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As time went by, three more children-Charles, Elizabeth and Harold -were born, and more room was needed. WATTLE AND DAUB ADDITIONA two-roomed wattle and daub house was built about 50 feet from the log cabin on the western side. One room had a stove Installed and became the kitchen, the other room a bedroom. This was a useful addition to the home, but some few years after it was built, a spark from an old tree, which was being burnt down near the bottom of the hill, and some hundreds of yards away, set alight to the gable end of the building. It was burned to the ground, with all its contents. A great loss and financial blow to the family. Dad and Mum were away at a Band of Hope meeting at the Badger Creek School at the time, and no one was home. Mum held these Band of Hope meetings at the School once a week for many years. NEW WEATHERBOARD HOUSEPioneering days were being left behind and to replace the loss a three-roomed weatherboard dwelling with galvanised iron roof was erected in front of the old log cabin. Dad and Mum did not know which way to turn after the fire, and prayed incessantly that God would show them the way out. Their prayers were answered when Mitchell & Hurlstone, timber and grain merchants at Healesville (for whom Dad used to work), came to their aid. Mr. Hurlstone, a fine Christian gentleman, visited the home one day and offered to donate the timber and Iron for a building. This was gratefully and readily accepted. The new rooms were built by Mr. "Boggy" Smith, a master carpenter. Dick Harrison, a settler on Boggy Creek, was a plumber, and he came over and put on the roof and spouting. The addition was built on the eastern side of the old log cabin. If ever there was a case of answer to prayer this was one. |
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