“LEFT IN CHARGE:

A STORY OF OLDEN DAYS ON THE RIVERINA.

I SUPPOSE every girl in Australia must know all about the Riverina district, so that if
I say anything by way of description of this pastoral region of the colonies, it is only for
the sake of those poor benighted feminine minds in the old country who have not been blest
by a sight of the ‘Riverina after rain, and so could not possibly be able to realize its
deliciousness and. loveliness.

I will just tell you what it is like before I begin to talk about my dog “ Tarra,” myself,
and our adventures along § @ with poor old Johnny “Cha-Che,” our kitchen
gardener. The Riverina after a long dry season is not perhaps
the most - fertile-looking landscape one could wish to see, I

will admit, but after the shower does come, then is the time
to look about one ; tender

by magic, and the most
greenery that you

   
  
   
  
 
 
  
  
    
  

green grasses springing up as if
beautiful flowers amongst the
could-wish for, or imagine ; it
is as if you went to sleep one night surrounded
with — dark-looking ‘soil, pitying the poor
grubbing amongst that
roots, and then
perfect paradise of
4 the angel whoturns~
Now for myself

gardener. My

sheep who are vainly
black dust for grass-
opened your wondering eyes next morning in a
peace, and plenty—that’s what the Riverina is after
on the water-works has passed over the land.
and my dog, not forgetting our faithful old Chinaman
name is Maggie Harkis, and I am the one and only daughter of a
Riverina squatter; our station is on the Billabong River, above Dinilequin.
I am fourteen past, this year, but at the time I am going to tell you about I was just
going on ten, which of course means as much as fifteen in the old country. I think Iam
rather pretty, because every one says so, as well as my looking-glass, only I don’t like the
colour of my hair, it is so tawny, although my father says it is a lovely tone, and he ought
to know, for he was an artist before he became a squatter ; only Aunt Sarah, who keeps the

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