On the Track (Henry Lawson 1900)

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] How Steelman told his story It was Steelman’s humour, in some of his moods, to take Smith into his confidence, as some old bushmen do their dogs. “You’re nearly as good as an intelligent sheep-dog to … [Read more...] about How Steelman told his story [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] An oversight of Steelman’s Steelman and Smith — professional wanderers — were making back for Wellington, down through the wide and rather dreary-looking Hutt Valley. They were broke. They carried their … [Read more...] about An oversight of Steelman’s [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Payable gold Among the crowds who left the Victorian side for New South Wales about the time Gulgong broke out was an old Ballarat digger named Peter McKenzie. He had married and retired from the mining … [Read more...] about Payable gold [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] “A rough shed” A hot, breathless, blinding sunrise — the sun having appeared suddenly above the ragged edge of the barren scrub like a great disc of molten steel. No hint of a morning breeze before it, … [Read more...] about “A rough shed” [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Two larrikins “Y’orter do something, Ernie. Yer know how I am. You don’t seem to care. Y’orter to do something.” Stowsher slouched at a greater angle to the greasy door-post, and scowled under his … [Read more...] about Two larrikins [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson. The chapter is comprised of two parts: 1) Tom Smith; 2) Jack Ellis.] Meeting old mates I. Tom Smith You are getting well on in the thirties, and haven’t left off being a fool yet. You have been … [Read more...] about Meeting old mates [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Bill the ventriloquial rooster “When we were up country on the selection, we had a rooster at our place, named Bill,” said Mitchell; “a big mongrel of no particular breed, though the old lady said he … [Read more...] about Bill the ventriloquial rooster [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Mitchell’s jobs “I’m going to knock off work and try to make some money,” said Mitchell, as he jerked the tea-leaves out of his pannikin and reached for the billy. “It’s been the great mistake of my … [Read more...] about Mitchell’s jobs [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] No place for a woman He had a selection on a long box-scrub siding of the ridges, about half a mile back and up from the coach road. There were no neighbours that I ever heard of, and the nearest “town” … [Read more...] about No place for a woman [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Mitchell on women “All the same,” said Mitchell’s mate, continuing an argument by the camp-fire; “all the same, I think that a woman can stand cold water better than a man. Why, when I was staying in a … [Read more...] about Mitchell on women [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Mitchell on matrimony “I suppose your wife will be glad to see you,” said Mitchell to his mate in their camp by the dam at Hungerford. They were overhauling their swags, and throwing away the blankets, … [Read more...] about Mitchell on matrimony [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson. This chapter is comprised of three parts: 1) The first born; 2) The only hope; 3) Doc. Wild.] “Middleton’s Peter” I. The first born The struggling squatter is to be found in Australia as well as … [Read more...] about “Middleton’s Peter” [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] The iron-bark chip Dave Regan and party — bush-fencers, tank-sinkers, rough carpenters, &c. — were finishing the third and last culvert of their contract on the last section of the new railway line, and … [Read more...] about The iron-bark chip [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Andy Page’s rival Tall and freckled and sandy, Face of a country lout; That was the picture of Andy — Middleton’s rouseabout. On Middleton’s wide dominions Plied the stock-whip and shears; Hadn’t … [Read more...] about Andy Page’s rival [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] A vision of Sandy Blight I’d been humping my back, and crouching and groaning for an hour or so in the darkest corner of the travellers’ hut, tortured by the demon of sandy blight. It was too hot to … [Read more...] about A vision of Sandy Blight [short story, by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] The songs they used to sing On the diggings up to twenty odd years ago — and as far back as I can remember — on Lambing Flat, the Pipe Clays, Gulgong, Home Rule, and so through the roaring list; in bark … [Read more...] about The songs they used to sing [short story, by Henry Lawson]