AustLit
- Author:agent A. B. Paterson http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/paterson-a-b-banjo
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- Related To (4)
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Works related to this work
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Saltbush Bill
i
"Now this is the law of the Overland that all in the West obey,",
A. B. Paterson
,
1894
single work
poetry
— Appears in: The Bulletin (Xmas edition) , 15 December vol. 14 no. 774 1894; (p. 18) The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses 1895; (p. 50-55) The Coo-ee Reciter : Humourous, Pathetic, Dramatic, Dialect, Recitations and Readings 1904; (p. 17-20) Favourite Australian Poems 1963; (p. 89-92) The Penguin Book of Australian Verse 1972; (p. 82-85) The Bulletin , 23-30 December vol. 101 no. 5243 1980; (p. 87-88)The character of "Saltbush Bill" is introduced in this poem as a drover of sheep along "the track of the Overland", who stretches the "the law of the Great Stock Routes" by allowing his sheep to make use of all the good grass they find. On the occasion described in the poem, Bill's sheep have spread across a squatter's property. A Jackaroo arrives and attempts to drive the sheep back into the accepted "space of the half-mile track". An argument and then fight ensues between Bill and the Jackaroo, and, while Bill concedes after a marathon fight, in the end he achieves his aim of finding his sheep a good feed.
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Saltbush Bill's Second Fight
i
"The news came down on the Castlereagh, and went to the world at large,",
A. B. Paterson
,
1897
single work
poetry
humour
— Appears in: The Antipodean , Christmas no. 3 1897; (p. [xxix], [xxxi], [xxxiii], [xxxv], [xxxvii]) Rio Grande's Last Race and Other Verses 1902; The Collected Verse of A. B. Paterson : Containing 'The Man from Snowy River', 'Rio Grande' and 'Saltbush Bill, J. P.' 1982; (p. 146-150) Singer of the Bush, A. B. (Banjo) Paterson : Complete Works 1885-1900 1983; (p. 296-298) The Banjo's Best-Loved Poems : Chosen by his Grand-Daughters 1989; (p. 89-94) A Vision Splendid : The Complete Poetry of A. B. 'Banjo' Paterson 1990; (p. 28-30)Saltbush Bill is droving his sheep towards Castlereagh and Stingy Smith, the owner of Hard Times Hill station is worried that Bill's sheep will ruin his run. He chances on a travelling tramp, and finding out the man is a fighter, arranges for him to get Bill into a fight and tells him it's "a five-pound job if you belt him well – do anything short of kill". When Bill arrives at the station, the tramp kicks his dog, starts a fight and beats Bill senseless. Bill has to recuperate for a week from his injuries, after which he and his sheep move on. It is only later that Stingy Smith comes to realise that he has been duped, and that Bill had arranged it all.
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Saltbush Bill on the Patriarchs
i
"Come all ye little rouseabouts and climb upon my knee;",
A. B. Paterson
,
1903
single work
poetry
— Appears in: The Evening News , 19 December 1903; (p. 3) Saltbush Bill, J. P., and Other Verses 1917; (p. 8-13) Saltbush Bill, J. P., and Other Verses 1924; (p. 7-12) The Collected Verse of A. B. Paterson : Containing 'The Man from Snowy River', 'Rio Grande' and 'Saltbush Bill, J. P.' 1982; (p. 205-206) The Drovers 1982; (p. 36) Song of the Pen, A. B. (Banjo) Paterson : Complete Works 1901-1941 1983; (p. 178-180)Saltbush Bill tells the story of a successful sheep farmer using the biblical story of Isaac and Jacob as a metaphor.
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Saltbush Bill, J.P.
i
"Beyond the land where Leichhardt went,",
A. B. Paterson
,
1905
single work
poetry
— Appears in: The Evening News , 16 December 1905; (p. 7) Saltbush Bill, J. P., and Other Verses 1917; (p. 17-21) Saltbush Bill, J. P., and Other Verses 1924; (p. 17-21) Along the Western Road : Bush Stories and Ballads 1981; (p. 63-66) The Collected Verse of A. B. Paterson : Containing 'The Man from Snowy River', 'Rio Grande' and 'Saltbush Bill, J. P.' 1982; (p. 209-211) Song of the Pen, A. B. (Banjo) Paterson : Complete Works 1901-1941 1983; (p. 241-244)After a long life of droving Saltbush Bill is appointed a J.P. But he is disappointed to find no mention of pay until he finds, in his contract, the line "A magistrate may charge a pound/For inquest on a fire." Bill and the local indigenous population collude to make good use of this provision.