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CHAPTER XL

The was Sunday,--our happy Sabbath for repose and quiet conversation at home After passing the day usual devotions and sober reading, my three elder boys requested my permission to walk towards our farm evening On their return, they informed me it necessary ' labour to our plantations of maize and potatoes I therefore determined to look

Though out early next morning, Fritz and Jack gone , leaving only the ass stables, which I secured little Francis I perceived, also, had dismounted my cart, and carried away the wheels, I concluded had met with some tree in their walk the preceding evening, suitable pipes for their fountains, and had now returned to cut it down, and convey it to Tent House As know where to meet , I proceeded with Francis ass to commence his favourite work I drew my plan ground first distance of twelve feet rock which formed the front house, I marked straight line of fifty feet, which I divided into ten spaces of five feet each colonnade; the two ends were reserved two pavilions my sons wished to build busy in my calculations, and Francis placing stakes places where I wished to dig, cart drove up two good labourers They had, as I expected, found the evening before species of pine, well adapted for their pipes They had cut down four, of fifteen or twenty feet in length, which they had brought wheels cart, drawn four animals They had had some difficulty in transporting them place; greatest still remained--the boring the trunks, and then uniting them firmly I had neither augers nor any tools fit I had, certainly, constructed little fountain at Falcon's Nest; but the stream was near at hand, and was easily conveyed by cane pipes to our tortoise-shell basin Here the distance was considerable, the ground unequal, and, the water pure and cool, underground pipes were necessary of large bamboos, but Fritz pointed out the knots, difficulty of joining the pieces, and begged me to leave it to him, as he had seen fountains made in Switzerland, and had no fears of success mean time, all hands set to work arcade We selected twelve bamboos of equal height and thickness, and fixed them securely earth, at five feet from These formed pretty colonnade, and were work enough day

We took care to divert all inquiries at night, by discussing the subjects which our invalids reading during the day The little library captain was very choice; besides the voyages and travels, which interested them greatly, good collection of historians, and best poets, Ernest had no little taste However, he requested earnestly that party , and Francis, good-naturedly, offered to stay with mamma, expecting, , Ernest's congratulations forward state Franciade The next morning Ernest and I set out, his brothers having preceded us Poor Ernest regretted, went, that he had no share happy schemes mother I reminded him, however, dutiful care of her during her sickness, and all his endeavours to amuse her "And, besides," added I, "did you not make her straw bonnet ? "

"Yes," said he, "and I now remember what frightful shape try better, and will go to-morrow morning my straw "

approached Tent House, we heard most singular noise, echoing at intervals amongst the rocks We soon discovered the cause; in hollow rocks very hot fire, which Jack was blowing through cane, whilst Fritz was turning amidst the embers bar of iron When red hot, they laid it on an anvil I had brought ship, and struck it alternately with hammers to bring it to point

"Well done, my young smiths," said I; "we ought all things, and keep good expect to succeed in making your auger ? I suppose what "

"Yes, father," said Fritz; " succeed well enough only had good pair of bellows; already got tolerable point "

Now Fritz believe anything was impossible He had killed kangaroo the evening before, and skinned it The flesh made us dinner; skin he determined pair of bellows He nailed it, hair out, not having time to tan it, to two flat pieces of wood, with holes ; he added reed pipe; he then fixed it of long cord and post, side fire, and Jack, hand or his foot, blew the fire, so iron was speedily red hot, and quite malleable I then showed them how to twist the iron into screw,--rather clumsy, but which would answer the purpose tolerably well At one end they formed ring, we placed piece of wood transversely, to enable them the screw We then made trial of it We placed tree on two props, and Fritz and I managed the auger , that we had our tree pierced through in very little time, working first at one end and then other Jack, mean time, collected the shavings , which he deposited kitchen mother's use, to kindle the fire Ernest, meanwhile, was walking about, making observations, and giving his advice brothers architecture pavilions, till, seeing they were going to bore another tree, he retired garden the embankment He returned delighted improvements, and much disposed some employment to assist in boring the tree, but all work at it I undertook this labour myself, and sent him to blow the bellows, while his brothers laboured forge, the work not being too hard lame hand My young smiths were engaged in flattening the iron joints to unite their pipes; they succeeded , and then began to dig the ground to lay them Ernest, knowing something of geometry and land-surveying, was able them some useful hints, which enabled them to complete their work successfully Leaving them to , I employed myself in covering in my long colonnade After I had placed on my columns plank cut in arches, which united them, and was firmly nailed , I extended bamboos, placed sloping against the rock, and secured by cramps of iron, the work young smiths When my bamboo roof was solidly fixed, the canes as close as possible, I filled the interstices with clay near the river, and poured gum over it; I had thus an impervious and brilliant roof, which appeared varnished, and striped green and brown I then raised the floor foot, no damp, and paved it square stones I had preserved when we cut the rock It understood that all the work of many days assisted by Jack and Fritz, and by Ernest and Francis alternately, one always remaining mother, who was still unable to walk Ernest employed his time, when at home, in making the straw bonnet, without either borrowing his brother's head for model, or letting any know what doing Nevertheless, he assisted his brothers with their pavilions by his really valuable knowledge They formed them very elegantly,--something like Chinese pagoda They were exactly square, supported on four columns, and rather higher gallery The roofs terminated in point, and resembled _a large parasol The fountains were middle; the basins, breast-high, were formed shells of two turtles reservoir, which were mercilessly sacrificed , and furnished our table abundantly for some days They succeeded the cassowary, which had supplied us very seasonably: its flesh tasted like beef, and made excellent soup