Look at mine!"
Jack, however, was the exception; for when his turn came, with quiet
humour he "thought that on the whole his was a bit better'n last
Christmas," which naturally set us discussing the advantages of
learning; but when we all agreed "it would be a bit off having to employ
a private secretary when you were doing a bit of courting," Jack hastened
to assure us that "courting" would never be in his line--coming events do
not always throw shadows before them. Thus from "learning" we slipped
into "courtship" and marriage, and on into life--life and its
problems--and, chatting, agreed that, in spite of, or perhaps BECAUSE of,
its many acknowledged disadvantages, the simple, primitive bush-life is
the sweetest and best of all--sure that although there may have been
more imposing or less unconventional feasts elsewhere that Christmas day,
yet nowhere in all this old round world of ours could there have been a
happier, merrier, healthier-hearted gathering. No one was bored. No one
wished himself elsewhere. All were sure of their welcome. All were
light-hearted and at ease; although no one so far forgot himself as to
pour his hop-beer into the saucer in a lady's presence, for, low be it
spoken, although the missus had a glass tumbler, there were only two on
the run, and the men-folk drank the Christmas healths from cups, and
enamel at that; for a Willy-Willy had taken Cheon unaware when he was
laden with a tray containing every glass and china cup fate had left us,
and, as by a miracle, those two glasses had been saved from the wreckage.
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