Where the white man treads / by W.B., Te Kuiti.

  • Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Baucke
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Where the white man treads / by W.B., Te Kuiti. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    leaf, some halting between pine and promise, and explains (ap- prehensively of male brain lack) that bush comforts sprout from kernels, and are of slow growth, and is withal so limitlessly opti- mistic and recklessly cheery and hopeful—but—! There is a “ but,” of which, later. “ Doll-ie!” “Yes, ma.” “Is the kettle boiling?” “Yes, ma.” Just two rooms content these humble giants—three, if a small space for two children, curtained off with a shawl, deserves the distinction. The walls up to the rafters are lined with palings, and to shut out winter draughts are papered with Weekly News picture sheets, neatly mended along cracks, where the shrinking wood has torn rents. In the centre stands an immovable table, because its legs are four stakes sunk in the earth, and when the rough floor was laid the builder notched the slabs where they met the stakes, and adzed off the ridges to prevent foot-traps. Over the tunnel-mouth of a vast fireplace an uncouth split tree forms a ledge to display a clock, w7hose pendulum, in long and short ticks, complains that the slab has warped and is no longer level. But it diligently tolls its hours regardless of solstices or solar meridians! They don’t use chairs in the wilderness, the floors are too uneven; besides, there is no time to idle except at meals, when the father and mother ati each end sit on a block sawn off a log and rough-hewn into the shape of an hour-glass. The children’s seat is a slab resting on two outriggers hung in wire loops stapled to the table stakes, whence they can be with- drawn out of the way. In each corner a broad, triangular slab has been fitted for a corner shelf, covered with paper, scalloped on its overhanging edge. One enthrones the wedding-gift teapot ; another, the nickel-plated Rochester with crimped pink paper shade, against which two absent friends lean for support. Pioneer life has no use for drawingroom display; the daily hip-grips with stern Nature leave no leisure for vapid trivialities. If she tends to abase high standards, it is because she speaks truths sufficient for the task in hand ; and thrice blest are those whose training has been to the end that they can understand her language. Of such was my hostess; therefore I confided to her that my mission was a closer contact with the brave hearts who, undismayed by herculean labour and privation, lay the best years
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