it was a glorious sight on february 14 when we came on deck to see the land of the south. there was such intense excitement, and the scene is beyond my description. dr. duncan and some other officials came on board soon after we reached the anchorage. they had puggarees on their hats and hanging down their backs. that was the only foreign sign in the clothing. it was a hot day. i, for one, quite expected to find that the people dressed differently, and that the houses were on some other plan from those at home, considering the long distance from scotland. after the officials had convinced themselves that everything was satisfactory the gangway was let down for the people from the shore, who came in numbers to welcome the friends whom they had not seen for so long. amongst the very first was the head-gardener from sir william milne's, at glen osmond. the gardener came to meet his sister and her husband with their family. he had instructions to employ a young girl to do laundry work at sunnyside, glen osmond, and he pointed out the place from the side of the ship under the hills. it looked so nice, and he told me they were a scotch family. i knew that i was strong, and that i could do laundry work nicely. he tried amongst the older girls, but came back to me, and i agreed to go to sunnyside when we got to the shore. the captain, the doctor, and the matron were pleased, as there was a home found for me before i left the ship, and such a dear home it proved to be.

the married people and the single men went off first, with such of the young women as had friends to receive them. the next day we were brought to adelaide, where a few of the single girls had gone. we were all on deck next morning in good time. there was no railway from port adelaide to the semaphore then, so everything was left in its place. all were making preparations to leave, with hearts full of gratitude to the captain. while he was sitting looking through his telescope, not thinking of what was going on behind his back, one of the girls slipped up quietly and cut off the tails from his old blue serge frock coat. she then cut it into little bits and gave it to us to remind us of that grand man. the look on his face when he saw what was done was good to see. the young woman who did the cutting became a captain's wife two years after we arrived, and she and i were friends all the time to her death, which occurred a short time ago. the doctor was very kind to us all, but not with the hearty interest that touched the captain for the forlorn condition of some of us. we saw four large omnibuses on the beach, and in a tempest of sobs we were brought ashore. the doctor had been to town in the morning. he and the captain came to see that we were all[pg 53] in the buses safely. we all came to adelaide that way and got into king william-street, some inside, and some outside.

i had no hat to wear, and the matron, who was with us, promised to get one for me that day. the air of cheerfulness amongst these girls was splendid, and some of them were singing on the way. we were taken to the home for servants, which stands yet. it was a little way from the railway-station in king william-street. when i pass it now the past all comes back to me just as it was as i was getting out of the omnibus. i could not go back from the thought of what my life and work would be. a new gladness came to me, for adelaide seemed a wonderful place. we admired the brightness of the sky and the splendor of what we saw coming along, as well as the grape vines about the houses. we had plenty of fruit of all sorts sent to us on the morning star, with many grapes. i had never before seen a grape-vine growing. the very earth seemed new. we were kindly spoken to at this home, and everything was done for our comfort. a committee of ladies were appointed; one, i remember, who was so nice was mrs. henry gawler. she was so sympathetic. i told her where i was going, and she knew the lady. mrs. gawler took a fancy to me, and for years afterwards i used to go to her if i was in any difficulty.

it was on a thursday afternoon that we arrived, and on the saturday after tea the coachman was sent to take me to sunnyside in a spring-cart. i was shown into the mistress' room, and the first words she said were, "dear me, you are young!" it was the same complaint as i had heard in scotland, and i wondered if i would ever get older. i showed the lady the letters and papers i had to give in proof that i could do what was likely to be required of me willingly. they were a large family, some were grown up, but there was a baby in arms. there were other servants. one i found in the kitchen had only been in the colony a month, but a housemaid who showed me to my room had been in south australia all her life. she brought me some grapes, and was so anxious for my comfort. i am quite sure that thankfulness for the kindness of them all touched me with a sense of security.

i was early astir in the morning. what a scene was spread out to view. as far all round as i could see there was nothing but grapes and fruit trees. i was told that two-and-two the girls went out on sundays, and if i liked i could go to town with the cook, and that i should stay home the next sunday with the cook. i knew where to find some of my shipmates if i could get into town. so it was settled that i should go that morning, because the other girl knew all about adelaide. there were no tramcars then. there were two carriage-drives to the house at sunnyside. one led to glen osmond and the other towards town. we got on a road and kept the town in view till we got there. i[pg 54] found my way to wakefield-street just in time to see some of my friends getting ready to go to the port and get on the morning star, which was not going away for some time. they asked me if i would like to go with them, and, having been so much with this lady and her children, i was pleased to go. i showed my fellow-servant where and when to come for me, so that we might go home together, and i went gladly once again on board the ship. they had got into port adelaide and everything looked so different. most of the sailors had deserted, which was no unusual thing in those times. when the captain saw me he said he thought i had told him that i had a place to go to. i replied that it was my sunday off. he could not understand, and the lady i was with tried to explain to him, but he merely laughed, and his face was a study.

such a lot of the people who came out with him went to see him again. the ship did not leave the port till march 17. i never saw the captain again, but i liked to hear about his safety and that of the ship, as well as that of my shipmates, with whom i felt most at home. there were five brothers, three had wives and families. one was a widower and one a youth. they had a young highlander always with them who wore the kilts, and when we got back from the port the young man in kilts was there.

i waited and waited, but the young girl from sunnyside did not come at the promised time. i was distressed, not knowing my way to the glen. we were all strangers. i went to the servants' home, and i met one of the young girls, and she said she would go with me to enquire the way to sunnyside. we returned to tell my friends, and the young highlander with one of the brothers said that they would see that i got safely home. so we all started off, and they made enquiries for the road to glen osmond. the young girl came as well. it must have been the first time for a man to have kilts on in the colony, for everyone stared so fixedly at him. i had been so used to see men dressed thus that i could not understand what the people were so rude for. we kept along till we got to the vine inn. they asked there for the house, and we had to pass into quite a plantation of trees, which did not look anything like what i saw when going to sunnyside the previous night. it was bright moonlight, but never a body did we see. i caught sight of the house when we got to the top of a rise. oh, the joy of the discovery!

at one entrance was the coachman's house and at the other the house for the gardener. the coachman's house was overgrown with a lovely creeper, and the highlander, wanting to know if this was the right place, tried to get to the door. we could see the light. he was tall. there was a woman sitting inside with a baby on her knee. she saw only the kilts as the highlander had to stoop down to get in. she ran and screamed. it was the coachman's wife, and she had never seen anyone in kilts before.[pg 55] she made such a scene, and brought her husband out of bed. the gardener told me afterwards that his first thought was to lay hold of his gun; but when he saw me the matter was soon explained. i saw the mistress when i went in and told her that lizzie, the cook, did not call for me, and how i got home. it appeared that lizzie had a lover, and they thought that two was company and that three was none.

just a word about the dear friends that brought me home. there being no bright gaslight to show the road distinctly they got out of their way, and travelled on till they came to glenelg, and did not reach home till near morning. there was a committee meeting about it and such a lot of talk, for the young girl was staying at the home in king william-street. but when they went into the details there was nothing to say, except that we were "new chums." such were the events of my first sunday in south australia, which appear vividly among the strange happenings of the past and the planning for the future.

i began to work the next day. through the skill and kindness of some of my friends i got over the trouble about my working clothing. only i had short sleeves and my arms were burnt by the sun. i did not mind that. i felt well and strong, and the look of the place was an inspiration. from where i worked i could see the sea over which i had come. how i watched the ships coming in and going out, and wondered when i would cross it again. but the people i was with, well, they were kindness and goodness itself, and the children—how i did love to scamper over the hills with some of them when i could get the chance, even if i had to carry them part of the way. it was a well-appointed and happy home. they entertained a lot, for there was a grown-up family with such gay and pleasant manners. they must have been welcome guests wherever they went.

sir william was in parliament, and was minister for crown lands and emigration. sir dominic daly was the governor then. the government house party came to sunnyside on festivals and on other days. there was the governor and lady daly, with two sons and two daughters, young ladies and gentlemen. the sons in stature and height were so unlike their father. he must have been brave enough, but he was neither tall nor stout. i was often in the room as an attendant. i liked to hear the governor talk. i always helped in waiting on the assembled guests. how the times have changed since then! the young ladies from sunnyside and the miss dalys and many others belonged to an archery club. shooting with the bow and arrow was a favorite sport both for ladies and gentlemen. there were targets all about. one was at the government farm, which is now called the national park. more than once i have been sent to assist in spreading lunch there when they had their customary meetings. how exciting it all looked to me. the bright activity of the young[pg 56] people and the scenery were so entrancing that i was glad i came here.

lizzie and the cook got married. i used to go to town once in every three weeks, but soon found where to get the omnibus both in and out of town. i always went to the home to look for my young friends of the voyage, and we were so pleased to learn of each others' welfare. i found many who had not got such a nice home as i had. and i told my mistress of one young girl that i thought would do in lizzie ross' place. so the lady asked the master to call at the servants' home and ask this girl to come. he did so and told the matron to send her on my recommendation, and she came and stopped at sunnyside till she also got married. that girl grew very attached to the family of sunnyside and kept the respect all her life. only to see some of them was a joy for mary. she came from scotland, and she and i got into the same train at glasgow. so we went out on the same sunday every other week and came to town together. all was well for a long time, but mary had given her affection to a young man on board the morning star. he was the baker of the ship, and when we landed in adelaide he went out with some exploring party.

i received some letters from home and i sent some. i had good news to tell of what i had seen in adelaide. those were prosperous times. the gas was getting laid on in the streets, but in some streets they had only oil lamps. four of the brothers already mentioned went to work as plumbers and gasfitters at first. they were all plumbers and painters except one, who was a mason. there were no unemployed in the streets in those days, and no poor children without boots. everything, too, was so cheap. so many of the houses have been pulled down in all the streets and the place has so changed that if one had not seen the alterations he could not believe it to be the same place. all the time i was hoping to get my relatives here. i gave a full description to my master of the reason i had come out to the colony and had left all my friends. he told me to rely upon him to do what he could and showed much sympathy. i was anxious to get all the family out together, so as not to have any more partings. a great peace settled on my mind when i found that sir william would use his influence in securing the dispatch of six persons with assisted passages to adelaide. there was a lot for me to do, as it would at least cost ￡20 for me to send the land grants to them, and may i add here that i saved that in one year from 10/ a week. after subscribing for the voyagers, it amounted to just the same, as my wages in glasgow, which were six pounds a year, so i had enough for my needs.

[pg 57]

it is hard to explain about the kindness of the people of sunnyside. the gardener and his wife and family lived on the domain. as he was the very first man i had spoken to of the south australians, i used to go to him and his wife, and tell them of my hopeful desires. i saw that man the other day in town, and he looked as upright as he did many years ago. and we talked of the long ago days. if it were not for the craving of the lone heart for love and for kindred, there would have seemed nothing but brightness, peace, and plenty at sunnyside, glen osmond. satisfaction being mutual, the year went by so quickly. if this should fall into the hands of any of this household, concerning which i have such happy reminiscences, i hope they will pardon me if i refer to a few of the incidents that appealed to me.

it was good to see the fruit that grew there of every kind. some i had never seen before. my chief wonder was at the grapes, and the making of wine. i had read about the wine-press, but i then saw a great number of people gathering in the grapes, and then watched them crushed and the juice put into a large vat. i was not long there before it was known that i had a terror concerning snakes. there were some about, even amongst the vines. the boy from the stable saw a dead one at sir thomas elder's place and dragged it all the way to put in the laundry to give me a fright, but the coachman saw him and took it from him, and brought it to where i was, and told me not to be afraid. it was such a size when he put it down at its full length, and told me if i saw anything like that to get away from it. i was thankful i did not see it unawares. the boy thought it would be fun. a governess came daily on horseback to instruct the youngest child. the eldest son went to college. the young master and some other youths about his age would ask in a gentle way if they could melt some lead to form bullets for their guns. the laundry was not far from the carriage house. while working i could hear them tell of their playful merriment and of the birds' nests, just like the boys in scotland. it may not be out of place here to add that some of those youths so full of frolic, are men of dignity to-day in this state. the young gentleman used to bring his trifling property and ask if i could let them stop there where he could find them, as the housemaids were always putting his trappings where he could not find them. all had horses who were old enough to ride, and so had the ladies also. if no man were there i would help the ladies to mount if they wanted help, and very pretty they looked.

the eldest daughter married a gentleman who owned a farm, near port augusta. it was a gay time. the parliamentary caterer and his waitresses were there for days, and there was a breakfast in great magnificence for a hundred guests, with a ball[pg 58] in the evening. such wealth and beauty i never saw before. the wedding service was performed at the scotch church in wakefield-street. how feeble it all looks in written words. only in some way to show the experience gained in early years, i had taken the letter i brought from glasgow to dr. gardner, on north-terrace, and i often went to chalmers church with the friends who were so kind to me on the voyage. one of the gentlemen took a leading part in the singing, and i went with his wife and family. all of those five brothers mentioned went there, and many others who came in what we called "our ship." on more than one occasion the master and mistress took me and left me at the manse the night before a tea-meeting so that i could help. my work was always done at the end of the week, and i gladly helped the others, answering the door, bell, or otherwise, and amongst ourselves we had merriment in the home-time. one of the housemaids was married, and i got another of my fellow-passengers to come to sunnyside. i knew by that time that some treaty was in hand to obtain the earliest passage for my people in the first ship that would come with assisted passengers. i began to be busy in preparation to meet my relatives. the time would be coming soon when i would want to go away, and the thought way disagreeable to me. i did leave sunnyside, but went back years afterwards. one saturday afternoon i was in attendance, and i was told to bring in the decanter and cake to the library. there were two or three men there looking so weary and dusty. i learned while in the room that one of the men was john macdouall stuart, the explorer. i hardly knew then what exploring meant. at any rate those men looked broken down, but the master was so pleased to see them.

i had a letter to say that my people were coming by a ship name the art union when there were the number required. i cheered up, for although i had plenty of everything and friends included, when i saw other girls' eyes fairly shine when they talked about home, i hoped to begin life afresh and to forget about the past. i looked forward not the least discouraged. when i thought of what a sea of water divided us, i tried to be practical. i came to this distant land in the hope that they might better their fortunes and that happiness would be ours. but i must soon turn out of the home where i had been sheltered and happy, and where i led a new life in this new land which was still strange to me. anyone who lived in the full safety of family ties could not understand the dread i had to leave sunnyside. in all the years past i could yield to the wishes of others, i had so far cared but little for my own preference. now i must decide for myself what i ought to do.

time passed on. the young master went for a long visit to his young married sister at port augusta. he brought back[pg 59] a good sized kangaroo. he asked if i was at sunnyside yet, and being told i was he wished the man to take the kangaroo out of the hamper and let him loose in the laundry. it was late, and i did not know anything of this. but the young master was so used to putting his odds and ends in there that he thought i would not mind. i went in the morning and opened the door, and when i did so this kangaroo made one bound for the opening. i had never seen one, even in a picture before. the sudden spring it made for the door and the length of its tail frightened me, and i was insensible with terror. i ran shrieking to the house, and the kangaroo rushed through the vines down the gully. all the bedroom windows were thrown open, and everyone had seen "him." i leave anyone to guess what i thought i had seen. they had some trouble to find the kangaroo, but it was not put in the laundry again.

on looking back from now i intend to say a few words to young serving maids. if any of the incidents which happened to me in my early life also happen to you, the fact that i got through them may convey some courage to you. i think you will see that pleasure is possible in life as a domestic servant. only let our needs be natural, and let us lead a life without vain, empty show, not trying to appear richer than we really are, or to spend all our money on dress and amusements. i noticed the difference between this colony and scotland. the pleasant evenings we passed would not be understood now. pleasure with unrest has led and will lead our young girls to spend money they cannot afford to make a show. how did they manage before there were so many clubs and the so-called friendly societies? they all go to the club now, and the home is too dull. the hearth is solitary. men and women are spoiled for home life. many would have us believe how good it is to be seen smiling and talking on some platform, and to care no longer for home in the old sense of the word. in the rush for and the love of excitement very heavy demands are made on the endurance of the working woman. perhaps i do not see the humorous side of life, but that no doubt is because it has been all so real to me.

i often went to the coachman's house to see his wife and children, and more so when the carriage was out late. she was a nice, pleasant woman, and there were some pretty little children. we often laughed about the man with the kilts. my shipmate, mary, the cook, was sought for in marriage by the baker of the ship. i was her bridesmaid. they had the goodwill of everyone. i sorely missed her. she was older than i, and so bright, and we went out a lot together. the man went to work at his trade at unley, and i went to see them at goodwood in their little home. goodwood and unley were then in their littleness. there were but few houses here and there, and no tramcars. how changed all is! one of the housemaids had her home in[pg 60] glen osmond, and kindly took me to see her parents and brothers and sisters. what pleasure they all gave me, and they wished to make me glad, because i was a lone girl, so far from all i knew. my fellow-servant belonged to the anglican church in the glen. i went with her sometimes. our lady mistress gave a tray in aid of something for the church, and had suitable provisions sent there. then she graciously allowed the housemaid and myself to attend, as she could not go herself. the retention of the memory of those days is easy, seeing that only the other day i saw my helper at that tea-tray looking so well. she has been a happy wife for many years. many others with whom i got acquainted at that time, and who were well satisfied with being house servants, could be named to-day.

letters came to say that my people were on the way out. i got restless and ill at ease, anxious to make some household arrangement for them. i thought glen osmond and the hills were beautiful, but i knew that they could not come there to live. i could get an afternoon to visit town now and then. i could have done so more often than i did if i had cared to. i came to town one afternoon, and went to the home in king william-street to learn about my ship friends. while i was speaking to the matron a gentleman came to ask if she knew of a young girl who would do for a house of business at no. 10, rundle-street, in the city. she asked me if i knew of anyone. impulsively i offered myself, as it would mean that i would be in town to look out for some place for my relatives when they landed. the gentleman, too, spoke with such a scotch accent. as it would all be a possible help, there seemed to be nothing to do but to accept the offer, although anguish and indecision was there also.