An incomplete glossary of Australian, British, or antique terms and concepts which may prove helpful to understanding this book: "A house where they took in cards on a tray" (from Joe Wilson's Courtship): An upper class house, with servants who would take a visitor's card (on a tray) to announce their presence, or, if the family was out, to keep a record of the visit. Anniversary Day: Mentioned in the text, is now known as Australia Day. It commemorates the establishment of the first English settlement in Australia, at Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), on 26 January 1788.

On the diggings up to twenty odd years ago-and as far back as I can remember-on Lambing Flat, the Pipe Clays, Gulgong, Home Rule, and so through the roaring list; in bark huts, tents, public-houses, sly grog shanties, and-well, the most glorious voice of all belonged to a bad girl. We were only children and didn't know why she was bad, but we weren't allowed to play near or go near the hut she lived in, and we were trained to believe firmly that something awful would happen to us if we stayed to answer a word, and didn't run away as fast as our legs could carry us, if she attempted to speak...

It was about nine o'clock in the morning, and, though it was Sunday morning, it was no harm to wake me; but the shearer had mistaken me for a deaf jackaroo, who was staying at the shanty and was something like me, and had good-naturedly shouted almost at the top of his voice, and he woke the whole shanty. Anyway he woke three or four others who were sleeping on beds and stretchers, and one on a shake-down on the floor, in the same room. It had been a wet night, and the shanty was full of shearers from Big Billabong Shed which had cut out the day before. My room mates had been drinking and...

"Children of the Bush" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"In the Days When the World Was Wide and Other Verses" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"Joe Wilson and His Mates" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"On the Track" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"Over the Sliprails" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"The Rising of the Court" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).

"While the Billy Boils" from Henry Lawson. Australian writer and poet (1862-1922).