Farmers / Apprentices' Stories
Mischief at Croucher's Dairy
Continued from Part 1
In May 1914 Smith sent the following letter to Lawson. While it is long, it is worth reading as one of very few pieces of correspondence between the apprentices that has been archived. (Note the archived letter is a censored transcription of the original).
Domestic Helpers’
Home,
Norwood
My dear Lawson,
I am very sorry I haven’t written to you before but I really have been too busy with the girls. I arrived in Adelaide safe – I stayed at the Coffee Palace two nights and I thought they were exceedingly nice and comfortable.
I went down to see Mr Field on Monday morning and, my word, he was in a most awful temper and he refused to get me another situation. You ought to have seen the letter which Mr Croucher wrote to Field about us. He read it out to me and there was several lies in it about us.
He told him about the night we had the whiskey. He told Field we drank it all in one night. Well he is a damn liar isn’t he. He told Field in his letter that when he told you about the whiskey and the filthy language you used about him you was very civil and nice about it and you was very sorry you ever said anything about him. But [then he came to] me. I abused him terribly. He said he had never been spoken to like that in all his life.
I told Field if he was here now I would abuse him more than I did down there. Field gave me a good lecture. After that I said: “What I have said to Mr Croucher I have said and I don’t want to hear any more about it”. I then walked straight out. I don’t care a damn for Field – he is nothing to do with me.
On Saturday Field said he had heard from Croucher that his son had lent me a watch, and before I left there I wilfully threw it on the floor and smashed it. So Lawson, it stands to reason, if Croucher wasn’t shewn the watch or told about it, how the hell would he know. I reckon myself it’s a nasty trick on your part to have let him see it. Because I don’t care as far as that goes, but all the same, I would not have done it if I knew he was going to see it. So if you write back, kindly tell me how he found it out.
... There was several more lies in Croucher’s letters, but Field believes everything that was in his letters. Well, I have got a job, and a good one too, but its not on a farm, it’s indoor work – footman – waiting at table, etc. I am getting 25/- a week, and two suits of clothes – that is the honest truth. I am not telling no lies about it.
Lower Mitcham is where they live. I am going there Saturday morning, there are three girls kept in the house and the lady had them all from Mrs Moore [manager of the Domestic Helper’s Home]. He also has a farm very near the house which he has an English chap working for him – he came from Lancashire and they have a motor and they want me to learn to drive it. So won’t it be nice.
He said he will give me a bonus after I have been there for a few months. I think it is far nicer to go there than to go on a farm where you have to clear out pig and farm yards, don’t you? The lad who is working on his farm is getting ₤1 a week, so I will write you a letter on Saturday or Sunday telling you then my real address.
You know that tart [slang for sweetheart] I went out with – well I have been out with her several times, and each time I have been out with her I have ------- her. Can you remember the girl on the “Geelong” they used to call “Butterfly”. I am sure you can. Well, I am taking her out tonight- that will be another sure ---- won’t it? I have promised to take several more out, but I am afraid my funds are getting low.
I have bought a new suit – got measured for it – a navy blue. My word, it does look nice, also I have bought a new hat, boots, and shirt. So I am a thorough gentleman now, don’t you think?
Well how many cows are you milking now – I suppose you have cut all the dense devils now I have gone. My word, Croucher did me a bad character. There was more between you and Croucher than I knew. I am glad I did leave, because if I had stopped there any longer some of us would have been in prison. I sincerely hope your toothache is better. Well this is all for now, trusting you are well.
I remain yours
truly and sincerely,
(signed) Thomas G Smith