48 BUSH HORSES 



manly about them ; and they are well expressed. 

 The pick of them are "Bush Ballads and Galloping 

 Rhymes" and " Sea Spray and Smoke Drift." 



We must remember that this popular Australian 

 poet was fond of reckless gaiety; he was a central 

 figure at nearly all race meetings, and took up in 

 turn other exciting pursuits besides jump-riding. 

 From time to time he spent months of solitude in 

 the Bush, and so grew morose ; and consequently 

 felt that his talents were wasted and his writings 

 were embittered. The following;' verses out of 

 " The Sick Stockman," are fair specimens of his 

 varying moods. It will be noticed that the equine 

 poetry is remarkably spirited ; and was obviously 

 written by a fearless rider, who loved horses for 

 their own sake, above betting and coping. 



" 'Twas merry in the glowing morn amongst the gleaming 

 grass 

 To wander as we've wandered many a mile, 

 And blow the cool tobacco-cloud and watch the white 

 wreaths pass, 

 Sitting loosely in the saddle all the while. 

 'Twas merry in the backwoods when we spied the station 

 roofs 

 To wheel the wild scrub cattle at the yard 

 With a running fire of stock-whips and a fiery run of hoofs ; 

 Oh ! the hardest day was never then too hard ! " 



Another verse will serve to illustrate the devil- 

 me-care lives of his contemporaries : — 



" And Mostyn — poor Frank Mostyn^— died at last a fearful 

 wreck 

 In the " horrors" at the Upper Wandinong; 

 And Carisbroke, the rider, at the Horsefall broke his neck. 

 Faith ! the wonder was he saved his neck so long ! " 



