saltbush bill-第8节
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And their stock are always stolen by the men of Gundaroo。
There came a low informer to the Grabben Gullen side；
And he said to Smith the squatter； 〃You must saddle up and ride；
For your bullock's in the harness…cask of Morgan Donahoo
He's the greatest cattle…stealer that abides in Gundaroo。〃
〃Oh； ho！〃 said Smith； the owner of the Grabben Gullen run；
〃I'll go and get the troopers by the sinking of the sun；
And down into his homestead to…night we'll take a ride；
With warrants to identify the carcase and the hide。〃
That night rode down the troopers； the squatter at their head；
They rode into the homestead； and pulled Morgan out of bed。
〃Now； show to us the carcase of the bullock that you slew
The great marsupial bullock that you killed in Gundaroo。〃
They peered into the harness…cask； and found it wasn't full；
But down among the brine they saw some flesh and bits of wool。
〃What's this？〃 exclaimed the trooper 〃an infant； I declare；〃
Said Morgan； 〃'Tis the carcase of an old man native bear。
I heard that ye were coming； so an old man bear I slew；
Just to give you kindly welcome to my home in Gundaroo。
〃The times is something awful； as you can plainly see；
The banks have broke the squatters； and they've broke the likes of me；
We can't afford a bullock such expense would never do
So an old man bear for breakfast is a treat in Gundaroo。〃
And along by Grabben Gullen； where the rushing river flows；
In the block of broken country where there's no one ever goes；
On the Upper Murrumbidgee they're a hospitable crew；
But you mustn't ask for 〃bullock〃 when you go to Gundaroo。
Lay of the Motor…Car
We're away！ and the wind whistles shrewd
In our whiskers and teeth；
And the granite…like grey of the road
Seems to slide underneath。
As an eagle might sweep through the sky；
So we sweep through the land；
And the pallid pedestrians fly
When they hear us at hand。
We outpace； we outlast； we outstrip！
Not the fast…fleeing hare；
Nor the racehorses under the whip；
Nor the birds of the air
Can compete with our swiftness sublime；
Our ease and our grace。
We annihilate chickens and time
And policemen and space。
Do you mind that fat grocer who crossed？
How he dropped down to pray
In the road when he saw he was lost；
How he melted away
Underneath； and there rang through the fog
His earsplitting squeal
As he went Is that he or a dog；
That stuff on the wheel？
The Corner Man
I dreamed a dream at the midnight deep；
When fancies come and go
To vex a man in his soothing sleep
With thoughts of awful woe
I dreamed that I was a corner…man
Of a nigger minstrel show。
I cracked my jokes； and the building rang
With laughter loud and long；
I hushed the house as I softly sang
An old plantation song
A tale of the wicked slavery days
Of cruelty and wrong。
A small boy sat on the foremost seat
A mirthful youngster he；
He beat the time with his restless feet
To each new melody；
And he picked me out as the brightest star
Of the black fraternity。
〃Oh father；〃 he said； 〃what WOULD we do
If the corner…man should die？
I never saw such a man did you？
He makes the people cry；
And then； when he likes； he makes them laugh。〃
The old man made reply
〃We each of us fill a very small space
In the great creation's plan；
If a man don't keep his lead in the race
There's plenty more that can；
The world can very soon fill the place
Of even a corner…man。〃
。 。 。 。 。
I woke with a jump； rejoiced to find
Myself at home in bed；
And I framed a moral in my mind
From the words the old man said。
The world will jog along just the same
When its corner…men are dead。
When Dacey Rode the Mule
'Twas to a small； up…country town；
When we were boys at school；
There came a circus with a clown；
Likewise a bucking mule。
The clown announced a scheme they had
Spectators for to bring
They'd give a crown to any lad
Who'd ride him round the ring。
And； gentle reader； do not scoff
Nor think a man a fool
To buck a porous…plaster off
Was pastime to that mule。
The boys got on； he bucked like sin；
He threw them in the dirt；
What time the clown would raise a grin
By asking； 〃Are you hurt？〃
But Johnny Dacey came one night；
The crack of all the school；
Said he； 〃I'll win the crown all right；
Bring in your bucking mule。〃
The elephant went off his trunk；
The monkey played the fool；
And all the band got blazing drunk
When Dacey rode the mule。
But soon there rose a galling shout
Of laughter； for the clown
From somewhere in his pants drew out
A little paper crown。
He placed the crown on Dacey's head
While Dacey looked a fool；
〃Now； there's your crown； my lad；〃 he said；
〃For riding of the mule！〃
The band struck up with 〃Killaloe〃；
And 〃Rule Britannia； Rule〃；
And 〃Young Man from the Country〃； too；
When Dacey rode the mule。
Then Dacey； in a furious rage；
For vengeance on the show
Ascended to the monkeys' cage
And let the monkeys go；
The blue…tailed ape and chimpanzee
He turned abroad to roam；
Good faith！ It was a sight to see
The people step for home。
For big baboons with canine snout
Are spiteful； as a rule
The people didn't sit it out
When Dacey rode the mule。
And from the beasts that made escape；
The bushmen all declare；
Were born some creatures partly ape
And partly native…bear。
They're rather few and far between；
The race is nearly spent；
But some of them may still be seen
In Sydney Parliament。
And when those legislators fight；
And drink； and act the fool；
Just blame it on that torrid night
When Dacey rode the mule。
The Mylora Elopement
By the winding Wollondilly where the weeping willows weep；
And the shepherd； with his billy； half awake and half asleep；
Folds his fleecy flocks that linger homewards in the setting sun；
Lived my hero； Jim the Ringer； 〃cocky〃 on Mylora Run。
Jimmy loved the super's daughter； Miss Amelia Jane McGrath。
Long and earnestly he sought her； but he feared her stern papa；
And Amelia loved him truly but the course of love； if true；
Never yet ran smooth or duly； as I think it ought to do。
Watching with his slow affection once Jim saw McGrath the boss
Riding out by Jim's selection； looking for a station 'oss
That was running in the ranges with a mob of outlaws wild。
Old McGrath 〃Good day〃 exchanges off goes Jim to see his child；
Says； 〃The old man's after Stager； which he'll find is no light job；
And to…morrow I will wager he will try and yard the mob。
Will you come with me to…morrow？ I will let the parson know；
And for ever； joy or sorrow； he will join us here below。
〃I will bring my nags so speedy； Crazy Jane and Tambourine；
One more kiss don't think I'm greedy good…bye； lass； before I'm seen
Just one more God bless you； dearie！ Don't forget to meet me here；
Life without you is but weary； now； once more； good…bye； my dear。〃
。 。 。 。 。
The daylight shines on figures twain
That ride across Mylora plain；
Laughing and talking Jim and Jane。
〃Steadily； darling。 There's lots of time；
Didn't we slip the old man prime！
I knew he'd tackle that Bowneck mob；
I reckon he'll find it too big a job。
They've beaten us all。 I had a try；
But the warrigal devils seem to fly。
That Sambo's a real good bit of stuff
No doubt； but not quite good enough。
He'll have to gallop the livelong day；
To cut and come； to race and stay。
I hope he yards 'em； 'twill do him good；
To see us going I don't think would。〃
A turn in the road and； fair and square；
They meet the old man standing there。
〃What's up？〃 〃Why； running away； of course；〃
Says Jim； emboldened。 The old man turned；
His eye with wild excitement burned。
〃I've raced all day through the scorching heat
After old Bowneck： and now I'm beat。
But over that range I think you'll find
The Bowneck mob all run stone…blind。
Will you go and leave the mob behind？
Which will you do？ Take the girl away；
Or ride like a white man should to…day；
And yard old Bowneck？ Go or stay？〃
Says Jim； 〃I can't throw this away；
We can bolt some other day； of course；
Amelia Jane； get off that horse。
Up you get； Old Man。 Whoop； halloo。
Here goes to put old Bowneck through！〃
Two distant specks on the mountain side；
Two stockwhips echoing far and wide。
Amelia Jane sat down and cried。
。 。 。 。 。
〃Sakes； Amelia； what's up now？
Leading old Sambo； too； I vow；
And him dead beat。 Where have you been？
〃Bolted with Jim！ What DO you mean？〃
〃Met the old man with Sambo
