Avondale School
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“When the foundation of the house was laid, preparations were
made for the raising of fruit and vegetables. The Lord had shown me
that the poverty which existed about Cooranbong need not be; for with
industry the soil could be cultivated, and made to yield its treasure for
the service of man.”
[359]
Mrs. White’s unbounded enthusiasm regarding the improvement
of the Avondale estate, did much to cheer and encourage others. She
was particularly insistent that no time be lost by the school men in the
planting of an orchard; and she greatly rejoiced when in October one
thousand choice fruit trees were planted on a favorable piece of land
occupied a year before by a thick forest of eucalyptus trees.
After the close of the industrial school in November, several months
passed without material progress being made. The people felt very
keenly the financial depression under which the colonies were still
staggering. Criticism regarding the effort to build up a school in such
a wild, out-of-the-way place, grew more and more general. Then
came the unfavorable termination of a lawsuit into which the school
had been dragged by the hasty action of its solicitor, which cost two
[360]
thousand dollars, besides causing serious delay in the work.
What could be done? The work seemed to be at a standstill, with
little prospect of more favorable conditions. The loss of two thousand
dollars would have been very discouraging at any time, but at such a
time as this it was most disheartening.
A Beautiful Dream
In this crisis, when the faith of many was being sorely tried, Mrs.
White had a dream which brought to her and to others the sweet
assurance that God had not forsaken them. In relating this experience,
she wrote:
“On the night of July 9, 1896, I had a beautiful dream. My husband,
James White, was by my side. We were upon our little farm in the
woods in Cooranbong, consulting in regard to the prospect of the
future returns of the labor put forth.
“My husband said to me, ‘What are you doing in reference to a
school building?’
“‘We can do nothing,’ I said, ‘unless we have means, and I know
not where means are coming from. We have no school building.