The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-11-28


that station are not noted either for
their culture or their refinement.
Crawling with heayily-laden bullock;
wagons across plains and neyer-ending
scrubs would not appear to be an ex-
istence possessed of many charms, and
yet ] believe there is no case on record
of n man or woman who, having once
served his or her apprenticeship at the
trade, has ever returned TO civilized life
again. ..%r -
In the Queensland bush carrying
trade, you must understand, there are
three main arteries, the townships OF
Hughenden, Longreen and Charlie
vile, and from each Of these places
there flows continually a stream of
enormous table-topped wagons, bound
for stations In the great west, all more
or less remote from what is generally
supposed TO make life worth living.
The existence OF the carrier Is rough
70 terrible degree, and must in no way
be COMPOUNDED with that of the respect
able, jog-trot class who ply their trade
in English rural districts. Let me pic
ture for you nights camp of one of
those nomad families. ,@ ~ = III il.
Imagine a treeless plain, say some
two hundred or three hundred miles
from civilization, extending as far as
the eye can reach on every side. In
the foreground you win probably have
fnir-sized water hole. mp TO the side
OF which, as vow look, numbers an enor-
nous wagons piled with ioadiIiE! Of
every kind and description. and drawn
by perhaps twenty. bullocks.ia Wearied
after their. long. days march. the team
drags up 10 the. water and&hen comes
TO halt with a deep gEunt, az satisfacr
ton. The sun, whiehftbroAghpnt this
day has caused them untold .agQnies,.
now lies low un9n tbs, horizon iyrning
the dreary. plain. into the likeness of a
sayeless SEQ. aud painting the placid
water hpleWiik colorfssof eyer-shanging
beauty. Once at a Etandstili, the work
.of unyoiSif'g oniikences; 'and after this
isaccomplished. the Outsider, Or drivers
assistant. Bells certain bullocks.,s and
conducts the herd to, water and the
best egrass; 1.-THE sdrivef smeahwhiled
places tlfeyos<s IN PROF ofdeis upon |
this pole, preparatory to an early stni.tt
upon the smofrow. 'sfse;. ~ gss.-s ~.
.FhescsarieeS Mis- l5y tisS time .shas1
fr1n her perchs5ts the'gum-d
init of the loads and, with a.csowd of /
natrbrownse hildrcn' at-hers heels. has
set about her propagation of,theevenrI
ing. meal Ere IA. " eaton the sup has
packed. his pillows sin the west and
dropped into ,hisscrjpsoD bed. /. 4 !
Az daylight disappears, and without |
an interval OF twilight, darkness, dea
srends upon the plain, and one by one
sundry jewels drop out of the treasure
house 81 night TO deck the canopy OF
heaven. The Stiffness Is almost re-
mnrltablc, and later on, when each
member OF the tiny party has found a |
resting place tinong the loading or be-
meath THE wagon, II becomes even more
intense, until only the whistle OF a
curlew, the cry of o marauding dingo,
or the distant boom OF the bullock |
bells jars upon the sleeping night.
BY daybreak the community Is once
more astIr. and when breakfast has
been eaten the team Is yoked up. Then
tho woman places herself and children |
i pom the top OF the wagon, the carrier
takes his place and cracks his heavy |
whip, the bullocks sway forward, and
once more the journey Is resumed
across the same intermlnahle plain. SO
week In aud week out, from years end |
to years end, the same life goes for
ward, never varying save when rain
Or scarcity OF grans makes the track |
small wonder, therefore |