FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29  
30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   >>   >|  
with the simple life he was leading, and would have cared but little to increase his wealth. But other considerations weighed upon his mind-- the future of his little family. He could not suffer his children to grow up in the midst of the wild plains without education. No; they must one day return to the abodes of men, to act their part in the drama of social and civilised life. This was his design. But how was this design to be accomplished? Though his so-called act of _treason_ had been pardoned, and he was now free to return within the limits of the colony, he was ill prepared for such a purpose. His poor wasted stock would not suffice to set him up within the settlements. It would scarce keep him a month. To return would be to return a beggar! Reflections of this kind sometimes gave him anxiety. But they also added energy to his disposition, and rendered him more eager to overcome the obstacles before him. During the present year he had been very industrious. In order that his cattle should be provided for in the season of winter he had planted a large quantity of maize and buckwheat, and now the crops of both were in the most prosperous condition. His garden, too, smiled, and promised a profusion of fruits, and melons, and kitchen vegetables. In short, the little homestead where he had fixed himself for a time, was a miniature oasis; and he rejoiced day after day, as his eyes rested upon the ripening aspect around him. Once more he began to dream of prosperity-- once more to hope that his evil fortunes had come to an end. Alas! It was a false hope. A series of trials yet awaited him--a series of misfortunes that deprived him of almost everything he possessed, and completely changed his mode of existence. Perhaps these occurrences could hardly be termed _misfortunes_, since in the end they led to a happy result. But you may judge for yourself, boy reader, after you have heard the "history and adventures" of the "trek-boor" and his family. CHAPTER TWO. THE "KRAAL." The ex-field-cornet was seated in front of his _kraal_--for such is the name of a South African homestead. From his lips protruded a large pipe, with its huge bowl of _meerschaum_. Every boor is a smoker. Notwithstanding the many losses and crosses of his past life, there was contentment in his eye. He was gratified by the prosperous appearance of his crops. The maize was now "in the milk," and the ears, folded
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29  
30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
return
 

series

 

family

 
homestead
 

misfortunes

 
prosperous
 

design

 

deprived

 

completely

 

possessed


changed

 
existence
 

Perhaps

 

awaited

 

occurrences

 

miniature

 

aspect

 

ripening

 

rested

 
prosperity

rejoiced

 

trials

 
termed
 

fortunes

 

CHAPTER

 

meerschaum

 

smoker

 
Notwithstanding
 

protruded

 
losses

appearance

 

folded

 

gratified

 

crosses

 
contentment
 

African

 

reader

 
history
 

adventures

 

result


seated

 
cornet
 

planted

 

Though

 

accomplished

 

called

 

treason

 

social

 

civilised

 

pardoned