Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
The Gilpins and their Fortunes A Story of Early Days in Australia By: William Henry Giles Kingston (1814-1880) |
---|
![]()
The story opens with a couple of school leavers discussing what they
will do with their lives. One of the boys, a Gilpin, whose father is a
hard working farmer, is determined to go along the same route, but in
Australia, as he and his brother have often dreamt of doing. They reach Australia, and an incident on the Quay in Sydney, where they
save a family from destruction in a carriage whose horses have bolted,
makes them valuable friends, leading to an appointment as managers, or
overseers, of a cattle and sheep station somewhere out beyond the Blue
Mountains. The previous manager had let the place get run down, and was
actually rather a crook. Some of the other workers on the station were
as idle and crooked as he. Not surprising as most of them had been sent
to Australia for some offence in England. A few of the men were decent
enough. There is such resentment among the idle men that they prevail
upon some aborigines to attack the buildings and set them on fire, a
plan which is foiled by one of the better workers. Eventually the great Australian bubble bursts (the Australian economy is
always a bit overheated) and the Gilpins are ordered to slaughter the
cattle and sheep. They discover a source of salt on the station, so
they are able to salt down some of the meat, which was otherwise going
to waste. Using the opportunity of buying valuable stock cheaply, they acquire the
station and start the business again. They rescue a drowning man, only
to find he is the other schoolboy in the conversation that starts the
book. We will leave it to you to find out what his adventures had been. It takes about 3.5 hours to read this book. THE GILPINS, A STORY OF EARLY DAYS IN AUSTRALIA, BY WILLIAM H G
KINGSTON.
CHAPTER ONE. Arthur Gilpin and Mark Withers walked down the High Street, arm in arm,
on their return to their respective homes from the well managed school
of Wallington. They were among the head boys, and were on the point of leaving it to
enter on the work of active life, and make their way in the world. They
had often of late discussed the important question all important, as it
seemed to them "How are we to make our way to gain wealth, influence,
our hearts' desires?" "For my part, I cannot stand a plodding style of doing things," said
Mark. "It is all very well for those without brains, but a fellow who
has a grain of sense in his head requires a more rapid way of making a
fortune. Life is too short to be wasted in getting money. I want to
have it to spend while I am young and can enjoy it." Arthur was silent for some time. At length he remarked, "It strikes me,
Mark, that the object of making money is that we may support ourselves
and families, and help those who are in distress. My father often says
to James, and to me, and to the rest of us, `I don't want you, when you
enter business, to be thinking only how you can make money. Do your
duty, and act liberally towards all men, and you will have a sufficiency
at all events, if not wealth.'" "Oh! your father's old fashioned notions won't do in the world, and
certainly won't suit me, that I can tell you," answered Mark, in a
scornful tone. "My father is considered a sensible man. What he preaches he practises;
and though he has a very large family, no one calls him a poor man,"
argued Arthur. "He says that, considering how short life is, it cannot
be wise to spend the time, as many men do, in gathering up riches and
setting so high a value on them. But here comes James! Let us hear
what he has to say on the subject." "Oh! of course, James has got the same notions from your father that you
have, and I am not going to be influenced by him," answered Withers. James, however, was appealed to, and answered, "Even if we were to live
for ever in this world, I should agree with Arthur; for, from all I see
and hear, I am convinced that wealth cannot secure happiness; but as
this world is only a place of preparation for another, it is evident
folly to set one's heart upon what must be so soon parted with... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|