[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 story
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]
Fecundity [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Fecundity Old Parkinson had eight sons. Or rather, Old Mrs. Parkinson had the eight sons, and Old Parkinson idealistically approved. He was far … [Read more...] about Fecundity [by P. R. Stephensen]
Napoo Singh [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Napoo Singh There was excitement when Napoo Singh died. The Singhs were a small community from India who lived very much by themselves, on a … [Read more...] about Napoo Singh [by P. R. Stephensen]
Gold fever [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Gold fever When Old Steve came into the township he had a heavy little canvas bag in his rolled swag. For more than six months he had been … [Read more...] about Gold fever [by P. R. Stephensen]
Ironbark [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Ironbark — How did Curley get his leg stiff like that? — Oh, that was years ago, Sonny, before you were born. He scraped his kneecap off on an … [Read more...] about Ironbark [by P. R. Stephensen]
The darnce [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] The darnce Women in the Bush flowered early, and bore fruit at once, and withered quickly, and died slowly — all because the sun was hot, and food … [Read more...] about The darnce [by P. R. Stephensen]
Sorrow of Black Alf [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Sorrow of Black Alf The aboriginal blackfellows in the Bush knew how to die easily, because they were a dying race, particularly after the white … [Read more...] about Sorrow of Black Alf [by P. R. Stephensen]
The crawler [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] The crawler A terror-full silence had fallen, chilling the hot afternoon. Young Mrs. Williamson, sewing on the verandah, had looked up suddenly … [Read more...] about The crawler [by P. R. Stephensen]
Strength of ten [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Strength of ten Easily the strongest man was Big Bill O’Reilly, the timber-getter. He would come into the township, cracking his great … [Read more...] about Strength of ten [by P. R. Stephensen]
Willy Ah Foo [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Willy Ah Foo We lads thought it particularly noble to steal peanuts from Willy Ah Foo, for the peanuts of Willy Ah Foo were not only remarkably … [Read more...] about Willy Ah Foo [by P. R. Stephensen]
Mounted on Edith [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Mounted on Edith It was seven miles to the Long Paddock from Hanson’s, so young Johnny Hanson, fourteen years old and cocksure, had plenty of … [Read more...] about Mounted on Edith [by P. R. Stephensen]
Death at sundown [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] Death at sundown When the Rawlinson twins, Frankie and Harry, asked their father if they could go fishing along Deep Creek, their father … [Read more...] about Death at sundown [by P. R. Stephensen]
The bushwhackers [by P. R. Stephensen]
[Editor: This is a short story from The Bushwhackers: Sketches of Life in the Australian Outback (1929) by P. R. Stephensen.] The bushwhackers When Bill and Jim Darley landed in Australia, they were astonished most by the tallness of the trees. Great smooth shining white … [Read more...] about The bushwhackers [by P. R. Stephensen]
Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 3 [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.] Chapter III. Proud of you, … [Read more...] about Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 3 [by Patty Parsley (Menie Parkes), 24 September 1859]
Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 2 [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.] Chapter II. Not in scorn do I … [Read more...] about Pet Perennials, no. 1 chapter 2 [by Patty Parsley (Menie Parkes), 24 September 1859]
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]