the days of my life

第29部分 (第2/7頁)

　I　am　today。　Perhaps　you　will　say　it　is　not　much　after　all；　but　if　you　had　to　encounter　all　the　uphill　work　that　fell　to　my　lot　of　which　you　have　no　conception；　and　when　you　are　a　little　older；　you　will　be　able　to　appreciate　matters　as　I　do。

I　have　but　little　news　to　send　you　this　time。　Two　regiments　are　expected　here　in　a　few　days　I　believe；　so　that　we　will　have　a　lot　of　troops　at　hand　to　cope　with　the　Amabull　＇a　slang　name　for　the　Boers。　—　H。　R。　H。＇　or　any　other　obstreperous　bulls　who　might　trouble　us。　Last　evening　I　heard　from　Middelburg　that　the　Boers　there　are　very　violent　and　the　Landdrost　Scoble　was　anticipating　serious　results。　All　these　things　happening　so　continually　worry　me　a　good　deal；　and　I　am　heartily　sick　of　it　all　。　。　。　。

Ever　your　affectionate　friend；

M。　Osborn。

The　next　letter　is　headed　Zululand；　April　14；　1880。

My　post　runner　brought　me　your　very　wele　letter　of　3　February　yesterday。　I　was　very　glad　to　get　it　and　to　hear　that　all　was　well　with　you。　Before　proceeding　to　business　matters　I　must　offer　you　my　sincere　and　hearty　congratulations　on　the　prospect　of　happiness　before　you。　Depend　upon　it　you　are　doing　the　right　thing。　A　man　is　nothing　in　this　life　who　has　no　wife　to　love　or　be　loved　by；　and　I　feel　certain　that　you　have　not　erred　in　your　selection　and　that　the　young　lady　will　prove　not　only　worthy　of　your　affection　but　a　great　stay　and　support　through　life。

I　write　this　from　the　heart　of　Zululand；　where　I　hold　the　office　of　British　Resident。　My　duties　are　chiefly　to　supervise　the　action　of　the　thirteen　chiefs　to　whom　the　country　has　been　given；　their　government　and　the　way　they　fulfil　the　treaty　obligations。　I　am　entirely　on　my　own　responsibility　and　have　to　do　just　as　appears　right　to　me。　And　a　proper　r