MONEY-MAKING TRICK 331 



MICKIE'S VERSION 



Mickie is apt at repeating the sayings of others. Often 

 his rendering of a commonplace becomes humorous by 

 reason of a slight verbal twist. As the boys toiled to 

 supplant a glorious strip of primeval jungle by a few formal 

 rows of bananas, the boss, glancing over the ruined vege- 

 tation, remarked in encouraging tones 



" Well, we are getting on fine ! Getting on like a house 

 on fire ! " 



For half an hour or so the boys hacked and chopped 

 away at the vines and trees, and then Mickie swept the 

 scene with a comprehensive glance, saying " We getting 

 on good fella now. All a same burning down house." 



HONOURABLE JOHNNY 



Johnny was much averse from work. " Work, work, 

 work, all asame bullocky," as he put it, rasped on his 

 feelings. At midday he was taking his ease, while others 

 toiled packing stones on a breakwater. One of them called 

 out " Why you no work, Johnny ? You sit down all the 

 time." Johnny "Me bin work close up daylight. You 

 lazy black niggers only work when Boss look out." 



THE TRANSFORMATION 



The wife of a squatter was about to leave the station 

 for a few years, that her daughters might have the oppor- 

 tunity of acquiring accomplishments unobtainable in the 

 Bush. When the hour of departure arrived, the blacks 

 about the place loudly expressed their sorrow. One soft- 

 hearted creature exclaimed amid the tears " Good-bye, 

 Miss Madge good-bye, Miss Yola ; me no see little girls 

 any more. Two fella going away, try learn be lady ! " 



MONEY-MAKING TRICK 



A boy who had visited a town and had been taken to 

 a circus, gathered the camp together on the night of his 



