Reshelving

So true.
Of course we want what we shouldn't, the unattainable, the forbidden, the mystery of it all.
What are we recommending? should I have mentioned the vampire book last Monday?

Diary 9.7.1883

Monday July 9

Up at 5:30 this morning, we are going in a steamer (the A.S.N. James Paterson) to Bundaberg so we are busy getting ready. We arrived there about 3 o’clock.

The Diary finishes with the arrival in Australia.
Emily Ann and John Edwin with Ruth Emmeline moved from Bundaberg to Brisbane, then to Melbourne where they settled. Mary Ellen was born on 1st October 1883 nearly 3 months after the family arrived in Australia. In total they had seven children.

Diary 8.7.1883

Sunday July 8

Nice morning, we have had mutton chops for breakfast and roast beef and potatoes for dinner, it has been a great treat for us. We have had plenty of people on board today, they have come from Bundaberg in small boats, some have their husbands coming for them. It is a very pleasant sight to see them coming.

Diary 7.7.1883

Saturday July 7

We have cast anchor at 20 minutes to 8 this morning, they signalled for the Pilot but there was some mistake, (the river level was too low at Rocky Reach for boats to cross the bar) he did not come on until 4 o’clock in the afternoon so we have to stop on until Monday about 7 o’clock. The Mayor (Mr Adams) and the inspector came on board and brought some sweets for the children but they call them lollies out here, and they bought us fresh beef and mutton for Sunday.

Diary 6.7.1883

Friday July 6

We are driven out into the sea again and we were only fifteen miles from land, we have been going backwards and forwards all night.

Diary 5.7.1883

Thursday July 5

Fine morning but we are not going much, it is fifteen weeks today since we sailed, it is a long time to be on the water, I did not think we should be so long in coming. A fine wind is getting up, it changed into our favour during the night.

We have got a sight of the great sandy island, it is a pleasant sight after we have been so long at sea, there is a lighthouse (Sandy Cape a pre-fabricated cast-iron tower, the tallest in Queensland) and a beacon light (probably the buoy on Breaksea Spit) on it, we have to go round the most northern point of the island. The log today Lat. 25.48S Long. 153.48E Break Sea Spit distance 91 miles.

Sandy Cape Lighthouse on Fraser Island

Diary 4.7.1883

Wednesday July 4

Fine morning, we have been very busy we have had the boxes up today, it has passed the morning over for us. In the afternoon I was cleaning every thing up for landing, when I got my jacket out of the box it was mouldy, I have been sponging it. John Edwin has not been so well, last night I thought he was going to have one of his old attacks. I made him some ginger and tea and got a woollen handkerchief made hot and put it across his back, it gave him ease. I told Emmeline her Daddy was poorly so she said to him, he will have a powder Dadda make better, that is because the Doctor sent her some powder, she can say anything.

Diary 3.7.1883

Tuesday July 3

Fine morning but we have had a dreadful night, it has thundered and lightened awful, the hail stones were as large as beans, we could not sleep. There is nothing of any account taken place today.

Diary 2.7.1883

Monday July 2

Fine morning but we are not going, We have been cleaning all our tins ready for the Doctor to inspect to see if they are clean. I am tired out of being here they told us this morning we might be a fortnight yet, we have only gone 37 miles since 12 o’clock yesterday, it is very slow progress. We could walk as fast as that in twenty-four hours, you will be very uneasy about us. The wind is a head wind that is to say it is blowing dead against us, out of 77 miles run since 1 o’clock yesterday only got seventeen nearer Bundaberg.