Rossiter’s Farm

Rossiter’s Farm is a short book for children aged 10 to 12 years.  It will soften the hardest of hearts.

Nine-year-old Bob, and Winnie, his little sister of five, lose all their loved ones.  First Donald, their much-loved older half-brother as he goes to seek a new life in the goldfields of Western Australia.  Then their mother sickens and dies, followed shortly by their father.

The orphans’ heartless Aunt Hester takes them on, along with the farm.  She soon turns them into slaves, making them do as much farm work as possible to turn a profit.  She feeds them very little and treats them harshly as well.

Bob cares deeply for little Winnie and tries to shield her from the constant anger and abuse of their Aunt, but suffers much himself in the process.  They long for Donald’s return, but he has been away nearly two years and is possibly dead as they have had no news.  Neighbours feel for the children and wish they could steal them away from their horrible Aunt and are planning how do do it.

The children bravely try to run away but are caught, beaten and brought back to the farm by their Aunt—only to find that Donald has returned.  He banishes the Aunt and the children find love and happiness once more.

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The Trustee of The Mary Grant Bruce Family Trust owns the extant copyrights to this story.

First Published in: 1922
First Publisher: Whitcombe and Tombs Pty Limited
Places First Published: Melbourne, Sydney and Perth