In the Days When the World Was Wide [9]
Dunn of Nevertire.'
The super said, while to his face a strange expression came: `I THINK I've seen the man you want, I THINK I know the name; Had he a jolly kind of face, a free and careless way, Gray eyes that always seem'd to smile, and hair just turning gray -- Clean-shaved, except a light moustache, long-limbed, an' tough as wire?' `THAT'S HIM! THAT'S DUNN!' the stranger roared, `Jack Dunn of Nevertire! John Dunn of Nevertire, Jack D. from Nevertire, They said I'd find him here, the cuss! -- Jack Dunn of Nevertire.
`I'd know his walk,' the stranger cried, `though sobered, I'll allow.' `I doubt it much,' the boss replied, `he don't walk that way now.' `Perhaps he don't!' the stranger said, `for years were hard on Jack; But, if he were a mile away, I swear I'd know his back.' `I doubt it much,' the super said, and sadly puffed his briar, `I guess he wears a pair of wings -- Jack Dunn of Nevertire; Jack Dunn of Nevertire, Brave Dunn of Nevertire, He caught a fever nursing me, Jack Dunn of Nevertire.'
We took the stranger round to where a gum-tree stood alone, And in the grass beside the trunk he saw a granite stone; The names of Dunn and Nevertire were plainly written there -- `I'm all broke up,' the stranger said, in sorrow and despair, `I guess he has a wider run, the man that I require; He's got a river-frontage now, Jack Dunn of Nevertire; Straight Dunn of Nevertire, White Jack from Nevertire, I guess Saint Peter knew the name of `Dunn of Nevertire'.'
Trooper Campbell
One day old Trooper Campbell Rode out to Blackman's Run, His cap-peak and his sabre Were glancing in the sun. 'Twas New Year's Eve, and slowly Across the ridges low The sad Old Year was drifting To where the old years go.
The trooper's mind was reading The love-page of his life -- His love for Mary Wylie Ere she was Blackman's wife; He sorrowed for the sorrows Of the heart a rival won, For he knew that there was trouble Out there on Blackman's Run.
The sapling shades had lengthened, The summer day was late, When Blackman met the trooper Beyond the homestead gate. And if the hand of trouble Can leave a lasting trace, The lines of care had come to stay On poor old Blackman's face.
`Not good day, Trooper Campbell, It's a bad, bad day for me -- You are of all the men on earth The one I wished to see. The great black clouds of trouble Above our homestead hang; That wild and reckless boy of mine Has joined M'Durmer's gang.
`Oh! save him, save him, Campbell! I beg in friendship's name! For if they take and hang him, The wife would die of shame. Could Mary or her sisters Hold up their heads again, And face a woman's malice Or claim the love of men?
`And if he does a murder 'Twere better we were dead. Don't take him, Trooper Campbell, If a price be on his head; But shoot him! shoot him, Campbell, When you meet him face to face, And save him from the gallows, And us from that disgrace.'
`Now, Tom,' cried Trooper Campbell, `You know your words are wild. Though he is wild and reckless, Yet still he is your child; So bear up in your trouble, And meet it like a man, And tell the wife and daughters I'll save him if I can.'
. . . . .
The sad Australian sunset Had faded from the west; But night brings darker shadows To hearts that cannot rest; And Blackman's wife sat rocking And moaning in her chair. `I cannot bear disgrace,' she moaned; `Disgrace I cannot bear.
`In hardship and in trouble I struggled year by year To make my children better Than other children here. And if my son's a felon How can I show my face? I cannot bear disgrace; my God, I cannot bear disgrace!
`Ah, God in Heaven pardon! I'm selfish in my woe -- My boy is better-hearted Than many that I know. And I will face the world's disgrace, And, till his mother's dead, My foolish child shall find a place To lay his outlawed head.'
. . . . .
With a sad heart Trooper Campbell Rode back from Blackman's Run, Nor noticed aught about him Till thirteen
The super said, while to his face a strange expression came: `I THINK I've seen the man you want, I THINK I know the name; Had he a jolly kind of face, a free and careless way, Gray eyes that always seem'd to smile, and hair just turning gray -- Clean-shaved, except a light moustache, long-limbed, an' tough as wire?' `THAT'S HIM! THAT'S DUNN!' the stranger roared, `Jack Dunn of Nevertire! John Dunn of Nevertire, Jack D. from Nevertire, They said I'd find him here, the cuss! -- Jack Dunn of Nevertire.
`I'd know his walk,' the stranger cried, `though sobered, I'll allow.' `I doubt it much,' the boss replied, `he don't walk that way now.' `Perhaps he don't!' the stranger said, `for years were hard on Jack; But, if he were a mile away, I swear I'd know his back.' `I doubt it much,' the super said, and sadly puffed his briar, `I guess he wears a pair of wings -- Jack Dunn of Nevertire; Jack Dunn of Nevertire, Brave Dunn of Nevertire, He caught a fever nursing me, Jack Dunn of Nevertire.'
We took the stranger round to where a gum-tree stood alone, And in the grass beside the trunk he saw a granite stone; The names of Dunn and Nevertire were plainly written there -- `I'm all broke up,' the stranger said, in sorrow and despair, `I guess he has a wider run, the man that I require; He's got a river-frontage now, Jack Dunn of Nevertire; Straight Dunn of Nevertire, White Jack from Nevertire, I guess Saint Peter knew the name of `Dunn of Nevertire'.'
Trooper Campbell
One day old Trooper Campbell Rode out to Blackman's Run, His cap-peak and his sabre Were glancing in the sun. 'Twas New Year's Eve, and slowly Across the ridges low The sad Old Year was drifting To where the old years go.
The trooper's mind was reading The love-page of his life -- His love for Mary Wylie Ere she was Blackman's wife; He sorrowed for the sorrows Of the heart a rival won, For he knew that there was trouble Out there on Blackman's Run.
The sapling shades had lengthened, The summer day was late, When Blackman met the trooper Beyond the homestead gate. And if the hand of trouble Can leave a lasting trace, The lines of care had come to stay On poor old Blackman's face.
`Not good day, Trooper Campbell, It's a bad, bad day for me -- You are of all the men on earth The one I wished to see. The great black clouds of trouble Above our homestead hang; That wild and reckless boy of mine Has joined M'Durmer's gang.
`Oh! save him, save him, Campbell! I beg in friendship's name! For if they take and hang him, The wife would die of shame. Could Mary or her sisters Hold up their heads again, And face a woman's malice Or claim the love of men?
`And if he does a murder 'Twere better we were dead. Don't take him, Trooper Campbell, If a price be on his head; But shoot him! shoot him, Campbell, When you meet him face to face, And save him from the gallows, And us from that disgrace.'
`Now, Tom,' cried Trooper Campbell, `You know your words are wild. Though he is wild and reckless, Yet still he is your child; So bear up in your trouble, And meet it like a man, And tell the wife and daughters I'll save him if I can.'
. . . . .
The sad Australian sunset Had faded from the west; But night brings darker shadows To hearts that cannot rest; And Blackman's wife sat rocking And moaning in her chair. `I cannot bear disgrace,' she moaned; `Disgrace I cannot bear.
`In hardship and in trouble I struggled year by year To make my children better Than other children here. And if my son's a felon How can I show my face? I cannot bear disgrace; my God, I cannot bear disgrace!
`Ah, God in Heaven pardon! I'm selfish in my woe -- My boy is better-hearted Than many that I know. And I will face the world's disgrace, And, till his mother's dead, My foolish child shall find a place To lay his outlawed head.'
. . . . .
With a sad heart Trooper Campbell Rode back from Blackman's Run, Nor noticed aught about him Till thirteen