JN's+SPACE

=** DIARY OF A GOLD DIGGER **=

= = =Name: Mariella Hanson= =Origin: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne= =Age: 36= =Personality: Sweet and hard working= =Family:= =Daughter- Elizabeth- Pretty and cute. Can be very sensitive. 11 years old= =Husband- Charles- Hard working man. 38 years old.=

Dear Diary,
==GOLD, GOLD! That's what it said on the wall outside the church. Since I worked inside the church I was one of the first people to see it. Gold had been found in Ballarat. This isn't the first time. Before gold had been found in Churchill. Many had left town but some remained like my family and I. We didn't go because Churchill was far from Melbourne. Maybe we can go this time, after all Ballarat is closer.==

Dear Diary,
==Charles, my husband and I had a long discussion last night about going to the goldfields in Ballarat. We both agreed that we needed the money if we found gold but if we didn't then we would have to return home. In the end we decided to go. We still haven't told my daugter, Elizabeth. We'll have to do that when she wakes up.==

Dear Diary,
==Our horse cart has been loaded and we are setting of now. We have packed clothes, 2 tents, 3 blankets and some fresh fruit. When we reach the goldfields I will find work as a house maid. Elizabeth will attend school. Speaking of Elizabeth she has just fainted it must be the heat.==

= = =6th of May 1852= =Dear Diary,= =For the past 8 days. We have been staying at Boroughbow Hotel. We made sure that we stayed long enough to make Elizabeth recover. During the past 2 days I have brought more food and water, while Charles looked after Elizabeth. I also brought some new clothes for us all. A new dress for Elizabeth, a top for Charles and a new hat for I. Right now Charles is loading the cart because we will be going soon.= =12th of May 1852= =Dear Diary,= =The weather is horrible. Great storms are rumbling with lightning flashing by. I am grateful to have found accommodation at the Storrowfoul Hotel. I feel rather lonely since Elizabeth had fallen asleep and Charles has met some folks from next door. Now something strange happened this afternoon. There was a knock on the door but when I opened it noone was there. So I went back to my bedroom. I heard the knock again but ignored it, but whoever it was kept on knocking! It turned out to be a young boy looking for his lost ball.=

=18th of May 1852= =Dear Diary,= =We are finally here! I am sorry for not getting back to you during our journey but I had no time. Charles has just found a nice spot near the trees. I wonder why noone has taken that spot yet? I have met some very lovely ladies but I have also met people that seem rude and selfish. Today I shall go to the school and enrol Elizabeth. Then I shall get Charles to pin up a sign about I being a housemaid. This it what it reads:= =My name is Mariella Hanson and I am looking for a job that involves cleaning and cooking. Please leave a note in this pocket. Thank You.=

23rd of May 1852

Dear Diary,