Miles Franklin

“ But all these ideas were knocked on the head, like a dairyman's surplus calves, when on entering Barney's Gap we descended a rough road to the house, which was built in a narrow gully between two steep stony hills, which, destitute of grass, rose like grim walls of rock, imparting a desolate and prison-like aspect. ”

“ She then disappeared to the kitchen to make the tea, and during her absence two of the little boys commenced to fight. One clutched the tablecloth, and over went the whole display with a bang--meat-dish broken, and meat on the dusty floor; while the cats and fowls, ever on the alert for such occurrences, made the most of their opportunities. Mrs M'Swat returned carrying the tea, which was spilling by the way. ”

“ It was necessary that I should stand up to the guns of life at one time or another, and why not now? M'Swat's might not be so bad after all. Even if they were dirty, they would surely be willing to improve if I exercised tact in introducing a few measures. I was not afraid of work, and would do many things. ”

“ I mightn't be groin' in again for munce [months] . But sugar don't count much. Them as can't do without a useless luxury like that for a spell will never make much of a show at gettin' on in the wu-r-r-r-1d," concluded Mr M'Swat, sententiously.
The children sat in a row and, with mouths open and interest in their big wondering eyes, gazed at me unwinkingly till I felt I must rush away somewhere and shriek to relieve the feeling of overstrained hysteria which was overcoming me. I contained myself sufficiently, however, to ask if this was all the family.
"All but Peter. Where's Peter, Mary Ann?" ”

“ Peter came home, and the children clustered around to tell the news.
"Did she come?"
"Yes."
"Wot's she like?"
"Oh, a rale little bit of a thing, not as big as Lizer!
"And, Peter, she hes teeny little hands, as wite as snow, like that woman in the picter ma got off of the tea."
"Yes, Peter," chimed in another voice; "and her feet are that little that she don't make no nise wen she walks."
"It ain't only becos her feet are little, but cos she's got them beautiful shoes like wot's in picters," said another. ”