Part 26 (2/2)
MICKIE'S VERSION
Mickie is apt at repeating the sayings of others Often his rendering of a coht verbal twist As the boys toiled to supplant a glorious strip of prilancing over the ruined vegetation, re on fine! Getting on like a house on fire!”
For half an hour or so the boys hacked and chopped away at the vines and trees, and then Mickie swept the scene with a coood fella now All a sa down house”
HONOURABLE JOHNNY
Johnny was much averse from work ”Work, work, work, all asas Atstones on a breakwater One of them called out--”Why you no work, Johnny? You sit down all the tiht You lazy black niggers only hen Boss look out”
THE TRANSFORMATION
The wife of a squatter was about to leave the station for a few years, that her daughtersaccomplishments unobtainable in the Bush When the hour of departure arrived, the blacks about the place loudly expressed their sorrow One softhearted creature exclaiood-bye, Miss Yola;away, try learn be lady!”
MONEY-MAKING TRICK
A boy who had visited a town and had been taken to a circus, gathered the caiven an account of the wonders he had seen, announced that he couldtempered by doubt, the boy took his stand before the expectant se admirably mimicked a conjuror's patter, shouted--”Money!” A half-crown flashed in the air-to be deftly caught and exhibited on the boy's palhtly Conscious of the independence that ation showed that the boy had a trained confederate in the person of his gin, who, standing apart, on the word, flicked the half-crown in the air The boy lost his reputation as a ht
HONOURABLE CHASTIseeant reported a trooper for beating his gin ”What you bin doing, Paddy?” asked the sub-inspector ”You bin hammer 'em Topsy?” Paddy, at the salute--”Yes, sir, please sir, me bin hammer 'em that fella That fella too flash; me no bin hammer 'ea strap” Considering the customary means a black adopts to correct the indiscretions of his spouse, Paddy's offence was judged far too trivial for punishment Topsy, too, was quite vain that Paddy had chastised her with all dignity and indulgence of a white man
”AND YOU TOO”
Two ladies, ont toin the settleins sat in the shade of aplacidly At dinner-tian to chatter volubly, and the y, called fro all day You two fella talk all the time”
Rosey--”Yes; me fella yabber, yabber, plenty--all asame white woman”
PARADISE
The beliefs of blacks on the subject of ”the otherwhere” seem to be varied and adjustable to individual likes and predilections Some indeed have no faith whatever in state upon death Others assert that a delightful country is reached after a long and pleasant journey, that there reunion with relatives and friends takes place, and happiness is in store for all, good and bad alike
An intelligent boy was asked if after death all went along the sainal paradise He was reood fellow, and that one of the o along a you, all asaood fella”
”Yes,” he answered ”All one track , blenty wallaby, close up You no wan' run about Catch 'e way Me coa ood one gins He say--'hello! you coins belonga you!'”
This was paradise!
CHAPTER IV