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but too late - she died before Mrs. John could get out so none of her sisters were with her. Heart disease or a form of it she died of - aneurism - I thought so. The poor baby left without a mother & that little girl scarcely 2yrs old. She was over 42 - & had been married 5 years before she had any children - too old - He was 10 years!!! younger than she. Mrs G. said at tea that Mr. Ellison, Mr Boreham, Wilde, Arthur Wiles & Dave were coming by train so M. Jim T. & I went over to meet the truck. Had bit of fun going over - am afraid we were very giddy. Only Mr. E & B came - [some illegible words above] the others came by buggy. We had singing afterwards. D. & I sang our duets together. It was like old times. 17th Thursday. Slept with M. last night. Arthur W. & Alf W. had my room - Dull day & warm. I feel more like myself this week than I've done for a long time. D. is more like himself to me again. Am glad of it. I had a holiday on the strength of the funeral. M. & I & the 2 boys went not out. I went up to the school & got things ready for tomorrow .. Wrote to Ma. 18th. Saturday. Lessons & school this morning - to Els & Kate - the others did not come. Wrote to Sharon this afternoon - the boys - M. Jean S. I. Kate & Els. & Mr. Martin drove .. It was a lovely drive - cool & cloudy. When we got there found them much upset over Mrs. Tom - she had had the doctor & had a relapse - saw the baby - a nice pretty child. Stayed & had tea - had some fun too - think we livened them up - those boys were outrageous going & coming - 19th. Sunday. Miserably cold & wet all day - never ceased raining - never felt colder in my life - read by the fire all morning - some in afternoon & talked to Jim the rest of the time. We sang lots after tea. 20th. Monday. Cleared today & cold .. Mr. G. away in town so we played cards. 21st. Tuesday. Busy day. This day 12 months I arrived in Rockn. We tried to amuse ourselves in the drawing room tonight but failed. J. is very much out because he hasn't a letter from his home. he's such a spoilt boy I think. 22nd. Wednesday. They drove over to Walker's this afternoon - We had some fun tonight composing poetry &c. A year today since Jubilee. Wrote to Ma making arrangements for next week at the coast - told her to ask Alf & Mabel to come with us. 23rd. Thursday. Felt horrid all day - have hardly any things to "fumer" - do wish I'd got some. The boys went to town this afternoon with Mr. G. They or Lorne T. I suppose stuck a pineapple stalk in my bed - K. found it - cruel thing - it might have scratched me to bits. We just got their pyjamas & sewed them up .. stuck stalks in L's. Wrote to Jim T. 24th. Friday. Miserable night & day. Don't know how I got through it. Sent by Tom through telephone to Davidson for some c.-o - but he sent me a bottle of medicine - shall have to put up with it somehow till tomorrow. 25th. Saturday. Got my things together somehow & finished up this morning. That medicine must have done me good. I was properly sick last night & brought up something which made me feel so much better I slept pretty well. It must have been a gathering of phlegm down at my stomach somewhere & the stuff broke it up. Have been spitting up all day too. Got down home all right - Kate & Jim came down too. Found Ma at station She waited for Sarah. I went down town & refreshed myself at Peats. Got another skirt (lustrey & pair gloves) Got home to dinner & found S. there.

26th. Sunday. Church this morning. Mr. G. preached. Rested all afternoon & stayed in at night. Cold. Feel better yet. Glad to get rest. 27th. Monday. Got things together early. Matthewson came for us about 1/2-12. We seemed to have a dose to take but he managed somehow. We got down all serene ~ Got settled & all before tea. It is a nice large house - about 8 rooms. It's lovely to be at the sea again. Alf & Mabel have come too. 28th. Tuesday. Feel better but made up my mind to have a bran poultice so went to bed this afternoon & had a good old stewing. Hope it'll do me good. It's lovely to be able to rest & enjoy ones-self in peace even with a poultice. Sarah is enjoying herself. She & Alf have been out fishing & roaming everywhere. 29th. Wednesday. Got up about 11 - don't feel much improved - must have got a fresh cold but the thing can't have done me harm - if no good. Raining hot this morning. The sea made such a noise last night we couldn't sleep. It was a bit stormy this morning. We got out for a walk & blow this afternoon. 30th. Thursday. Cleared today & cold. Got heaps of oysters this morning. lovely one. Had a paddle in the sea - Sarah & Alf went in - yesterday. It was too cold for me to go right in. As it was it was cold. Meet Reddans ~ they were down. Tis lovely here & just like home. Reading "Lochinvar" by Crocket. It's very nice 1st. July Friday. Were going for picnic to Heads to-day. Just as we got things ready who should appear but the family in Mehan's cab. Ivy. S. Alf & I had a walk over to the Lighthouse & stayed for a while. They all went home at 4 - Cold wind blowing all day. Willie Y. appeared on the scene too this afternoon & stayed for tea. Thought he might find us out. Alf went home with them. Mabel stays till tomorrow & goes back with Sarah who is going to Brisbane by mid-day train. We shall be all to our two little selves then. 2nd. Saturday. Cold this morning. S. & M. went off. Ma & I got oysters - lots - for a couple of hours - our last for a long time. They are real goods[sic] ones. We had a nice quiet time to ourselves this afternoon. Had walk on beach later saw the moonlight coming over the sea - the tide was full - very high. It was pretty. 3rd. Sunday. Had a little picnic all to ourselves to day. Went over to Heads about 11. Stayed till 4. had nice read & lovely time. Came home - had tea - went out again on the beach - watched the moonlit sea. It's a picture - the sea seemed full of glittering living things. I was sorry to go to bed it was so pretty - a perfect moonlit sea - Nice lovely day. Shall miss our quiet times & coffee at night. This is a real comfortable place too - & warm. 4th. Monday. Got things ready this morning & had time for stroll on the beach & poetized a bit ~ the air was lovely & fresh. Am real sorry to leave - would like another week & it's starting to do the good now. Mr. M. drove us in at 1/2-9 & we got into town at 20 past 11. Got things together there & had just time to get down town & get things ready for Bingera. Got here at 4. Didn't seem to have much time to say what I wanted to the little mother & Wilde's were at the Station & we couldn't say Good bye properly. I can't realize yet that I wont see the little mother for 4 months & more perhaps. I might have done so much more for her & been more kind & loving in every way. Feel very homesick. 5th. Tuesday. Raining all day & cold. They went to town this morning so I wrote to Ma & sent her one or two things I'd ought have given her. Feel dreadfully homesick - just like I did once before. Missed the sound of the sea last night - it seemed so quiet - missed the dear little mother too - how could I ever have loved anyone before her - but now I never shall again - she shall always have the first place. Miseably cold to-day. Won'l stay here another winter. Annie & May are going to learn French from Mr. Noynes. They want Katie to learn too but I tell them it's all waste of

time & money now - time enough in six of 12 months. Better to get on with their English - What nonsense. I wouldn't teach them now for any thing 6th. Wednesday. Not much happier today. Don't care how soon this year flies or this winter goes. Wrote to Ma. Gave her all sorts of instructions about Friday nights travelling. Real cold today. Letters from Edie & Miss Brassington (at last) got them on Monday ~ sent down from last week. 7th. Thursday. Very cold. Hateful. Letter from H. He wants to see me before the end of the year to "settle up" again. He's[underlined] faithful anyway. 8th. Friday. Another cold day. Got word tonight that Ma wasn't going for another week - too cold. That's not it. She's sick I know. Will go down tomorrow & see. It seems Mr. G. expects to go back tomorrow - is preaching in town so if he does that'll just do me. He's going in in the morning. Will is with him. Music lessons will have to go. Little Mother first. Have felt funny these 2 days but took my medicine & felt better. it does me good 9th. Saturday. Went down by the buggy this morning. Got in & home by 10.30. As I thought little mother was sick - in bed since Thursday. She got a chill through being careless - just like her - Went down to Marsh's to see if Mr. G. was coming in tomorrow - he is - good - was going to ask to stay till Monday otherwise. Had nice time we two - Good to be with her again - didn't think so - He has given me another chance of making up to her 10th. Sunday. Nice quiet time this morning - what I ought have - Sent & asked Mr. G. by Alf where I was to meet him - at Ferry - 3 o'clock - So tore myself away. May the good Lord bring her back safe & well to me again for His name's sake. She mustn't leave me again - never - I'm not worthy of such a mother. The buggy overtook me at the church & we reached home here a little after 5. It was cold & I have a sore throat. She leaves on Tuesday most likely if all right by the good's train then will wait in Gladstone for a day. It's the best way. Glad she has Grace to look after her - she's real good. 11th. Monday. My thanksgiving Day - ought to be - I ought ever rememeber the power of prayer when this day comes round expecially. They're married 2 years to day. Feel more satisfied now I know she's going to-morrow. Driving home yesterday didn't agree with my sore throat. Can scarcely speak. Party tonight here of cousins - they (the young ones) are going to a dance at Curtis tomorrow night so want to practise. I was dying to go to bed but had to stay up & play their music: 12th. Tuesday. Worse today. Had to speak just in a whisper all day - it was not sore but felt funny & hurt me to speak. Telephone message from Ma to say that she was well but they thought she ought to wait till next week. I wrote tonight straight saying I wanted her not to wait about Bundaberg too long whilst that influenza is there - if she hadn't got it already she would get it & not be able to go at all. Told her to go straight up some night. Capt Watson's daughter (a girl of 20 that Sarah was telling us about as being such a fine girl) died yesterday from a relapse after influenza - of pneumonia - made me feel anxious about Ma. 13th. Wednesday. Better today but horrid tickling in my throat - no tightness - that's funny - Men have started W's house - it will be a fair size. 14th. Thursday. Wrote to Bob after hours this evening. It's been very warm all day - like this I could enjoy the cold - It's 2 weeks since I got his letter. Got message from Ma saying she would start tomorrow-night she thought - if I was well. Glad if she would. 15th. Friday. Busy day. Gave the two boys their lessons after tea - as they go to town tomorrow. Crabtree sent me a special note of his own saying that Mr. Marsh had been to see Ma & she was to start that night & would telegraph to Mr. M.

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