A BUSH CHILD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19269, 5 September 1924, Page 5

A BUSH CHILD.

1500-MILE TRAMP TO SCHOOL. MID-AUSTRALIA. (From Otjb Own Correspondent.! SIDNEY, August 28. Fresh from the heart of Australia—nine years old and never before seen a white child, nor the sea, nor trams, picture show's, crowds, motor cars, brick buildings, nor the thousands of other commonplaces to the city-dweller— such was wondering, wide-eyed little Danny when he arrived in Adelaide one morning last week after a 1500-mile tramp with cattle drovers from his home on Powell’s Creek. Powell’s Creek is 400 miles south of Darw’in, and near there, on a great cattle station, Danny has lived for all the nine years of his life with his father and three or four other white men, the only other human beings being the blacks, and they are numerous enough. He had been taken to Adelaide In the car eof Messrs W. Riley and J. Matthews, who were driving 1000 head of the station bullocks to market, for the purpose of placing him at a school. It was not till they had walked 820 miles from Powell’s Creek to Codnadatta that Danny say for the first time in his life a railway train, and his wonder and admiration knew no bounds. . ’ To little Danny, coming to Adelaide for the first time is like' an entrance into a new world, or almost eiiual to, the amazing experience of a blind man who gains' "the faculty of sight. But although he has been buried in the bush, he has not been neglected. He was well cared for on the station, and Mr Riley gave him a little instruction in reading and writing. Thejlad looks somewhat older than he really is. "He Is robust and the picture of good health. Strangely enough, he is not the least shy, but talks with perfect naturalness, and shows more than average intelligence. Mr Riley said that the lad was very strong for his age and most self-reliant. Danny, though still a youngster, has stock of his own, and even a registered brand. He can ride any horse on the station, shoes a horse in a most workmanlike manner, and took a full man’s part on the five months’ droving trip. The wonders of the city have already impressed the boy, though he seems to view everything with a quiet philosophy. He likes the crowded streets and the motor cars and trams, but the push bicycle puzzles him a bit. He says he would like to ride one—and probably will before long. Mr Matthews, who is piloting the boy and making arrangements for him to go to school, is planning to show him all the great sights before he himself returns to the Territory. The big football crowds, the Zoological Gardens, the sea, the, moving pictures, are all on the programme, and Danny’s youthful mind will soon be crowded with wonderful things he is seeing for the first time. The lad seems happy at the prospect of going to school. He thinks he would like to , live in Adelaide. He is anxious to see the monkeys and to swim in the sea. It w’as most interesting to watch Danny’s face when he heard a pianola for the first time. He watched intently as preparations were made, and at the first few notes of music his eyes sparkled -and a delightful grin overspread his face. He was frankly puzzled,, and no wonder, as Mr Matthews said, the ■ only music he had previously' heard was a concertina. A true child of the open spaces Danny may feel the restraints of the city life sometimes, but the self-reliance and adaptability he has already displayed will help him to tit into the new scheme of things. ■ Danny answers questions promptly and Intelligently, and exhibits an eager joy at oaeh new surprise. It can hardly be imagined how trains, trams, motor cars, and all other commonplace appurtenances ,to city life excite him, and Danny’s undisguised wonder. and admiration at everything he secs would have delighted the heart of a psychologist.