ANOTHER ACCIDENT.

115

current, the boat became unmanageable. The oars were of no use, and she drifted helplessly along. The stream ran with great force against the rocky bank of a small island, and this Tom and Lucy knew well, as they had frequently landed upon it, and pretended to be children cast away upon a desert island. They had planted a little garden, and built a sort of hut on the bank, in which they pretended to live.

Lucy saw Tom's face grow very white as the boat flew on, but said nothing, in case of alarming the others, who thought it was great fun going so quick. Suddenly, with a terrible crash, the boat ran full upon the rock, and they were all thrown into the bottom, screaming and kicking. Tom sprang on shore and held the boat, while Lucy got them out. Luckily, the force with which the stream had been driving the boat had run her far up, so that she was not much damaged, though Tom felt the tears start as he saw his nice little oars had tumbled out and were floating away.

Just then, a shout from the bank drew away his attention, and there he saw the whole party standing. They had gone to the boat-house, to get across the river, and, finding it vacant, Captain Graham grew alarmed, lest Tom should really meet with an accident: in fact, the very one that had befallen them.

After shouting out to know what they were doing on the island, and receiving for answer a short account of the wreck, Tom offered to come across by paddling with a branch, which he eventually did. Then his Papa and one. of the gentlemen got in, and paddling back, brought the children over. The next thing was to make an attempt

to recover the oars, which, much to Tom's joy, was at length successful, and a nail or two having repaired the injury sustained by the boat, some of the party amused themselves by fishing, until dinner-time; while others, having crossed the river, went off to the forest to shoot pigeons and gather flowers and fruit.

At four o'clock, every one assembled at the house, and proceeded to the dining-room, the table of which might be said to groan under the abundance of good things prepared by Bridget, whose great triumph, the goose-pie, stood like a mountain in the middle, an enormous turkey at one end, and the good old English roast-beef at the other.

Several of the guests who, having been longer residents in the country than the Grahams, had good gardens, had brought fruit of different kinds; and the first things the delighted eyes of the children fell upon were the pyramids of beautiful strawberries; another lady had brought a bowl of gooseberry fool, another a basket of apples and peaches, while another brought a large pailful of the thickest and richest cream you can possibly imagine-by no means an unacceptable addition to the feast, and one which gained Bridget's admiration; the want of "crame" having been a great grievance-one which had almost caused a rebellion in the kitchen, as Bridget tried all sorts of stratagems to save the milk and cream; the men declaring that she went to the blue cow (meaning the pump) for it, while Mrs, Graham found Aps crying for more milk one day, and discovered his allowance, too, cut short; so she told Bridget that the party must do without cream.

Great, therefore, was her delight, when she saw the

cream, and was relieved in her mind on the score of the feast being perfect.

The pie cut up beautifully, and was pronounced excellent; the mince pies, plum puddings, and jelly were equally good, in fact, nothing was wrong-nothing bad; and, to judge by the mirth that made its way from the kitchen, the good cheer found equal approval there. Bridget was called into the dining-room to hear her health drank, and very much alarmed by Tom, who volunteered to go for her, telling her she would have to make a speech and return thanks. Bridget knew of only one kind of returning thanks, so, when the ladies and gentlemen had all said "Good health, Bridget, and thanks for your beautiful dinner!" Bridget, who was very red and uncomfortable, took the glass of wine her master held out, and then, looking round, she began

But Tom, who was at her elbow, whispered, “No, no, Biddy; say you cannot express your feelings."

"Get out wid ye, Master Tom; ye've spilt me intirely. Didn't ye tell me to return thanks?"

Here Bridget's explanations were drowned by roars of laughter, in the midst of which she escaped to the kitchen.

We shall not linger any longer over the accounts of the Christmas party, which went off as well as could possibly be expected, and remained as a bright spot in the memory of all those present.

CHAPTER XVII.

A Visit to Auckland-Another Journey-Races at Wellington— Taranakie-Cattle Show in Auckland.

THE ground round the house had begun to assume quite a cultivated appearance. There were three small fields neatly railed in, one sown with corn, another planted with potatoes, while a couple of cows and some sheep walked about in the third. Captain Graham had made an arrangement with two of his guests, to meet at Christchurch, and from thence proceed to Auckland, in order to be present at a cattle-show and market which would take place during the following month.

Tom was to accompany him, both he and Mrs. Graham feeling anxious, if possible, to break him from the desire of going to sea, and thinking that, if he saw different parts of the country, and became interested in farming, he might consent to stay with them.

The journey would occupy several weeks; but everything was so home-like and comfortable round the farm, besides the arrival of a new settler within about five miles, that Mrs. Graham readily consented to her husband's journey, particularly as it was to forward their future comfort and prosperity.

ANOTHER JOURNEY.

119

The journey to Christchurch, and thence to Lyttelton, has been already described. Tom saw the agent again, and received such a kind welcome, that his father, laughingly, told him, he thought he would be adopting him next, little thinking how soon the old gentleman was going to do so.

Leaving Lyttelton by the mail steamer, which called at Picton, Wellington, and Taranakie on its way, they were soon upon the broad bosom of the deep, and speeding along under sail and steam.

Picton stands upon a fine open harbour, but, being just newly established, did not look very flourishing, and Tom felt no regret when the mails were brought on board, and they steamed out again without landing.

Two passengers joined them, however, namely, two of the large proprietors on the Wairau plains, and with them six very large sheep they were taking up to show at Auckland. Although Tom had seen lots of beautiful sheep in England, on the Downs, he could not help expressing his astonishment when he saw these; their long soft wool was as white as snow, and felt as soft as silk, while, in point of size, they quite doubled any he had seen before.

The entrance to Wellington harbour was made upon the third day, early in the morning. This was the first settlement founded by the company, to whose exertions, I told you, we owed the colonization of this part of the islands. The first building was erected in 1840; and, if you could see the beautiful houses, wide streets, and gay shops, you could scarcely believe it possible that a few years would make such a difference. The population amounts, at this