[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Our pipes The moon rose away out on the edge of a smoky plain, seen through a sort of tunnel or arch in the fringe of mulga behind which we were camped — Jack Mitchell and I. The ‘timber’ … [Read more...] about Our pipes [short story by Henry Lawson]
Henry Lawson (1867-1922) (author)
Mitchell: A character sketch [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Mitchell: A character sketch It was a very mean station, and Mitchell thought he had better go himself and beard the overseer for tucker. His mates were for waiting till the overseer went … [Read more...] about Mitchell: A character sketch [short story by Henry Lawson]
In a wet season [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] In a wet season It was raining — ‘general rain.’ The train left Bourke, and then there began the long, long agony of scrub and wire fence, with here and there a natural clearing, which … [Read more...] about In a wet season [short story by Henry Lawson]
A visit of condolence [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] A visit of condolence ‘Does Arvie live here, old woman?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Strike me dead! carn’t yer answer a civil queschin?’ ‘How dare you talk to me like that, you young larrikin? Be … [Read more...] about A visit of condolence [short story by Henry Lawson]
‘Some Day’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] ‘Some Day’ The two travellers had yarned late in their camp, and the moon was getting low down through the mulga. Mitchell’s mate had just finished a rather ‘racy’ yarn, but it seemed to … [Read more...] about ‘Some Day’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
His colonial oath [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] His colonial oath I lately met an old schoolmate of mine up-country. He was much changed. He was tall and lank, and had the most hideous bristly red beard I ever saw. He was working on his … [Read more...] about His colonial oath [short story by Henry Lawson]
‘Board and residence’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] ‘Board and residence’ One o’clock on Saturday. The unemployed’s one o’clock on Saturday! Nothing more can be done this week, so you drag yourself wearily and despairingly ‘home,’ with the … [Read more...] about ‘Board and residence’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
An unfinished love story [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] An unfinished love story Brook let down the heavy, awkward slip-rails, and the gaunt cattle stumbled through, with aggravating deliberation, and scattered slowly among the ragged native … [Read more...] about An unfinished love story [short story by Henry Lawson]
Steelman’s Pupil [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Steelman’s Pupil Steelman was a hard case, but some said that Smith was harder. Steelman was big and good-looking, and good-natured in his way; he was a ‘spieler,’ pure and simple, but did … [Read more...] about Steelman’s Pupil [short story by Henry Lawson]
Across the Straits [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Across the Straits We crossed Cook’s Straits from Wellington in one of those rusty little iron tanks that go up and down and across there for twenty or thirty years and never get wrecked — … [Read more...] about Across the Straits [short story by Henry Lawson]
‘Dossing out’ and ‘camping’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] ‘Dossing out’ and ‘camping’ At least two hundred poor beggars were counted sleeping out on the pavements of the main streets of Sydney the other night — grotesque bundles of rags lying … [Read more...] about ‘Dossing out’ and ‘camping’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
The shearing of the cook’s dog [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] The shearing of the cook’s dog The dog was a little conservative mongrel poodle, with long dirty white hair all over him — longest and most over his eyes, which glistened through it like … [Read more...] about The shearing of the cook’s dog [short story by Henry Lawson]
An echo from the old bark school [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] An echo from the old bark school It was the first Monday after the holidays. The children had taken their seats in the Old Bark School, and the master called out the roll as … [Read more...] about An echo from the old bark school [short story by Henry Lawson]
His father’s mate [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] His father’s mate It was Golden Gully still, but golden in name only, unless indeed the yellow mullock heaps or the bloom of the wattle trees on the hillside gave it a claim to the title. … [Read more...] about His father’s mate [short story by Henry Lawson]
Shooting the moon [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Shooting the moon We lay in camp in the fringe of the mulga, and watched the big red, smoky, rising moon out on the edge of the misty plain, and smoked and thought together sociably. Our … [Read more...] about Shooting the moon [short story by Henry Lawson]
Mitchell doesn’t believe in the sack [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Mitchell doesn’t believe in the sack ‘If ever I do get a job again,’ said Mitchell, ‘I’ll stick to it while there’s a hand’s turn of work to do, and put a few pounds together. I won’t be … [Read more...] about Mitchell doesn’t believe in the sack [short story by Henry Lawson]
Remailed [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Remailed There is an old custom prevalent in Australasia — and other parts, too, perhaps, for that matter — which, we think, deserves to be written up. It might not be an ‘honoured’ custom … [Read more...] about Remailed [short story by Henry Lawson]
Drifted back [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Drifted back The stranger walked into the corner grocery with the air of one who had come back after many years to see someone who would be glad to see him. He shed his swag and stood it … [Read more...] about Drifted back [short story by Henry Lawson]
Steelman [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Steelman Steelman was a hard case. If you were married, and settled down, and were so unfortunate as to have known Steelman in other days, he would, if in your neighbourhood and dead-beat, … [Read more...] about Steelman [short story by Henry Lawson]
Another of Mitchell’s plans for the future [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Another of Mitchell’s plans for the future ‘I’ll get down among the cockies along the Lachlan or some of those rivers,’ said Mitchell, throwing down his swag beneath a big tree. ‘A man … [Read more...] about Another of Mitchell’s plans for the future [short story by Henry Lawson]
He’d come back [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] He’d come back The yarn was all lies, I suppose; but it wasn’t bad. A city bushman told it, of course, and he told it in the travellers’ hut. ‘As true’s God hears me I never meant to … [Read more...] about He’d come back [short story by Henry Lawson]
In a dry season [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] In a dry season Draw a wire fence and a few ragged gums, and add some scattered sheep running away from the train. Then you’ll have the bush all along the New South Wales Western line from … [Read more...] about In a dry season [short story by Henry Lawson]
On the edge of a plain [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] On the edge of a plain ‘I’d been away from home for eight years,’ said Mitchell to his mate, as they dropped their swags in the mulga shade and sat down. ‘I hadn’t written a letter — kept … [Read more...] about On the edge of a plain [short story by Henry Lawson]
Stragglers [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Stragglers An oblong hut, walled with blue-grey hardwood slabs, adzed at the ends and set horizontally between the round sapling studs; high roof of the eternal galvanised iron. A big … [Read more...] about Stragglers [short story by Henry Lawson]
Arvie Aspinall’s alarm clock [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] Arvie Aspinall’s alarm clock In one of these years a paragraph appeared in a daily paper to the effect that a constable had discovered a little boy asleep on the steps of Grinder Bros.’ … [Read more...] about Arvie Aspinall’s alarm clock [short story by Henry Lawson]