Five Little Bush Girls

"It's a wonder you ever left the country, if you are so very fond of it," said Eileen one day to the governess. "You tell us to like it, and yet you went away to Sydney," she we...

And then five very disconsolate little girls swung five pairs of very disconsolate legs vigorously as they sat in a row on the wooden verandah. At least, Baby tried to swing her...

The letter had come at last. Ted was late, and they were all waiting for him as he rode up to "Gillong," and when he fished a thick, square envelope out of his pocket, and hande...

The time had come at last, and a merry party gathered to go off to the river. They had chosen a spot a few miles from "Gillong." The Hudsons, the Garlands, Enid and some of her...

Every evening they met and talked over the events of the day. They had been in Sydney a month, and were enraptured with all they saw. They had quite run out of a stock of adject...

"Oh, yes, of course--the baby--well, the baby's all right, but, still, I want some real fun. I'm sick of everything again, and I know the Garlands are great, and we're lucky to...

Eileen had been overjoyed at the thought of staying in Sydney, and she commenced school duties with a will. She was almost a beginner in many of the subjects that Marcia was pro...

Up till the evening that they had "put their heads together" and planned that wonderful letter, the Hudsons had lived much the same lives as other little bush girls, although, o...

"I don't suppose he'll ever get it." For over a fortnight Eileen had been saying that. "If an answer doesn't come to-morrow, I'll say it's gone astray. I didn't think he'd get i...

All the children got the writing craze at "Gillong." They all wanted to be poets or authors, and there was one continual scribble. Papers and books and slates were covered with...

The weeks sped by. Sometimes the children would say the time dragged. At others they wouldn't have half enough time, and wished the days were twenty-four, instead of twelve, hou...

I am in the North-West, and it is spring time! The fresh, warm-tinged air of the open spaces sends new life through the frame, waking old ambitions, recalling lost ideals and dr...

They were all back again at Gillong. All except Eileen and Frank, for Frank had gone to Sydney early in March, to commence his studies; and they were all glad of Willie's compan...

The visit was paid at last, and Eileen went as a kind of "scout," to seek news and information, and the others waited with what patience they could for their return. But the tim...

Down the long flat road bowled the buggy that was bringing the governess from the station, for Father had gone over the night before to meet the train; and now the children, in...

Eileen's head was craned far out of the train as it drew into the station, where Teddy, with a broad smile on his face, was waiting for the mail and any stray passengers.

There was a conspiracy at the homestead. Great whispering and talking and planning among the younger set. Great fossicking among old tins and gardening implements; and then, one...

"'And as we've heard, Uncle, that you are very, very wealthy'----perhaps I ought to say 'we've heard by accident,'" said Mollie, perplexedly; "you see, he might think Father and...

A governess coming! What, a governess coming just when things were at their best. Just when the paddocks were green and the horses were rolling fat, and everything was free and...

Mother had gone away. In all the years of their life they had never known Mother to leave them before. But she had gone now for a whole fortnight, and her letters were very cons...

A letter had come for Willie from his mother, saying that he really must come home; he ought to be satisfied now, and they missed him very much, and he really must return to sch...

They were all under a shadow at "Gillong." Teddo was leaving the line. Teddo, whom they remembered as long as they remembered anybody, was going to leave the district. His contr...

"Yes, I'll come," cried Eva, who was getting much more fond of the outdoor life. "We'll just show them, Willie, how smart we are, and that we can bring them in; and it'll save s...

"Well, of all the things that could ever happen, this is far and away the best, and I'll never grumble again," said Eileen. "To think we're all going to Sydney for a holiday. Oh...

It was very quiet up at the house the next afternoon. Mother and the children had gone down to see the overseer's wife at Jenkin's old place. The children liked the overseer's w...

And now the trouble was to square Ted, the mailman. He jogged up about four o'clock the next day, with his packhorse and mailbags, and the girls hovered round while he had a cup...

They all went from "Gillong" except old Joe, and he came out to see them off, and told them that there wouldn't be anyone as nice as them there, and to fly round and enjoy thems...

Mrs. Grey, the overseer's wife, at Jenkin's old place, was very ill. It was something unusual for Mrs. Grey to be ill. Mother spent a lot of time with her, and Miss Gibson would...

All day long the air was thick and murky. All day long there were signs of a gathering storm. Great big banks of fierce, sullen clouds began to bank up in the afternoon, and far...