CHAPTER XXI. 

 EARLY FARMING STRUGGLES. 



In 1862 I purchased "The Willows" a farm 

 near Pretoria and started farming, but it was slow 

 work, as there were no markets for produce, and no 

 money in the country ; while the Transvaal paper 

 issue represented 4/- in the 1 ; and I found difficul- 

 ty in paying the working hands. The losses from 

 lung-sickness among the cattle, from horse-sickness 

 and from hail, locusts, and other causes made it a 

 hard struggle ; but by dint of work and perseverance, 

 I managed to pay my way and to acquire some 

 property from time to time. Shortly after this, I was 

 practically ruined by the wrong-doing of a business 

 firm ; and had to make a fresh start. It was uphill 

 work, and a cruel blow just as I was getting on. 

 After a time, I recovered and began to make my 

 way again. 



In January 1868, 1 married Mary Cole, daughter 

 of the Reverend William G. Cole of Trinity 

 College Dublin, a pretty little English girl with 

 auburn hair and honest, trustful eyes. All our child- 

 ren, except Frank, were born at "The Willows." 

 We had to work very hard to economise to keep out 

 of debt with a large family to bring up ; and the 

 dear little mother, besides all her other duties, found 

 time to educate her children, and keep up her own 

 music, until they were old enough to go away to 

 school. 



In the winter to have a rest and outing, we 

 used to make a little trek to the bush-veld farms on 



