It was a glorious sight on February 14 when we came on deck to see the land of the south. There was such intense excitement, and the scene is beyond my description. Dr. Duncan and some other officials came on board soon after we reached the anchorage. They had puggarees on their hats and hanging down their backs. That was the only foreign sign in the clothing. It was a hot day. I, for one, quite expected to find that the people dressed differently, and that the houses were on some other plan from those at home, considering the long distance from Scotland. After the officials had convinced themselves that everything was satisfactory the gangway was let down for the people from the shore, who came in numbers to welcome the friends whom they had not seen for so long. Amongst the very first was the head-gardener from Sir William Milne\'s, at Glen Osmond. The gardener came to meet his sister and her husband with their family. He had instructions to employ a young girl to do laundry work at Sunnyside, Glen Osmond, and he pointed out the place from the side of the ship under the hills. It looked so nice, and he told me they were a Scotch family. I knew that I was strong, and that I could do laundry work nicely. He tried amongst the older girls, but came back to me, and I agreed to go to Sunnyside when we got to the shore. The captain, the doctor, and the matron were pleased, as there was a home found for me before I left the ship, and such a dear home it proved to be.

The married people and the single men went off first, with such of the young women as had friends to receive them. The next day we were brought to Adelaide, where a few of the single girls had gone. We were all on deck next morning in good time. There was no railway from Port Adelaide to the Semaphore then, so everything was left in its place. All were making preparations to leave, with hearts full of gratitude to the captain. While he was sitting looking through his telescope, not thinking of what was going on behind his back, one of the girls slipped up quietly and cut off the tails from his old blue serge frock coat. She then cut it into little bits and gave it to us to remind us of that grand man. The look on his face when he saw what was done was good to see. The young woman who did the cutting became a captain\'s wife two years after we arrived, and she and I were friends all the time to her death, which occurred a short time ago. The doctor was very kind to us all, but not with the hearty interest that touched the captain for the forlorn condition of some of us. We saw four large omnibuses on the beach, and in a tempest of sobs we were brought ashore. The doctor had been to town in the morning. He and the captain came to see that we were all[Pg 53] in the buses safely. We all came to Adelaide that way and got into King William-street, some inside, and some outside.

I had no hat to wear, and the matron, who was with us, promised to get one for me that day. The air of cheerfulness amongst these girls was splendid, and some of them were singing on the way. We were taken to the home for servants, which stands yet. It was a little way from the railway-station in King William-street. When I pass it now the past all comes back to me just as it was as I was getting out of the omnibus. I could not go back from the thought of what my life and work would be. A new gladness came to me, for Adelaide seemed a wonderful place. We admired the brightness of the sky and the splendor of what we saw coming along, as well as the grape vines about the houses. We had plenty of fruit of all sorts sent to us on the Morning Star, with many grapes. I had never before seen a grape-vine growing. The very earth seemed new. We were kindly spoken to at this home, and everything was done for our comfort. A committee of ladies were appointed; one, I remember, who was so nice was Mrs. Henry Gawler. She was so sympathetic. I told her where I was going, and she knew the lady. Mrs. Gawler took a fancy to me, and for years afterwards I used to go to her if I was in any difficulty.

It was on a Thursday afternoon that we arrived, and on the Saturday after tea the coachman was sent to take me to Sunnyside in a spring-cart. I was shown into the mistress\' room, and the first words she said were, "Dear me, you are young!" It was the same complaint as I had heard in Scotland, and I wondered if I would ever get older. I showed the lady the letters and papers I had to give in proof that I could do what was likely to be required of me willingly. They were a large family, some were grown up, but there was a baby in arms. There were other servants. One I found in the kitchen had only been in the colony a month, but a housemaid who showed me to my room had been in South Australia all her life. She brought me some grapes, and was so anxious for my comfort. I am quite sure that thankfulness for the kindness of them all touched me with a sense of security.

I was early astir in the morning. What a scene was spread out to view. As far all round as I could see there was nothing but grapes and fruit trees. I was told that two-and-two the girls went out on Sundays, and if I liked I could go to town with the cook, and that I should stay home the next Sunday with the cook. I knew where to find some of my shipmates if I could get into town. So it was settled that I should go that morning, because the other girl knew all about Adelaide. There were no tramcars then. There were two carriage-drives to the house at Sunnyside. One led to Glen Osmond and the other towards town. We got on a road and kept the town in view till we got there. I[Pg 54] found my way to Wakefield-street just in time to see some of my friends getting ready to go to the Port and get on the Morning Star, which was not going away for some time. They asked me if I would like to go with them, and, having been so much with this lady and her children, I was pleased to go. I showed my fellow-servant where and when to come for me, so that we might go home together, and I went gladly once again on board the ship. They had got into Port Adelaide and everything looked so different. Most of the sailors had deserted, which was no unusual thing in those times. When the captain saw me he said he thought I had told him that I had a place to go to. I replied that it was my Sunday off. He could not understand, and the lady I was with tried to explain to him, but he merely laughed, and his face was a study.

Such a lot of the people who came out with him went to see him again. The ship did not leave the Port till March 17. I never saw the captain again, but I liked to hear about his safety and that of the ship, as well as that of my shipmates, with whom I felt most at home. There were five brothers, three had wives and families. One was a widower and one a youth. They had a young Highlander always with them who wore the kilts, and when we got back from the Port the young man in kilts was there.

I waited and waited, but the young girl from Sunnyside did not come at the promised time. I was distressed, not knowing my way to the Glen. We were all strangers. I went to the servants\' home, and I met one of the young girls, and she said she would go with me to enquire the way to Sunnyside. We returned to tell my friends, and the young Highlander with one of the brothers said that they would see that I got safely home. So we all started off, and they made enquiries for the road to Glen Osmond. The young girl came as well. It must have been the first time for a man to have kilts on in the colony, for everyone stared so fixedly at him. I had been so used to see men dressed thus that I could not understand what the people were so rude for. We kept along till we got to the Vine Inn. They asked there for the house, and we had to pass into quite a plantation of trees, which did not look anything like what I saw when going to Sunnyside the previous night. It was bright moonlight, but never a body did we see. I caught sight of the house when we got to the top of a rise. Oh, the joy of the discovery!

At one entrance was the coachman\'s house and at the other the house for the gardener. The coachman\'s house was overgrown with a lovely creeper, and the Highlander, wanting to know if this was the right place, tried to get to the door. We could see the light. He was tall. There was a woman sitting inside with a baby on her knee. She saw only the kilts as the Highlander had to stoop down to get in. She ran and screamed. It was the coachman\'s wife, and she had never seen anyone in kilts before.[Pg 55] She made such a scene, and brought her husband out of bed. The gardener told me afterwards that his first thought was to lay hold of his gun; but when he saw me the matter was soon explained. I saw the mistress when I went in and told her that Lizzie, the cook, did not call for me, and how I got home. It appeared that Lizzie had a lover, and they thought that two was company and that three was none.

Just a word about the dear friends that brought me home. There being no bright gaslight to show the road distinctly they got out of their way, and travelled on till they came to Glenelg, and did not reach home till near morning. There was a committee meeting about it and such a lot of talk, for the young girl was staying at the home in King William-street. But when they went into the details there was nothing to say, except that we were "new chums." Such were the events of my first Sunday in South Australia, which appear vividly among the strange happenings of the past and the planning for the future.

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[Pg 56] 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 t............