at my farm, and I'll
warrant that you will think no more of women or of marriage. Will you
come?"

We both readily assented, and a good cup of coffee, which Jackson had
kept in readiness for us when we awoke, was swallowed with a relish, and
then we found our horses standing at the door, looking in prime order,
in spite of certain places on their coats which had been singed while
riding through the fire the day before.

Mr. Wright had been very attentive to our comforts, for the saddles
were repaired and made smooth where they were rough, and the bridles
were oiled and cleaned, and looked like new ones. We mounted, and
turning our horses' heads, trotted slowly towards the field of wheat,
which we had passed the first day of our arrival.

CHAPTER LXXIX.

MR. WRIGHT'S FARM.--DEATH OF KELLY.

A pleasant ride we had that afternoon, reviewing flocks and growing
crops, and discoursing on the best mode of cultivation. I found that our
host preferred the heavy tools of English farmers, to the light, easily
managed instruments of the Americans, and I took occasion to point out
the superior advantages which the latter possessed; but Mr. Wright was
incredulous, and suspicious of my innovations. His land was level, and
free from stones, and just suited for light American ploughs, and I
pledged my word that a third more work could be done with one, drawn by
a yoke of oxen, than could be performed by an English made plough, a
huge, clumsy thing, drawn by two span of horses, and requiring three men
to attend upon its wants.

I exacted a promise from Mr. Wright, that he would give an American
plough a fair trial; and the next time he visited Melbourne he purchased
one, and I had the satisfaction, before I left the country, of hearing
him say that he was delighted with its performance, and that he had
discarded many English farming tools, and substituted American, which
were lighter, yet quite strong enough, and saved much labor.

If I had accomplished no other result in Australia than introducing a
few articles of the manufacture of the United States, I should think
that I was amply compensated for my trouble, convinced as I am, that we
have found a market that will consume thousands of dollars worth of
agricultural tools, and be paid for in clean gold dust.

Mr. Wright owned fifty thousand acres of land,--not one thousand, but
_fifty_ thousand,--and over two thirds of it were devoted to grazing
purposes.

For inst