Thus From "Learning" We Slipped
Into "Courtship" And Marriage, And On Into Life - Life And Its
Problems - And, Chatting, Agreed
That, in spite of, or perhaps BECAUSE of,
its many acknowledged disadvantages, the simple, primitive bush-life is
the sweetest
And best of all - sure that although there may have been
more imposing or less unconventional feasts elsewhere that Christmas day,
yet nowhere in all this old round world of ours could there have been a
happier, merrier, healthier-hearted gathering. No one was bored. No one
wished himself elsewhere. All were sure of their welcome. All were
light-hearted and at ease; although no one so far forgot himself as to
pour his hop-beer into the saucer in a lady's presence, for, low be it
spoken, although the missus had a glass tumbler, there were only two on
the run, and the men-folk drank the Christmas healths from cups, and
enamel at that; for a Willy-Willy had taken Cheon unaware when he was
laden with a tray containing every glass and china cup fate had left us,
and, as by a miracle, those two glasses had been saved from the wreckage.
But enamel cups were no hardships to the bush-folk, and besides, nothing
inconvenienced us that day - excepting perhaps doing justice to further
triumphs at afternoon tea; and all we had to wish for was the company of
Dan and the Fizzer.
To add to the general comfort, a gentle north-west breeze blew all through
the day, besides being what Bett-Bett called a "shady day," cloudy and
cool; and to add to the general rejoicing, before we had quite done with
"Clisymus" an extra mail came in per black boy - a mail sent out to us by
the "courtesy of our officers" at the Katherine, "seeing some of the
packages felt like Christmas."
It came to us on the verandah. Two very full Mailbags borne by two very
empty black boys, and in an incredibly short space of time there were two
very full black boys, and two very empty mail-bags; for the mail was our
delayed mail, and exactly what we wanted; and the boys had found all they
wanted at Cheon's hospitable hands.
But even Christmas days must come to an end; and as the sun slipped down
to the west, Mac and Tam "reckoned it was time to be getting a move on ";
and as they mounted amid further Christmas wishes, with saddle-pouches
bursting with offerings from Cheon for "Clisymus supper," a strange
feeling of sadness crept in among us, and we wondered where "we would all
be next Christmas." Then our Christmas guests rode out into the forest,
taking with them the sick Mac, and as they faded from our sight we knew
that the memory of that Christmas day would never fade out of our lives;
for we bush-folk have long memories and love to rest now and then beside
the milestones of the past.
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