按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Perhaps you will hardly have been surprised at my letter to my father telling him that we are seriously debating clearing out of this part of the world。 I am sorry to say that every day that has elapsed since I wrote has only strengthened my conviction that henceforth we can look for no peace or security in South Africa。
I fear our property will suffer from this business。 A little while since we could have easily got 3000 pounds for the farm。 I don’t know if we shall be able to do so now。 。 。 。 I cannot tell you how sorry I shall be if we have to leave this place； as I repeat I think is probable。 After a two years’ struggle we were just beginning to do well； and had there been no war I think this would have developed into a very thriving concern。 Latterly we have been clearing at the rate of over 2000 pounds a year 。 。 。 。
In a letter to my mother； dated May 4； 1881； my wife says：
The High missioner； to whom we have let the house； is also expected； so I fear Jack will arrive to find us in rather a muddle。 We shall have to live in a kind of picnic fashion； I expect for about a fortnight； as our house…room will consist of a bedroom and two tents！ — one of which we shall convert into a kitchen and the other into a room for Jack。 Mr。 Cochrane and George Blomefield ＇a ward of my father’s who had bee our farming partner。 — H。 R。 H。＇ are going over to the mill； where they will have to get on as best they can。 Happily the rains seem to have e to an end for this season and we are now having bright sunny weather； just the right sort for camping out。
After talking of our losses from the horse…sickness； she adds：
The mill is now finished and ready to start。 They made the first trial of it the other day； with rather disastrous results to poor George Blomefield。 He went up a ladder and meddled with one of the safety…valves （the mill not going quite right）； whereupon a tremendous noise was heard and a rush of steam and water came out。 All the lookers…on fled for their lives thinking something fearful had happened； and Mr。 B。 in his hurry slipped his foot and came down with a crash upon his head； happily however without hurting himself at all。 I am sure one of them will get blown up in the end； and am only glad Rider’s talents do not lie in the machinery line。 。 。 。 I think myself that if we can get a good price for the farm and mill it will be wisest to leave this country and try some more peaceful colony； and I find that a good many of the Transvaal landowners are already on the move。
I still possess the agreement； dated April 6； 1881； under which I let Hilldrop “for a residence for H。E。 Sir Hercules Robinson and staff and for the use and service of the Royal mission about to assemble under H。E。‘s presidency” for a period of two weeks certain with an “option of renewal for a further period to plete the term of one month；” reserving only our own bedroom for my wife’s use。 No doubt as thrifty people the offer of 50 pounds a week rent tempted us； also the domestic event which has been alluded to was not expected to occur until later。 In this； however； we were mistaken； as the next letter shows。
If I remember rightly the mission occupied the house for about five weeks； during which time we all got on very well together； and of course I heard much of what was going on。 It was a strange fate which decreed that the Retrocession of the Transvaal； over which I had myself hoisted the British flag； should be practically acplished beneath my roof。
On May 24； 1881； I write to my father：
I hope by now you will have received the telegram I despatched yesterday telling you of the safe birth of a son 。 。 。 a full three weeks before the child was expected to arrive。
I am now most thankful to be able to tell you that both dear Louie and her son were doing as well as possible； indeed Louie looks little if any the worse 。 。 。 。
Jack got here all right acpanied by Spice （who signalised her arrival by fighting the household cat at the top of a tree） about a week ago。 He is very flourishing； but I fear there is no chance of his getting employment in Natal owing to the flood of Transvaal officials who have to be provided for somehow。 His account of Vancouver Island is such as to make us abandon our idea of forming a pany and going there； so I suppose we must stay on here and then e home。 The Royal mission are still in the house。 I have dined with Sir Hercules once or twice； he is a very pleasant old gentleman。 We don’t at all know what is going to happen here。 If it is war I only hope it will not be until Louie is well enough to travel down country。 I don’t want to stop here through another war。 。 。 。 The farm is going fairly。 All our oxen that are in Government service have knocked up from work； so we have to spend about 300 pounds in fresh ones； which is a great pull。 However it will give us a fine head of draught cattle next year。
About this time I received the following from Sir Bartle Frere：
Athenaeum Club； Pall Mall：
July 20； 1881。
My dear Haggard； — I am very much obliged to you for your most valuable and interesting letter of June 6th； which contains one of the best accounts I have read of the present miserable state of affairs in the Transvaal。 I have done my best to make the truth known publicly and privately and have not yet given up hopes that the terrible evils of England forsaking her children may be averted。 But how I hardly see。 At present Mr。 Gladstone is practically supreme in such matters； and his one idea seems to be to reverse all that has been done hitherto by his predecessors。 I shall be very glad if you can find time to let me hear from you from time to time； giving your own observations and opinions exactly as you do in your letter of June 6th。
There is a very strong and growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the way in which Transvaal affairs have been mismanaged by the present Government； and the expression of this dissatisfaction would probably have been far stronger had not the Irish Land Bill so entirely absorbed public attention and the whole time of Parliament。 Let me hear also about yourself； what you are doing and how you are prospering； and
Believe me；
Sincerely yours；
H。 B。 E。 Frere。
The next letter in order of date that I find is one from Sir Theophilus Shepstone； headed Pietermaritzburg； June 16； 1881。
My dear Haggard； — One of the little Schwikkard girls wrote me the news of the advent of your son and heir the morning of his birth and told me of the well…being of both mother and child； so that she prevented any anxiety as far as we are concerned with regard to this important event。 I congratulate you most heartily and wish every prosperity to all concerned in this little life； including the little life itself。 Fortunately everything that is born in a stable is not a horse； or your boy would be either a Boer or a Royal missioner； the latter he may bee； but the former never。 I suppose you will call him “Joubert” or “Jorissen；” but “Bok” would make a shorter signature； for shortness I think that I should prefer “Juhan” ＇a great Zulu chieftain。 — H。 R。 H。＇； and for respectability “Cetewayo。” ＇Of course all this was Shepstone’s playful satire。 — H。 R。 H。＇
I quite agree with you about