Bread on the Water by FW Boreham Epworth Press in 1949. Thank you to Geoff Pound
HOW TED PRINGLE CAME BACK Christmas, 1949 ‘The worst of our work is that nothing ever comes of it!’ pensively observed Archie Harrington, the handsome young minister of Rocky Glen. Neatly attired in a grey suit with a flowing blue tie, Archie seemed to be speaking quietly to himself rather than addressing the men around him. We were away in the depths of the Australian bush at a spot, close to the water’s edge, at which three huge gum-trees had fallen, their prostrate forms completing a perfect triangle. To this romantic and secluded rendezvous, the men who were attending the Summer Retreat at Silver Falls often came of an evening after the programme of the day had been completed. Many of them mounted the prostrate trees; some lounged against the gigantic trunks that clustered round; whilst others squatted or sprawled among the fern. On hot nights, it was very pleasant, before retiring, to saunter down to this leafy paradise. As soon as the last session of the day had closed,...