Selections From Roundabout

8/12/2019 Selections From Roundabout

1/73

Selections From

Roundaboutby C. J. Dennis


2/73

Dedication

To all good children over four And under four-and-eightyBe you not over-prone to poreOn matters grave and weighty.Mayhap you'll find within this book

ome touch of !outh's rare clowning"#f you will condescend to look

And not descend to frowning.

The mind of one small boy may holdOdd fancies and inviting"To guide a hand unsure and oldThat moves" these days" to writing.$or hair once bright" in days of yore"%rows grey &or somewhat slaty "And now" alas" he's over four"Though under four-and-eighty.


3/73

A Very Charming Gentleman

A very charming gentleman" as old as old could be"tared a while" and glared a while" and then he said to me(

)*ead your books" and heed your books" and put your booksaway"$or you will surely need your books upon a later day.)And then he whee+ed and then he snee+ed" and gave me such a

look. And he said" )Mark--M,--boy Be careful of your book.)

A very charming gentleman" indeed" he seemed to be.e heaved a sigh and wiped his eye" and then he said to me(

)Take your books and make your books companions--never toys/$or they who so forsake their books grow into gawky boys.)# don't know who he was. 0o you1 he snuffled at the end/And he said" )Mark--M,--boy !our book should be your friend.)


4/73

The Baker

#'d like to be a baker" and come when morning breaks"2alling out" )Beeay-ko ) &that's the sound he makes --*iding in a rattle-cart that 3ogs and 3olts and shakes"

elling all the sweetest things a baker ever bakes/2urrant-buns and brandy-snaps" pastry all in flakes/ But # wouldn't be a baker if . . .

# couldn't eat the cakes. 4ould you1


5/73

The Da n Dance

4hat do you think # saw to-day when # arose at dawn1Blue 4rens and !ellow-tails dancing on the lawnBobbing here" and bowing there" gossiping away"And how # wished that you were there to see the merry play

But you were snug abed" my boy" blankets to your chin" 5or dreamed of dancing birds without or sunbeams dancing

in.%rey Thrush" he piped the tune for them. # peeped outthrough the glassBetween the window curtains" and # saw them on the grass--

Merry little fairy folk" dancing up and down"Blue bonnet" yellow skirt" cloaks of grey and brown"6nderneath the wattle-tree" silver in the dawn"Blue 4rens and !ellow-tails dancing on the lawn.


6/73


7/73

'*over" rover" cattle-drover" how do you get there1'$or twenty miles # amble on upon my pony mare"The walk awhile and talk awhile to country men # know"Then up to ride a mile beside a team that travels slow"And last to 2uppacumalonga" riding with a will.Then come along" ah" come alongAh" come to 2uppacumalonga2ome to 2uppacumalonga ill

'*over" rover" cattle-drover" what do you do then1'# camp beneath a kurra3ong with three good cattle-men/Then off away at break of day" with strong hands on the reins"To laugh and sing while mustering the cattle on the plains--$or up to 2uppacumalonga life is 3olly still.Then come along" ah" come alongAh" come to 2uppacumalonga

2ome to 2uppacumalonga ill

'*over" rover" cattle-drover" how may # go too1'#'ll saddle up my creamy colt and he shall carry you--


8/73

My creamy colt who will not bolt" who does not shy nor kick--4e'll pack the load and take the road and travel very 7uick.And if the day brings work or play we'll meet it with a will.

o i for 2uppacumalonga2ome Along" ah" come alongAh" come to 2uppacumalonga ill


9/73

The Ant "#!lorer

Once a little sugar ant made up his mind to roam--To fare away far away" far away from home.

e had eaten all his breakfast" and he had his ma's consentTo see what he should chance to see and here's the way he went--6p and down a fern frond" round and round a stone"0own a gloomy gully where he loathed to be alone"6p a mighty mountain range" seven inches high"Through the fearful forest grass that nearly hid the sky"Out along a bracken bridge" bending in the moss"


10/73

Till he reached a dreadful desert that was feet and feet across.'Twas a dry" deserted desert" and a trackless land to tread"

e wished that he was home again and tucked-up tight in bed.is little legs were wobbly" his strength was nearly spent"

And so he turned around again and here's the way he went--Back away from desert lands feet and feet across"Back along the bracken bridge bending in the moss"Through the fearful forest grass shutting out the sky"6p a mighty mountain range seven inches high"0own a gloomy gully" where he loathed to be alone"

6p and down a fern frond and round and round a stone.A dreary ant" a weary ant" resolved no more to roam"e staggered up the garden path and popped back home.


11/73

Riding Song $lippity-flop $lippity-flop

ere comes the butcher to bring us a chop2antering" cantering down the wide streetOn his little bay mare with the funny white feet/

2antering" cantering out to the farm"tripes on his apron and basket on arm.*un to the window and tell him to stop--$lippity-flop $lippity-flop


12/73

The Funny $atter arry was a funny man" arry was a hatter/e ate his lunch at breakfast time and said it didn't matter.e made a pot of melon 3am and put it on a shelf"

$or he was fond of sugar things and living by himself.

e built a fire of bracken and a blue-gum log"And he sat all night beside it with his big--black--dog.


13/73

The %ostman

#'d like to be a postman" and walk along the street"2alling out" )%ood Morning" ir") to gentlemen # meet"*inging every door-bell all along my beat"#n my cap and uniform so very nice and neat.

8erhaps #'d have a parasol in case of rain or heat/ But # wouldn't be a postman if . . .

The walking hurt my feet. 4ould you1


14/73

The Tra&eller

As # rode in to Burrumbeet"# met a man with funny feet/And" when # paused to ask him why

is feet were strange" he rolled his eyeAnd said the rain would spoil the wheat/

o # rode on to Burrumbeet.

As # rode in to Beetaloo"# met a man whose nose was blue/And when # asked him how he gotA nose like that" he answered" )4hat0o bullocks mean when they say 'Moo'1)

o # rode on to Beetaloo.

As # rode in to Ballarat"# met a man who wore no hat/And" when # said he might take cold"


15/73

e cried" )The hills are 7uite as oldAs yonder plains" but not so flat.)

o # rode on to Ballarat.

As # rode in to %undagai"# met a man and passed him by4ithout a nod" without a word.

e turned" and said he'd never heardOr seen a man so wise as #.But # rode on to %undagai.

As # rode homeward" full of doubt"# met a stranger riding out(A foolish man he seemed to me/But" )5ay" # am yourself") said he")9ust as you were when you rode out.)

o # rode homeward" free of doubt.


16/73

'ur Street

#n our street" the main street*unning thro' the town"!ou see a lot of busy folk %oing up and down(

Bag men and basket men"Men with loads of hay"Buying things and selling thingsAnd carting things away.

The butcher is a funny man"e calls me 0andy 0ick/

The baker is a cross man"# think he's often sick/

The fruiterer's a nice man"


17/73

e gives me apples" too/The grocer says" )%ood morning" boy"4hat can # do for you1)

Of all the men in our street# like the cobbler best"Tapping" tapping at his last4ithout a minute's rest/

Talking all the time he taps"

0riving in the nails"miling with his old grey eyes--

& ush . . . telling fairy tales.


18/73

The %ieman

#'d like to be a pieman" and ring a little bell"2alling out" ) ot pies ot pies to sell )Apple-pies and Meat-pies" 2herry-pies as well":ots and lots and lots of pies--more than you can tell.Big" rich 8ork-pies Oh" the lovely smell But # wouldn't be a pieman if . . .

# wasn't very well. 4ould you1


19/73

The Trianti ontigongolo!e

There's a very funny insect that you do not often spy"And it isn't 7uite a spider" and it isn't 7uite a fly/#t is something like a beetle" and a little like a bee"But nothing like a wooly grub that climbs upon a tree.#ts name is 7uite a hard one" but you'll learn it soon" # hope.

o try( Tri-

Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.

#t lives on weeds and wattle-gum" and has a funny face/#ts appetite is hearty" and its manners a disgrace.4hen first you come upon it" it will give you 7uite a scare"But when you look for it again" you find it isn't there.And unless you call it softly it will stay away and mope.

o try( Tri- Tri-anti-wonti-


20/73

Triantiwontigongolope.

#t trembles if you tickle it or tread upon its toes/

#t is not an early riser" but it has a snubbish nose.#f you snear at it" or scold it" it will scuttle off in shame"But it purrs and purrs 7uite proudly if you call it by its name"And offer it some sandwiches of sealing-wa; and soap.

o try( Tri- Tri-anti-wonti-

Triantiwontigongolope.

But of course you haven't seen it/ and # truthfully confessThat # haven't seen it either" and # don't know its address.$or there isn't such an insect" though there really might have been#f the trees and grass were purple" and the sky was bottle green.#t's 3ust a little 3oke of mine" which you'll forgive" # hope.Oh" try Tri- Tri-anti-wonti- Triantiwontigongolope.


21/73

The Circus

ey" there oop-la the circus is in townave you seen the elephant1 ave you seen the clown1


22/73

ave you seen the dappled horse gallop round the ring1ave you seen the acrobats on the di++y swing1ave you seen the tumbling men tumble up and down1

oop-la oop-la the circus is in towney" there oop-la ere's the circus troupeere's the educated dog" 3umping through the hoop.ee the lady Blondin with the parasol and fan"

The lad upon the ladder and the india-rubber man.ee the 3oyful 3uggler and the boy who loops the loop.

ey ey ey ey ere's the circus troupe


23/73

(ou and )

They say the eagle is a birdThat sees some splendid sights4hen he soars high into the sky6pon his di++y flights(

e sees the ground for miles aroundOur house" and Billy 9ohnson's/But we cannot be eagles" for That would" of course" be nonsense.


24/73

But you and #" some summer day"8roviding we're allowed"

4ill go up in an aeroplaneAnd sail right through a cloud.But" if they say we may not go"4e'll stay upon the ground4ith other things that have no wings"And watch them walk around.

They say the bottom of the sea#s beautiful to view/They say the fish" whene'er they wish"2an sail and see it" too/The shining pearls" the coral curls"The sharks" the s7uids" the schnappers"And fish with fins &though not in tins

And fish with funny flappers.


25/73

But you and #" some sunny day"4hen weather's in condition"4ill go there in a submarine"8roviding we've permission.

But if they say we may not go4e must respect their wishes/And you and # will 3ust keep dryBecause we are not fishes.

The earth is 7uite a 3olly place"And we don't care for flying/And things that creep down in the deepAre sometimes rather trying.

o" if they'll grant a holiday

Or even only half"4e'll lie upon some grassy place"And think of things" and laugh.


26/73

Going to School

0id you see them pass to-day" Billy"


27/73

Bird Song

# am friendly with the sparrowThough his mind is rather narrowAnd his manners--well" the less we say the better.But as day begins to peep"4hen # hear his cheery )2heep)# am ready to admit # am his debtor

# delight in red-browed finchesAnd all birds of scanty inches.4illie wagtail is a pleasant bird" and coy.All the babblers" chats and wrens"Tits and robins" and their hens"Are my very special friends" and bring me 3oy.


28/73

The *usic o+ (our Voice

A vase upon the mantelpiece" A ship upon the sea"A goat upon a mountain-top Are much the same to me/But when you mention melon 3am" Or picnics by the creek"Or apple pies" or pantomimes"

# love to hear you speak.

The date of Magna 2harta or The doings of the 0utch"Or capes" or towns" or verbs" or nouns 0o not e;cite me much/But when you mention motor rides-- 0own by the sea for choiceOr chasing games" or chocolates" # love to hear your voice.


29/73

The Tram,*an

#'d like to be a Tram-man" and ride about all day"2alling out" )$ares" please ) in 7uite a 'ficious way"4ith pockets full of pennies which #'d make the people pay.But in the hottest days #'d take my tram down to the Bay/And when # saw the nice cool sea #'d shout ) ip" hip" hooray ) But # wouldn't be a Tram-man if. . . .

# couldn't stop and play. 4ould you1


30/73

The A#e,*an

igh on the hills" where the tall trees grow"There lives an a;eman that # know.$rom his little hut by a ferny creek"0ay after day" week after week"

e goes each morn with his shining a;e"Trudging along by the forest tracks/

And he chops and he chops till the daylight goes--igh on the hills" where the blue-gum grows.

&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hopThere's a log to move and a branch to lop.

5ow to the felling is sharp a;e bites#nto a tree on the forest heights"

And scarce for a breath does the a;eman stop--&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hopBell-birds watch him/ and in the fern4allabies listen awhile" and turn


31/73

Back through the bracken" and off they hop.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop8atient and tireless" blow on blowThe a;eman swings as the minutes go/4hile the echoes ring from the mountain-top.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop

*ound about him the rabbits play"kipping and scampering all the day"

And the sweet young grass by the logs they crop.

&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop

2rimson parrots above him climb"2hattering" chattering all the time"As down from the branches the twigs they drop.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip 2hop

teadily" surely" on he goes"

haking the tree with his mighty blows(There's never a pause and there's never a stop.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop


32/73

Out from the bush beyond is heardThe swaggering song of the butcher-bird

eeking a 3oint for his butcher's shop.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop0eeper and deeper the cut creeps in"4hile the parrots shriek with a deafening din"And the chips fly out with a flip and a flop.&2hip 2hop 2hip 2hop!ellow robins come flocking round"4atching the chips as they fall to ground"

0arting to catch the grubs that drop.&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop

The blows come 7uicker. The a;e-biade hums"tand well back" there" before she comesark ow the splinters crack and pop--

&2hip . . 2hop . . 2hip . . 2hop

:isten :isten he's creaking now:ook" high up" at that trembling boughAnother second" and down she'll smash"

haking the earth with a mighty crash/


33/73

:ook at her :ook at her &2hip 2hop2hip . . . . . . . .2hip 4ee--,--,--,--,--,--- $:O8


34/73

The Dro&ers

Out across the spinife;" out across the sand"Out across the saltbush to 5ever 5ever landThat's the way the drovers go" 3ogging down the track--That's the way the drovers go. But how do they come back1Back across the saltbush from 5ever 5ever land.Back across the spinife;" back across the sand.


35/73

The -ong Road $ome

4hen # go back from Billy's place # always have to roamThe ma+y road" the cra+y road that leads the long way home.Ma always says" )4hy don't you come through Mr 0onkin's land1The footbridge track will bring you back.) Ma doesn't understand.# cannot go that way" you know" because of 0onkin's dog/

o # set forth and travel north" and cross the fallen log.

:ast week" when # was coming by" that log had li+ards in it/And you can't say # stop to play if # 3ust search a minute.


36/73

# look around upon the ground and" if there are no li+ards"# go right on and reach the turn in front of Mrs Bli++ard's.# do not seek to cross the creek" because it's deep and floody"And Ma would be annoyed with me if # came home all muddy.

8erhaps # throw a stone or so at Mrs Bli++ard's tank"Because it's great when # aim straight to hear the stone go )8lank )Then west # wend from Bli++ard's Bend" and not a moment wait",;cept" perhaps" at Mr


37/73

Then down the drop # run" slip-slop" where all the road is slithy.And have to go 7uite close" you know" to Mr orner's smithy.A moment # might tarry by the fence to watch them hammer"And" # must say" learn more that way than doing sums and grammar.

And" if # do sometimes climb through" # do not mean to linger.Though # did stay awhile the day Bill omer burst his finger.# 3ust stand there to see the pair bang some hot iron thingAnd watch Bill orner swing the sledge and hit the anvil--Bing&$or Mr orner and his son are great big brawny fellows(

Both splendid chaps And then" perhaps" they let me blow the bellows.

A while # stop beside the shop" and talk to Mr orner/Then off # run" and race like fun around by 0uggan's 2orner.#t's getting late" and # don't wait beside the creek a minute",;cept to stop" maybe" and drop a few old pebbles in it.A few yards more" and here's the store that's kept by Mr 4hittle--

And you can't say # waste the day if # 'ust wait . . . a little.

One day" you know" a year ago" a man gave me a penny"And Mr 4hittle sold me sweets &but not so very many .


38/73

!ou never know your luck" and so # look to see what's new#n Mr 4hittle's window. There's a peppermint or two"

ome buttons and tobacco &Mr 4hittle calls it )baccy) "And fish in tins" and tape" and pins. . . . And then a voice calls" )9acky )

)#'m coming" Ma. #'ve been so far-around by 0uggan's 2orner.# had to stay awhile to say '%ood day' to Mr orner.# feel so fagged/ #'ve tramped and dragged through mud and over logs" Ma--# could not go short-cuts" you know" because of bulls and dogs" Ma.The creek" Ma1 4hy" it's very high !ou don't call that a gutter1

Bill orner chews tobacco" Ma . . . . #'d like some bread and butter.)


39/73

The Band

ey" there :isten awhile :isten awhile" and come.

0own in the street there are marching feet" and # hear the beat of adrum.Bim Boom Out of the room 8ick up your hat and fly#sn't it grand1 The band The band The band is marching by

Oh" the clarinet is the finest yet" and the uniforms are gay.Tah" rah 4e don't go home--Oom" pah 4e won't go home--Oh" we shan't go home" and we can't go home when the band begins to

play.

Oh" see them swinging along" swinging along the street:eft" right buttons so bright" 3ackets and caps so neat.o" the $ire Brigade" or a dress parade of the oldier-men is grand/

But everyone" for regular fun" wants a Big-Brass-Band.


40/73

The slide-trombone is a 3oy alone" and the drummer e's a treato" *ackety-rumph 4e don't go home--

Boom" Bumph 4e won't go home--Oh" we shan't go home" and we can't go home while the band is in thestreet.Tooral-ooral" Oom-pahThe band is in the street


41/73

Good "nough

# do not think there ever was"Or ever will" or ever could be"A little girl or little boyAs good as she or as he should be.

But still" # think" you will agree"Though perfect very" very few are"They're not so bad when )pretty good)--That's 3ust about as good as you are.


42/73


43/73


44/73

The nsociable /allaby

4illie spied a wallaby hopping through the fern--ere a 3ump" here a thump" there a sudden turn.

4illie called the wallaby" begging him to stop"But he went among the wattles with a flip" flap" flop


45/73

) /onder

# wonder whether" all together"!ou and # and father

2ould eat a bun that weighs a ton.#'d like to try it" rather.


46/73

# wonder why roosters crowat dawning of the day.

#s it because they cannot think of somethingelse to say1


47/73

# wonder what the 9ackshave got to laugh and laugh about

#'m sure the worms don't see the 3oke when9acky digs them out.


48/73

# wonder which is best(a rich plum-pudding stuffed with plums"Or lemon ice" or plain boiled rice"

or long-division sums.

# wonder why # wear a tie.#t is not warm to wear/

But if # left it offsomeone would say it was not there.


49/73


50/73

# wonder when our old white henwill know her s7uawk betrays her.# think she lets us find her eggs 3ust so that we shall praise her.

'ur Co


51/73

0own by the sliprails stands our cow2hewing" chewing" chewing"

he does not care what folks out there#n the great" big world are doing.

he sees the small cloud-shadows passAnd green grass shining under.#f she does think" what does she think About it all" # wonder1

he sees the swallows skimming by

Above the sweet young clover"The light reeds swaying in the windAnd tall trees bending over.$ar down the track she hears the crack of bullock-whips" and ravingOf angry men where" in the sun"

er fellow-beasts are slaving.

%irls" we are told" can scratch and scold"And boys will fight and wrangle"And big" grown men" 3ust now and then"


52/73

$ret o'er some fingle-fangle"=e;ing the earth with grief or mirth":onging" re3oicing" rueing--But by the sliprails stands our cow"2hewing.

The Teacher


53/73

#'d like to be a teacher" and have a clever brain"2alling out" )Attention" please ) and )Must # speak in vain1)#'d be 7uite strict with boys and girls whose minds # had to train"And all the books and maps and things #'d carefully e;plain/#'d make then learn the dates of kings" and all the capes of pain/ But # wouldn't be a teacher if . . .

# couldn't use the cane. 4ould you1

The S!otted $ei+ers


54/73

Mr 9eremiah 9effersOwned a pair of spotted heifers

These he sold for two pounds tenTo Mr *obert *aymond 4ren

4ho reared them in the lucerne paddocksOwned by Mr Martin Maddo;"And sold them" when they grew to cows"To Mr 0onald 0avid 0owse.

A gra+ier" Mr ,gbert #nnes"Bought them then for twenty guineas"Milked the cows" and sold the milk To Mr tephen ,van ilk.

4ho rents a butter factory$rom Mr :aurence :ampard-:ee.

ere" once a week" come for his butter The grocer" Mr *oland *utter"


55/73

4ho keeps a shop in unny treet 5e;t door to Mr 8eter 8eat.

e every afternoon at twoent his fair daughter" :ucy :oo"

To Mr *utter's shop to buyuch things as were not priced too high"

,specially a shilling tinOf )$uller's $ood for $olk Too Thin.)

This food was bought for :ucy :oo--A girl of charming manners" who4as much too pale and much too slightTo be a very pleasant sight.

4hen :ucy :oo beheld the butter

tocked by Mr *oland *utter"he said" )#'ll have a pound of that.)he had it" and thenceforth grew fat.


56/73

4e now go back to Mr 9effers"4ho sold the pair of spotted heifers.

e had a son" 9ames ,dgar 9ohn"A handsome lad to ga+e upon"

4ho had now reached that time of life4hen young men feel they need a wife/But no young girl about the place,;actly had the kind of face

That seemed to suit 9ames ,dgar 9ohn--A saddening thing to think upon"$or he grew sad and sick of lifeBecause he could not find a wife.

One day young 9ames was passing by&A look of sorrow in his eye

The shop of Mr *oland *utter"4hen :ucy :oo came out with butter.

At once 9ames ,dgar 9ohn said" )That


57/73

#s 3ust the girl for me he's fat.)e offered her his heart and hand

And prospects of his father's land.

The *everend aul ylvester light8erformed the simple marriage rite.The happy couple went their way"And lived and loved unto this day.

,vents cannot be far foreseen/And all ths 3oy might not have been#f Mr 9eremiah 9effers

ad kept his pair of spotted heifers.

Tea Talk


58/73

',;cuse me if # sit on you"' the cup said to the saucer.'# fear #'ve been here all the afternoon.'

' pare e;cuses"' said the saucer/ 'you have sat on me before" sir.''Oh" #'ll stir him up directly"' said the spoon.' top your clatter top your clatter ' cried the bread-and-butter platter 'Tittle-tattle ' sneered the tea-pot" with a shrug/'5ow" the most important 7uestion is my chronic indigestion.''Ah" you've taken too much tannin"' 3eered the 3ug.' ey" hey" hey ' sang the silver-plated tray"'#t's time you had your faces washed. #'ve come to clear away '


59/73

The -ooking Glass

4hen # look into the looking glass#'m always sure to see--

5o matter how # dodge about--Me" looking out at me.

# often wonder as # look"And those strange features spy"#f #" in there" think #'m as plainAs #" out here" think #.


60/73

/oolloomooloo

ere's a ridiculous riddle for you(ow many o's are there in 4oolloomooloo1

Two for the 4" two for the m"$our for the l's" and that's plenty for them.


61/73


62/73

Farmer Jack

Old farmer 9ack ga+ed on his wheat"And feared the frost would nip it.

aid he" )it's nearly seven feet--# must begin to strip it.)

e stripped it with a stripper ande bagged it with a bagger/

The bags were all so lumpy thatThey made the lumper stagger.

The lumper staggered up the stack 4here he was told to stack it/And 9ack was paid and put the cash#nside his linen 3acket.


63/73

Bird Song

# detest the 2arrion 2row& e's a raven" don't you know1

e's a greedy glutton" also" and a ghoul"And his sanctimonious caw*ubs my temper on the raw.

e's a demon" and a most degraded fowl.


64/73

# admire the pert Blue-wrenAnd his dainty little hen--Though she hasn't got a trace of blue upon her/But she's pleasing" and she's pretty"And she sings a cheerful ditty/4hile her husband is a gentleman of honour.


65/73

# despise the 8allid 2uckoo"A disreputable )crook) who

hirks her duties for a la+y life of ease.# abhor her mournful call"4hich is not a song at allBut a cross between a whimper and a whee+e.


66/73

The Sailor

#'d like to be a sailor--a sailor bold and bluff--

2alling out" ) hip ahoy ) in manly tones and gruff.#'d learn to bo; the compass" and to reef and tack andluff/#'d sniff and snifff the briny bree+e and never getenough.8erhaps #'d chew tobacco" or an old black pipe #'d puff"But # wouldn't be a sailor if . . .The sea was very rough.4ould you1


67/73

'n the Road to Rockabout

6pon the road to *ockabout

# came upon some sheep--A large and woolly flock aboutAs wide as it was deep.

# was about to turn aboutTo ask the man to tell

ome things # wished to learn aboutBoth sheep and wool as well"

4hen # beheld a rouseabout4ho lay upon his back Beside a little house aboutA furlong from the track.

# had a lot to talk about"

And said to him )%ood day.)But he got up to walk about"And so # went away--


68/73

%olly Dibbs

Mrs 0ibbs--8olly 0ibbs"tanding at a tub"

4ashing other people's clothes--*ub-*ub-*ub.8oor" old" skinny arms4hite with soapy foam--At night she takes her shabby hatAnd goes off home.

Mrs 0ibbs--8olly 0ibbs--#s not very rich.

he goes abroad all day to scrub"And home at night to stitch.

he wears her shabby hat awry"8erched on a silly comb/And people laugh at 8olly 0ibbs


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As she goes home.

Mrs 0ibbs--Mother 0ibbs--%rowing very old"

ays" )it's a hard world )And sniffs and drats the cold.

he says it is a cruel world"A weary world to roam.But %od will smile on 8olly 0ibbs4hen she goes ome.


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The 0ookaburra

# suspect the


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Good 1ight

And so" %ood 5ight. #'m rather tired.# hardly thought #'d be re7uiredTo draw a lot of pictures" too"4hen # arranged to write for you.

# found it hard" but did my best/And now # need a little rest.#f you are pleased" why" that's all right.#'m rather tired. And so

%OO0 5#% T


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Selections From Roundabout

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