50 Australian Life 



takes up his old single-barrelled gun, looking 

 wistfully at his father. The latter "does n't see 

 why he should n't," and the pair go off amicably 

 in search of 'possums, the skins of which will be 

 tanned and converted into a fine serviceable rug. 

 They are soon back, though, and at an early hour 

 all are in bed, enjoying a well-earned rest. 



The bush folk have few pleasures, but they can- 

 not be said to take them sadly. They rather 

 make the best of things. When Christmas time 

 comes, the boys go off into the ranges and cut 

 young cherry trees which are not cherry trees 

 and big fern leaves to decorate the house with a 

 brave show of green. A great slaughter of poul- 

 try and sucking pigs takes place, and puddings 

 are boiled and cakes baked in readiness for the 

 holiday. Old friends come riding in, and brothers 

 who were away droving or shearing turn up un- 

 expectedly, and sleep on shakedowns before the 

 kitchen fire. There is a good deal of eating and 

 jollity, and in the evening a visit is paid to a 

 neighbour's house, where the young people dance 

 to the strains of a concertina, while the staider 

 married folk gossip together, the men smoking 

 their pipes outside and discussing their unfailing 

 politics. 



On Boxing Day, the selection is left to look 

 after itself, and the whole family drives off to the 

 "sports " in the spring cart. There is provision- 

 ing on a liberal scale from the substantial rem- 

 nants of the Christmas feast, and the family 



