Norah of Billabong

Ah, . . . I remember The muster of cattle away outback, The thunder of hoofs and the stock-whip’s crack, The panting breaths on the warm sweet breeze, The tossing horns by Rosel...

A DROVER on the road with store cattle miles away saw the glow in the sky that night, and reported it next morning to a farmer driving in to Cunjee; and before noon half the tow...

Oh, the world is wondrous fair When the tide of life’s at flood! There is music in the air, There is music in the blood. And a glamour draws us on, To the distance, rainbow-span...

Yet long ago it was promised by Someone, Who lovingly help for the children implored, That if only you gave one a cup of cold water, You surely in no wise should lose your reward!

A VERY tall boy came up the gravel path of Beresford House. It was “breaking up” day, and an unwonted air of festivity and smartness was evident, even to the eye of a stranger....

The motor was standing before the door of the hotel. Norah and Jean were tucked into the back seat, knitting their brows over a lengthy shopping list. It was their last day in t...

There’s rest and peace and plenty here, and eggs and milk to spare; The scenery is calm and sane, and wholesome is the air; The folk are kind, the cows behave like cousins unto...

“Very possibly you were not,” Jim’s voice said. “Don’t lay all the blame on your parents; it seems to me more an acquired habit on your part.” His cheerful face came over the ed...

IT was late in the afternoon of the third day, and in a cloud of thick dust the riders were hurrying along the road towards Atholton. Ahead they could see the scattered roofs of...

The little feet have left the house, The little voice is still; Without, the wan, wind-weary boughs; Within, the will To go and hear the wee feet tread Within the garden of the...

BEFORE the homestead the lawn stretched smoothly away, its green expanse broken here and there by a gay flower bed or a mass of shrubbery. Tall palms tossed their feathery heads...

“They shud,” said Mr. O’Toole, with conviction. He removed an exceedingly black pipe from his mouth and stared at it, pressing the tobacco down in the bowl with a broad thumb. “...

“Henderson would give me leave if I asked him—so I won’t,” he said. “It’s a short stage, but that’s advisable, seeing that it’s our first day out, and that it has been uncommonl...

“Don’t quite know,” Jim said, grinning through the suds. “Dad’s having words with one of the men, and you’d better wait until he comes over. You mustn’t risk interrupting the fl...

And thro’ the night came all old memories flocking, White memories like the snowflakes round me whirled; “All’s well!” I said. “The mothers still sit rocking The cradles of the...

SARAH, the housemaid, was at the big bell of the station, ringing it wildly. Long after every man and woman on Billabong was awake and busy, Sarah continued to ring. She said af...

There are stars of gold on the Wallaby Track, And silver the moonbeams glisten, The great Bush sings to us, out and back. And we lie in her arms and listen.

THEY fixed a saddle-pad for Babs in front of Norah, and she rode proudly into Atholton. The horses did not make her afraid at all; indeed, she welcomed them with shouts of glee,...

When the north wind moans thro’ the blind creek courses, And revels with harsh, hot sand, I loose the horses, the wild red horses, I loose the horses, the mad red horses, And te...

She was lying full length on her face when Norah’s startled voice rang out across the camp. Almost with the first word she was on her feet, twisting to an erect position with a...

The gray gums by the lonely creek, The star-crowned heights, The wind-swept plain, the dim blue peak, The cold white light, The solitude spread near and far Around the camp-fire...