Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/181

172 young man’s story, in telling which he omitted to state that although living sparingly, grudging himself every pleasure in endeavouring to gain his object, he never turned a deaf ear to those in need of charity. Several instances came under my notice, when he was asked to subscribe to this charity or that, and in the most unostentatious manner put his name down for £1, £2, or £5 as the case might be, at the same time tendering his cheque for the amount.

It may give some amusement to my readers to give a real genuine love-letter which passed from a would-be Benedict to a smiling Hebe. The first, an active man of about 4 ft. 9 in. or 10 in., weighing about 7 st.; to the second, who was a gay buxom lass of 5 ft. 8 in., and stout in proportion, weighing at least 12st. The damsel did not wish to treat the offer lightly, but showed the epistle to her employer, who laughed at it. The original is now in my possession, and reads as follows:—

“West Coast,

"Hokitika they::2

"of June:: 1870:: 1

"Miss Julie i now take up my pan to write you a intaresting letter and i hope this intaresting letter will find you Dearest Julie in good Health thanks be to they Lord for His goodness Miss Julie i must give you to understand stand that i Have been informed that you Are a single young women And also you are willing to take a Husband in Marrige Miss Julie i Must give you to understand that i am a single young man and i also must give you to understand that i intand For to settle Down up on a peace of land nere Hokitika and get Married so that Deares Julie i want you to let me know if you will concant to be My bride and get married to Me Miss Julie and as I must give you to understand that i am going to they H—otel to get ansor From Mr. Hungerford about His ground and House and i also must give you to understand Miss Julie that if Mr. Hungerford will not concant to Agre to sell me His 20 Acres of Land and House Four Miles from Hokitika up on they same purchasing terms and condishuns as i must give you to know Miss Julie From Me that there is a gantle Man in Hokitike has offered to sell the 20 to 20 Five Acres of land Four miles from Hokitika up on they same purchasing terms and condishions that i can not let you know any more about they land until i sea Mr. Hungerford so Miss Julie i must give you to understand that you will navar get a better match than george Ross Holmes For to joyn in Matter mony with As i must give you to know that i am sober steady young man i must give you Miss Julie to know Miss Julie allso that i am a Native of ireland and allso a Roman Catholic and i must also give you to know Miss Julie that i am from the country lim Rick in ireland Miss Julie i thus give you to know i can turn my hand to any kind of work as i am Jack