[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] The master’s mistake William Spencer stayed away from school that hot day, and “went swimming.” The master wrote a note to William’s father, and gave it to William’s brother Joe to carry home. “You’ll … [Read more...] about The master’s mistake [short story by Henry Lawson]
short story
Mitchell on the “sex” and other “problems” [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] Mitchell on the “sex” and other “problems.” “I agree with ‘T’ in last week’s Bulletin,” said Mitchell, after cogitating some time over the last drop of tea in his pannikin, held at various angles, “about … [Read more...] about Mitchell on the “sex” and other “problems” [short story by Henry Lawson]
The selector’s daughter [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: A short story in four parts. Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] The selector’s daughter I. She rode slowly down the steep siding from the main road to a track in the bed of the Long Gully, the old grey horse picking his way zig-zag … [Read more...] about The selector’s daughter [short story by Henry Lawson]
Two boys at Grinder Bros.’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] Two boys at Grinder Bros.’ Five or six half-grown larrikins sat on the cemented sill of the big window of Grinder Bros.’ Railway Coach Factory waiting for the work bell, and one of the number was Bill … [Read more...] about Two boys at Grinder Bros.’ [short story by Henry Lawson]
“Seeing the last of you” [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] “Seeing the last of you” “When you’re going away by boat,” said Mitchell, “you ought to say good-bye to the women at home, and to the chaps at the last pub. I hate waiting on the wharf or up on deck when … [Read more...] about “Seeing the last of you” [short story by Henry Lawson]
They wait on the wharf in black [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] They wait on the wharf in black “Seems to me that honest, hard-working men seem to accumulate the heaviest swags of trouble in this world.” — Steelman. Told by Mitchell’s mate. We were coming back … [Read more...] about They wait on the wharf in black [short story by Henry Lawson]
Black Joe [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] Black Joe They called him Black Joe, and me White Joe, by way of distinction and for the convenience of his boss (my uncle), and my aunt, and mother; so, when we heard the cry of “Bla-a-ack Joe!” (the … [Read more...] about Black Joe [short story by Henry Lawson]
New Year’s night [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] New Year’s night It was dark enough for anything in Dead Man’s Gap — a round, warm, close darkness, in which retreating sounds seemed to be cut off suddenly at a distance of a hundred yards or so, instead … [Read more...] about New Year’s night [short story by Henry Lawson]
A daughter of Maoriland [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] A daughter of Maoriland A sketch of poor-class Maoris The new native-school teacher, who was “green,” “soft,” and poetical, and had a literary ambition, called her “August,” and fondly hoped to build a … [Read more...] about A daughter of Maoriland [short story by Henry Lawson]
A case for the Oracle [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] A case for the Oracle The Oracle and I were camped together. The Oracle was a bricklayer by trade, and had two or three small contracts on hand. I was “doing a bit of house-painting”. There were a … [Read more...] about A case for the Oracle [short story by Henry Lawson]
The Darling River [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] The Darling River The Darling — which is either a muddy gutter or a second Mississippi — is about six times as long as the distance, in a straight line, from its head to its mouth. The state of the river … [Read more...] about The Darling River [short story by Henry Lawson]
The hero of Redclay [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] The hero of Redclay. The “boss-over-the-board” was leaning with his back to the wall between two shoots, reading a reference handed to him by a green-hand applying for work as picker-up or woolroller — a … [Read more...] about The hero of Redclay [short story by Henry Lawson]
An incident at Stiffner’s [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] An incident at Stiffner’s They called him “Stiffner” because he used, long before, to get a living by poisoning wild dogs near the Queensland border. The name stuck to him closer than misfortune did, for … [Read more...] about An incident at Stiffner’s [short story by Henry Lawson]
A gentleman sharper and Steelman sharper [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] A gentleman sharper and Steelman sharper. Steelman and Smith had been staying at the hotel for several days in the dress and character of bushies down for what they considered a spree. The gentleman … [Read more...] about A gentleman sharper and Steelman sharper [short story by Henry Lawson]
The shanty-keeper’s wife [short story by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: Published in Over the Sliprails, by Henry Lawson (1900).] The shanty-keeper’s wife There were about a dozen of us jammed into the coach, on the box seat and hanging on to the roof and tailboard as best we could. We were shearers, bagmen, agents, a squatter, a … [Read more...] about The shanty-keeper’s wife [short story by Henry Lawson]
How Steelman told his story [short story, by Henry Lawson]
[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]
An oversight of Steelman’s [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]
Payable gold [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]
“A rough shed” [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]
Mr. Smellingscheck [short story, by Henry Lawson]
[Editor: This is a chapter from On the Track (1900) by Henry Lawson.] Mr. Smellingscheck I met him in a sixpenny restaurant — “All meals, 6d. — Good beds, 1s.” That was before sixpenny restaurants rose to a third-class position, and became possibly respectable places to … [Read more...] about Mr. Smellingscheck [short story, by Henry Lawson]
Two larrikins [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]
Meeting old mates [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]
Bill the ventriloquial rooster [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]
Mitchell’s jobs [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]
No place for a woman [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]