The first edition of this book is dated 1881. The edition used is dated 1900. The publisher was The Sunday School Union, London. The number of pages is 131.

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General information

Peter’s mother and father were barge people on the London river, the Thames. But the father dies, and Peter and his mother are destitute. She goes out to do cleaning etcetera, and Peter scavenges by the river-side. The boys who did this used to be called mudlarks. Peter’s mother dies. One day a man called Mr. Wells and his friends come by in a boat, and cast money for the mudlarks to dive for. Unfortunately Wells loses his valuable gold ring in doing this. He leaves his card with Peter, who finds the ring, and returns it.

Struck with this honesty Wells gives the orphan and destitute boy a home. Wells is a shipowner, and when Peter is fourteen he is given an apprenticeship on one of his ships. Peter makes his way up till he is a senior officer, but marries a girl in London, whose father owns one small vessel, and when he is dying he makes the vessel and the goodwill over to Peter. Wells’s business fails, and with it go Peter’s savings.

Peter and his wife and children have a sea-going life, but eventually decide to settle in Australia. Arriving there they found it hard to avoid the escaped convicts who are roaming the land and giving everybody a hard time.

All these situations are well written, and you will enjoy the book.

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Contents

Chapter I.
The Settler’s Early Days.

Chapter II.
New Friends.

Chapter III.
The Voyage to Australia.

Chapter IV.
The Rescued Stranger.

Chapter V.
Charley White.

Chapter VI.
In Smooth Water.

Chapter VII.
Fresh Water.

Chapter VIII.
A Joyful Discovery.

Chapter IX.
Land, Hurrah!

Chapter X.
Our Convict Host.

Chapter XI.
Our Journey Inland.

Chapter XII.
Bush-Rangers.

Chapter XIII.
Our Prisoner.

Chapter XIV.
A Settler’s Life.

Chapter XV.
Conclusion.

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