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（German war ship） in the afternoon； called on my lawyer on my
way out to American Consulate； and talked till dinner time
with Adams； whom I am supplying with introductions and
information for Tahiti and the Marquesas。 Fanny arrived a
wreck； and had to lie down。 The moon rose； one day past
full； and we dined in the verandah； a good dinner on the
whole； talk with Lafarge about art and the lovely dreams of
art students。 Remark by Adams； which took me briskly home to
the Monument … 'I only liked one YOUNG woman … and that was
Mrs。 Procter。' Henry James would like that。 Back by
moonlight in the consulate boat … Fanny being too tired to
walk … to Moors's。 Saturday； I left Fanny to rest； and was
off early to the Mission； where the politics are thrilling
just now。 The native pastors （to every one's surprise） have
moved of themselves in the matter of the native dances；
desiring the restrictions to be removed； or rather to be made
dependent on the character of the dance。 Clarke； who had
feared censure and all kinds of trouble； is； of course；
rejoicing greatly。 A characteristic feature： the argument of
the pastors was handed in in the form of a fictitious
narrative of the voyage of one Mr。 Pye； an English traveller；
and his conversation with a chief； there are touches of
satire in this educational romance。 Mr。 Pye； for instance；
admits that he knows nothing about the Bible。 At the Mission
I was sought out by Henry in a devil of an agitation； he has
been made the victim of a forgery … a crime hitherto unknown
in Samoa。 I had to go to Folau； the chief judge here； in the
matter。 Folau had never heard of the offence； and begged to
know what was the punishment； there may be lively times in
forgery ahead。 It seems the sort of crime to tickle a
Polynesian。 After lunch … you can see what a busy three days
I am describing … we set off to ride home。 My Jack was full
of the devil of corn and too much grass； and no work。 I had
to ride ahead and leave Fanny behind。 He is a most gallant
little rascal is my Jack； and takes the whole way as hard as
the rider pleases。 Single incident： half…way up； I find my
boys upon the road and stop and talk with Henry in his
character of ganger； as long as Jack will suffer me。 Fanny
drones in after； we make a show of eating … or I do … she
goes to bed about half…past six！ I write some verses； read
Irving's WASHINGTON； and follow about half…past eight。 O；
one thing more I did； in a prophetic spirit。 I had made sure
Fanny was not fit to be left alone； and wrote before turning
in a letter to Chalmers； telling him I could not meet him in
Auckland at this time。 By eleven at night； Fanny got me
wakened … she had tried twice in vain … and I found her very
bad。 Thence till three； we laboured with mustard poultices；
laudanum； soda and ginger … Heavens！ wasn't it cold； the land
breeze was as cold as a river； the moon was glorious in the
paddock； and the great boughs and the black shadows of our
trees were inconceivable。 But it was a poor time。
Sunday morning found Fanny； of course； a complete wreck； and
myself not very brilliant。 Paul had to go to Vailele RE
cocoa…nuts； it was doubtful if he could be back by dinner；
never mind； said I； I'll take dinner when you return。 Off
set Paul。 I did an hour's work； and then tackled the house
work。 I did it beautiful： the house was a picture； it
resplended of propriety。 Presently Mr。 Moors' Andrew rode
up； I heard the doctor was at the Forest House and sent a
note to him； and when he came； I heard my wife telling him
she had been in bed all day； and that was why the house was
so dirty！ Was it grateful？ Was it politic？ Was it TRUE？ …
Enough！ In the interval； up marched little L。 S。； one of my
neighbours； all in his Sunday white linens； made a fine
salute； and demanded the key of the kitchen in German and
English。 And he cooked dinner for us； like a little man； and
had it on the table and the coffee ready by the hour。 Paul
had arranged me this surprise。 Some time later； Paul
returned himself with a fresh surprise on hand； he was almost
sober； nothing but a hazy eye distinguished him from Paul of
the week days： VIVAT！
On the evening I cannot dwell。 All the horses got out of the
paddock； went across； and smashed my neighbour's garden into
a big hole。 How little the amateur conceives a farmer's
troubles。 I went out at once with a lantern； staked up a gap
in the hedge； was kicked at by a chestnut mare； who
straightway took to the bush； and came back。 A little after；
they had found another gap； and the crowd were all abroad
again。 What has happened to our own garden nobody yet knows。
Fanny had a fair night； and we are both tolerable this
morning； only the yoke of correspondence lies on me heavy。 I
beg you will let this go on to my mother。 I got such a good
start in your letter； that I kept on at it； and I have
neither time nor energy for more。
Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
SOMETHING NEW。
I was called from my letters by the voice of Mr。 …； who had
just come up with a load of wood； roaring； 'Henry！ Henry！
Bring six boys！' I saw there was something wrong； and ran
out。 The cart； half unloaded； had upset with the mare in the
shafts； she was all cramped together and all tangled up in
harness and cargo； the off shaft pushing her over； Mr。 …
holding her up by main strength； and right along…side of her
… where she must fall if she went down … a deadly stick of a
tree like a lance。 I could not but admire the wisdom and
faith of this great brute； I never saw the riding…horse that
would not have lost its life in such a situation； but the
cart…elephant patiently waited and was saved。 It was a
stirring three minutes； I can tell you。
I forgot in talking of Saturday to tell of one incident which
will particularly interest my mother。 I met Dr。 D。 from
Savaii； and had an age…long talk about Edinburgh folk； it was
very pleasant。 He has been studying in Edinburgh； along with
his son； a pretty relation。 He told me he knew nobody but
college people： 'I was altogether a student；' he said with
glee。 He seems full of cheerfulness and thick…set energy。 I
feel as if I could put him in a novel with effect； and ten to
one； if I know more of him； the image will be only blurred。
TUESDAY； DEC。 2ND。
I should have told you yesterday that all my boys were got up
for their work in moustaches and side…whiskers of some sort
of blacking … I suppose wood…ash。 It was a sight of joy to
see them return at night； axe on shoulder； feigning to march
like soldiers； a choragus with a loud voice singing out；
'March…step！ March…step！' in imperfect recollection of some
drill。
Fanny seems much revived。
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER III
MONDAY； TWENTY…SOMETHINGTH OF DECEMB