TheDroversWife.docx
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TheDroversWife
TheDrover'sWifebyHenryLawson
Thetwo-roomedhouseisbuiltofroundtimber,slabs,andstringy-bark,andflooredwithsplitslabs.Abigbarkkitchenstandingatoneendislargerthanthehouseitself,verandaincluded.
Bushallaround-bushwithnohorizon,forthecountryisflat.Norangesinthedistance.Thebushconsistsofstunted,rottennativeapple-trees.Noundergrowth.Nothingtorelievetheeyesavethedarkergreenofafewshe-oakswhicharesighingabovethenarrow,almostwaterlesscreek.Nineteenmilestothenearestsignofcivilisation-ashantyonthemainroad.
Thedrover,anex-squatter,isawaywithsheep.Hiswifeandchildrenareleftherealone.
Fourragged,dried-up-lookingchildrenareplayingaboutthehouse.Suddenlyoneofthemyells:
"Snake!
Mother,here'sasnake!
"
Thegaunt,sun-brownedbushwomandashesfromthekitchen,snatchesherbabyfromtheground,holdsitonherlefthip,andreachesforastick.
"Whereisit?
"
"Here!
Goneinthewood-heap;"yellstheeldestboy-asharp-facedurchinofeleven."Stopthere,mother!
I'llhavehim.Standback!
I'llhavethebeggar!
"
"Tommy,comehere,oryou'llbebit.ComehereatoncewhenItellyou,youlittlewretch!
"
Theyoungstercomesreluctantly,carryingastickbiggerthanhimself.Thenheyells,triumphantly:
"Thereitgoes-underthehouse!
"anddartsawaywithclubuplifted.Atthesametimethebig,black,yellow-eyeddog-of-all-breeds,whohasshownthewildestinterestintheproceedings,breakshischainandrushesafterthatsnake.Heisamomentlate,however,andhisnosereachesthecrackintheslabsjustastheendofitstaildisappears.Almostatthesamemomenttheboy'sclubcomesdownandskinstheaforesaidnose.Alligatortakessmallnoticeofthis,andproceedstounderminethebuilding;butheissubduedafterastruggleandchainedup.Theycannotaffordtolosehim.
Thedrover'swifemakesthechildrenstandtogethernearthedog-housewhileshewatchesforthesnake.Shegetstwosmalldishesofmilkandsetsthemdownnearthewalltotemptittocomeout;butanhourgoesbyanditdoesnotshowitself.
Itisnearsunset,andathunderstormiscoming.Thechildrenmustbebroughtinside.Shewillnottakethemintothehouse,forsheknowsthesnakeisthere,andmayatanymomentcomeupthroughacrackintheroughslabfloor;soshecarriesseveralarmfulsoffirewoodintothekitchen,andthentakesthechildrenthere.Thekitchenhasnofloor-or,rather,anearthenone-calleda"groundfloor"inthispartofthebush.Thereisalarge,roughly-madetableinthecentreoftheplace.Shebringsthechildrenin,andmakesthemgetonthistable.Theyaretwoboysandtwogirls-merebabies.Shegivessomesupper,andthen,beforeitgetsdark,shegoesintohouse,andsnatchesupsomepillowsandbedclothes-expectingtoseeorlayorhandonthesnakeanyminute.Shemakesabedonthekitchentableforthechildren,andsitsdownbesideittowatchallnight.
Shehasaneyeonthecorner,andagreensaplingclublaidinreadinessonthedresserbyherside;alsohersewingbasketandacopyoftheYoungLadies'Journal.Shehasbroughtthedogintotheroom.
Tommyturnsin,underprotest,butsayshe'lllieawakeallnightandsmashthatblindedsnake.
Hismotheraskshimhowmanytimesshehastoldnottoswear.
Hehashisclubwithhimunderthebedclothes,andJackyprotests:
"Mummy!
Tommy'sskinnin'mealivewifhisclub.Makehimtakeitout."
Tommy:
"Shetupyoulittle---!
D'yerwanttobebitwiththesnake?
"
Jackyshutsup.
"Ifyerbit,"saysTommy,afterapause,"you'llswellup,ansmell,an'turnredan'greenan'blueallovertillyerbust.Won'themother?
"
"Nowthen,don'tfrightenthechild.Gotosleep,"shesays.
Thetwoyoungerchildrengotosleep,andnowandthenJackycomplainsofbeing"skeezed."Moreroomismadeforhim.PresentlyTommysays:
"Mother!
Listentothem(adjective)littlepossums.I'dliketoscrewtheirblankynecks."
AndJackyprotestsdrowsily.
"Buttheydon'thurtus,thelittleblanks!
"
Mother:
"There,Itoldyouyou'dteachJackytoswear."Buttheremarkmakeshersmile.Jackygoestosleep.
PresentlyTommyasks:
"Mother!
Doyouthinkthey'lleverextricatethe(adjective)kangaroo?
"
"Lord!
HowamItoknow,child?
Gotosleep."
"Willyouwakemeifthesnakecomesout?
"
"Yes.Gotosleep."
Nearmidnight.Thechildrenareallasleepandshesitstherestill,sewingandreadingbyturns.Fromtimetotimesheglancesroundthefloorandwall-plate,and,whenevershehearsanoise,shereachesforthestick.Thethunderstormcomeson,andthewind,rushingthroughthecracksintheslabwall,threatenstoblowouthercandle.Sheplacesitonashelteredpartofthedresserandfixesupanewspapertoprotectit.Ateveryflashoflightning,thecracksbetweentheslabsgleamlikepolishedsilver.Thethunderrolls,andtheraincomesdownintorrents.
Alligatorliesatfulllengthonthefloor,withhiseyesturnedtowardsthepartition.Sheknowsbythisthatthesnakeisthere.Therearelargecracksinthatwallopeningunderthefloorofthedwelling-house.
Sheisnotacoward,butrecenteventshaveshakenhernerves.Alittlesonofherbrother-in-lawwaslatelybittenbyasnake,anddied.Besides,shehasnotheardfromherhusbandforsixmonths,andisanxiousabouthim.
Hewasadrover,andstartedsquattingherewhentheyweremarried.Thedroughtof18--ruinedhim.Hehadtosacrificetheremnantofhisflockandgodrovingagain.Heintendstomovehisfamilyintothenearesttownwhenhecomesback,and,inthemeantime,hisbrother,whokeepsashantyonthemainroad,comesoveraboutonceamonthwithprovisions.Thewifehasstillacoupleofcows,onehorse,andafewsheep.Thebrother-in-lawkillsoneofthelatteroccasionally,givesherwhatsheneedsofit,andtakestherestinreturnforotherprovisions.
Sheisusedtobeingleftalone.Sheoncelivedlikethisforeighteenmonths.Asagirlshebuilttheusualcastlesintheair;butallhergirlishhopesandaspirationshavelongbeendead.ShefindsalltheexcitementandrecreationsheneedsintheYoungLadies'Journal,andHeavenhelpher!
Takesapleasureinthefashionplates.
HerhusbandisanAustralian,andsoisshe.Heiscareless,butagoodenoughhusband.Ifhehadthemeanshewouldtakehertothecityandkeephertherelikeaprincess.Theyareusedtobeingapart,oratleastsheis."Nousefretting,"shesays.Hemayforgetsometimesthatheismarried;butifhehasagoodchequewhenhecomesbackhewillgivemostofittoher.Whenhehadmoneyhetookhertothecityseveraltimes-hiredarailwaysleepingcompartment,andputupatthebesthotels.Healsoboughtherabuggy,buttheyhadtosacrificethatalongwiththerest.
Thelasttwochildrenwereborninthebush-onewhileherhusbandwasbringingadrunkendoctor,byforce,toattendtoher.Shewasaloneonthisoccasion,andveryweak.Shehadbeenillwithfever.SheprayedtoGodtosendherassistance.GodsentBlackMary-the"whitest"gininalltheland.Or,atleast,GodsentKingJimmyfirst,andhesentBlackMary.Heputhisblackfaceroundthedoorpost,tookinthesituationataglance,andsaidcheerfully:
"Allright,missus-Ibringmyoldwoman,shedownalongacreek."
Oneofthechildrendiedwhileshewasherealone.Sherodenineteenmilesforassistance,carryingthedeadchild.
Itmustbenearoneortwoo'clock.Thefireisburninglow.Alligatorlieswithhisheadrestingonhispaws,andwatchesthewall.Heisnotaverybeautifuldog,andthelightshowsnumerousoldwoundswherethehairwillnotgrow.Heisafraidofnothingonthefaceoftheearthorunderit.Hewilltackleabullockasreadilyashewilltackleaflea.Hehatesallotherdogs-exceptkangaroo-dogs-andhasamarkeddisliketofriendsorrelationsofthefamily.Theyseldomcall,however.Hesometimesmakesfriendswithstrangers.Hehatessnakesandhaskilledmany,buthewillbebittensomedayanddie;mostsnake-dogsendthatway.
Nowandthenthebushwomanlaysdownherworkandwatches,andlistens,andthinks.Shethinksofthingsinherownlife,forthereislittleelsetothinkabout.
Therainwillmakethegrassgrow,andthisremindsherhowshefoughtabush-fireoncewhileherhusbandwasaway.Thegrasswaslong,andverydry,andthefirethreatenedtoburnherout.Sheputonanoldpairofherhusband'strousersandbeatouttheflameswithagreenbough,tillgreatdropsofsootyperspirationstoodoutonherforeheadandraninstreaksdownherblackenedarms.ThesightofhismotherintrousersgreatlyamusedTommy,whoworkedlikealittleherobyherside,buttheterrifiedbabyhowledlustilyforhis"mummy."Thefirewouldhavemasteredherbutforfourexcitedbushmenwhoarrivedinthenickoftime.Itwasamixed-upaffairallround;whenshewenttotakeupthebabyhescreamedandstruggledconvulsively,thinkingitwasa"blackman;"andAlligator,trustingmoretothechild'ssensethanhisowninstinct,chargedfuriously,and(beingoldandslightlydeaf)didnotinhisexcitementatfirstrecognizehismistress'svoice,butcontinuedtohangontothemoleskinsuntilchokedoffbyTommywithasaddle-strap.Thedog'ssorrowforhisblunder,andhisanxietytoletitbeknownthatitwasallamistake,wasasevidentashisraggedtailandatwelve-inchgrincouldmakeit.Itwasaglorioustimefortheboys;adaytolookbackt