She Would be a Governess.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1018, 2 July 1898, Page 10

She Would be a Governess.

NEVER AGAIN I OH, NEVER I

By Bebenis db CaSteo.

scan the ' wanted ' columns of the daily press, and ■would not let any possibly suitable advertisement go unanswered, and at last I found myself in the happy position of being engaged as governess to fonr boys, Balary promised being £40 per annum and no housework The lady (?) who engaged me did so from a sheep station called Taniwha Flat.' This place, she informed me, was 18 miles, from the nearest township (Morgansville). This being so, 1 did not expect anything very lively. The eventful day arrived at length when 1 was to make my first plunge into this cold and cruel world. My parents and friends gathered round me mournfully, with many doleful interjections. The very sky wept tears for me, and the flooded streets looked strangely lonely and deserted from the cab window at 6.30 a.m. After many embraces and parting words, the train whistle announced the grand finale — and I Boon felt myself whirled through' space. You can modify this last to your own imagination, when I mention I was a passenger on the N.Z. Government railway line. On recovering breath and sense of vision sufficiently to observe my fellowtravellers, I found them uninteresting to a degree. There were only four of ub in the compartment — which wa<j a first class one — my anxious mother insisting that I mast not arrive at my destination bedraggled, begrimed, and travel stained ; but must look my best. Alas t if she had only known what lay before her youngest that da; 1 But I must hasten on. The opposite corner was filled, and more so by a clergyman of extraordinary dimensions, who snored and sneezed alternately through the four hours of our railway journey. Next to me, in complete contrast to the foregoing, was a flat - bosomed spinster, with spectacles on nose, and mouth severe ; while the fourth corner was occupied by a complacent matron, who ventured a remark now and then, I should say, rather, shot them out in jerky style, rather alarming when one did not happen to be prepared. I got to the end of my railway journey without accident, and, after bidding the matron a . hasty good - morning, I stepped out and found myself alone with my one trunk. Even at this point I still smiled inwardly. I soon found out when and where the coach was to start for Morgansville, and after waiting about an hour, set off again -r this time for 12 miles coaching through pouring rain. The coach was a beastly rickety old boneshaker, and the driver, an individual whom a countryman of Burns would probably term ' a toothless, fumlin', daft cratur.' There was only one passenger beside myself, he kept the driver company outside, whilst I held on with all my might to the seat inside, or I am sure I should have found myself on the road, as there was no door to this fearful and wonderful vehicle. I need not detail this tiresome journey, Buffice to say I was exceedingly glad to find myself on the verandah of the Bushmen's Arms Hotel, 'Morgansville. I was expecting to be met here with a conveyance of some sort, perhaps a spring trap, or even a dog-cart. There was no one waiting for me on arrival, so I had a good dinner, and prepared myself for a long wait, and was not disappointed, for it was ,4 o'clock in the afternoon before the proprietor put his head in at the door, and with rather a broad grin informed me that a gentleman was inquiring ior-me. I jumped up with alacrity and went to the front door. I looked in vain for a trap of any kind or a — gentleman. Just as I was turning away disappointedly, a man with blear eyes and hiccupy interjections said, 'I've come ter fetch ye, miss.' ' Oh,' have you ?' said I, endear vouring to choke down my surprise, ' when are we to start, and what in ?' Imagine my horror when he said he had brought the dray for me. Fancy 18 miles in pouring rain in a dray t I resigned myself to the inevitable, however, and there being no kind of scat for me, not even my trunk (for the man refused to take it) I sqnatted on the lloor with rivers of water flowing all round me. Never so long as I live shall I forget the misery of that journey. The four great horses walked the whole way, and frequently paused for breath. The man seemed to Bleep most of the time, and even

when fording rivers deep and dark he made no sound beyond an occasional grunt. Night closed in all too quickly, and the silence was almost unbearable. The rain poured on incessantly, and I sat numbed, drenched and shivering till 10 o'clock that night. Arrived at our destination, I was too stiff to get out of the dray, so two men helped me, and one of them opened a door and said, ' You are to sleep here.' I could not get time to say a word before I found myself alone. Alone ! without having seen a woman of any description— no fire, no , supper, and I had not tasted a bite since dinner time. I looked round the bare hovel of a room, with dirty bed and window stuffed with rags, and I assure you I smiled no more. I got to bed utterly wretched and worn out — but not to sleep. . After what seemed to me an eternity, I heard sounds of voices, and soon after some one knocked at my door., I got ud and dressed quickly, and on going out was confronted with one of the ugliest and dirtiest-looking women it has ever been my fate to meet. She did not even apologise for her unpardonable rudeness of the previous evening, but told me I had better help her to get breakfast, aa she was rather late this morning, etc I helped her for peace sake, and also because I felt sick with hunger, and was wet and shivering. Such a breakfast 1 Imagine a long bare table, with cross legs — such as is often used at Sunday-school teas — no table cloth, nine huge tin pannikins, a few black-handled knives, a tin of treacle, and a loaf. Soon after this the family came trooping into breakfast, it now being 4.30 a.m., and quite dark, save for the one miserable tallow candle. The master ot this palatial residence, who I afterwards learned conld neither read nor write, gave me a not unfriendly nod. A few half-clad urchins and a squalling baby made up the party. I found the boys were to be taught in a shedl I gave notice to the lady immediately after breakfast, and she appeared to be amazed at me for even dreaming of wishing to get away. Besides, how was the man to be spared a whole day to go back with the dray.? I let her know that I meant what I said, and that get back I would. After much grumbling on her part, she said perhaps I could go in a few days. This did not suit me, however, and I spoke to the master himself at dinner time. Well, I did get away the next day, and started again at 4 a.m , without breakfast or food of any kind. The drive.was an i improvement on the one of the first night, ' nasmuch as that the sun shone brightly after six o'clock. I need not dwell on the return journey, suffice to say that it was with a very thankful heart that I sighted the golden and delightful city away in the distance, and I was never so glad for anything as when I found myself getting oat at the station, with a dear one on the platform to meet me. j I have been well teased over this episode, and no doubt it is quite amusing to an outsider if he does not happen to be the person concerned (that's me), but the J affair left rather a gloomy impression on ' my mind for many days, but now I have quite recovered my equilibrium. I have come to the conclusion that this is the punishment Providence thought fit for me in my unholy desire for wealth.

he sole aim and object of my existence was to work, or} more correctly, to earn money. Having made up my mind to this, I began to eagerly