Children of the Bush

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lawson, Henry, 1867-1922

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Children of the Bush" by Henry Lawson is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. The narratives explore the lives of bushmen in the Australian outback, delving into themes of mateship, kindness, and the struggles of rural life. Central to these tales is the character "The Giraffe," a tall, good-natured man who embodies the spirit of camaraderie and selflessness in his community, often taking on the role of a caretaker for those facing hardship. The opening of "Children of the Bush" introduces us to the Giraffe as he goes about a morning in a shearers' shanty, where a sick jackaroo is to be sent to the hospital. The narrative captures the lively dynamics of the shanty, with its colorful characters sharing banter while they pass around a hat to collect funds for their ailing companion. Through various interactions and humorous exchanges, we see the Giraffe's unwavering goodwill and his tendency to help others in distress, setting the tone for the stories that celebrate the resilience and generosity of those living in the bush. The Giraffe's commitment to community and humanity despite personal challenges hints at the broader social themes present throughout Lawson's work. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Send round the hat

That pretty girl in the army

"Lord Douglas"

The blindness of One-Eyed Bogan

Two sundowners

A sketch of mateship

On the tucker track: a Steelman story

A bush publican's lament

The shearer's dream

The Lost Souls' Hotel

The boozers' home

The sex problem again

The romance of the swag

"Buckolts' Gate"

The bush-fire

The house that was never built

"Barney, take me home again"

A droving yarn

Gettin' back on Dave Regan

"Shall we gather at the river?"

His brother's keeper

The story of "Gentleman Once"

The ghosts of many Christmases.

Credits:

Geoffrey Cowling

Notes:

Reading ease score: 77.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2004-12-01