On Our Selection

We Got

from a forest of box-trees, a stock-yard, and six acres under barley were the only evidence of settlement. A few horses-not ours-sometimes grazed about; and occasionally a mob of cattle-also not ours-cows with young calves,

were always

n't know what the storekeeper got. Before he left we put in the barley. Somehow, Dad did n't believe in sowing any more crops, he seemed to lose hear

ountry. Dad sowed the seed; then he, Dan and Dave yoked themselves to a large dry bramble each and harrowed it in. From the way they sweated it must have been

he deeds when he came back. Things would be different then, according to Dad, and the farm would be worked properly. We would break up fifty acres, build a barn, buy a reaper, p

rey man came along and said he knew Dad well-he had camped with him one night and shared a damper. Mother was very pleased and brought him in. We had a kangaroo-rat (stewed) for dinner that day. The girls did n't want

now it was a rat. But Dave was n't so sure that he did n't kno

d n't say if he bought them. It was a bay mare, a grand animal for a journey-so Dad said-and only wanted condition. Emelina, he called her. No mistake, she was a quiet mare! We put her where there was good feed, but she was n't one that fattened on grass. Bird

took no notice; and when he ran down, they just hopped over the fence and sat looking at him. Poor Dad! I do n't know if he was knocked up or if he did n't know any more, but he stopped swearing and sat on a stump looking at a patch of barley they had destroyed, and shaking his head. Perhaps he was thinking if he only had a dog! We did have one until he got a bait. Old Crib! He was lying under

ad asked Mother if she had any money in the house? Of course she had n't. Then he told Anderson he would let him have it when he got the deeds. Anderson left, and Dad sat on the edge of the sofa and seemed to be counting the grai

sed to think some nights that the others came in before time. It was terrible going out, half awake, to tramp round that paddock from fire to fire, from hour to hour, shouti

elted it with a waddy-Dad's idea. He himself manipulated an old bell th

s helped to bind it, and Jimmy Mulcahy carted it in return for three days' binding Dad put in for him. The stack was n't built twenty-four

ght Emelina after breakfast, rolled up a blanket, told

all the crows and other feathered demons of the wide bush were engaged in a mig

ught her, and Dave pointed to white spots all over the saddle, and

on the main road, wanting to fight the publican for a hundred pounds, but could n't persuade him to c

re was a good price that year, and we wer

nd trembled as he broke the seal! "THE DEEDS!" he said, and all of us gathered round to

de to town at once,

ad?" Dan said, seeing him

at, but did n't answ

her," he said

had got he

eeds in a piece

out from town, and Jimmy Mulcahy and old Anderso

eds every mail-day, and wishes