The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda meandered up the Eweram River. Beautifully lined with a calibre of red gum trees. The pristine calm waters reflecting mirror imagines. Except for the occasional ripple of a fishes tail. Quiet and peaceful, the river system gave way to serenity. The only time that that serenity was broken was when the whistles of The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda blew. The warming salute to acknowledge the arrival of the paddle steamers.
Like a loving dedicated husband and wife, working side by side as they tolled their land, The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda effortlessly thrust up and down the river system. Collecting the bales of wool from the Arnela Sheep Station. Pastoralist Kelton Dunn ran the biggest Sheep Station in the southern hemisphere. A run of over four hundred thousand sheep. The station boasted a twenty stand shearing shed. Able to turn out over forty thousand bales of triple A graded wool a year.
The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda, were notorious legends. Craved from the very hardwood of the red gums that lined the Eweram Rivers banks. Like the little engine that could, the two paddle steamers continually expedited expectations and broke record after record.
The wooden barges that they towed could carry two thousand bales of wool and creaked under the weight. Never a bale lost or a man over board. The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda would gather their flock safely home.
A time of thriving enterprise and adventure the two paddle steamers invoked a spirit of belonging. Opening up areas of this rugged and expanding land, they became founders of tradition and mateship. Long gone, the Eweram River now silenced. Forced off their land by old age, the husband and wife retired to care.
The Eli Henry and Alice Matilda.
Read More: http://imaginifbusiness.blogspot.com/2010/06/his-old-paddle-steamer-came-to-live-in.html
What a magnificent picture you've painted of two old veterans. This was really lovely to read.
ReplyDeleteYour sentences today are exactly as you speak: with breaks and half thoughts. I can imagine you narrating this as you wander along a river bank.
Couple of grammatical and punctuation issues (like dropping the capital in The Eweram River and Alice Matilda)that I assume were just quick finger typos but apart from that a lovely story, Julie.
Also, an apostrophe that needs removing in your last paragraph.
Oh, I forgot to tell you - this is actually my brother's boat. I've never been on it though.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder about the capital T for the in front of the Eweram River. Did you pick up on my pun with the river name?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean remove the THE from in front of Alice Matilda.
Thanks for encouragement Megan. Awesome boat, Have to drop a few hints to my brothers.
I do like writing nostalgia, as in this type of setting and yesterdays prompt.
ReplyDelete