short story

[Editor: This story by Henry Lawson was published in While the Billy Boils (1896).] That there dog of mine Macquarie the shearer had met with an accident. To tell the truth, he had been in a drunken row at a wayside shanty, from which he had escaped with three fractured … [Read more...] about That there dog of mine [short story by Henry Lawson]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]

[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]