What is that sound? Could it be? Yes it is.
Running outside, Elizabeth ignored the servant urging her to get her wrap. She revelled in the drops falling around her. She danced in the puddles with Issy.
Rain, glorious rain! [1]
“Where is the water coming from Mam?” Elizabeth watched Issy jumping from one puddle to the next realising her daughter had not seen rain before.
“It’s raining me darlin', it’s from the heavens above. Our corn and wheat are getting a lovely drink.”
It rained solidly for many hours that day. On arriving home later that night, Thomas was full of news and the benefits that the rain would bring.
2 Joëlle Gergis, Don Garden’ and Claire Fenby, “The Influence of Climate on the First European Settlement of Australia: A Comparison of Weather Journals, Documentary Data and Palaeoclimate Records, 1788–1793,” Environmental History: 1–23. doi:10.1093/envhis/emq079
In the following days the colony was indeed on a high with the drenching rains. Elizabeth was concerned though, as the river was looking very angry. It soon became apparent that even with the breaking of the drought that some would suffer. The rivers and creeks rose well above what any of the settlers had experienced before.
Thomas appeared at the door, he looks like a drowned rat, she thought as she rushed to help him out of his wet things.
“Betsey, the bridge is down. The one the convict gang has spent so much time constructing, it’s gone. The creek was flowing just too fast to contain it. The boats were swept down into the river.”[2]
Thomas appeared at the door, he looks like a drowned rat, she thought as she rushed to help him out of his wet things.
“Betsey, the bridge is down. The one the convict gang has spent so much time constructing, it’s gone. The creek was flowing just too fast to contain it. The boats were swept down into the river.”[2]
“Papa, look see. Issy got mud pie for you.” Sweeping his daughter up into a hug, he knew as long as his little family was safe, everything would be alright.
“Ugh, Papa wet!”
With the rain came a renewed enthusiasm for planting and growing. Elizabeth supervised the growing of any seeds that she could acquire.
The children thrived in the colony and grew like weeds. Whereas Elizabeth and Thomas struggled with the heat and blazing sun, the children seemed to go from strength to strength, with never any of the childhood illnesses that Elizabeth remembered from home.
The seasons continued to come and go, with their own blend of difficulties and challenges. But with each passing month and year, Elizabeth found herself with more comforts, privileges and riches than she had every dreamed of.
Strolling through the streets, as she was now able to go about the colony without escort, Elizabeth found her thoughts wandering.
I am free woman and a partner of an Officer. I wonder what is happening back in Britain, I will never call it home again. This is home now. This is where life has given me chances.
“Where are you three off to?” Thomas came up behind them on their walk and taking Issy’s hand from Elizabeth he promptly hoisted her up into his arms and threw her in the air.
Yes I am exactly where I should be, smiling she tucked her arm through his outstretched arm.
_______________
1 Joëlle Gergis, Don Garden’ and Claire Fenby, “The Influence of Climate on the First European Settlement of Australia: A Comparison of Weather Journals, Documentary Data and Palaeoclimate Records, 1788–1793,” Environmental History: 1–23. doi:10.1093/envhis/emq079
1 Joëlle Gergis, Don Garden’ and Claire Fenby, “The Influence of Climate on the First European Settlement of Australia: A Comparison of Weather Journals, Documentary Data and Palaeoclimate Records, 1788–1793,” Environmental History: 1–23. doi:10.1093/envhis/emq079
2 Joëlle Gergis, Don Garden’ and Claire Fenby, “The Influence of Climate on the First European Settlement of Australia: A Comparison of Weather Journals, Documentary Data and Palaeoclimate Records, 1788–1793,” Environmental History: 1–23. doi:10.1093/envhis/emq079
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