Lilian Wooster Greaves

“ Every day, a few yards from our present abode, we tread ashes where stood a miner’s forge about twenty-five years ago. Children play about the places in the hill-side where the miners once levelled the earth floor of their tents. When we visit the gold-show and the copper-show, we wonder if ever the agricultural age will merge into the metal age here. ”

“ Splendours of hidden colours shone revealed.
Such was the day that brought me once again
To Wongan.—Birds and days are wondrous things.
We know not what brown bird, what dawn of pain
Hides red and gold beneath its folded wings. ”

“ And wrap you round in cloth of gold again.
As when with breaking heart I crept to you
And at your feet poured out my tale forlorn;
While from your quiet strength to me was given
The healing peace that maketh all things new. ”

“ To us, dwelling in the present, to whom pioneering has been made easy in a hundred ways, the industry of the past appears more fascinating, inasmuch as it is already written. We are not going back to ages' gone by, when in the beginning of things, some great giant seems to have gathered out some of the precious things that were hid in the earth—sorted out some gleams of copper, and specks of gold ”

“ Here we are met and driven out through the Gap, and between the hills to our friends at Wongan Hills West—the real Wongan Hills.
Here and now the Wongan wayside is beautiful throughout the changeful days and restful nights. The Angel of the Rain has wept in pity over the land that last year languished in drought and dust. The “early and the latter rains" have brought healing and hope to the marred, scarred faces of the bare brown hills. ”

“ Like the wondrous coat of colours
Jacob made for Rachel’s son?
Storms before and darkness after
O'er our souls have lost their power—
Safe and splendid heaven’s high temple,
Safe and splendid earth’s strong tower. ”

“ Some day, when these beautiful hills are better known, when photographer and artist have done their duty to the country by picturing the natural beauties of the district in press and gallery; when weary towndwellers sigh for country air, and coast-dwellers long for a change inland, they will hie them to the hills for rest and healing, and will find them. ”

“ Yet when changing conditions induced their husbands to take up land, and develop it themselves, the women cheerfully left behind them the ease and nicety of city life, braved the wilderness with equal courage; perhaps greater; for only women know how much it costs a woman to be brave. ”

“ Nature, the cunning dealer, knew their fame,
And cleverly their costly works restored.
Room then, for these: and for more precious things,
Bright House of Dreams, upon your mist-grey walls—
Portraits more fair than all imaginings ”

“ We chaps from the city are objects of pity.
We envy you, stooking your hay.
Sore arms, tired back, and a splinter or two?
What matter? ’Tis thanksgiving day.
After famine’s long battle you’ve feed for your cattle—
You ought to be singing of hay. ”

“ One farmer friend shows us traces of old tracks which were used by sandalwood cutters in the early days; and cattle-pads, so long unused, that trees, whose size proclaims them to be fully thirty years of age, grow right in the middle of the road. ”

“ Having literary wishes
Gives a girl too many shocks.
I think thoughts just like those bookmen;
Dream sweet dreams from morn to night.
I see folks just like their spook-men
In the evening's ghostly light. ”

“ Some day, when the rainfall of the good years is conserved for use in the dry years; when a great condenser distils fresh water from beneath the saltbeds; when the latent mineral resources can he de­veloped; the travellers to the hills will not be only tourists, artistic parties, health seekers ”

“ She sees nothing heroic in leaving a comfortable house ("all conveniences," as the advertisements say) , and a large friendly and social circle, for a cycle of loneliness in a primitive camp; baking her own bread, sometimes in a camp-oven to begin with; dependent to a great extent on tinned foods for long periods of time; gladly taking up increased work as a cow can be purchased, or men hired for harvesting. ”

“ Come, Baby Brown-wings, spread your wings, and try.
You’ll want to go hunting by-and-bye,
And wheeling round the salmon-gum so high.”
Each wondrous birdling tries the wondrous feat.
Full soon their education is complete. ”