Memories of my life

by Mrs. J. S. O. Allen

I began to work the next day. Through the skill and kindness of some of my friends I got over the trouble about my working clothing. Only I had short sleeves and my arms were burnt by the sun. I did not mind that. I felt well and strong, and the look of the place was an inspiration. From where I worked I could see the sea over which I had come. How I watched the ships coming in and going out, and wondered when I would cross it again. But the people I was with, well, they were kindness and goodness itself, and the children—How I did love to scamper over the hills with some of them when I could get the chance, even if I had to carry them part of the way. It was a well-appointed and happy home. They entertained a lot, for there was a grown-up family with such gay and pleasant manners. They must have been welcome guests wherever they went.

Sir William was in Parliament, and was Minister for Crown Lands and Emigration. Sir Dominic Daly was the Governor then. The Government House party came to Sunnyside on festivals and on other days. There was the Governor and Lady Daly, with two sons and two daughters, young ladies and gentlemen. The sons in stature and height were so unlike their father. He must have been brave enough, but he was neither tall nor stout. I was often in the room as an attendant. I liked to hear the Governor talk. I always helped in waiting on the assembled guests. How the times have changed since then! The young ladies from Sunnyside and the Miss Dalys and many others belonged to an archery club. Shooting with the bow and arrow was a favorite sport both for ladies and gentlemen. There were targets all about. One was at the Government farm, which is now called the National Park. More than once I have been sent to assist in spreading lunch there when they had their customary meetings. How exciting it all looked to me. The bright activity of the young people and the scenery were so entrancing that I was glad I came here.

Lizzie and the cook got married. I used to go to town once in every three weeks, but soon found where to get the omnibus both in and out of town. I always went to the home to look for my young friends of the voyage, and we were so pleased to learn of each others' welfare. I found many who had not got such a nice home as I had. And I told my mistress of one young girl that I thought would do in Lizzie Ross' place. So the lady asked the master to call at the Servants' Home and ask this girl to come. He did so and told the matron to send her on my recommendation, and she came and stopped at Sunnyside till she also got married. That girl grew very attached to the family of Sunnyside and kept the respect all her life. Only to see some of them was a joy for Mary. She came from Scotland, and she and I got into the same train at Glasgow. So we went out on the same Sunday every other week and came to town together. All was well for a long time, but Mary had given her affection to a young man on board the Morning Star. He was the baker of the ship, and when we landed in Adelaide he went out with some exploring party.

I received some letters from home and I sent some. I had good news to tell of what I had seen in Adelaide. Those were prosperous times. The gas was getting laid on in the streets, but in some streets they had only oil lamps. Four of the brothers already mentioned went to work as plumbers and gasfitters at first. They were all plumbers and painters except one, who was a mason. There were no unemployed in the streets in those days, and no poor children without boots. Everything, too, was so cheap. So many of the houses have been pulled down in all the streets and the place has so changed that if one had not seen the alterations he could not believe it to be the same place. All the time I was hoping to get my relatives here. I gave a full description to my master of the reason I had come out to the colony and had left all my friends. He told me to rely upon him to do what he could and showed much sympathy. I was anxious to get all the family out together, so as not to have any more partings. A great peace settled on my mind when I found that Sir William would use his influence in securing the dispatch of six persons with assisted passages to Adelaide. There was a lot for me to do, as it would at least cost £20 for me to send the land grants to them, and may I add here that I saved that in one year from 10/ a week. After subscribing for the voyagers, it amounted to just the same, as my wages in Glasgow, which were six pounds a year, so I had enough for my needs.

It is hard to explain about the kindness of the people of Sunnyside. The gardener and his wife and family lived on the domain. As he was the very first man I had spoken to of the South Australians, I used to go to him and his wife, and tell them of my hopeful desires. I saw that man the other day in town, and he looked as upright as he did many years ago. And we talked of the long ago days. If it were not for the craving of the lone heart for love and for kindred, there would have seemed nothing but brightness, peace, and plenty at Sunnyside, Glen Osmond. Satisfaction being mutual, the year went by so quickly. If this should fall into the hands of any of this household, concerning which I have such happy reminiscences, I hope they will pardon me if I refer to a few of the incidents that appealed to me.

It was good to see the fruit that grew there of every kind. Some I had never seen before. My chief wonder was at the grapes, and the making of wine. I had read about the wine-press, but I then saw a great number of people gathering in the grapes, and then watched them crushed and the juice put into a large vat. I was not long there before it was known that I had a terror concerning snakes. There were some about, even amongst the vines. The boy from the stable saw a dead one at Sir Thomas Elder's place and dragged it all the way to put in the laundry to give me a fright, but the coachman saw him and took it from him, and brought it to where I was, and told me not to be afraid. It was such a size when he put it down at its full length, and told me if I saw anything like that to get away from it. I was thankful I did not see it unawares. The boy thought it would be fun. A governess came daily on horseback to instruct the youngest child. The eldest son went to college. The young master and some other youths about his age would ask in a gentle way if they could melt some lead to form bullets for their guns. The laundry was not far from the carriage house. While working I could hear them tell of their playful merriment and of the birds' nests, just like the boys in Scotland. It may not be out of place here to add that some of those youths so full of frolic, are men of dignity to-day in this State. The young gentleman used to bring his trifling property and ask if I could let them stop there where he could find them, as the housemaids were always putting his trappings where he could not find them. All had horses who were old enough to ride, and so had the ladies also. If no man were there I would help the ladies to mount if they wanted help, and very pretty they looked.

The eldest daughter married a gentleman who owned a farm, near Port Augusta. It was a gay time. The Parliamentary caterer and his waitresses were there for days, and there was a breakfast in great magnificence for a hundred guests, with a ball in the evening. Such wealth and beauty I never saw before. The wedding service was performed at the Scotch Church in Wakefield-street. How feeble it all looks in written words. Only in some way to show the experience gained in early years, I had taken the letter I brought from Glasgow to Dr. Gardner, on North-terrace, and I often went to Chalmers Church with the friends who were so kind to me on the voyage. One of the gentlemen took a leading part in the singing, and I went with his wife and family. All of those five brothers mentioned went there, and many others who came in what we called "our ship." On more than one occasion the master and mistress took me and left me at the Manse the night before a tea-meeting so that I could help. My work was always done at the end of the week, and I gladly helped the others, answering the door, bell, or otherwise, and amongst ourselves we had merriment in the home-time. One of the housemaids was married, and I got another of my fellow-passengers to come to Sunnyside. I knew by that time that some treaty was in hand to obtain the earliest passage for my people in the first ship that would come with assisted passengers. I began to be busy in preparation to meet my relatives. The time would be coming soon when I would want to go away, and the thought way disagreeable to me. I did leave Sunnyside, but went back years afterwards. One Saturday afternoon I was in attendance, and I was told to bring in the decanter and cake to the library. There were two or three men there looking so weary and dusty. I learned while in the room that one of the men was John Macdouall Stuart, the explorer. I hardly knew then what exploring meant. At any rate those men looked broken down, but the master was so pleased to see them.

I had a letter to say that my people were coming by a ship name the Art Union when there were the number required. I cheered up, for although I had plenty of everything and friends included, when I saw other girls' eyes fairly shine when they talked about home, I hoped to begin life afresh and to forget about the past. I looked forward not the least discouraged. When I thought of what a sea of water divided us, I tried to be practical. I came to this distant land in the hope that they might better their fortunes and that happiness would be ours. But I must soon turn out of the home where I had been sheltered and happy, and where I led a new life in this new land which was still strange to me. Anyone who lived in the full safety of family ties could not understand the dread I had to leave Sunnyside. In all the years past I could yield to the wishes of others, I had so far cared but little for my own preference. Now I must decide for myself what I ought to do.

Time passed on. The young master went for a long visit to his young married sister at Port Augusta. He brought back a good sized kangaroo. He asked if I was at Sunnyside yet, and being told I was he wished the man to take the kangaroo out of the hamper and let him loose in the laundry. It was late, and I did not know anything of this. But the young master was so used to putting his odds and ends in there that he thought I would not mind. I went in the morning and opened the door, and when I did so this kangaroo made one bound for the opening. I had never seen one, even in a picture before. The sudden spring it made for the door and the length of its tail frightened me, and I was insensible with terror. I ran shrieking to the house, and the kangaroo rushed through the vines down the gully. All the bedroom windows were thrown open, and everyone had seen "him." I leave anyone to guess what I thought I had seen. They had some trouble to find the kangaroo, but it was not put in the laundry again.