POOR OLD HOLLY ALWAYS JOLLY. 465 



home officials in office is but to lay yourself open to 

 incivility. 



Grahamstown, a charming place of residence, 

 beautifully situated, was reached the evening of the 

 sixth day. All of us were exhausted and in want of a 

 " wash-up " and a rest, so a quiet room and comfort- 

 able bed were the luxuries most required, and I had 

 the fortune to secure both. 



After two days' rest, a journey half by road, half by 

 rail, took me to the Bay (Port Elizabeth), where, 

 thoroughly broken down and worn out, I obtained ac- 

 commodation at the Phoenix Hotel, till Messrs. Donald 

 Currie and Co/s splendid ship was ready to sail. Many 

 of its officers knew me, and when they heard of my 

 arrival called upon me, yet none recognised for some 

 time their acquaintance of scarcely a year back. 



But who also hunted me out ? Poor old Holly, very 

 much the worse for wear. While I remained at the 

 hotel he never left me, and added much to my bill by 

 his still existing penchant for brandy and soda-water. 



He insisted upon seeing me on board, and I had not 

 the heart to say no. When time for him to return, 

 there was some difficulty in getting him shipped, for 

 he had taken off his boots, and could not get them 

 on again. At length he was in the stern-sheets of the 

 little craft, all right, the boat gave a roll, and off his hat 

 went to leeward for it was blowing hard at the time. 

 However, I sent below for one to replace it. As he stood 

 up to receive it another roll occurred, and both his boots 

 disappeared into the sea. In no way disconcerted he 

 selected as comfortable a position as he could find, 

 stretched his legs along the seat, and commenced, as of 

 old, to sing " The Eed, White, and Blue." 



E E 



