IN THE afternoon the cows were mustered, which numbered 30. At first glance it seemed that some of them had no tongues.

They were worn out from licking their calves, they had had that many, and hardly gave enough milk to feed a batch of kittens.

I kept at the farmer about the fence in the paddock. I used to put in posts during moonlight nights.

When the fence was completed I said I would make a gate. He advised me not to bother as the hay rake would serve the purpose.

Australian dry weather set in and no ploughing could be done once again. My hopes went up in dust. Some of the old cows died, and I felt very despondent, but he never worried.

At night he would tell me all about parliament and the big salaries members got for doing nothing, and those that governed the country were well educated rogues.

After six months' work the old man informed me that he could no longer afford to pay my wages but I was welcome to put my feet under his table free of charge. I got another job.

By this time I had saved up a few pounds and was never afraid of being picked up under the vagrancy act.

Friends you have not any, When in your pocket not a penny.

What would be my next move? I began to make a noise like a cow, I had seen that much of them.

I summed up that there was one good job on a dairy farm, and the bull had that.

I thought I would go home and see my parents. It was only 35 miles. I could walk in a day with part of the night added in. I started off on my journey home at 3am and arrived at 7pm.

First thing my parents remarked was "Glad to see you". My brothers and sisters said, "You look half starved".

Of course I had to relate my experiences, which was over a period of two years. I talked my parents into taking a dairy on shares.

Mother, being anxious to keep the family together, agreed with my suggestions. My father took convincing that milking cows was a sitting-down job.

At last he consented to give it a try-out. It was left to me to return to the coast and secure a suitable place.