Transcript of Walter Lindo’s letter July 1932, to his dear daughter Mary who is in her third year teaching. Walter is 54 and Mary is 20 at this time.  She has finished at New Way and is now on the York Peninsula. She writes regularly to her father but it is rare for him to have time to reply.  This letter is very special and has been kept by our mother in a very safe space. It is still in surprisingly good condition.

Dear Mid,

I’ve a story to tell. When the body of the late Mr Moody (of Moody and Sankey fame) was lying in state, the big men of his day were gathered around paying tribute to the deceased as a Christian, statesman, singer, evangelist, composer and good man generally. Young Moody came in and said (in effect) “Gentlemen you have all spoke in beautiful language of the deceased. I now wish to add my mede of praise, not under any of the above headings but as a father”. I do not know the family history of Moody Jun and have often wondered if it is a case of a good dead father.  It is surprising what  a lot of good dead fathers there have been.

Your welcome letter brought this little story to mind Mid and also a tear of gladness to my eye. It is grand to know that one’s efforts have not been in vain and that at least one member of my family thinks Dad has not done so bad after all.  Possibly the others think so too but they don’t tell me. Bob writes a pretty serious letter sometimes and he and I had a few talks last year when we more than touched the surface. I would like to see him happily married and settled down which I think would be to his advantage.  Of course Les is quite staid now.  I like Jean and yet I know that she thinks I don’t. I always feel a little awed in her presence but that will wear off.  Les frequently comes over.

Win …well she’s Win. Some lucky beggar some day will get a good wife and I hope some kids a good mother. She often thinks of Dad in the way that counts.

(A few private  comments here about the family from a father who loves them all very dearly. But it wasn’t intended to be for anyone but Mid)

And now Mary….I never worried about her. I know Uncle Will worried more than I did. I used to think of you so far away on that West Coast job and the only worry I had was sickness and the knowledge that you were with good homely folk lightened that. I knew that temptation must come your way but was convinced that you could overcome it and know that you will continue to do so. And I have felt like this about all my family and have much to be thankful for. I hope to see you all nicely settled either as confirmed spinsters or good mothers and fathers and then pass on a “may there be no moaning at the bar when I put out to sea.”

Enough of this Mid or you’ll want to shed a tear. Well I’m not going to sail yet awhile.

I have mislaid your letter (probably in one of my many coats.  I have 9 now) so I can’t answer it but will just talk on for a bit.  Seeding is ended I think. I got all mine in early also Les’s fallow but Les only finished at Fairfield this week. I put in Merrill’s paddock late (end of June) and ploughed the paddock over the line intending to sow English barley any time this month but the drought has broken and I think I will call it early fallow and perhaps do better out of it. I have started fallowing and have about 150 acres to do and Les about 130. I have written out a tender tonight for the railway ploughing.  They wanted me to tender for Barinia to near Riverton but I have only quoted Penwortham overway to Auburn.  Win says I’m silly to do any as the work is too heavy for me now but “needs must when the devil drives”.

Bob has offered to supply some fruit trees etc for the garden and I must write about them tomorrow night as they should be in now. I would like to put in about 20 trees, 20 vines and half a dozen shrubs. The query is where to put them. I have the material for to put a new fence around the house yard as soon as we get time.  Jack Stacey is still here and will be if I can keep his wages going. He only gets 10/- a week and would be sadly missed now. We have been doing a bit of clearing on the hill when the ground or weather is too wet for team work which has been pretty often lately and Jack is quite an enthusiast. We seem to put in too much time wood cutting nowadays as with 4 houses – WL, LJ, Stannys and Giles to supply there is plenty of chopping to do. I am on strike so Mick is coming down all day on Wednesday. I bet he will have some blisters. They are welcome to the wood and I don’t mind sawing it but they will need to cut and cart it or go without as I am too old and weary now for that game for love.

Monday night – Well old kid I left off writing at midnight last night and unless I hurry along I will be later abed tonight. Now I have been fallowing today and left my coat in the field so after tea Jack and I walked over the range and stoked up some burning stumps and got the coat . It is that old rubberised one Uncle George gave me. It used to leak like a sieve but I gave it three coats of Watershed and Win put the buttons and it is goodo. Funny incident today. I was to leave my tender on the railway gate post for the riding ganger who travels between Stockman and Spalding, up one day and down the next.  I did when I went after the horses first thing. It was there when I went to work, but Jack lands over about 10.30 with nosebags dinner etc in the dray and my tender.  “Here boss” says he “I found this on the gatepost.”  I said things and Jack broke the record back to that gate post, but too late.  The gangster had gone to the house, the girls knew nothing and that tender is still there.

After we got home tonight I trimmed and washed a lambskin for a mat. Win had left a copper of hot water for me to do the job and it looks very decent by moonlight.  Tomorrow the tanning will start and if it turns out well I will make up some more as skins are not worth mush at present.  Mother used to make them up very nicely.

Les started fallowing on Dunstans today (on shares with Castine).

Colin is having a week with us and tonight didn’t want any tea and later felt a bit hot and cried some. I think it is just stomach trouble and Win decided to give him some physic but he decided not to take it.  There was a bit of an argument with the other girls on Colin’s side so Win says to me “I can’t persuade that kid to take anything”. I said “Don’t persuade him at all just give it to him”  Anyhow just before I started writing I went in to see how the battle was going and found Ada telling him what a good boy he was to drink all the nice medi, and sure enough she had given it to him. It brought rather vividly to mind the only battle I had with you Mary and all about the same age and I think losing that battle did you good.

I have reread your letter Mid – no tears this time and I assure you I appreciate your appreciation of my poor efforts to rear you all a credit to your good mother and dad. Auntie Janet once told me my children were naturally good and easy to manage. 

Well if they were they didn’t get their natural goodness from me nor judging from Colin the ability to pass it on.  Once again I have much to be thankful for I can always say with pride “This is my son or daughter”. As to my lonely life Mid I have had my Gethsemanes with a capital G and still live on. Sometimes I wonder why. My kiddies are all I have and the only reason why I wish to live on.

 And now old girl I must away to bed.  Colin has suddenly gone to sleep and will be alright in the morning I think. I have not given you any local news Mid as I know the girls write fairly regularly and give you this shop talk. So I have just rambled on like the brook. Pleased to see that you are taking so much interest in Sunday School work Mid.

Good night Dad

I got good value for the calf I sold at Auburn but all stock are down in price now. I regret having to sell them but the need was pressing and the girls had as many cows as they could handle.