The Drover27s Wife说课讲解.docx

The Drover27s Wife说课讲解.docx

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TheDrover27sWife说课讲解

TheDrover'sWifebyHenryLawson

    Thetwo-roomedhouseisbuiltofroundtimber,slabs,andstringy-bark,andflooredwithsplitslabs.Abigbarkkitchenstandingatoneendislargerthanthehouseitself,verandaincluded.

    Bushallaround-bushwithnohorizon,forthecountryisflat.Norangesinthedistance.Thebushconsistsofstunted,rottennativeapple-trees.Noundergrowth.Nothingtorelievetheeyesavethedarkergreenofafewshe-oakswhicharesighingabovethenarrow,almostwaterlesscreek.Nineteenmilestothenearestsignofcivilisation-ashantyonthemainroad.

    Thedrover,anex-squatter,isawaywithsheep.Hiswifeandchildrenareleftherealone.

    Fourragged,dried-up-lookingchildrenareplayingaboutthehouse.Suddenlyoneofthemyells:

"Snake!

Mother,here'sasnake!

"

    Thegaunt,sun-brownedbushwomandashesfromthekitchen,snatchesherbabyfromtheground,holdsitonherlefthip,andreachesforastick.

    "Whereisit?

"

    "Here!

Goneinthewood-heap;"yellstheeldestboy-asharp-facedurchinofeleven."Stopthere,mother!

I'llhavehim.Standback!

I'llhavethebeggar!

"

    "Tommy,comehere,oryou'llbebit.ComehereatoncewhenItellyou,youlittlewretch!

"

    Theyoungstercomesreluctantly,carryingastickbiggerthanhimself.Thenheyells,triumphantly:

    "Thereitgoes-underthehouse!

"anddartsawaywithclubuplifted.Atthesametimethebig,black,yellow-eyeddog-of-all-breeds,whohasshownthewildestinterestintheproceedings,breakshischainandrushesafterthatsnake.Heisamomentlate,however,andhisnosereachesthecrackintheslabsjustastheendofitstaildisappears.Almostatthesamemomenttheboy'sclubcomesdownandskinstheaforesaidnose.Alligatortakessmallnoticeofthis,andproceedstounderminethebuilding;butheissubduedafterastruggleandchainedup.Theycannotaffordtolosehim.

    Thedrover'swifemakesthechildrenstandtogethernearthedog-housewhileshewatchesforthesnake.Shegetstwosmalldishesofmilkandsetsthemdownnearthewalltotemptittocomeout;butanhourgoesbyanditdoesnotshowitself.

    Itisnearsunset,andathunderstormiscoming.Thechildrenmustbebroughtinside.Shewillnottakethemintothehouse,forsheknowsthesnakeisthere,andmayatanymomentcomeupthroughacrackintheroughslabfloor;soshecarriesseveralarmfulsoffirewoodintothekitchen,andthentakesthechildrenthere.Thekitchenhasnofloor-or,rather,anearthenone-calleda"groundfloor"inthispartofthebush.Thereisalarge,roughly-madetableinthecentreoftheplace.Shebringsthechildrenin,andmakesthemgetonthistable.Theyaretwoboysandtwogirls-merebabies.Shegivessomesupper,andthen,beforeitgetsdark,shegoesintohouse,andsnatchesupsomepillowsandbedclothes-expectingtoseeorlayorhandonthesnakeanyminute.Shemakesabedonthekitchentableforthechildren,andsitsdownbesideittowatchallnight.

    Shehasaneyeonthecorner,andagreensaplingclublaidinreadinessonthedresserbyherside;alsohersewingbasketandacopyoftheYoungLadies'Journal.Shehasbroughtthedogintotheroom.

    Tommyturnsin,underprotest,butsayshe'lllieawakeallnightandsmashthatblindedsnake.

    Hismotheraskshimhowmanytimesshehastoldnottoswear.

    Hehashisclubwithhimunderthebedclothes,andJackyprotests:

    "Mummy!

Tommy'sskinnin'mealivewifhisclub.Makehimtakeitout."

    Tommy:

"Shetupyoulittle---!

D'yerwanttobebitwiththesnake?

"

    Jackyshutsup.

    "Ifyerbit,"saysTommy,afterapause,"you'llswellup,ansmell,an'turnredan'greenan'blueallovertillyerbust.Won'themother?

"

    "Nowthen,don'tfrightenthechild.Gotosleep,"shesays.

    Thetwoyoungerchildrengotosleep,andnowandthenJackycomplainsofbeing"skeezed."Moreroomismadeforhim.PresentlyTommysays:

"Mother!

Listentothem（adjective）littlepossums.I'dliketoscrewtheirblankynecks."

    AndJackyprotestsdrowsily.

    "Buttheydon'thurtus,thelittleblanks!

"

    Mother:

"There,Itoldyouyou'dteachJackytoswear."Buttheremarkmakeshersmile.Jackygoestosleep.

    PresentlyTommyasks:

    "Mother!

Doyouthinkthey'lleverextricatethe（adjective）kangaroo?

"

    "Lord!

HowamItoknow,child?

Gotosleep."

    "Willyouwakemeifthesnakecomesout?

"

    "Yes.Gotosleep."

    Nearmidnight.Thechildrenareallasleepandshesitstherestill,sewingandreadingbyturns.Fromtimetotimesheglancesroundthefloorandwall-plate,and,whenevershehearsanoise,shereachesforthestick.Thethunderstormcomeson,andthewind,rushingthroughthecracksintheslabwall,threatenstoblowouthercandle.Sheplacesitonashelteredpartofthedresserandfixesupanewspapertoprotectit.Ateveryflashoflightning,thecracksbetweentheslabsgleamlikepolishedsilver.Thethunderrolls,andtheraincomesdownintorrents.

    Alligatorliesatfulllengthonthefloor,withhiseyesturnedtowardsthepartition.Sheknowsbythisthatthesnakeisthere.Therearelargecracksinthatwallopeningunderthefloorofthedwelling-house.

    Sheisnotacoward,butrecenteventshaveshakenhernerves.Alittlesonofherbrother-in-lawwaslatelybittenbyasnake,anddied.Besides,shehasnotheardfromherhusbandforsixmonths,andisanxiousabouthim.

    Hewasadrover,andstartedsquattingherewhentheyweremarried.Thedroughtof18--ruinedhim.Hehadtosacrificetheremnantofhisflockandgodrovingagain.Heintendstomovehisfamilyintothenearesttownwhenhecomesback,and,inthemeantime,hisbrother,whokeepsashantyonthemainroad,comesoveraboutonceamonthwithprovisions.Thewifehasstillacoupleofcows,onehorse,andafewsheep.Thebrother-in-lawkillsoneofthelatteroccasionally,givesherwhatsheneedsofit,andtakestherestinreturnforotherprovisions.

    Sheisusedtobeingleftalone.Sheoncelivedlikethisforeighteenmonths.Asagirlshebuilttheusualcastlesintheair;butallhergirlishhopesandaspirationshavelongbeendead.ShefindsalltheexcitementandrecreationsheneedsintheYoungLadies'Journal,andHeavenhelpher!

Takesapleasureinthefashionplates.

    HerhusbandisanAustralian,andsoisshe.Heiscareless,butagoodenoughhusband.Ifhehadthemeanshewouldtakehertothecityandkeephertherelikeaprincess.Theyareusedtobeingapart,oratleastsheis."Nousefretting,"shesays.Hemayforgetsometimesthatheismarried;butifhehasagoodchequewhenhecomesbackhewillgivemostofittoher.Whenhehadmoneyhetookhertothecityseveraltimes-hiredarailwaysleepingcompartment,andputupatthebesthotels.Healsoboughtherabuggy,buttheyhadtosacrificethatalongwiththerest.

    Thelasttwochildrenwereborninthebush-onewhileherhusbandwasbringingadrunkendoctor,byforce,toattendtoher.Shewasaloneonthisoccasion,andveryweak.Shehadbeenillwithfever.SheprayedtoGodtosendherassistance.GodsentBlackMary-the"whitest"gininalltheland.Or,atleast,GodsentKingJimmyfirst,andhesentBlackMary.Heputhisblackfaceroundthedoorpost,tookinthesituationataglance,andsaidcheerfully:

"Allright,missus-Ibringmyoldwoman,shedownalongacreek."

    Oneofthechildrendiedwhileshewasherealone.Sherodenineteenmilesforassistance,carryingthedeadchild.

    Itmustbenearoneortwoo'clock.Thefireisburninglow.Alligatorlieswithhisheadrestingonhispaws,andwatchesthewall.Heisnotaverybeautifuldog,andthelightshowsnumerousoldwoundswherethehairwillnotgrow.Heisafraidofnothingonthefaceoftheearthorunderit.Hewilltackleabullockasreadilyashewilltackleaflea.Hehatesallotherdogs-exceptkangaroo-dogs-andhasamarkeddisliketofriendsorrelationsofthefamily.Theyseldomcall,however.Hesometimesmakesfriendswithstrangers.Hehatessnakesandhaskilledmany,buthewillbebittensomedayanddie;mostsnake-dogsendthatway.

    Nowandthenthebushwomanlaysdownherworkandwatches,andlistens,andthinks.Shethinksofthingsinherownlife,forthereislittleelsetothinkabout.

    Therainwillmakethegrassgrow,andthisremindsherhowshefoughtabush-fireoncewhileherhusbandwasaway.Thegrasswaslong,andverydry,andthefirethreatenedtoburnherout.Sheputonanoldpairofherhusband'strousersandbeatouttheflameswithagreenbough,tillgreatdropsofsootyperspirationstoodoutonherforeheadandraninstreaksdownherblackenedarms.ThesightofhismotherintrousersgreatlyamusedTommy,whoworkedlikealittleherobyherside,buttheterrifiedbabyhowledlustilyforhis"mummy."Thefirewouldhavemasteredherbutforfourexcitedbushmenwhoarrivedinthenickoftime.Itwasamixed-upaffairallround;whenshewenttotakeupthebabyhescreamedandstruggledconvulsively,thinkingitwasa"blackman;"andAlligator,trustingmoretothechild'ssensethanhisowninstinct,chargedfuriously,and（beingoldandslightlydeaf）didnotinhisexcitementatfirstrecognizehismistress'svoice,butcontinuedtohangontothemoleskinsuntilchokedoffbyTommywithasaddle-strap.Thedog'ssorrowforhisblunder,andhisanxietytoletitbeknownthatitwasallamistake,wasasevidentashisraggedtailandatwelve-inchgrincouldmakeit.Itwasaglorioustimefortheboys;adaytoloo