CHAPTER NINETEEN
On the 1st June 1884 Louisa received her first Publican’s Licence for the
Sugarloaf Inn, Gunnedah.12 She was now officially the head of this
establishment, legally in her own name. She was delighted.
The years flowed into each other. The Inn continued to prosper and the children continued to grow.
Then one dusty hot summers day in February 1886 a tall blond sunburnt man entered the bar.
“What can I get you Sir,” asked Louisa, observing his handsome face. “An ale, Madam, please.”
“You look like you could do with a drink, where is your journey taking you?”
“I am heading to Queensland looking for work. I disembarked from my ship in Sydney last year from Sweden, but I have decided that the seafaring life is no longer for me.”
Louisa caught her breath, Sweden, the place where Alfred had been born. She sat down and soon found herself very comfortable with this young man. She learnt so many things that day, he was nearly eight years her junior. He played with the children and ended up staying for tea. She was slightly embarrassed when she served up their usual light evening meal of bread, cheese and jam. He didn’t seem to mind.
“Can you tell me where I can get accommodation for a time,” he asked.
For the first time in nearly three years, Louisa was sorry that she no longer offered lodgings.
“It is about seven miles down the road to Gunnedah, you should be able to get a room at the Bank Hotel, but I would suggest you leave soon before it gets dark.”
MRS ENGSTRTOM ©
The years flowed into each other. The Inn continued to prosper and the children continued to grow.
Then one dusty hot summers day in February 1886 a tall blond sunburnt man entered the bar.
“What can I get you Sir,” asked Louisa, observing his handsome face. “An ale, Madam, please.”
“You look like you could do with a drink, where is your journey taking you?”
“I am heading to Queensland looking for work. I disembarked from my ship in Sydney last year from Sweden, but I have decided that the seafaring life is no longer for me.”
Louisa caught her breath, Sweden, the place where Alfred had been born. She sat down and soon found herself very comfortable with this young man. She learnt so many things that day, he was nearly eight years her junior. He played with the children and ended up staying for tea. She was slightly embarrassed when she served up their usual light evening meal of bread, cheese and jam. He didn’t seem to mind.
“Can you tell me where I can get accommodation for a time,” he asked.
For the first time in nearly three years, Louisa was sorry that she no longer offered lodgings.
“It is about seven miles down the road to Gunnedah, you should be able to get a room at the Bank Hotel, but I would suggest you leave soon before it gets dark.”
He didn’t make it to Queensland after, but settled in Gunnedah, and ran
cattle after purchasing a lease on a property near by.
On the 31st August 1886,Louisa found herself walking hand in hand from the Wesleyan Parsonage, Tamworth after a simple service, with her new husband August Thomas Engstrom.13
They were greeted outside by her seven children all running at her and talking at once, “Can we go on a holiday now Mumma, Mam, can we, can we?”
She smiled at her husband, thinking as she did so, she had thought she would never be able to call someone that again.
“Well Mrs Engstrom are you ready to take this tribe to see the sea?” he asked.
“Yes my dear, let’s go,” she replied, “I can’t wait.”
12 Government Gazette Notices (1884, August 29). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 5884. Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225588522
13 Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. http://www.ancestry.com.au
On the 31st August 1886,Louisa found herself walking hand in hand from the Wesleyan Parsonage, Tamworth after a simple service, with her new husband August Thomas Engstrom.13
They were greeted outside by her seven children all running at her and talking at once, “Can we go on a holiday now Mumma, Mam, can we, can we?”
She smiled at her husband, thinking as she did so, she had thought she would never be able to call someone that again.
“Well Mrs Engstrom are you ready to take this tribe to see the sea?” he asked.
“Yes my dear, let’s go,” she replied, “I can’t wait.”
12 Government Gazette Notices (1884, August 29). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 5884. Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225588522
13 Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. http://www.ancestry.com.au
CHAPTER TWENTY
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ©
Instead of opening the lodging part of the Inn, August had suggested that they turn the rooms into bedrooms for the children. It made sense and now that there was to be another little person joining their family in a couple of months, they would need the extra space in their bedroom.
Louisa’s thoughts turned to her first marriage. Alfred had been a wonderful husband and father, but their time together had been all work. With August or Thomas as some people insisted on calling him, she had time for laughter and play.
But it was mainly because of Alfred’s work that they were in the position of comfort that they now lived in. August’s property and cattle run was prospering too. But soon he would need to hire a Overseer and take over the running of the bar. She had been told by the doctor that she needed to rest for the upcoming birth of her eighth child and August’s first.
“What are you thinking Mrs Engstrom?” her thoughts were interrupted by August who had woken and was looking at her with love.
“I have just been thinking how lucky I am and how much I am looking forward to this new little life making an appearance.”
“Whoa, not so fast, we need him or her to stay put for a couple of months yet, my love,” he urged, “don’t go wishing for it too soon.”
As they headed downstairs to meet the children for breakfast, Louisa was concerned about the cough August had and suggested that she make some lemon and honey water for him. He brushed her concerns away as they both smelled the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen.
Alfred and Magnus who were now seventeen and fifteen, had become
quite the cooks over the years. The smell of bacon and eggs wafted
through the hallway.
“What is going on in here,” Louisa asked as she came through the doorway with August close behind her.
“Happy Anniversary,” chimed all the children with excited beaming smiles on their faces.
Louisa covered her mouth with her hand, looking at August sheepishly. “I completely forgot,” she exclaimed with remorse in her voice.
“No need to worry, my love you have more than enough to think about,” August chimed in, pulling something out of his pocket, “just as well I remembered, hey?” as he handed her a small packet tied with a violet bow.
Opening the little packet she found a brooch in shape of a half moon, embedded with seeded pearls. It was the most beautiful gift she had ever received.
Turning to kiss her husband, she was aware of a chorus of giggles behind her.
“What is going on in here,” Louisa asked as she came through the doorway with August close behind her.
“Happy Anniversary,” chimed all the children with excited beaming smiles on their faces.
Louisa covered her mouth with her hand, looking at August sheepishly. “I completely forgot,” she exclaimed with remorse in her voice.
“No need to worry, my love you have more than enough to think about,” August chimed in, pulling something out of his pocket, “just as well I remembered, hey?” as he handed her a small packet tied with a violet bow.
Opening the little packet she found a brooch in shape of a half moon, embedded with seeded pearls. It was the most beautiful gift she had ever received.
Turning to kiss her husband, she was aware of a chorus of giggles behind her.
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