[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] A day on a selection The scene is a small New South Wales Western selection, the holder whereof is native-English. His wife is native-Irish. Time, Sunday, about 8 a.m. A used-up-looking … [Read more...] about A day on a selection [short story by Henry Lawson]
short stories and anecdotes
His country — after all [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] His country — after all The Blenheim coach was descending into the valley of the Avetere River — pronounced Aveterry — from the saddle of Taylor’s Pass. Across the river to the right, the … [Read more...] about His country — after all [short story by Henry Lawson]
A camp-fire yarn [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] A camp-fire yarn ‘This girl,’ said Mitchell, continuing a yarn to his mate, ‘was about the ugliest girl I ever saw, except one, and I’ll tell you about her directly. The old man had a … [Read more...] about A camp-fire yarn [short story by Henry Lawson]
Hungerford [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Hungerford One of the hungriest cleared roads in New South Wales runs to within a couple of miles of Hungerford, and stops there; then you strike through the scrub to the town. There is no … [Read more...] about Hungerford [short story by Henry Lawson]
The man who forgot [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] The man who forgot ‘Well, I dunno,’ said Tom Marshall — known as ‘The Oracle’ — ‘I’ve heerd o’ sich cases before: they aint commin, but — I’ve heerd o’ sich cases before,’ and he screwed … [Read more...] about The man who forgot [short story by Henry Lawson]
When the sun went down [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] When the sun went down Jack Drew sat on the edge of the shaft, with his foot in the loop and one hand on the rope, ready to descend. His elder brother, Tom, stood at one end of the … [Read more...] about When the sun went down [short story by Henry Lawson]
Stiffner and Jim (thirdly, Bill) [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Stiffner and Jim (thirdly, Bill.) We were tramping down in Canterbury, Maoriland, at the time, swagging it — me and Bill — looking for work on the new railway line. Well, one afternoon, … [Read more...] about Stiffner and Jim (thirdly, Bill) [short story by Henry Lawson]
Enter Mitchell [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Enter Mitchell The Western train had just arrived at Redfern railway-station with a lot of ordinary passengers and one swagman. He was short, and stout, and bow-legged, and freckled, … [Read more...] about Enter Mitchell [short story by Henry Lawson]
Settling on the land [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Settling on the land The worst bore in Australia just now is the man who raves about getting the people on the land, and button-holes you in the street with a little scheme of his own. He … [Read more...] about Settling on the land [short story by Henry Lawson]
An old mate of your father’s [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] An old mate of your father’s You remember when we hurried home from the old bush school how we were sometimes startled by a bearded apparition, who smiled kindly down on us, and whom our … [Read more...] about An old mate of your father’s [short story by Henry Lawson]
The old soldier and the bushranger [28 August 1858]
[Editor: A story published in The Band of Hope Journal and Australian Home Companion, 28 August 1858.] The old soldier and the bushranger. Up the country was a store, which had been frequently robbed by bushrangers. At length the owner hired an old sergeant to take charge … [Read more...] about The old soldier and the bushranger [28 August 1858]
Extracts from the “Verse and Worse” column [26 May 1901]
[Editor: Some extracts from “Dryblower” Murphy’s “Verse and Worse” column. Published in The West Australian Sunday Times, 26 May 1901.] Verse — and Worse. A politician publican of Fremantle was recently delivering an impassioned address to a group of coal lumpers in his … [Read more...] about Extracts from the “Verse and Worse” column [26 May 1901]
Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 1 [by Patty Parsley (Menie Parkes), 24 September 1859]
[Editor: A short story by Menie Parkes, under the name of “Patty Parsley”. Published in The Australian Home Companion and Band of Hope Journal, 24 September 1859. This story consisted of chapters 1, 2, and 3, all published in the same issue.] Pet Perennials. — No. I. By … [Read more...] about Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 1 [by Patty Parsley (Menie Parkes), 24 September 1859]
Shaw’s sure thing in the kidstakes [short story, 8 March 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 3, 8 March 1918.] Shaw’s sure thing in the kidstakes. I hopped aboard the leave train, managed to collar a corner seat, and settled myself down to enjoy a “Gold-flake” and the latest … [Read more...] about Shaw’s sure thing in the kidstakes [short story, 8 March 1918]
Bluegum [short story, 8 March 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 3, 8 March 1918.] Bluegum. When a man has led the free and easy life of the bush for twenty or thirty years, it is not an easy matter for him to acquire the “outward and visible signs of … [Read more...] about Bluegum [short story, 8 March 1918]
Getting his own back [8 March 1918]
[Editor: A humourous tale published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 3, 8 March 1918.] Getting his own back. Two Aussies on leave from France were occupying a first-class non-smoking compartment of an English train, when an irascible old bloke blew … [Read more...] about Getting his own back [8 March 1918]
“The dope” [short story, 8 March 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 3, 8 March 1918.] “The dope” Written and illustrated by “Worrap” Very few of us knew his real name, very few of us wanted to — until after the following episode happened. He fell into … [Read more...] about “The dope” [short story, 8 March 1918]
Aussiosities [8 March 1918]
[Editor: The “Aussiosities” column of anecdotes and humourous items. Published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 3, 8 March 1918.] Aussiosities. The bombing instructor was handing out the dinkum oil on the method of clearing a sap by bombing along it from … [Read more...] about Aussiosities [8 March 1918]
Smiles and a smell [short story, 16 February 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 2, 16 February 1918.] Smiles and a smell. The billet was a farm — one of those typical French farms, with the inevitable stagnant pool standing smellfully in the court-yard. Fortunately, … [Read more...] about Smiles and a smell [short story, 16 February 1918]
The White “Clinker” [short story, 16 February 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 2, 16 February 1918.] The White “Clinker.” To-morrow, old man! There’s a place where to-morrows don’t exist. There’s no to-morrows there! No to-days, no Mondays, no Tuesdays, no Good … [Read more...] about The White “Clinker” [short story, 16 February 1918]
Autobiography of a “Chat” [short story, 16 February 1918]
[Editor: A short story about a “chat” (a louse). Published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 2, 16 February 1918.] Autobiography of a “Chat.” All day an obsession of oncoming evil has oppressed me. The constant recurrence of fatalities of a revolting … [Read more...] about Autobiography of a “Chat” [short story, 16 February 1918]
The Hump on the Dump [short story, 16 February 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 2, 16 February 1918.] The Hump on the Dump. The sizzling sound of snowflakes sliding down the stove pipe reminded one vividly of far away eggs and bacon days. Through the sandbag wall came … [Read more...] about The Hump on the Dump [short story, 16 February 1918]
Aussiosities [16 February 1918]
[Editor: The “Aussiosities” column of anecdotes and humourous items. Published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, 16 February 1918. In the 18 January 1918 issue of Aussie (on page 11) readers were asked if they knew of the origin of the word “digger” as applied to … [Read more...] about Aussiosities [16 February 1918]
Sardines [18 January 1918]
[Editor: Published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 1, 18 January 1918.] Sardines. I had hoarded them for some time in the interests of war economy, when hunger got the better of me. Morning shift created an appetite, and why not sardines? So I handed … [Read more...] about Sardines [18 January 1918]
An averted horror [short story, 18 January 1918]
[Editor: A short story published in Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine, no. 1, 18 January 1918.] An averted horror. When the war began Rupert Robinson (original style Heinrich Schmidt) had been trading in Sydney for about quarter of a century. During all that … [Read more...] about An averted horror [short story, 18 January 1918]