of the richness of Australia attracted the
energetic youth of Britain. Arriving in Melbourne in '52, when the gold
fever was at its height, he and his companions lost no time in finding
their way to the fields in search of the precious metal. He spent twelve
months in rough living and hard labour then, to realize it was not as
easy to make a fortune as he imagined. But he was a good artizan and,
men of his stamp being scarce, he returned to Melbourne and started
working at his trade. In vain he tried to persuade his mates to follow
suit, but the gold-fever had taken too strong a hold upon them. Wages
were very high in Melbourne, and he had no difficulty in earning ten and
even fifteen pounds a week. In a few months' time he was able to start
in business on his own account and, as Melbourne had by this time been
acknowledged as the capital town, he invested all his savings in land
which could then be had at low rates. When he had made a fair business
he sent home for the girl with whom he had "kept company," and on her
arrival they were married in Melbourne. Years went by, his business
extended, and his land increased in value fifty-fold, and Oliver Whyte
was rapidly becoming a wealthy man.

The fact that no children blessed their union was a great trouble to the
Whytes. But when his wife began to fret over it Whyte would answer in
his cheery fashion, "Never mind, missus, we shall have to get one of
somebody else's."

One day, when they were at their mid-day meal, a letter in a strange
hand-writing was brought to them, in which they were begged to come at
once to the Melbourne Hospital where a woman named Johnson wished to see
them.

"Johnson! Johnson!" said Whyte. "The only Johnson I ever knew, was my
mate, Bill Johnson, whom I left on the 'fields.'"

"Maybe this is his wife, Olly."

"We'll go at once and see her."

Straightway the honest couple set out for the hospital and, on arriving
there, were taken to the bedside of a dying woman.

"Are you Olly Whyte?" asked the woman, feebly.

"Yes, that's me," said Whyte.

"My name is Johnson and Bill told me that if anything went wrong I was
to look out for Olly Whyte, and he would help me."

"Are you Bill's wife, then? Where is he?"

"Dead, two years ago, and I am going to join him."

"Poor old Bill!" said Whyte, feelingly.

"I've got a little girl," murmured the poor woman. "She ain't been
brought up first class, but if you would look after her I'd die happy