The Bancroft Reunion.

[thestoryteller]

THE BANCROFT REUNION

The old Myer homestead, 'Bancroft', built by early pioneers
had not entertained a gathering for nigh on twenty years.
No, not since the sad occasion when poor Mrs. Myer died,
but the long weekend in April had for months been set aside.

It was grand to hear the children laugh, in oh, so many ways,
as the joy was reminiscent of their early childhood days.
They had grown up on the property, beside Ya-amba hole,
where they fished for yellowbelly with a weeping willow pole.

It was Jack the second eldest son and Bancroft's owner now
that had battled years of floods and drought and still survived somehow,
who had acted on young Kate's request and gathered everyone
to the plain lands cattle station where for them life had begun.

Dan, a practising accountant in a Sydney partnership,
for the first time brought his two young sons and wife upon the trip.
Dell had married Mr Fleet, the member for Mt. Brindalee,
who was always busy working for some worthy charity.

Ben, who owned a stock and station agency up Queensland way,
made the southbound journey with his wife and daughter Maggie May.
For young Kate, who'd never married but pursued a stage career,
it was she who'd instigated the idea of meeting here.

I must not forget poor Dick ... although at times the others could.
Eldest of the clan he owned a shanty on old Sandalwood.
Meanwhile all the children mixed and chatted on the homestead lawn.
Dick though ... sat there on the wood verandah, happy but withdrawn.

Back inside Nell sang the children's praises to Felicity,
Bancroft’s nanny, who saw light of status in society.
Still, Nell eulogised how each achieved success and could stand tall.
That was all except poor Dick. He'd not achieved in life at all.

"While the other children have all succeeded and prospered dear,
Dick has nothing but the barren block of land he owns I fear.
He has put the Myer name in disrepute and let us down,
yes, a failure, and the only dull stone in the Myer crown."

Sadly, Dick had overheard the harsh remarks of his Aunt Nell
and Felicity could sense his pain, the depth of hurt as well.
Dick could stay no longer as the sting, which hurt most, sad to say,
was perceiving how his brothers and his sisters thought that way.

Kate, who had observed poor Dick’s discreet departure, then enquired
from Felicity, if she knew why it was that Dick retired.
Kate was then informed of Nell’s remarks, which she thought quite absurd,
and was sick of heart when she was told how Dick had overheard.

She then wiped her teary eyes and sought the others’ company,
hoping they would help divert the threat of failing harmony.
Still the matter would not dampen the reunion, and Kate's hunch
was the highlight of the gathering would be this Sunday's lunch.

Dick, though more withdrawn than usual and obviously scarred
from Aunt Nell’s unkind remarks, then found the situation hard
coping with and did not wish to be the brunt of smear campaigns,
but despite Aunt Nell’s portrayal, Myer blood ran through his veins.

It was Dan who then began to interrupt and speak up first
and admitted, proudly, that they'd all left 'Bancroft' with a thirst
to achieve in life and gathered riches, and in vast amounts,
though could never match the one who prospered in what really counts.

"I remember working for the Smythes down at the mortuary
to procure the needed fees to enter University,
but the wages disappeared one day and I received the blame
and, though innocent, the stigma stayed for years and smeared my name.

I was ready to quit my dream of being an accountant,
but our Dick, and only Dick, believed that I was innocent.
Though I'd saved a little, he then took it on himself to find the rest,
therfore, everything I have is down to Dick. My thanks, I’m blest."

Ben rose next to tell us that his first desire to purchase stock
would have been a shady one. He chose though in the end to block
this transaction, after telling Dick the deal and being told
that the Myer honour code was more desirable than gold.

"Not long afterwards the other men involved did time away
and if not for Dick I may have never opted out that day.
Up till now I have not forgotten his words and treasure them still
and not one of my ventures has seen a tainted dollar bill."

Del the eldest girl then rose and voiced that when her mother died
she was only five and Dick had taken it in his own stride
to be both a mother and a father to her and the good
in her life, if any wished to lay a claim to it, Dick could.

It was Jack who spoke up next and with an air of pride he praised
Dick for saving him when typhoid gripped his life and was amazed
by the tender, gentle, loving, kind way that he had assisted him
back to health, despite the situation looking somewhat grim.

Now in tears, Kate glanced at Nell and she expressed how her career
nearly stumbled when she failed her scholarship exam, but dear
Dick coerced her to accept the money needed for the fees,
little knowing he had cashed in shares invested overseas.

It was dear Felicity who then surprised them, making known
Dick had funded for the Shire a brand new fire truck and shown
how his selfless, sacrificing spirit saved old Margaret Frome
from last summer's savage fire, which consumed the widow's home.

It was then that Nell, became aware of how she had besmirched
Dick's good name, and as she wept with guilt she sought her bag and searched
for a handkerchief and sobbed, "Dear children, may I now confess,
I have learnt there is a kind of failure that's the best success.”


Some years ago my eldest daughter Amanda read to me one of the most moving short stories I have ever read. Its author, L. M. Montgomery was responsible for writing a series of books including Ann of Green Gables. Since then it has always been my desire to capture the essence of the story and put it in verse, but in an Australian setting. I hope I have done it justice. It is also available on our CD, Blacklisted.

© Merv Webster

From the book Keeping the Culture.