also for going to and formed to the siding with goods and for goods, which is nearly always done on horseback. It was a long way around by Rd. About 8 miles or more by Rd, but only four by the. Bush. Track, but Gale had fenced in our. Track well, we wrote to Mr Gale telling him of the inconvenience it was to ask girls and asking that he would put a gate on it for us. Then we would see that the gate was locked each time when going through the answer was I cannot put a gate on my paddock because I know too well what it means. You girls would forget to shut and lock the gate. Others would want to do the same and start using the track, and soon my gates would be forgotten and slam at the side of the road. Davies timber concessions were running out. He wanted to get all the timber he could get before it ran out and he had applied for a further concession, but he could not. Get it? So he started to run spur lines through the forest and put on more fallers and sleeper cutters and run a line out over the Big Brook. As Gales Block was in his concession, the men went in and fell trees over Gale's fence and everywhere they came to the fence. They cut the wire. My sister and I were out hunting and we noticed this and said to ourselves, now is our time. We will have a road through. Here and cut out this 4 miles. Sunday mornings we started to blaze our own Rd. What, then, was only to be? A little track but for ourselves, but later on it became a main road. We chopped and burnt and cleared 3 miles of the track. We struck the old brook where Davies had put the bridge on for the team to cross. That's where we made our crossing. It is today the same crossing we were able to cross with the sulky and spring car. The neighbours used our Rd. The male travelled this way. It's the road today and it links up with Caves Road and it was the only Rd that had the trouble of getting the roads board to take over. It is the main rose book that maintains it. When we put the road through my sister and I were alone. The boys Bob and Harry. Were on timber mill. At Pemberton father and mother, and Grace and Annie and Willie were at the Cape. We were milking here. We had to get our butter away each week. Also the eggs and other things. We had to sometimes carry them on horseback in a box. With the butter or box with butter and eggs and bring our stores back on horseback. We had to run and attend the station. That meant sometimes a rush in the morning to meet the incoming teams and get the things. And put our things onto the team. One day we were hunting cattle up the river and we were driving the cattle along the line when all at once the train came around the bend. And with a big whistle, the kettle stopped and looked at the train coming and we got them all. But one was on the line and that got knocked and it got its leg broken. A fine, big fat Bullock. Then we had to get to thinking. The beast had to be killed and we could not afford to kill it and leave it, so we had to get some others to kill it. That was the best thing. And around we went to the ranch where the sleeper cutters were boarding. We saw Higgins, GAIL McLeod, and Brockman. We got others, and we had to get a butcher. Tommy Higgins would kill her. And then we had to cart it. We had the backboard and only one horse. We needed two horses. Tommy Higgins had a horse that would go in harness. We could get her. All this had to be done before we could kill. Tommy killed the Bullock and we got our orders and I got the horses and buckboard and started off. First the mayor went down the hill, but the steep hill on the other side of the brook, she stopped dead and would not go. We could not get her to move one step and we were stuck with the empty backboard. And what were we to do? The beast was killed and sold and we could not deliver it. At last, my sister Annie thought of a plan. She went down to the house. They put on a pair of spurs. And on the mere, she jumped. And Minnie was in the backboard with the reins, and they gave it a whack. And hit with the reins and Annie stuck the spurs in the mirror and up they went. We got the meat all delivered. And we collected the cattle and were taking them to the Cape when one of the. Calves knocked up. Minnie and Annie had to camp all night at Merrylands. They had no Tucker, but didn't want to leave the cattle. They had no rugs. But we never travelled without matches. They lit a fire and lay with their heads on their saddles, and the morning came and they got the cattle together. The Wild dogs had howled all night. The cattle had not gone far from the camp. They had some of Abby's cattle. So they put into Abbey's Mrs Abbey. Asked him if they had had anything to eat. And they being shy, I said. Yes. We had something, but they had had nothing. From 3:00 PM the day before. They called it, Armstrong said the swamp. And there they had breakfast. Lizzie and Jim Armstrong had just taken up a block and had come there to start on it. They had a little slab camp, 2 rooms and paperback roof. Now I must tell this father had promised Lizzie her share in the property, and Jim had thought that father would make over the 100 acres at jingam up to him. This was all the land that father had in his name at the Cate the 100 acres. And the brick house with the four rooms. The block was fenced. And half an acre cleared around the swamp and there were yards and 10 acres of rye ground cleared that were starting to. Grow up. Jim thought father ought to give Lizzie that well. There are other members of the family, and mother had bought the place off Chapman at Eagle Bay and 40 acres at Glenarvon. And the lease of 3000 acres on the cattle run. If Father gave Jim gum up, it only left 80 acres from mother and the children. And the cattle? Lizzie was 23 years old when she married, but Jim wanted to force father to keep his word. And so it went on. Mother was getting nothing from the Cape property. The cattle had gone back from 88 head to 44. So Father put his head down and without mother knowing, gave Armstrong 110 lbs as Lizzie's share in the coat property, Jim went off and bought horses. And they went to Yelverton station to live and work. Lizzie didn't like the station life, and she didn't like the people. So they took the block. And she worked hard to make a home. She had at this time only two children. And later on, when they were back at the new road, the old road that goes past our door at Glenburn had nearly gone out. But the new road was very sandy and boggy in places and it needed a lot of money to be spent on it. But it was being used a lot. The caves were bringing a lot of holiday makers to the Margaret and bustled and and yelling. Every place was crowded out. Wycliffe had changed hands again. A man named MacLeod, and luring had bought it. McLeod had started a lodging house there also. Mrs Brockman of Burnside and Miss Bussell at Ellensburg. We were out of it. Connolly sought to that. If there was more than they could put up at Burnside, he took them to Miss Bussell at Wardcliffe. But Wardcliffe was a grand old place, and they liked it. If they could get in there. Burnside would be passed also and Ellensburg. So it was Christmas time and we girls have made up our minds to have our Christmas at Glenburn altogether. We had not had a Christmas together for a few years and we all came out and mother and US 4 girls had a nice Christmas together. A day or two after Christmas, we all went down to quorum, up fishing. We rode down and had a good. Day but didn't get any fish when we came home, we were surprised the house was full of men and one man was on the kitchen mucking around. Another man had two fowls killed and was dressing them. Another was out on the bench and had just by the kitchen window. He had two pigs, little suckers. One was dressed and the other he was hard at it. Those men had come down to see the caves only the night before. They brought their bikes down with them and started out from Boston along the new road and made their way along to Burnside. Mrs Basil was Fuller. Wardcliff was full. Miss Bussell was full and at Burnside. There were beds everywhere. Beds out in the garden. Connelly met them. And turn them back. You'll have to go to Keenans and when they came to Keenans mother was alone. We were not expecting anyone. We had not enough stores or we had enough stores only for ourselves. Mother told them that her house was full of her own family and that she could not take care of the men, but they refused to go and they told her they would put up with anything. They would not go. We can't go. We are knocked up and have not eaten since we left Busselton at 7:00 this morning. We will help you, the men said. I can make scones another set. Another was a butcher. You have a nice young pig, so I will buy one or two and cool them and cook them up. And so he got to work. Mother first made a cup of tea for them. My brother Willie came out just as all the killing and dressing was over and he fixed up the old buggy. The wheels were a bit loose and the spokes were loose too and he fixed them. And the next morning off they went in the old buggy to the caves. Mr Connolly was surprised to see them. They came back and stayed the night at Glenburn and went back to Perth again and they sent a card of The Dirty Dozen. Father was over at Quinlan. And he heard that the forests were all very ill and that one of the girls had died and that the funeral was last weekend. No one from Quinaux had been to the funeral. They had brought the body in in a spring cart. Only one of the forests followed it. They were all very ill and no one cared to go out to there, so Father said to us, I'm going to see the forest today. I have not been friends with them for years, but they are all down now and no one seems to care to go near. Them. The doctor has been out to see them. He was called to see the girl before she died but was too late. I am going now and off he went. When he got there, there was only Mrs Forrest and Gavin, who had only just got up. And he was knocking about trying to do what he could, Mrs Forrest told father that they didn't. Have a pound of flour in the house and not much tea or sugar, and she didn't know where or how they would get any. Their credit was stopped and that they had foreclosed on the property. They had not been able to pay their interest, and father said. I'll see what I can do for. You. If you send someone down in the cart, I can let you have a bag of flour and a few little things that you might want. So Gavin went down and he got the things and father went and he saw them again. He had a big talk with the boys. There were four big boys. And they could get work at Yerevan station. Those boys could take over the place and he father would sell them a bullet team to work. He would sell it on a bill of six months, £100. This he did, and father himself went in and he got others to take the place for six months and the forests got the team and we're going good. Father got paid for the bullets and he paid the interest on the installments of the property. And then the boys and the family began to quarrel between themselves, and they chucked it in. And one went here and the other went there. Two years went by and they foreclosed and sold the place for £300. Charles House bought. I will give. You this while I'm on the House. Mrs Charles House was a Smith old Smith. Mrs Houses Father had a place on the beach where he used to where he used to go crops. Smith had a big family. Old Forrest was a policeman here to family and was looking for land. He took up the Thornhill property. Smith had this place further along than he owned. He owed crossed 40 lbs. Cross was a storekeeper and Smith gave cross a loan of his farm. And Forrest came to know the INS and outs, and he bought the place off cross and anything that could be done in those days. Smith had a feel of rye, just fit to cut. He also had his garden, potatoes and veggies all just ready. Forrest bought the place and. Took the crop. Now House and ***** Smith and bought forest plates with crops on it and Forrest had to get out. He had a place to go to, a place down at Wingey Sam's Rock. Wingy Sam was a man who worked for Seymour off Dunsborough. Seymour had a place out at yelling. And one at Dunsborough, they used to grow potatoes at yelling up. And wheat and it was a bit of good land, but only 40 acres and it was between. The sand and the hills. But there was a valley running into it. Well, one day Seymour and Wingy Sam went out to the place at yelling up to fish. When she took his gun and Seymour and he went to the beach together, Wingy Sam saw a seal on the rock. Somehow or other in lifting his gun, he shot himself in the back. Seymour came home and Mrs Seymour asked where is Sam and Seymour said. Is out there. Did he stop? Yes. Seymour went to bed. But he didn't sleep. He got up early. And went up to the police station and reported it to the police. The police went out and Wingy Sam was buried out there. Later on, Forrest, who was placement, had Windy Sam lifted and a post mortem was done and Seymour was arrested and taken and put into stand his trial. Mr JG Bassell got a petition and all who knew Seymour signed it and Seymour got off. That's why the rock is called wingy Sam. Years after at the Cape, my brother Bob was out shooting. He went to Jangama and he was looking around the swamp fence. Something was getting in on the potatoes. He found a log. And a paper bark log. Which had fallen over the fence. And he bent over that log. And something had been. Getting into the swamp under the log and it was raining and the log was slippery. He stood on the log with his gun, one hand resting on the log. The gun slipped off. And the bullet passed through the back of his hat. When Bob came home, he said, what about Wingy Sam? Now it was as near to my back as it could be without hitting me. Nothing's impossible. No one like Forrest. He pounded everybody's cattle that he saw. And he was like a mad. Look. You had to be on the. Lookout. We were having a hard battle to make ends meet and we had a big family to keep and the boys didn't help much. If we wanted a bit of land cleared, we had to get a man to do it and there was little coming out of our wayside house. Now that the road was taken away, the cattle was the only thing and we girls did all the cattle hunting and daring 2 girls at each place. Mother at the Margaret with two girls. And father at the cake with two girls. We changed places every now and again at Christmas time. The change would usually take place this time. We were all at Glenburn and Annie and I had brought the cows and calves and some dry cattle out. We didn't take the calves away from the mothers as they do now. The calves always knew the mother. We used to tie the cuff up to its mother's head and. Took her. And when we finished daring at Christmas time, we weaned the calves. We took them all together to Margaret and took the calves and calves up the river to the stockyards at the gully. We put the cows and calves together in the yard that next morning we would go out and get the cows out and drive them up the river and bring the cows back home. The cows would come back to the yard thinking that the calves were there and they would hang around. Minnie and Grace took the cattle up this one morning that I write about. At yoghurt up there was an old man camp. His name was Jack Warren. He had taken up a block. And he was living on. It. The girls noticed as they passed along the hill that Jack's horses were in the yard but didn't see Jack anywhere. The next morning they noticed the horses were still in the yard and looked hungry. When they were coming back home, Minnie said to grace. That's funny, Jack. Having those sauces in the yard. He may be ill. I'll go down and see him. She jumped off her horse and went and as she came up to the camp, she said. Jack. Are you in? And there was number answer. She went to the door and pushed it open and the flies met her. There was poor Jack on his bunk, dead. He had been dead for days. He was last seen at Christmas Eve when he went to Burnside, and Mrs Brockman gave him some cake and Fred Bussell gave him a drink of whiskey and a plug of tobacco. It looked as if Jack had died on Christmas night. The tobacco there was only one pipe full taken from it. Many went to Burnside and told Fred Bussell and the police and doctor came out at the end to pick up poor old Jack. Father and Tim Armstrong had a big row and father forbid us to go near Armstrong's, and this was hard on us. We had no girlfriends. And never went out amongst people. I had only been in two houses that was not our own. Many got a bit of outing. She went for the mail and knew Mrs Seymour. And Carrie and Millie Harris. And she also went to Yelverton. We were very lonely girls. We used to see all the young people riding going past. Picnicking to the sand patches on Sunday, there would be two see more. Girls 2. See more boys and two Harris girls and one boy and three Harwood girls and one boy and two Smith boys and a Scott boy and 1 Smith girl and two of the Carter Girls. All would pass. And we would watch those girls. They were our own age. And our work was done. And when dinner was over, we would go in and ask Father if we could go down to the little gully flower picking and he would say yes, but don't be long and mind you are back before dark. The boys could get up and have their breakfast and catch their horses and go wherever they liked and come home at whatever time they liked. And sometimes they would go to Eagle Bay and sometimes out on the hills to get a cow and a calf. When Father went to the Margaret, we would go up and see Lizzie. One Sunday we went up and Mrs Seymour was there. It was the first time Mrs Seymour had seen me since mother left the Cape. And when she saw her father, she told him that she had seen the little girls at Armstrong's on Sunday, and father was wild with us, for he had forbidden us to go. And as soon as his back was turned, we did what we were told not to do. In answer to this, we said we were on the hills, cattle hunting and Jim had seen Mary the cow with the young calf and we went down to ask and saw Mrs Seymour there. She also had been out. After a picnic, Minnie went over to Armstrong's. For the male, and she called it seymours. Maria and Harry told her what a great time they had on the sand patch on Sunday. Ellen Scott and her young man was there and a young man from the northwest, a Mr. King. A fine looking chap. Also, that there had been a ball at yelverton's old shed. They showed her their ball dresses, then when she went to Harris's and Millie and Katie also told her about the engagements. Alan Scott and Mr. King. Also Bill Harwood and Maria Seymour and Arthur Scott and Kerry Seymour and the Carter Boys were only new people at Dunsborough. They had taken the Bridges's place and were Yorkshire people and very nice. But very funny. When Minnie came home, she had enough news to last us for months. We used to read a good lot sometimes. We would have no oil and we would read by Black Boy Firelight. Time went on. Armstrongs took up another block of land and fenced it in. When he fenced this block, he fenced down our cattle track, which we used when driving cattle to the Margaret. He also fenced across our Rd out to yell wooden station. We used to go that way when going to the Margaret with the buggy. This cut us off from Armstrong's house. We had to go wide. No chance of seeing. Lizzy. We didn't know if this fence was because we had not seen any of them, mother and I and Annie were coming into the Cape. And we came past Gilberton station, and when we came to Armstrong's new fence across the road, we were blocked. We thought that we could break a road through around the fence. So we started off 1 going ahead, breaking down and throwing sticks and logs out of the way. Leading the horses here and there. At last, we came to a standstill. We were in the thicket. There was nothing else to do. But get an axe and clear a Rd. And I went for the axe, and Lizzie came back with me, and she seemed sorry and tried to help. Us. And we had to cut our way a mile and 1/2 it was getting the sundown. We cleared it out to our road and then we had 7 miles to go home. Poor Lizzie looked ashamed. Mother went back through Busselton father took her later. Father got very sick and was in bed. There was only Annie and I with him. He sent me up for Lizzie. I went up and she came down and carried the baby, Amy. It was a long walk down and back 14 miles. After that, we were allowed to go and see Lizzie on Sunday, but always had to ask if we could go and always told not to be late before sundown. Father had another sickness this time. He got rheumatic fever. And he was laid up for three months at Glenburn. Mother and I were alone. Doctor Burns came out to him and gave him some advice and some laudanum to make him sleep. One night, father got the Lord in him and was rubbing his teeth with it, and he had a bad tooth and mother got afraid that he had taken too much. She came in to me and got up and went in and we didn't know what to do. Father was very sleepy and we sat and talked to him all night, thinking it best to keep him awake till it wore off. Bob and Harry were to carry on at the Cape while father was sick. The crop had to. Go. In Father always did the ploughing. This the two boys were to do the girls were milking. They had the cows at Jean Garma. It was warmer and drier for the calves and cows. And the girls liked it because when their work was done, they could sing and dance, or read and talk. And there was no one to come in and tell. Them to dry. That up. If they wanted to talk. I was milking 12 cows on my own at Glenburn. Only father was sick. My mother and I used to cut 12 bales of green oats and carry it across a big log and up the hill to feed my cows and calves each night. I was making 72 lbs of butter per week from the 12 cows we used to warm the milk and set it in dishes and skim the cream off the top at 36 hours. I had no trouble with my cows or calves. The calves ran in the Bush one way and the cows on the Kulkarni pills and the calves would come in at 4:00 each evening and the cows about the same time. They came in for their feed. Many came out to help. She left Annie and Grace. They had only 5 cows at the Cape. The boy started ploughing at the plain where fathers Whitfield was, and each day the girls, two of us, would walk down 1 1/2 miles through the heavy sand to glenarvon where the boys. Were. When we got down there, the boys would be in bed and the girls would have to get their breakfast and clear away. Tidy up the dinners and go with them to the plane. Another mile and 1/2. When they got there, they would have to pick up the sticks and roots and bark. And Mark the heaps and burn and get the dinner. After dinner, about 4:00, they would start for home. They would have to get the wood in for the boys fire and make a good fire. For. Them go on up home to jingam up and get the carbs in and feed them in milk and set them. Do whatever mending they had to do. They had to make the bread and do all the cooking. The boys on Sunday would go horse hunting. Bill Harwood had a horse running at the Cape. He had offered 2 LB to anyone who could get him in. And every Sunday, all the young chaps that could ride or had a horse to ride would come down. Bob would take the horse out of the plough and ride him all day after that horse and those lot of young chaps would come in for dinner. The girls never knew how many there would be for dinner. Sometimes they would eat all the bread and they would have to make pancakes and put them on the table. As they made them and it would keep the pan going to keep up with them. They used to curse them. They never got the horse. Someone shot him. Years later he was a nuisance. When one went out to get a horse, this thing would be there and it meant a day to get a horse if you wanted it. We often had a day after. A. Horse the boys put in some potatoes down the brook. They turned out pretty good. But at the time they were dug, the potatoes were only £7 a tonne and Bob thought that the price would go up and he would not sell them at that. The bone dust had been brought in father's name and it was father who would have to pay for. Bob kept them against mother and father's orders. And the fly got into them and they were a loss. Father and mother didn't like this. Bob had an idea that Harry could run a bit. He had a great thought of Harry. If you were only trained. He was sure he would make a runner out of him, so he started there was to be a sports day at Quinaux and he must get Harry up. They went down into the bottom field where they would not be seen and Bob took the tape and measured out a ring. So many laps was a mile and he took. A box out there and the clock. To stop them. Many times it's say now go and away he went for one mile, Harry starts off Bob with the clock in hand. He takes the lapse on a slip of paper. And he gets the times too. He also gets Harry just two sprints and a high jump and a running high jump. They put in six weeks training, training Harry for the races and the jumping. Harry won one race and 1 high jump. But Georgie Buck beat him in the race, and the running jump. It used to be nothing but race and jump, and every night Bob would put in hours rubbing Harry's legs. Willie advised Bob to rub them with kerosene. He thought there might be something to it and Bob did rub them. And Harry had a pair of flannel underpants. And the flannel held the kerosene and harrys. Legs were blistered and that was no good. When Father went back to the Cape, he wanted to know what the two boys had put their. Thomas. And Bob and he had words and Bob got on his horse and went out to Glenburn, to mother. And things were a bit unsettled for a time. At last they got a bullet turned together and off they went to the station to work. This team of young bullocks mother had promised to ask girls for looking after the cattle. We had asked that we should have a team of bullocks that we could hire out to someone on the station. And there would be our own. And she said she would. And when the boys came, she let them take them. We got nothing. Only that the boys were away from home and we didn't have to cook and wash for them, that we were glad of. They were away for three months and came home at Christmas time. They brought home three months washing for us. Mother was glad to have them home. The haymaking was on and father was hard at it and we girls, Annie and I were at. Cape. We were stooking the hay. We also had Nancy Curtis on the side. The father was to give him a hand with the crop at the Cape. And he had his all cut and cocked all Jim's old Jim Lowe had helped him, but father was to cart and stack it, and the boys, now that they were home would help and finish the mowing. Bob took a sigh and went into the field with. Father. But Harry got his horse and went around his usual haunts seeing. Was. Harrises, Smiths Curtises and Armstrongs. Until after the Christmas was over from the Quinn lap races and then the boys went to Margaret and Glenburn and up and down horse hunting. Until again, they went off with the team and stayed away until near Christmas when they came home. This time they handed out the horses and branded them. After Christmas, they went off again at Easter. We had a visit from Jim Armstrong's brother and sister and brother in law, Scott Armstrong. Jim had a big idea in his head that he could make a match between Minnie and Scott. And Minnie and I were out at the Margaret with mother Annie and grocer at the Cape with father. Jim took Scott down to see Father and the girls. Then he was very anxious to have Scott and Minnie meet. Jim was very fond of Minnie, but he and I never got on. He for some reason didn't like either Bob or I. Not that either of us had ever done anything to him, so he brought Scott out to meet many. It had been a long dream of his. Now it was here and Scott didn't take on. Many. He liked me better. And he told Jim so and said he would come back and see me again. And he went back and wrote me and sent me a nice Valentine's. I didn't take any notice of his letters, and so he didn't come back. But he had talked of me to his cousin Alfred Thomas, a younger man than himself. And when the boy came down, this young man, Alfred, was wanting to come and meet Bob and Harry's sisters and Harry said. Why didn't you let us know you were bringing a young man to stay with us? Oh, we couldn't knock him back with a stick. He just told us that he was coming. And he packed himself up and came. Well, he told me all about Scott and that he had come down all this way to see us old girls. I was never Scott's girl, I said. He might have thought I was, but I only saw him once. And that was only for a few days. Scott had got married and was very happy with his fine little wife. Alfred followed me everywhere and I found him a nuisance. I would say to him. Go help the boys. You'll find something to interest you. I have something to interest me now. He'd say. Well, watching me make the pudding, we had a good time while he was down. Christmas Eve. We all four girls and the three boys and Alfred and Willie Curtis and Nelly Curtis all went to our first dance at Georgie Smith's. There was 8 of. Us. In one big buggy, Bob drove us all over and back, and Bob stayed to the. Dance. There were about 60 there. After Christmas, Minnie and Iron Grace took Alfred out to the Margaret, where mother and father were and Alfred stayed a week. And he found he got on better with grace than he did with me. And they wrote a few letters and grace dropped it. Meanwhile, Scott wrote to Lizzie. And told her that he had heard that Alfred was down there and that he would not recommend him to any of us girls. He was a wild young fellow and he could not recommend him. So Grace just dropped writing and that was the end of the. For it, Maxwell comes to work near Margaret and he knows our people well. He often comes over of a Sunday for butter and meat and bacon. This Sunday he came and brought another man for eggs and bacon and meat. His name was Jim Barker, a very nice looking. Dark man. Barker and Freddie came every Sunday. And if we were on the beach, they would come down and find us and come home with us. Freddy, we treated as a brother and he treated us as sisters. He always, instead of saying Minnie or Annie, he would say here, sister, let me do that. But Mr Barker meant something else, and it was not very long before he and Minnie became engaged, and the boys went crook. They didn't like him and Minnie had to listen. They were engaged for 18 months, and Barker never seemed to make any steps towards getting things together to get married. He drank a good drop, but we never saw him drunk. At last, Minnie gave him the go by. There were sports and races and log chops at Carradale and Fred Maxwell wanted us girls to go down. Also Johnny Higgins and Willie Curtis. They wanted us to make up a party and all go together and we would have the Maxwell girls and the Rogers. And so we said yes, we will go. We got the Dawsons 4IN hand. And off we went. Johnny Higgins and Annie in the front seat and Johnny, as proud as a Peacock. There was Fred Maxwell and Willie Curtis and Grace and I in the back seat. The races were good, the sports was good. And we had a picnic and enjoyed ourselves while the picnic was on. Annie and I talked and laughed with others. Johnny got his back up and went sulky and would not speak to any of us. And he pulled out a pocket novel and turned his back on us all together. And this went on. And we were going to the dance. And Johnny was supposed to be taking Annie, but he didn't show up. So we were going in soon to the hall. Willie Curtis took me and Grace went with Fred Moriarty. And Mr Hocking asked Annie, and she went in with him. Leaving Johnny to Sauk. We were a new lot of girls and no one knew us, only our partners, and they were asked by some of the young men for an introduction. But Fred Maxwell didn't give it. It was a public ball, so the young men took it on themselves to ask each of us for a dance. Among those men was a fine big, good looking man who we had been admiring all the evening he had asked for an introduction and didn't get it. So when the dance was called out he charged the cross. And asked Annie. Are you engaged for this? May I have it? And Annie and he danced together when the dance was over, he sat down and talked to her. You're a stranger here. He found out that we were all sisters. And we found out where he lived. And how far it was from the beach. And what the fishing was like. And also he found out what we did and how long we had lived on the Margaret. Well, the next Sunday, a young man on a nice horse rode up to the. Gate. Father was reading on the brander and the man called from the gate. Good morning. I think I am lost. I started out to go to the beach fishing. How far am I from? By this time, Father was out at the gate. Ohh it's not very far about a mile and a. Then they started. So this is the old caradale Rd. How long have you been here? And then Father found out that his name was Betts, and Father knew the bets. And they got to talk. And Father asked him into dinner, and he and mother talked. And he didn't go fishing. He stayed till night. And while he was here. Mother asked if there was anything at the siding for Keenans. He said. I don't know, but I'll look for. You. Yes, we've sent down for a bag of salt to carradale and it should be there. We are waiting to kill a pig and have not got the salt. Next morning, about 8 who should ride up to the gate. But Mr Betts and he has the bag of salt on his saddle. Good morning. I saw the bag of salt on the platform addressed to you and I. Thought. I would bring it over as I was coming out this way. I had to pass some sleepers and he came in and stayed till night. The sleepers wasn't past that day. Next Sunday, he was here for dinner and helped us pick peas and gooseberries and strawberries. Then again, the next Sunday he came. And every Sunday at last. And he and he became engaged. Grace and Tommy Higgins came over and told mother and us that he had seen some of our cattle at the 10 mile brook. On Sunday, he and Ned Dawson were horse hunting. Mother said you'd better go and look at those cattle girls and bring. Them. In there is 2 cows ready to carve. So next morning we were up at daylight. Now dinner. Tied up and we had 10 miles to arrive before we started to hunt. We went to the 10 miles brook and. Picked up the tracks. Where Higgins had seen them and we tracked them all. Down. We ate our dinner as we rode and we got onto some blunt ground and picked up tracks. On we went, we were dead on the tracks and were not looking which way we were going. We didn't take any notice of the Brooks and the galleys and the flats and the swamps as we went, so we had no landmarks and we were in new country expecting to fall onto the cattle at any time. All at once, it struck us that we were not going to find the kettle today and it was now later than we thought, and we turned for home as we thought. But we were not going West. We went along away from the river. On we went. At last I pulled up and. Said to grace. I don't know where I. AM. Do you? No, I don't, she said. But I thought you did well, I don't. I have never been here before. So we would now have to depend on our horses smile, or to know where home is, but I don't know about the grey, so let's drop our reins and give them their. Heads. Just sit on them and this we did. It was now dark and we must have been 15 miles from home in wild Bush where we had never been before. I don't know how mother is at home on her own. She will be nearly mad. Never mind that we have to trust in Smiler. He seems to know where he is going. I'll turn him and see if he pulls back. I pulled him and he pulled hard against me. I let him have his head. What if the horses are taking us further out? Well, we just have to trust it and trust we did, and it did seem a long way and a long time sitting on a horse as they walked along at last, we came to a road. This, I think is Kerrydale Rd, but which way will we go? I don't know. The stars. And I can't say which is north or South. Let the horses go on to the West and at last we did. We came to. A big brook. Or a flat. I think this is yoghurt up. Let us go on a little further. That's old Jack Warren's. Camp we are right. Good old Smiler across the river at Maxwells Ford and up the hill. And along to an old timber Rd. And on we could hear Mother Cueing. And we kept up an answer. Mother was glad, but she was wild with us for being out so long. She said. You are not cattle hunting in the. Dark. All this time, the last four hours, you must have been at Higgins at Burnside. Poor mother had never been out in the Bush cattle hunting. She could not understand how Higgins and Dawson could have seen those cattle last Sunday at 10 Mile Brook, and that we could not see them after a long day's hunt. That was something mother didn't think hard about. She didn't know how hard it was to find cattle in the wild. Bush, 40 square miles of forest, 50 head of cattle in the 40 square miles and the cattle had four days start ahead of us. We didn't go out the next day, but a week after this grace and I went out again and this time we. Found the cat. There were some of Abby's cattle with them, and Abby's cattle were wild, and when they saw us off, they went as hard as they could go and we had to keep sight of them and try to head them down for yoghurt up. This we were doing, we were going along alright and had got them to the turn for Maxwells forward when a mob of enemies started up and off the cattle went. I turned my horse to head them. Grace on the other side and I had to jump a big log. My horse didn't clear the log. She caught on it and half fell and my girth pulled out and me and the saddle went over her. Head and along on the gravel. I got up my lip, split my mouth full of gravel, my knees skinned. And shinda. And grace came. Bella, are you hurt? No, I'm alright. Get around those cattle. I put my saddle on again, jumped on and around the cattle. When we got to the river, I washed my face in the river and put my hanky around my mouth and chin and we went on and when we got out onto the old timber Rd, we met Ned Dawson and Frank Higgins. I kept wide. I didn't like them to see my face. Grace said good evening and we went on, but they noticed my face. This the next day, Minnie and Grace went out to get some more cattle and it was down near Yale Gotway and they got 3 cows and calves and we were going to take the cows into the Cape. Minny father and I next week my face was well and we had to get the cattle out of quorum up and put in a few potatoes before going. When we were going, we had everything packed up, ready to start Father in the buggy and Minnie and are with the cows. Minnie went down to Ellensburg to get a horse for me to ride. She caught the horse and jumped on him and was leading the other horse. The one she was leading would not lead very well, so she got on him and led the other coming along the old Caves Road. Over that road, the horses, stud to trot and from a trot into a gallop. And they ran off the track and under some low black boys and pulled her off. She picked herself up and came along the Road home. She was a long time gone. And I went down the road to look for her and I found her coming along the road. She caught me by the arm and said, is that you, Bella? Isn't it you? Yes, I said. Isn't that a a Fern? Yes. Did I go out to get a horse? I think I caught. Him. Yes, I said. I'm sure I got him. She didn't know how she came there. We put it to bed. And we didn't go to the Cape that day. Not until Minnie got better. We didn't have a doctor. When Minnie got better, we went to the Cape. Annie and Grace were there, Bob and Harry and Willie. And Lizzy had cut out her first dress and made it up. And fitted it and she looked well in it and the girls had been over to a dance at Quinaux. As a consort and had enjoyed themselves. Father didn't stay long at the Cape. He came out and brought the 2 girls. Annie and Grace out with him, and Annie drove mother into the Cape and the old buggy. They came past Armstrongs and stayed to talk with Lizzie and it was dark and the road was not too good. Overhanging bushes and Annie ran the horses off the road. And broke the pole of the buggy mother and her had to walk on to Glenanne and lead the horses. Bob went up and fixed the pole and brought the buggy home. A few days after this, Annie and mother went to Busselton into the town. To dawsons. Mother had to go out to see Mrs Gayle at Fairlawn. She was buying some land town blocks that Gayle had just had surveyed. Six blocks altogether, there were half acre each. She had before bought one block where the Roads board building stands on Bussell Highway, and later she bought five more blocks. Father and Annie enjoyed herself at Dawsons and Higgins's, and I think she still remembers the people and places. When Christmas time came. We all went out to Glenburn to have Christmas and after Christmas the boys rode into the Cape. Father and mother drove in in the buggy, and Annie and I were at the Cape. We only had come out for Christmas. Minnie and Grace were alone, and it was New Year's Eve, and the girls were in bed and asleep when they heard a big noise. Tin dishes, shouting and banging of doors and three men broke into the house and came to their bedroom and pushed the door. Open. And the girl shouted at them, saying this is our bedroom. Keep out. They still pushed against the door and it was a black man that said come away from there. It's the ladies bedroom. The mob we found out after was 2 brockmans. Lady Hackett's brothers and black Georgie. They wanted cake and wine. They went off. The potatoes were to be planted at Jangama and Nanny and I had to help clean up the manure in the yard. Father had covered it up to the house. While we were working at it, Willie was using the fork to pick up the stringy stuff and he stuck the fork right through his foot. So far in that Annie had to put his foot on hers and push and pull to get it out, and we took him to the house and washed it clean and tied it up, and it was not long bad. We never bothered about cuts when we were children. We would go to the brook when we got a cut and fill the cut up with clay to stop the blood. Father told us that God made man from clay and we thought if the man was made from clay, we could put a patch on with clay and we always did it. Annie and I had very rough hands. Hard. And they used to crack all the fingers, would have great cracks in them in the winter. They used to be very. Sore. I was always ashamed of my hands and I had a habit of putting my hand up to my cheek and resting my head on it, and mother would say when anyone comes to the place, Bella. Don't get up showing off your rough hands. Keep them under the table. This did me no good. It only made me feel awkward and I didn't like to come inside when anyone was there. Poor Annie had rough hands, too, and felt. It. Grace and Minnie had nice soft hands, and mother would say to grace. Come on. You have nice hands. Come to do this or that. You bring in the tea, Mr Gail's. I felt my hands, but I could not do the hard work. And have them nice. Digging and chopping made them crack, and when there was a big, dirty wash of men's clothes, mother would say. Now Bella, you do this washing. It will kill those cracks in your hands, and it did for a time, but as soon as they got to the spade work, they would open up again. Same thing with Annie. Well, the next time mother went to town, she took many. And many drove her in and they stayed at Beauvilles all night and came home. Very pleased of what she had. In. They had been to sandylands and to Fairlawn mother had brought up a lot of dress material and we would have to make it up. She bought a sewing machine, so we were setting out to the Margaret for a week or so. Making dresses and shirts and planting potatoes. We still had to carry the manure from the yard to the swamp on our backs, but we got two horses and put them manure in bags and got up on the horse and took it over that way. Later we made a bridge across the Bro. We cut down 3 nice. Safe trees and pull them over with the haws 3 logs across the brook. Then we put slabs on top of them and nailed them down and it was wide enough for a horse and the cart to cross. With this we were able to. Fill. Out the old trap and the punting car, and it was easier. But when the big floodwater came, it took our bridge and only left the big log. Annie and I were in at the Cape and mother, also mother, wanted to go to Busselton. She wanted to see Mr Harwood. On the road to Busselton, we had killed 3 pigs at the Cape and made it into Bacon's mother, had sold the bacon to Yelverton, and Harry took it over to go up on the timber trucks. He was told to leave it with Mr and Mrs Howard to see that it was put on the tracks. Harry took it and put it at the side of the line. He went down. To Beach Station and never said one word to Harwood. We owe Yeldon a bit for stores and there was 300 lbs of bacon. Mother went to Harwood to see what he had done with the bacon she had written to Yordan, and he had never received it. It was a big knock to mother when we called that day at Harwood's and she spoke to Harwood and he had not heard anything about the bacon. Harry had never laid anything to him. We found the backing by the side of the line. But there was jumpers in it. And such a lot of it was bad. £20 worth lol. We brought the Baker home, but it was no use. Mother and I went on from Harvard to town. And as it was my first outing, I didn't feel at home. I felt everyone was looking at me. I was dressed in a light print dress, an old hat of mothers and a pair of lace up boots, good strong ones, and I filled out of it. We stayed the night at Beauville's and went out to Mr Gayles at Fairlawn mother went to get the loan of £40. She had had a notice from Mr Cross. If it wasn't paid, he would put it in the hands of a collector. We never could depend on Harry to do anything. This was not the only time that we had to go and lift stores. He was supposed to see to. Grace and I took two boxes of butter down to the bridge. To go by our own buggy. We left it at the bridge for Harry to take down. To. Carradale Harry had one buggy and the horses and he was taking Charlotte Maxwell down to Caradale. He left our butter on the roadside and took all her things, he said. He hadn't room for our box. Three weeks after we found out that it had not gone down and Willie and Grace went down and brought it back 4 miles, it had been standing in the hot sun all that time and mother had to scrape all the outside of. It. Harry, we could never depend on him. I was always afraid of him. If we were on a river bank or a well. He would always come up and catch us by the two arms and fetch them back and make out. He would push us in one day. He did. And the bank gave way and I fell in. So I was afraid, but it was good fun for him. One day we were out in the hills at Nukata and we came through the. Thicket. And we noticed. The bedding place where the cattle slept at night and there was a lot of manure and we said to mother. We could pick up a load or two of that manure in the thick. Till we ask Carrie to come up with the cart and. We would load it. So mother got Harry to go. And me and Grace went up with him. We were picking the manure into the cart and Harry was looking around. There was a cave there. He got looking at it and all at once, he said. Pups come and look at them. And he got hold of Grace and Grace pulled away and said you do and I will hit you with this stick pups 1/2 of them. You keep him there. Grace while? Look. I looked down and the pups were there. We could see that you could go down The Cave and we went down and grace and I caught 4 pups and Harry too. And the pups got away from us down a hole. Pups are worth £3. We took one to mini at home and also one other live pup and the pup howled all night and day and Harry killed it. That evening Harry went back to set traps all down in The Cave, and next morning he took Willy with him. Willie was 13 and was all talk. What we should have done and what he could have done so Harry and he went up and the old dog was there and the three pups. But she had not got out into the traps. When Willy saw her, he picked up a long stick. And off down The Cave to kill her. The stick was too long. He could not use it. The walls of The Cave were low. He made it the dog and Harry was behind and the dog made it. Willy and Willy stood there. He could not move. The dog was within 2 feet of Willy coming right for the fight. Harry, with one hand slung Willy back and the other he beat off the dog. And she went up the bank and down the hall, and the pups were hiding. They got only one pup. And the others got away. Well, Grace and I thought we had a right to the tails of those dogs. We caught and killed them, but we got none when we went home. With the tails we rolled them in paper, I stuck them up above the door in the kitchen and they disappeared. Harry wanted to say that the dog ate them, but next day was mild day and we saw Harry give them to Scott MacDonald, the mailman. When we cut away the hill at the back of the house at Glenburn. When they built the house at the Margaret Glenburn was built on the side of a hill. To put the house up into the cut. The house was built northwest and southwest, the South end of the. House. Was the lower part of the. They set the house up North and South. The North End was dug away about four feet and there was a bank at the end of the house. This meant that when it rained, the water would sometimes run through the house. And we would have to drain it. So mother got us girls with picks and spades and dishes to dig away the hill and take it all down to the South end. We did this, we dug it away and tapered it. Up at the end of the house and we carried all that earth down in dishes and built up the South side and planted fruit trees in it. We built. We built it up two feet. When we washed, we washed down at the brook about a chain from the house. Mother made us save. All of the soap suds and carry them all up that Hill 5 chains and throw them in the ground around the fruit trees. It was a job for the next day after the. Washing. But the fruit trees grew and were good trees the first year the ground was a bit hard. And bricky. But when we worked it up with the manure, ashes and leaves from the brook, it got nice and one year or the second year I was at Glen, born alone with mother, we had a nice crop of peas and sugar beet. And yellow bear. Father was proud of the Nice garden. We were young and strong and got through it all. We liked our cows and calves and liked to have. Them. Nice. And it came hard on us to sell for meat, any beast, but we knew we had to sell them. Sometimes we had a cow that we thought a lot of and father would go out and muster the cattle for the butcher, and he would. From. Not bring them to the yard, but drive them from the hills to Busselton or Caradale. And when we got to know that he had taken them in Blue Bell or Tinker, we would cry. They always did this. We had 12 tonne of potatoes and 8 bags of onions and bacon to sell. Mother wanted to go to Busselton. We were nearly out of stores, so we said to mother. It doesn't look as if we were going to get a chance to get those. Potatoes. Away, the boys were away, father, and at the Cape only Willie Grace, Annie, Minnie, mother and I at Glenburn. Willie was 15 years old and very small and light and shy. We said to mother, we will get the bullocks in and yoke them up. They are easy to handle. Just as easy as horses. Only the yolks are. We'll give it a guide, and we haunted the bullocks up and yoked them up. And four bullocks went down to the swamp and loaded the potatoes. Half a Bale at a time and then filled the bags. Up. And when we got them in the cart, we did the same with the onions, brought them up to the house, ready to start in the morning. Next morning, up early, tight up, some food. Willie was all out for the job. He could drive those bullocks. He was sure of the team. And he went out onto the new road to Burnside. The new road had not been long cleared and had been used only by light traffic. We got onto it and winded along it for about a mile down went the wheels up nearly to the box on the one side the poor old bullocks went down on their knees but could not pull it out. We thought we will have to get out. Of this. We took the bullets out and hooked them onto the cart at the back and pulled her back. Then we started and threw black boy logs and bushes. All we could into the bog. We made it. So that we could yoke the load across. We put the bullocks in and took the load across the bog and by this time it was night and many had ridden out, so we put mother up onto the horse and she rode home. All of us were as black as mud. Mother wanted to give it best and go and get a man. But we said turn back bed linen. We're right now. One or two of us will go with Willie and see him. After all, we get to Fairlawn or carbon up Mini and Annie and went with them and saw them on to the good Rd mother and Willie stayed that night at Dawson's and Susie Dawson helped Willie Yoke up the bullocks in the morning. Willie was only a little boy and only looked to be about 11 or 12 years old, so to those. Has seen him driving the team. It was wonderful. My mother was proud of him. The way he drove those bullets and turned him in the street at the stores. But he could not unload the car and he could not load the car. Mother sold all the potatoes and onions and bacon. Boville got all of that. She always sold the bacon at Beauville's Hotel. And they got 1/2 tonne of flour, tea, sugar. And it all came over to Dawsons to stay the night with Susie and Susie helped Willie again. Yoke the. Bullocks. And they got up at an early start and home that night. The boys came home. The gold rush was on at Margaret River. Mr Egg lock took up a block of land that bugged up on the Creek. The Creek there had a lot of mica in it, and it shined like gold. He had a plan in his head. He would salt the clay and the mica. He talked it over with Mr Sainsbury and Mr Sainsbury knew all miner named Ishon. He could supply the gold dust for salt. So it started. Lockhart had to get a friend that he could trust not to say anything of the goings on. That man was Tom Moriarty. Locke went to Tom and asked him to come out and have a look at his blog. Tom was pleased Mr Locke had asked him to go with him. And see the block, but he said I have no way of going only a spring cart. That's the thing. Just the thing, Tom. We can take our food and bedding and spring cart and I don't mind. So. So off they went, and when they got out they had a good look over the block and Locke took from the side of the Brooks and Clay. And he said I will have an essay on. This it looks as if. We've got gold. And he took a small oatmeal bag full and he went to Busselton, and he took it to Mr Cross and Cross sent it away and got back a good sample he sent for lock again. Locke went to Moriarty and they went out and dug up all around. And lock went back with the samples. This time some good ones, some a little bit. And Locke and Moriarty went out again in the night and returned. And Moriarty told a friend. And this friend took to another, and the cat was out of the bag. This she owned the miner, came down and he stayed at the. Locks. And then the rush started. Old Cross had the miners rights and he pegged claims all over locks block. Lock went home and didn't say or do anything until the goldfield had started. Then he came out and ordered them all off. They had their miners rights and claims pegged. They would not go. Locke wrote to the Lands Department and told them that men had invaded his block and were digging holes and making it dangerous for man or beast, and he wanted them to pay for the damage. The government paid damages, but it was not as they expected. There were three of them. And they got £300. Locke had his time and didn't mean much. Is she owned? Got a holiday and amusement out of it and Sainsbury. A lot of fun. The man who came out worse? Miss Moriarty. He got a lot of thrill driving around with Mr Locke, but it made a bit of excitement. Bob was going night and day up and down to the gold fields. He had half a mind to. Have a go at it. But he didn't. Father never gave it one thought. The goldfields ended. Miss Bussell opened up a mission for black children at Ellensburg to get. She had a lot of black children, but they were too much for her. She had the mothers of some of the children and other blacks used to come into the settlement. She had to get a man. It needed a man to keep order. She got an old man when he was not any good. Only as a gardener. There was a half cast child born and it was said it was the old man's child. Was a girl and looked like him. One evening, a young man rolled up at the place and came in. His name was John Forrest, son of James Forrest of Thornhill. He tied his horse to the gate and came in. Mother found out his name and asked him in and he sat and answered everything. Mother asked, but told her nothing. And every time any one of us girls came through the house, he would look. Might just come through and crane his neck and look and watch us till we got outside. It amused us and we passed through the House often one to watch while the other one went through. And when we got together, Annie would say. Well, how did you get on? Feel anything? A thrill or a shock. Quite alright. Not struck, no. This young man stayed had tea. His horse was still tied to the fence at last, Bob said. You're staying all night, John. Let your horse go in the field. And John went out and let him go. And we'll put a light in the room. He went to bed up in the morning. And out to the fence where we were milking, stood and looked over the fence at us while we milked. And he remarked this bloke has come to stay. And he. Had. So he stayed for four weeks each day he would go out and catch his horse and saddle it and tie it to the fence and stay until after dinner and go off and come back in time for tea again. Tie his horse to the gate. And he remarked he must have something good down at the brook. We wondered if it was a gold mine. I thought it might be a dead beast. Most dogs hang around when there was a dead beast to get a feed. John was interested in watching Bob. Bob was making a wheel for Mrs Brockmann's bullet drain and he had no timber. He had cut down a big red gum tree and was making one of the sparks and palings out of that, and he had to adds the timber down to get the shape. It was a big job. He made the wheel. All but the hub. Mrs Brooklyn's car had broke down at Willies Camp. And she had had to come and get our car, Bob said. He could do the wheel for her, and he did. He took it out on our car and the wheel and brought Mrs Brockman's cart home for her, and he charged her £5 for making the wheel. And he had a big row with her over the price. It was only made out of an old red gum Jon toilet. Bob said you will find that it will outlast the cart, and, he added, if you're not going to pay me just this Brockman, I will see what I can get. And he turned to walk away. And Mrs brockman. Said stop, Bob. I will pay you. I know you well. And I know you will be as good as your word. You will take it to the law and I will pay you. But I'm only paying you because I know Bob Keenan. I think I owe it to you and she paid £5 for the wheel. Bob made it and he went 10 miles and put on the cart and took it to her and that wheel. Was at Burnside Long after Mrs Brockman was dead. Getting back to John, when he has to sit at the table. And listen to Bob talk and chaff him. Bob thought it would be fun to rid his cap and he had an idea. While John was hanging around Allsbrook, so he had a good start on cup reading and he picked up the cup and he could see a man and a lady talking and they were both interested. There was timber between them, also another girl and another man, and so it went on. John was about to take a job of fencing and splitting. Bob had heard this. So he had a start. Ohh I can see you. We'll stay here. And get married. This fencing job will lead to bigger things. So John stayed and took the job of fencing. He was Miss Bussell's right hand man, and he kept the blacks in their places too. He drove Miss Bussell about in her buckboard. He also broke in the team of Bullocks for her. He took up a block of land alongside of her and built a house on it. Miss Bussell always got her mail at our place. She had a private mail bag. She paid £2 a year for. It. We also had a mail bag and paid £2 a year Miss Bussell had for years come to our place for her mail. She had a little white girl. And Emily would come and get the mail and Miss Bussell. Word write her letters in answer and fetch it back to us to give it to the mailman. The mailman stayed at our place, often alerted from Keenan will be put in Miss Bussell's bag by mistake. Miss Bussell always set it up with Emily in the morning. The same for any of Miss Bussell's letters that came in. Our. Bag. They would be given it to them. Emily would take. Back. Well, after John went down to Miss Bussell's, any letters that came, he got Miss Bussell to write. Not known here and send them back in her mail bag, Emily would bring the bag up and hand it to us, give us the mail with our letters in it, and we would give it to the mailman. 2 letters were most important letters, one from the Cape Mother was looking for, the other was a notice from Mr Cross that if the account was not paid within 10 days, he would proceed and he did with a summon. This was on the road before mother got the letter. The police fetched the summons, called it the Ship Inn, to have a drink at the bowels. And asked him where he was going and he said. To cannons and Bobel said, what for and Sutton? The policeman showed him the summons and Bobel Selled. Hold on, Sutton, for one hour. And Bobel went down and paid the 20 lbs for Mother Sutton. The policeman came out and served the summons. Poor mother had only just got the letter from Cross, saying that he would summon. Sutton, the policeman also brought a letter from Beauval saying it's settled. Mrs Cannon cross can go to hell. Mother took the letters down to Miss Bussell with her own handwriting on them and asked what she meant and why she had done it after so many years. I have always taken care to deliver your mail and any little thing you have left at my place I have sent to yours butter and eggs. I've done this for all these years. Why did you do this to me? You know me. You know where I live and have lived for years. I'm known here I am as well known here as you. John stood up behind Mrs Bussell and lifted his eyes to the ceiling and said. Miss Bussell is not duty bound to deliver your mail, it is the postal authorities place. I am sure she has enough to do without looking after your mail. Poor Miss Bussell looked so ashamed and said, oh, Mrs Keen, and I didn't know why I have ever done it. I am very ashamed of myself. So that's what we got from John. After feeding him for a. Month. John always met the mail and got Miss Bussell's mail before he got to our place. We didn't see Emily anymore. No news from Ellensburg. Miss Bussell was independent. She had her backboard and the driver, and she could go and come before. She used to depend on us to send her butter. Mostly by a mailman. It was years since mother had seen Miss Bussell or John. John got engaged to a Miss Walter. And married her and took up a block of land at Quorum up where? Armstrong's place was Bob and Harry were at Caradale. They had a job of fencing. They used to go on Sundays to Maxwells. There was 3 girls there. And Mr Maxwell didn't mind them coming to see the girls. But Charlotte had a boy, and Maxwell had forbid her to have anything to do with him. He said he is not in our class. But Charlotte used to have meetings with him. Sometimes he would come to the garden. And they would sit under the trees and. Talk. Maxwell had a big garden. Of. Fine fruit trees, hops, bamboo and everything. It was a thicket and you could not be seen once you got into the garden, but there was only one gate. And that was just in front of the kitchen door. Bob and Harry was watching things and they they made up their minds to have a bit of fun. They tied a thread of cotton to the gate and sat with the. Reel in their pocket. They were ready, Harry, on one side of the house with a hanky around his mouth to form more white whiskers in the dark and Bob at the other side with the white hanky the same as Harry. And when the boy came in, he went for the ticket and there he met Harry posing as Maxwell. He rushed around to the other gate and. He met Bob. Bob was to stop him getting out of the gate. They kept this up and at last he jumped the fence and off. They watched Charlotte come out to look around for her boy while Harry and Bob were there. They seemed to it. There was no meeting at night. Typhoid fever broke out at Carradale. Harry got sick and came home and laid up for two weeks, but Bob kept on and finished the job and came home. In the night. He was wet to the skin and very sick. He had typhoid fever too. Harry went to the Cape and we girls, Annie, Grace and I were there when Harry told us that Bob was ill. We thought it's typhoid. Father said to me. You had better go out and see how he is. If it's typhoid, and if he has it bad. So I caught my horse and. I went. When I got out, Willy was ploughing up on the flat and Bob was sitting at a big fire in the dining room. He had been out and shot a squeaker and had taken the handle of the plough and went one round and he was all right. He thought it was only a cold. He sat and talked and went to bed. Next morning. Mother was in the dairy. And I was going to catch my horse to go home again all at once. We heard Bob shout. Hey, where are you all? Where have you all gone? No one is here. He was coming around the house in his pig pen pants. Only I run to him and he fell on me and we got him back to bed and he was raving. Then we had to get the doctor from Busselton. I had to go to the Margaret River to do this and. I went across it and it was a long time before we got through. There had been rough weather and trees were on the line in the road and I went by the Bush and it was late. When I got back, I had to get around trees and the doctor was out at Bridgetown and would not be home all night. When Doctor Hungerford got. Home. And got our message he had just had his tea and started for the Margaret. And when I went out to milk the cows, he was at the yard and he asked how is he? And without another word went to Bob's room. The mother asked, Will you have a have a cup of tea, doctor to warm you? No, I will see Bob first. That's what I came for. And then he went and sat Bob on a pillow and took his temperature. 104 he said to mother. Then he put on the chamber as Bob had water trouble, he told us to shift Bob. Out of that room and keep an eye on him. You may think he is alright and he is not. Keep that whiskey bottle out of that. Bob was ill for six months. First typhoid, then rheumatic fever. He went down in May and got out in October, and we girls nursed him day and night. We could not leave the bedside for 5 minutes. Father had put two men to clear some ground at the plain to grow wheat. Harry was out there horse hunting one day and he could not get the horses. He had his gun with him and he shot the horse called Rigby. This horse always led the others to the thicket. The horse was fat, and when Bradley and Clark saw the fat horse meat. They cut a leg off the horse and took it to the camp to eat. That seemed to us dirty. We could not stand them. They cleared 6 acres of the plain and father put it in with wheat. Our good neighbours, the Harrises, were at the old Cape. The Curtises had gone to Inlet Park and let the Cape to John and Andrew Harris. Father had taken up two blocks of land down the. Gully. To link up the two places, Eagle Bay and Glennon, he had fenced the two blocks in together and the fence was posted and rail 2 wires. On the block joining the Glennon block, he had cleared 6 acres and made a small paddock. John Harris reported father for not having the improvements done on those blocks and the fence not being on the lines. A man from the Lands Department came down to sea. Father took him out around the. Blocks. And all the blocks were taken up as non residents. Father was OK. Later, the Harrisons wanted to put the road through our field. They held that father had fenced the road in, that it was a surveyed Rd through our field. And they took it to court to have it put through. John Harris said that Bony Welche corpse was carried through that way and wherever a corpse went. You couldn't close the road and this road was a surveyed Rd. Old Forest went into the court and swore that it was a surveyed Rd. They looked up the old tracings of the block and could find no survey. They worn forest that there was three years for making a false statement. Keenan gained a day but John had to pay expenses. Father had cleared a road for Curtis around the block and he had taken up a block on each side of the road. And had made a mistake in the fencing. One corner strainer stood 18 inches in on the road, so he had to set that right. John Harris got married to Beina Abbey and they lived at the old Cape for three years. Ben had died at the Cape. Father and Minnie went down to the wake and stayed the best part of the night, and next day the funeral went in and father also went to the funeral. And Keenan and Harris were again good friends. Minnie and I were at the Cape, Derring and Bradley. And Clark were clearing up the plane for wheat. The new post office was opened in Busselton. Cissy Curtis wrote a letter and gave it to us to post. We sent it in with Bradley. That letter was the 1st letter posted in the new post office. Mr Prize was postmaster. The Curtis Girls were at the Cape and two back boys came down from Fremantle. They were sort of cousins of Mr Curtis. They stayed for a long time in the Cape and we had a good bit of fun out of them. Kangaroo and one day when the dogs bailed up, a big boomer on the Lake Gully and Willie Curtis Bet the boys that they were not going to ride him. Andrew Back said yes, I will ride him and the fun started. Got the bridle and the saddle on the boomer, but every time they put the rope over the Boomer's he would pull it off and grab Andrew by the hand. Then the dogs would go at the boomer and he would grab the dog and push him under the water and jumped on him. At last the boomer got sick of it and so did the dogs and he jumped up and out of the brook and off he went. The dogs were dead beat. Also the back boys.