Digger Smith | Page 7

p'r'aps we see
more clear,?But seems to us there's plenty cleanin'-up to do round 'ere. We've learnt a little thing or two, an' we 'ave unlearnt 'eaps, An' silly partisans, with us, is counted out for keeps.
"This takin' sides jist for the sake uv takin' sides--Aw, 'Struth! I used to do them things one time, back in me foolish youth. Out There, when I remembered things, I've kicked meself reel good. In football days I barracked once red 'ot for Collin'wood.
"I didn't want to see a game, nor see no justice done.?It never mattered wot occurred as long as my side won.?The other side was narks an' cows an' rotters to a man;?But mine was all reel bonzer chaps. I was a partisan.
"It might sound like swelled-'ead," sez Smith. "But show me, if yeh can...." "'Old 'ard," sez Poole. "Jist tell me this: wot is a partisan?" Then Digger Smith starts to ixplain; Poole interrupts straight out; An' I wades in to give my views, an' 'as to nearly shout.
We battles on for one good hour. My team sleeps where it stands; An' Poole 'as tossed the spade away to talk with both 'is 'ands; An' Smith 'as dropped the maul 'e 'ad. Then I looks round to see Doreen quite close. She smiles at us. "Winnin' the war?" sez she.
VII. A DIGGER'S TALE
A Digger's Tale
MY oath!' the Duchess sez. 'You'd not ixpect?Sich things as that. Yeh don't mean kangaroos??Go hon!' she sez, or words to that effect--?(It's 'ard to imitate the speech they use)?I tells 'er, 'Straight; I drives 'em four-in-'and
'Ome in my land.'
"You 'ear a lot," sez little Digger Smith,?"About 'ow English swells is so stand-off.?Don't yeh believe it; it's a silly myth.?I've been reel cobbers with the British toff?While I'm on leaf; for Blighty liked our crowd,
An' done us proud.
"Us Aussies was the goods in London town?When I was there. If they jist twigged yer 'at?The Dooks would ask yeh could yeh keep one down,?An' Earls would 'ang out 'Welcome' on the mat,?An' sling yeh invites to their stately 'alls
For fancy balls.
"This Duchess--I ain't quite sure uv 'er rank;?She might uv been a Peeress. I dunno.?I meets 'er 'usband first. 'E owns a bank,?I 'eard, an' 'arf a dozen mints or so.?A dinkum toff. 'E sez, 'Come 'ome with me
An' 'ave some tea.'
"That's 'ow I met this Duchess Wot's-'er-name--?Or Countess--never mind 'er moniker;?I ain't no 'and at this 'ere title game--?An' right away, I was reel pals with 'er.?'Now, tell me all about yer 'ome,' sez she,
An' smiles at me.
"That knocks me out. I know it ain't no good?Paintin' word-picters uv the things I done?Out 'ome 'ere, barrackin' for Collin'wood,?Or puntin' on the flat at Flemin'ton.?I know this Baroness uv Wot-yeh-call
Wants somethin' tall.
"I thinks reel 'ard; an' then I lets it go.?I tells 'er, out at Richmond, on me Run--?A little place uv ten square mile or so--?I'm breedin' boomerangs; which is reel fun,?When I ain't troubled by the wild Jonops
That eats me crops.
"I talks about the wondrous Boshter Bird?That builds 'er nest up in the Cobber Tree,?An' 'atches out 'er young on May the third,?Stric' to the minute, jist at 'arf pas' three.?'Er eyes get big. She sez, 'Can it be true?'
'Er eyes was blue.
"An' then I speaks uv sport, an' tells 'er 'ow?In 'untin' our wild Wowsers we imploy?Large packs uv Barrackers, an' 'ow their row?Wakes echoes in the forests uv Fitzroy,?Where lurks the deadly Shicker Snake 'oo's breath
Is certain death.
"I'm goin' on to talk uv kangaroos,?An' 'ow I used to drive 'em four-in-'and.?'Wot?' sez the Marchioness. 'Them things in Zoos?That 'ops about? I've seen 'em in the Strand?In double 'arness; but I ain't seen four.
Tell me some more.'
"I baulks a bit at that; an' she sez, 'Well,?There ain't no cause at all for you to feel?Modest about the things you 'ave to tell;?An' wot yeh say sounds wonderfully reel.?Your talk'--an' 'ere I seen 'er eyelids flick--
'Makes me 'omesick.
"'I reckerlect,' she sez--'Now, let me see--?In Gippsland, long ago, when I was young,?I 'ad a little pet Corroboree,'?(I sits up in me chair like I was stung.)?'On its 'ind legs,' she sez, 'it used to stand.
Fed from me 'and.'
"Uv course, I threw me alley in right there.?This Princess was a dinkum Aussie girl.?I can't do nothin' else but sit an' stare,?Thinkin' so rapid that me 'air roots curl.?But 'er? She sez, 'I ain't 'eard talk so good
Since my child'ood.
"'I wish,' sez she, 'I could be back again?Beneath the wattle an' that great blue sky.?It's like a breath uv 'ome to meet you men.?You've done reel well,' she sez. 'Don't you be shy.?When yer in Blighty once again,' sez she,
'Come an' see me.'
"I don't see 'er no more; 'cos I stopped one.?But, 'fore I sails, I gits a billy doo?Which sez, 'Give my love to the dear ole