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！
influence them are not the petty things they seem to be； but rather a part of some great scheme whereof we know neither the beginning nor the end。 The threads of our destinies； in black or in scarlet or in sombre grey； appear and disappear before our mortal eyes； but who can figure out the tapestry that they help to weave？ That picture lies beyond our ken or even our imagining。
The insect sees more than the worm； the snake more than the insect； the dog more than the snake； and the man； erect in his pride； more than all of them。 But how much does the man see of the whole great universe； or even of this little earth？
To the best of my belief I answered my father’s letter； which I think I destroyed upon the spot； very briefly； saying that I had abandoned my idea of ing home。 Apparently this letter was not preserved。 One remains； however； which appears to allude to the subject； and from it I quote some extracts。
Government House；
Pretoria； Transvaal： June 1； 1877。
My dear Father； — I have to acknowledge your two letters dated respectively 27th March and the 4th April。 I do not think that it will be of any good to dwell any more on what is to me； in some ways at least； a rather painful subject 。 。 。 。
I received today my letter of appointment as English Clerk to the Colonial Secretary’s Office with a salary of 250 pounds per annum。 I have not yet got my appointment as Clerk to the Executive Council； which will be worth nominally 100 pounds per annum； but in reality only 50 pounds。 It was to have been gazetted tomorrow with the other； but the Chief thought it better to wait。 However； unless something occurs； I shall get it before long； as soon as there is an Executive to be Clerk to。 The reason that 50 pounds is to be knocked off is that it is not desirable to give offence by making my pay higher than that of any other clerk in the service； and though virtually I shall stand first on the list； it is thought better that I should not be nominally either under or over the one or ty position as “English Clerk” will be a perfectly independent one。 The English work of the office will be in my hands； and as it now far more than equals the Dutch and will increase day by day； of course it is the most important part of the business and will soon swamp the other。
The reason of the delay in my appointment is that there has been a difference of opinion about it between the Chief and Mr。 Osborn； who is to be Colonial Secretary and consequently my Head of Department and； under the Governor； of the whole service。 The Chief wished me to stop on with him as Despatch Clerk with the same salary； and Obsorn wanted me in his office。 In the end they promised it： my appointment is made out as above； and when I am wanted at Government House I am to go there。 On the whole I would rather have it as it is； for the work will be more interesting though harder； and the position； on the whole； better。
So much for the appointment itself； now as regards its future probable or possible results。 。 。 。 It is far better to take service here than in Natal。 In five years Natal will be to this country what Ireland is to England。 To begin with； the Transvaal is more than six times its size。 If the Transvaal at all realises what is expected of it； it will before long； with its natural wealth and splendid climate； be one of the most splendid foreign possessions of the British Crown； and if as is probable gold is discovered in large quantities； it may take a sudden rush forward； and then one will be borne up with it。 So that whatever happens I think that I shall always do pretty well here。 However； my aim is of course to rise to the position of a Colonial Governor； and to do that I must trust to good fortune and my interest。 I may； or I may not； according to circumstances。 At any rate I have now got my foot on the first rung of the Colonial ladder； and D。V。 I intend to climb it。 Whether I have done better than I should have done by first reading for the Bar I do not know： there is much to be said on both sides。 The great thing is that I am now independent and shall； I hope； put you to no more expense or trouble； of both of which I am afraid I have given you too much already。
This brings me to the subject of money。 I am very sorry to see from your letter that I have overdrawn to the amount of 25 pounds。 I must have miscalculated； as I was under the impression that sum made up the 200 pounds。 I believe however that if you think it over you will not consider that I have been very extravagant。 You always calculated that the 200 pounds would last two years； and it is nearly two years since I left England （if I remember right it was this very day two years ago that I decided to e to Natal）。 I have had to draw more lately； owing to the heavy expenses I have had to meet in connection with this Mission。 Horses； arms and servants cannot be had for nothing； and I had to provide myself with all。 If I get any pay for this business that will at all enable me to do so I hope that you will allow me to remit the 25 pounds。 If not I fear I shall have to draw on you once more for 20 pounds in order to meet some debts which I must pay before the month is up in connection with the transhipping of my baggage to Cape Town and back； etc。 I shall be very sorry to put you to that expense； my dear Father； but I trust that it will be the last time I shall ever have to do so。 As to pay for this business； I live in hope。 I rather fear that the Chief may consider that the fact of accepting service under this Government may cancel all past debts； but still I shall have a shot for it。
June 5； 1877。
My dear Father； — I thanked the Chief the other day for the appointment； and he told me that he hoped it would be a good deal better soon； but that he was not sufficiently firm in his seat yet to make big appointments。
I don’t at all know how I am going to live here； and I fear that I shall be obliged to build a house。 Mr。 Osborn gave me a hint the other day that I should be wele to a room in his house when he gets settled。 He has not got a house yet： there are none to get。 The probabilities are that I shall stay in this country for many years； so I shall have to build something sooner or later。 It will be the cheapest way and by far the most fortable。 However I shall try to shift along for the present； live in a tent or something； until I hear about that money。 I hope that it is not saddled with conditions ＇this refers to a legacy of 500 pounds which had been left to me many years before by a godparent。 — H。 R。 H。＇。 The scarcity of money here is something extraordinary。 Till within a month or two； the few who had any lent it on security often three times the value of the sum lent； at the rate of 15 per cent。 per annum。 The Annexation has had a wonderful effect。 An “erf” or building side that would have sold for 40 pounds before is now valued at 130 pounds。
Ever your most affectionate and dutiful son；
H。 Rider Haggard。
To return to public affairs。 Ten days after our arrival at Pretoria from Secocoeni’s country the Transvaal was annexed to the British Crown。 Of the actual history of the events surrounding that annexation I purpose to say little； as I have already written a full and true accoun