SAM DRINKWATER’S LUCK.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 1317, 6 March 1885, Page 4

SAM DRINKWATER’S LUCK.

LITERATURE

In the spring (the English autumn) of the year 1852, Sam Drinkwater was n dweller in the tents of Bendigo. Time was when Sara had been the proprietor of a large and comfortableestablishmcnl; when he had slept under twelve square feet of canvas, and bad drunk out of crockery. His goods and tools were a load for a one-horse dray in those days, and be had paid many pounds sterling for the frequent removal of his premises. But now that prosperous time had passed away ; and at Sam’s last removal his own broad shoulders served instead of the one-horse dray. Arriving at the now spot he had chosen, he tied a rope between two gum trees, pitched over it a strip of duck he called! his tent, rolled up a b»ck log for his fire, and made himself comfortable. Sam Drinkwater was a remarkable man among bis neighbours, for he preserved his ruddy English complexion, never swore, and respected not only his native land, but its Government also. Mr Drinkwater had not come out at his country’s expense—that was evident. Of his antecedents I know nothing. What occupation he might have had in England, or what position he filled, it Was impossible to form an idea. I knew him only as one who, though a grumbler from habit, was in reality one of the jolliest of jolly diggers; one whose infinite good-humor was proof against the winter rains and the summer flies ; who liked butter with his bread when he con Id get it ; and when he could not, took an extra pipe, and thanked Providence, At the time when g;oU was fiisf

discovered at Ballnrat, Sam Drinkwater had come across the Murray with twenty pounds in his pocket, and a pair of hoots and his blankets on his back. His money he expended in the purchase of the big tent before alluded to, and other heavy and comfortable goods; and having set up his house, he commenced digging. Since then he had sank some fifty holes with his own hands, and had worked in numberless others dug by other people, and yet never had Sam once been the possessor of six ounces of gold. Still be worked on, ns calmly and steadily ns ever, much given to moralising when he was troubled with empty pockets, and receiving with equanimity any stray nugget that came in his way. I made Mr Driukwater’s acquaintance in the following manner. Going down one morning to a hole of mine much later than usual, I was surprised to find a man quietly seated at the bottom of it cutting slices off my washing stuff with his knife. ‘ Hillo !’ said I, ‘ good morning, hope you are well ?’ The man looked up, and surveyed me with some surprise. * Good morning,’ said he, ‘ how do yon find yourself?’ And he quietly resumed his occupation, I began to loose patience and addressed him again—- ‘ Mate, you will allow me to tell you that that’s my hole.’ ‘ls it? Well, it can’t be helped. It’s my luck. You didn’t leave your name on it, yon know.’ ‘ All right,’ said I, ‘ but if you come across my “ bits ” I hope you will band them over.’ ‘ Not in the daytime,’ replied Mr Drinkwater, for he, of course, it was. ‘ You won’t ?’ said I. ‘ Not ]. Don’t put yourself in a passion. Wait till I get out, and I’ll show yon the rights of it. You see I have given you three hour’s work this morning, and I have got yon out stuff enough to keep yon washing all day. Well, now, supposing I have picked up three pennyweights of gold—which is quite an over-estimate, I essure you—l am not overpaid, am I V ‘I am satisfied,’ suid I, yon look honest; keep it, and welcome. Have a drink of tea ?’ I handed him the ‘ billy,’ or large can, which is the digger’s constant companion in warm weather. I found that Mr Drinkwater improved upon acquaintance and we became very intimate. Some few months after our first meeting, I lay one Sunday morning enjoying the first warm beams of the rising sun. The flics, those pests of Australia, had not yet started into life, and the air was cool. The scene was full of beauty, but of a beauty that had no change, and was therefore soon lost to the weary eye. Beautiful birds lived in those woods, but tbey had no song; and the monotonous hum of insect-life was unrelieved by pny of nature’s articulate music. It was a pleasant spot for an anchorite, so calm was the air, so silent the forest; and yet it was in the midst of the largest of the gold-fields. A little hill divided me on 'each side from an enormous multitude, scattejed here and there in tents of every color, along the sides of a wide valley. I threw open the front of my tent, and lighted my pipe—the digger’s vademecum. Under the magic influence of ignited negrohead, I gradually sank into a pleasant doze, from which I was roughly disturbed by a voice, and looking up, I saw a bend poked in at the side of my lent, which I recognised as belonging to a neighbor, Mr Michael Shannon. * So I hear yon are going to leave us, Mick,’ said I. ‘ Well, we’ll have to leave the luck that’s come to ns, hot we’ll be off tomorrow, please God.’ ‘ What luck’s that?’ I asked. ‘ It’s the good hole we got down below.’ ‘ What 1 the last? Why, I thought there wasn’t a speck in it.’ ‘ Indeed, and there was not till the last tub we washed ; and if wo didn’t get two ounces of gold out of that, may I never ’ ‘ Precisely,’ said I, ‘ well, I am glad to hear it. Of course, while that lasts, yon won’t leave it to go after any new diggings ?’ ‘ Indeed, but we will. Didn’t we hire the horse and cart, and won’t wo have to pay for it whether we go or not ?’ {To he Continued.)