THE COUNTRY GIRL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 11

THE COUNTRY GIRL.

(By Jenny T\'iu:n.)

So many girls, in tiieso competitive (lays, have entered the arena of life in overy capacity, from that of maid-of-all-work to tlio woman who has explored tho remote fastsnesse of Thibet, that few must ho left who elect to live quietly at home. The demand on all sides from thorn, whether'it is necessary for their worldly welfare or not, is that tiioy should liavo some particular occupation outside their homo interests. Possibly the one most freo from desiro of this description, is'', tho girl who lives completely in tho country and has all-, tho resources of station lifo to add variety to her lot. Probably tho summer months aro for her tho brightest and gayest in all'the year as they mean inuch out-of-door lifo and many visitors. As in tho town,, so it is in tho country with servants, their possession frequently being but a very fleeting and doubtful joy. In consequence, country girls can do all tilings when necessary, baking tho most delightful bread, mailing butter, cooking, preserving, washing, ironing, and housecleaning, often being callcd away in the most critical moment of 0110 of these duties to go and .entertain suddenly-arriving visitors. However, thero is usually someone or other about tho place who can bo relied upon in an emergency. Ono homestead is lucky enough to possess a treasure in the shapo of an old man-o-war's man with a. wooden leg who can do anything and everything in tho way of housework, and ho always comes to tho rescuo. when things go wrong. With breakfast at seven - o'clock in tho summer (half-past seven in the winter), thero is a long day to bo filled in—llo very . difficult thing to do there. After breakfast, a consultation is held with tile cook as to tho meals for tho day, and itlio younger members of the family may possibly bo sent to gather in fruit or do various odd littlo things to help. -With breakfast at such an early hour, • morning tea at half-past ten is inevitable, and everybody meets for a gossipy half hour or so. At this time of tho year thero is tho jam-making, fruitpreserving,: pickling, making of sauces „and chutnees to bo done, but as much as possiblo is finished before Christmas. No girl who prides herself on her housekeeping, and tho making of Specially dainty dishes for particular occasions, over leaves these things for tho cook., 'Of courso there is plenty of riding and driving—that goes . without saying. The greatest treat of all though, is" tho cattlemustering. It is 110 struggle then to get up for. a very early breakfast, and away out into a newly awakened world, rosy, dewy,' and fresh; go fresh that the horses gain additional exuberance of spirit, fretting at their bits and pressing eagerly forward, tho barking of the cattle dogs adding to their excitement. A rido of soino four miles and tho long wide stretch of flats is reached where tho cattlo aro' and work commences. Moments fly'in gathering in tho wild, sometimes threatening animals. In spite of everything, they sometimes break away in a furious attempt for precious liberty. Then tho chase, full of tantalising reverses, and lifo is a joy, for even a woman shares'the hunter's love of tho pursuit. ' In. tho galloping horse and its say nothing of tho dogs, evory nerve is tuned to a fixed determination to bring back tho fleeing beasts. A cattle-horso is a delight, dodging, twisting, turning, and stopping short,, as cunning as a fox in his career after cattle, knowing exactly w;hat to do.. But: occasions of this kind are infrequent, and, for less energetic moments, there aro long siestas in hammocks under.shady trees, and when tho greater heat is over, tennis croquet, long tramps abroad, more riding, or visiting a neighbour. Occasional!v, to vary things there might bo a wild-pig'hunt over tho hills with her brothers-before'the dusii commences to, closo in. 111 tho oven- ; jns, for those, who will, are, music, cards, billiards, or games. ' .... ; Many girls living far. out in tho country make a point of acquiring a knowledge of hrst-aid and tho essentials of nursing, for at any moment, with men at all''kinds of work, accidents may occur or sickness overtake their, wives ,or children, tho doctor often being miles away from the. scene. ! All ■•■tilings have their . ending, even the king hot lnontiis of "summer, and'too soon winter, is here with its golf and its dances. . Leaden-. skies are above ono where all wablue, cold bitmg winds swirl down tho gullies hreatenmg to tear tho house from its foundations, and the ceaseless boom of tho surf thunders, in on. the; coast in a deep monotone.of_ warning. Groy impenetrable mists creep in. from, tho ocean and shroud mountains and plain trees and fences, till <11 aro blotted out and ono is adrift in -i formless world. Only,, tho' faint falff 'is hcTrV a > loI '» liko a lost souf 1; , 'i, ? 0p , ressed - 0110 flios back from this ghostly. land to. tlio homestead with its warmth and light ■and. bright companionship ■wiH? l« g C 7 mngS mth books and music, dr,