Herman, the Mentor

Trafford Publishing

Contents

1 The Fete.................................................12 The Game Warden..........................................63 Herman's Secret Spot.....................................124 A Smelly Little Man......................................195 A Fright — Then Bliss..............................246 The Outing...............................................307 The Larrikins............................................388 A Fun Week-end...........................................469 The Fairgrounds..........................................5410 An Explosive Situation..................................6111 Caught — and the Arrangements.....................6912 The Happy Holiday.......................................7613 A Frightening ordeal....................................8414 The Stranger............................................9115 The Way Home............................................9916 An Accident.............................................10717 Herman Steps In.........................................11518 The New Hand............................................12419 The Family Day Picnic...................................13320 A Woolly Problem........................................14121 The Rescuers............................................14922 Jane Returns............................................15823 A Black Experience......................................16624 The Art Exhibition......................................17525 The Mentor is fulfilled.................................184

Chapter One

Jeremy strained hard upon the ropes of his toboggan. It carried a full cardboard box of apples. It was a very large box; in fact, it was the biggest box he could find in the pile of empties that Mister Jenkins allowed him to select from. Jeremy came to wish that he had not been so ambitious, for in having a very large box; the extra apples added more weight. Now it was his task to drag this heavy load back to the house, as he had faithfully promised his mother he would do. Why Jeremy chose his toboggan as a vehicle instead of his billy-cart, he did not know. Perhaps it may have been the fact that one of the wheels of the billy-cart wobbled dramatically. Jeremy feared that it was about to fall off. Jeremy's father owned a very large farm. There were many sheep, three horses, one of which was the pride and joy of Jeremy, for it was given to him as a birthday present when he became ten years of age. Jeremy really loved his `Bessie', she was rather old as horses go — the same age as Jeremy in fact — which made her about forty years old in human terms. His father classed her as a `hack' and ideal in temperament for such an exuberant youngster such as him. On the farm were a couple of windmills, one near the house for personal needs when the tanks were low and the other in the outer paddocks for the hundred head of Herefords that his father cherished, for they were top breeding stock. However sheep were the main source of income and there were eight hundred of them. Three milking cows, a litter of piglets and a run of chickens comprised all of the livestock; not counting the two kelpies his dad needed to round up the stock, of course. Sam and Bluey were really more like family than part of the farm animals though! The orchard covered some three acres and at the time was being harvested. The seasonal pickers were hard at work and when Jeremy was asked by his teacher, Miss Purdie, for something to donate to the school's annual fete; Jeremy suggested that he would ask his parents if they would give some apples. So it happened that the boy was allowed to take as many apples as he could manage, provided that he took only the `windfalls' — those apples which had fallen to the ground. Jeremy had done so and therefore was struggling and straining to get his huge cardboard box of apples home. He was relieved that his parents had suggested that they would drop the box of apples off at the school, when next they took he and his little sister Karen. The track, over which Jeremy had to drag his toboggan, was in parts grassy but much of it was hard-packed dirt. The boy ceased his struggles for a breather, the while he looked about for some means of assistance. It was at this time that one of the Jersey cows offered her advice.

"Of course!" Jeremy smiled as he mumbled to himself, "Maisy would love to help — I will get some rope!" Jeremy ran to the cowshed, a happy gleam in his eyes.

The strange sight of one of his milkers being gently led past the kitchen window towards the front verandah, pulling a toboggan upon which was a box full of apples; caused the head of the household to hail his wife.

"Hey Yvonne! Look at young Jeremy, the little scamp!"

"Oh, I always knew our boy was very resourceful!" Yvonne proudly claimed, as she slipped her slim arms about her husband's waist.

"He is a chip off the old block, for sure." Matt nodded as he planted a soft kiss upon his wife's forehead.

"Yes. He is a clever little bloke but I wonder how he is going to lift that heavy box up on to the verandah? Let us slip up to the front door and watch!"

They hurried there and unknown to their son, eagerly witnessed the amazing sight.

Jeremy dragged the wooden lid off the wood box by the back door, lugged it to the small flight of steps where he laid it so he could lead Maisy and enables her to drag his toboggan up the lid and on to the verandah. Leaving the box of apples on the toboggan, the boy led Maisy back to the pasture and released her, with a thankful friendly slap upon the rump. Returning to the verandah, the youngster tugged the toboggan out of the way and up against the wall of the house. His brown eyes sparkled with satisfaction beneath the crop of unruly black hair, which cascaded about the boy's ears. His thin wiry frame straightened as he placed hands upon hips and heaved a heavy sigh of complete satisfaction, for a job well done.

"Gee! I bet Miss Purdie will be very pleased with that lot!" He murmured to himself.

The boy's parents heard the whispered remark and returned to the kitchen to await Jeremy, for they knew he would come to them and explain that the fruit was ready for transportation.

The school fete was a very well patronised event. It was one of the many social happenings that held small country communities together, a chance for hard-working farmers and business people to intermingle and exchange ideas and indeed; help each other with goods and advice. While the adults were conversing or selling the donated goods to assist with the local school's funding, those children not actively participating with the fete, played on the school ground equipment or gathered in isolated corners of the school grounds; discussing those things which were of interest to them.

Jeremy had dutifully spent an hour selling his apples which the cooking class at school had dipped in toffee. He was very happy that they were selling well. His mother urged Jeremy to go and play awhile, as she would look after the stall for him. Grateful to be let off the hook, the youngster eagerly sought his best mate Gerard and the two gleefully ran to the sports oval; to get away from the bustle of the fete. Both were peace-loving souls who could sit and fish for hours with very few words between them. They were quiet, country-bred boys, imbued with common sense and taught...