forty mile, and Simmons had brought it his own self to see if we
couldn't manage to get the poor fellow down to the nighest town. I
won't make my yarn no longer than I can help, ma'am, so I'll only
mention that we made a lot o' the strongest mutton broth you ever
tasted; we slung a hammock of red blankets in the dray, and we got
the poor fellow down by evening to a gentleman's station. There
they made us kindly welcome, did all they could for him, and
transhipped the hammock into a pair-horse dray, which went quicker
and was easier. We got on as fast as we could every step of the
way, and by midnight that poor fellow was tucked into a clean bed in
the hospital at Christchurch, with both his legs neatly cut off just
above the knee, for there wasn't a minute to lose."

I was almost afraid to inquire how the sufferer fared, for Ned's
eyes were fairly swimming with unshed tears; but he smiled brightly,
and said, "The ladies and gentlemen in the town, they set up a
_subscribetion_, and bought the poor chap a first-rate pair o'
wooden legs, and he could even manage to ride about after a bit; and
instead o' wandering about looking for country, or gold, or what
not, he settled down as a carrier, and throve and did well. And I
was thinking, ma'am, as how I'd like to return thanks for that poor
fellow's wonderful recovery, for I've never had a chance of going to
Church since, and its nigh upon two years ago that it happened."

"So you shall, Ned: so you shall!" we said with one voice. And so
at our first Church gathering at our dear little antipodean home,
F---, who acted as our minister, paused in the beautiful Thanksgiving
Service, after he had read solemnly and slowly the simple words,
"Especially for Thy late mercies vouchsafed to --- ," and Ned Palmer
chimed in with an "Amen,"--misplaced, indeed, but none the less