按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Well； whales is sheep I've never shore； I've never been to sea；
So all them great Leviathans is mysteries to me；
But there's a tale the Bible tells I fully understand；
About the time the Patriarchs were settling on the land。
Those Patriarchs of olden time； when all is said and done；
They lived the same as far…out men on many a Queensland run
A lot of roving； droving men who drifted to and fro；
The same we did out Queensland way a score of years ago。
Now Isaac was a squatter man； and Jacob was his son；
And when the boy grew up； you see； he wearied of the run。
You know the way that boys grow up there's some that stick at home；
But any boy that's worth his salt will roll his swag and roam。
So Jacob caught the roving fit and took the drovers' track
To where his uncle had a run； beyond the outer back；
You see they made for out…back runs for room to stretch and grow；
The same we did out Queensland way； a score of years ago。
Now； Jacob knew the ways of stock that's most uncommon clear
For when he got to Laban's Run； they made him overseer；
He didn't ask a pound a week； but bargained for his pay
To take the roan and strawberry calves the same we'd take to…day。
The duns and blacks and 〃Goulburn roans〃 （that's brindles）； coarse and hard；
He branded them with Laban's brand； in Old Man Laban's yard；
So； when he'd done the station work for close on seven year；
Why； all the choicest stock belonged to Laban's overseer。
It's often so with overseers I've seen the same thing done
By many a Queensland overseer on many a Queensland run。
But when the mustering time came on old Laban acted straight；
And gave him country of his own outside the boundary gate。
He gave him stock； and offered him his daughter's hand in troth；
And Jacob first he married one； and then he married both；
You see； they weren't particular about a wife or so
No more were we up Queensland way a score of years ago。
But when the stock were strong and fat with grass and lots of rain；
Then Jacob felt the call to take the homeward road again。
It's strange in every creed and clime； no matter where you roam；
There comes a day when every man would like to make for home。
So off he set with sheep and goats； a mighty moving band；
To battle down the homeward track along the Overland
It's droving mixed…up mobs like that that makes men cut their throats。
I've travelled rams； which Lord forget； but never travelled goats。
But Jacob knew the ways of stock； for （so the story goes）
When battling through the Philistines selectors； I suppose
He thought he'd have to fight his way； an awkward sort of job；
So what did Old Man Jacob do？ of course； he split the mob。
He sent the strong stock on ahead to battle out the way；
He couldn't hurry lambing ewes no more you could to…day
And down the road； from run to run； his hand 'gainst every hand；
He moved that mighty mob of stock across the Overland。
The thing is made so clear and plain； so solid in and out；
There isn't any room at all for any kind of doubt。
It's just a plain straightforward tale a tale that lets you know
The way they lived in Palestine three thousand years ago。
It's strange to read it all to…day； the shifting of the stock；
You'd think you see the caravans that loaf behind the flock；
The little donkeys and the mules； the sheep that slowly spread；
And maybe Dan or Naphthali a…ridin' on ahead。
The long； dry； dusty summer days； the smouldering fires at night；
The stir and bustle of the camp at break of morning light；
The little kids that skipped about； the camels' dead…slow tramp
I wish I'd done a week or two in Old Man Jacob's camp！
~But if I keep the narrer path； some day； perhaps； I'll know
How Jacob bred them strawberry calves three thousand years ago。~
The Reverend Mullineux
I'd reckon his weight at eight…stun…eight；
And his height at five…foot…two；
With a face as plain as an eight…day clock
And a walk as brisk as a bantam…cock
Game as a bantam； too；
Hard and wiry and full of steam；
That's the boss of the English Team；
Reverend Mullineux。
Makes no row when the game gets rough
None of your 〃Strike me blue！〃
〃You's wants smacking across the snout！〃
Plays like a gentleman out…and…out
Same as he ought to do。
〃Kindly remove from off my face！〃
That's the way that he states his case
Reverend Mullineux。
Kick！ He can kick like an army mule
Run like a kangaroo！
Hard to get by as a lawyer…plant；
Tackles his man like a bull…dog ant
Fetches him over too！
DIDN'T the public cheer and shout
Watchin' him chuckin' big blokes about
Reverend Mullineux。
Scrimmage was packed on his prostrate form；
Somehow the ball got through
Who was it tackled our big half…back；
Flinging him down like an empty sack；
Right on our goal…line too？
Who but the man that we thought was dead；
Down with a score of 'em on his head；
Reverend Mullineux。
The Wisdom of Hafiz
My son； if you go to the races to battle with Ikey and Mo；
Remember； it's seldom the pigeon can pick out the eye of the crow；
Remember； they live by the business； remember； my son； and go slow。
If ever an owner should tell you； 〃Back mine〃 don't you be such a flat。
He knows his own cunning； no doubt does he know what the others are at？
Find out what he's frightened of most； and invest a few dollars on that。
Walk not in the track of the trainer； nor hang round the rails at his stall。
His wisdom belongs to his patron shall he give it to one and to all？
When the stable is served he may tell you and his words
are like jewels let fall。
Run wide of the tipster who whispers that Borak is sure to be first；
He tells the next mug that he corners a tale with the placings reversed；
And； remember； of judges of racing； the jockey's the absolute worst。
When they lay three to one on the field； and the runners are twenty…and…two；
Take a pull on yourself； take a pull it's a mighty big field
to get through。
Is the club handicapper a fool？ If a fool is about； p'raps it's you！
Beware of the critic who tells you the handicap's absolute rot；
For this is chucked in； and that's hopeless； and somebody ought to be shot。
How is it he can't make a fortune himself when he knows such a lot？
From tipsters； and jockeys； and trials； and gallops； the glory has gone；
For this is the wisdom of Hafiz that sages have pondered upon；
〃The very best tip in the world is to see the commission go on！〃
Saltbush Bill； J。P。
Beyond the land where Leichhardt went；
Beyond Sturt's Western track；
The rolling tide of change has sent
Some strange J。P。s out back。
And Saltbush Bill； grown old and grey；
And worn with want of sleep；
Received the news in camp one day
Behind the travelling sheep
That Edward Rex； confiding in
His known integrity；
By hand and seal on parchment skin
Had made him a J。P。
He read the news with eager face
But found no word of pay。
〃I'd like to see my sister's place
And kids on Christmas day。
〃I'd like to see green grass again；
And watch clear water run；
Away from this unholy plain；
And flies； and dust； and sun。〃
At last one little clause he found
That might some hope inspire；
〃A magistrate may charge a pound
For inquest on a fire。〃
A big blacks' camp was built close by；
And Saltbush Bill； says he；
〃I think that camp might well supply
A job for a J。P。〃
That night； by strange coincidence；
A most disastrous fire
Destroyed the country residence
Of Jacky Jack； Esquire。
'Twas mostly leaves； and bark； and dirt；
The party most concerned
Appeared to think it wouldn't hurt
If forty such were burned。
Quite otherwise thought Saltbush Bill；
Who watched the leaping flame。
〃The home is small；〃 said he； 〃but still
The principle's the same。
〃Midst palaces though you should roam；
Or follow pleasure's tracks；
You'll find；〃 he said； 〃no place like home；
At least like Jacky Jack's。
〃Tell every man in camp ‘Come quick；'
Tell every black Maria
I give tobacco half a stick
Hold inquest long…a fire。〃
Each juryman received a name
Well suited to a Court。
〃Long Jack〃 and 〃Stumpy Bill〃 became
〃John Long〃 and 〃William Short〃。
While such as 〃Tarpot〃； 〃Bullock Dray〃；
And 〃Tommy Wait…a…While〃；
Became； for ever and a day；
〃Scott〃； 〃Dickens〃； and 〃Carlyle〃。
And twelve good sable men and true
Were soon engaged upon
The conflagration that o'erthrew
The home of John A。 John。
Their verdict； 〃Burnt by act of Fate〃；
They scarcely had returned
When； just behind the magistrate；
Another humpy burned！
The jury sat again and drew
Another stick of plug。
Said Saltbush Bill； 〃It's up to you
Put some one long…a Jug。〃
〃I'll camp the shee