The Best Australian Bush Stories by Jim Haynes

Author:Jim Haynes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LCO005000, book
ISBN: 9781743435113
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2013-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

TO THE CITY

STEELE RUDD

(EXCERPT FROM ON AN AUSTRALIAN FARM)

A WARM AND GLORIOUS sunshine lit up the land. The fields of waving wheat breaking into shot-blade were pictures good for man to see. The great pine trees towering round the snuggling home were a-song with birds and all the family were up to their eyes with the final preparations for the trip to the city.

For a week and more Mrs Dashwood and the girls had been overhauling and organising their wardrobes, and packing boxes and bags and portmanteaux, so that no hitch would happen and no time be lost when the hour for starting arrived. Tilly, who had had more experience in travelling than the others, was careful to send Maria, her married sister, instructions to do likewise, and warned her to leave nothing to the last. And Maria sent a message to say that she and the baby were ready to start at any moment.

Preparations for a church picnic, or for attending a race meeting, are exciting enough events in the country, but this trip to the city excelled all things in the history of ‘Fairfield’. Nothing had ever so disorganised and dislocated the family nerve and general placidity.

There is no class on earth so easily and speedily demoralised as the country person when under the spell and influence of a ‘trip to the city’. But the demoralisation lasts only until their feet touch the floor of the railway carriage, and they feel the grip of the ticket and the carriage window. Then, with a gulp and a gasp, the temporary disorder passes away like the evil effects of green lucerne leaving a bloated cow when proper remedies are applied.

Old John, arrayed in a shining black suit with a heavy gold chain stretched across his great stomach, strutted into the dining room and surveyed himself in a self-satisfied sort of way. A big man was old John, and done up and posing as he was now, looked all over a prosperous alderman.

Granny in a motherly way looked him up and down, then took him in charge and tugged at the sleeves and tails of his coat to coax them into position. Then, taking out her pocket-handkerchief, she proceeded to brush him all over.

Peter, dressed like a shop window, in a loud check suit, a cunning-looking tweed hat—the only one of its kind in the land—a high-coloured collar, a variegated necktie, and carrying a spanking new leather bag in each hand, skipped breezily into the room.

For a moment John’s breath threatened to leave him. He stared long and hard at his artistic-looking son. Peter paraded the room as if for inspection. Old John started to smile.

‘Well,’ said old John, ‘if I wouldn’t a’thought you was just come back from heaven.’

‘By Jove, then, Father,’ Peter rejoined enthusiastically, ‘you don’t look too bad yourself. You’d pass for a king in those clothes.’

James, carelessly dressed in a common tweed suit, and wearing a soft felt hat, sauntered in search of luggage to convey to the buggies standing in the yard.

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