Ma's Garden
()
About this ebook
Ethel ‘Ma’ Johnstone planted her garden on a barren block of land carved out of the Australian bush. She embarked on the project with little knowledge but with much hope and optimism for the future in her heart. Fifty years later, the seeds and plants had grown and matured and her garden had morphed into a beautiful haven.
At the same time, her husband Christopher put his trust in his skills and in the future, embarking on a new business that would reward him by providing for his family for nearly six decades.
In the year 1902, and Christopher and Ethel Johnstone left the city with their young family to open a country newspaper and printing office.
“Ma’s Garden” is a gentle tale about the first year of their new life, the people they meet, their tribulations and celebrations. This is the story of the essence of a small town, not so different then as it is today.
“Ma’s Garden” tells the story of the family who owns and runs the ‘Trafalgar Times’ newspaper in 1902, the first year of the new business and of the people a small country town. Christopher is a journalist who leaves the city to take a punt on opening a brand new local newspaper in an Australian country town. After an initial period setting things in place, building a home and business premise, he sends for wife Ethel and their three young boys to join him.
Our tale begins on the day that the family travels to their new home. Aboard the train that day are other characters making the journey for various reasons and whose stories are woven into the fabric of the tale. They include:
•Ethel Johnstone and her boys, Aubrey (10), Mervyn (8) and Vernon (4).
•Hannah Maria Donovan, mother of four children and a farmer’s wife who lives on the Moe Swamp and who is returning home from a visit to her family in Brunswick. She has endured much tribulation because of the state of the land, which is not properly drained and floods continually.
•Mavis Stewart, a young matron who will take on the onerous task of converting the run down Commercial Hotel into a viable business where townsfolk will be able to enjoy good food in salubrious surroundings. The town may not take kindly to a female licensee.
•Jock Robinson, a miner who is about to try his luck searching for gold in the hills at Tanjil, near Trafalgar.
•The South Gippsland Cricket Team, who have been in Melbourne playing cricket during Country Week. One of them, Billy Johnstone, has been asked to train with the Australian team, but his parents are reluctant to release him from farm duties as they rely upon him.
•Mr Catani and the men from the Government who hope to solve the problem of the continual flooding of the Moe Swamp, which is causing great distress.
•A group of soldiers who are returning from the Boer War, amongst whom is Claude Lawrence, an amputee. His wife and family are unaware of the extent his war injuries and he faces many challenges in his endeavour to take up his old life where he left it.
All these people will mix and mingle with the other townsfolk of Trafalgar and this novel is a gentle tale of their lives and loves, their disappointments and their triumphs.
This novel is based on fact, but in the telling, has strayed far from the truth.
Read more from Elsie Johnstone
Lover, Husband, Father, Monster: Book 1, Her Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAngel Baby Names Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Our Little Town Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCatholic girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLover, Husband, Father, Monster: Book 3, The Aftermath Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRainbow Over Narre Warren Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLakes Entrance girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCome On Victoria! I'm Done. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOld Girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Ma's Garden
Related ebooks
No Farm No Fowl: Thelma & Louisa Mysteries, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFast Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ghost of Crutchfield Hall Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDecember Deadly Dolls: A Xara Smith Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Silent Sin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShipyard Dreams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClocked Out: A Josie Posey Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHarmonica Blues: Finding Light in the Darkest Places Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDoomed by Blooms: A Josie Posey Mystery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Farewell, Love, Eles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInnocent Spirits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zebra Crossing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Master of Phoenix Hall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Best of These Is Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI Wish I Was: Revised Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnd of Ever After: A Cinderella Retelling Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen Pretty Boys Lie Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Dangerous Temptation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Capital Bride: Matchmaker & Co., #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Gotta Go Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrapped Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ellen Flood: Sad Songs and Happy Dances Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEveryman Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMinaret: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tycoon Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Dryad Chronicles: Book One: The Death of a Sacred Tree Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMoonlight on the Meadow: Save Tomorrow, #13 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSir Hilton's Sin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Coldest Winter Ever Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Historical Fiction For You
East of Eden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rebecca Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Demon Copperhead: A Pulitzer Prize Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sold on a Monday: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yellow Wife: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hang the Moon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Light Between Oceans: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Have Always Lived in the Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Carnegie's Maid: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Second Life of Mirielle West: A Haunting Historical Novel Perfect for Book Clubs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This Tender Land: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Other Einstein: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girls in the Stilt House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sisters Brothers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The House of Eve Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Kitchen House: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Canterbury Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Island of Sea Women: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Clockmaker's Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book Woman's Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Euphoria Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5That Bonesetter Woman: the new feelgood novel from the author of The Smallest Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Ma's Garden
0 ratings0 reviews