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y separately published work icon On the Track selected work   short story  
  • Author:agent Henry Lawson http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/lawson-henry
Issue Details: First known date: 1900... 1900 On the Track
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Contents

* Contents derived from the Sydney, New South Wales,:Angus and Robertson , 1900 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
The Songs They Used To Sing, Henry Lawson , single work short story
Lawson writes of, and quotes from, the songs sung on the goldfields, the people who sang them and the emotions the songs aroused, sentimental and otherwise.
 (p. 1-17)
A Vision of Sandy Blight, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
The narrator, Joe, is tortured by sandy blight, so he and Mitchell shelter in a hut to wait for sunset. After apparently curing Joe's affliction with a bottle of 'eye water' he finds in the hut, Mitchell reminisces about the perils of amateur bee-keeping.
 (p. 18-25)
Andy Page's Rival, Henry Lawson , single work short story
Andy proposes to a selector's daughter, Lizzie Porter, while sitting on the wood-heap one evening. All is well until his mate, Dave Bentley, starts telling tales.
 (p. 26-36)
The Iron-Bark Chip, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Dave Regan and his gang of workers try to pass off a girder as ironbark, as specified in their contract, but the government inspector seems suspicious.
 (p. 37-44)
Middleton's Peter, Henry Lawson , single work short story

Joe Middleton's wife, Maggie, gives birth with the assistance of Mother Palmer, but is in need of a doctor, specifically the unregistered and alcoholic Doc. Wild. Joe's brother, Dave, rides fifteen miles to fetch him, but Doc. Wild is drunk in Black's shanty and will not come. It takes Old Peter, also known as Middleton's Peter, to persuade him.

 (p. 45-56)
The Mystery of Dave Regan, Henry Lawson , single work short story
Dave Regan is frequently being reported as dead, but usually turns up again. When the narrator, Jim, sees him in dry, dusty clothes after a drenching thunderstorm he becomes convinced he has seen Dave's ghost.
 (p. 57-61)
Mitchell on Matrimony, Henry Lawson , single work short story
Mitchell and Joe are on their way home to Sydney after the shearing season. They camp for the night and Mitchell gives his views on marriage.
 (p. 62-68)
Mitchell on Women, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Mitchell lectures his mate on the wiles of women.
 (p. 69-74)
No Place for a Woman, Henry Lawson , single work short story

'Ratty Howlett' has lived alone on his selection for fifteen years. His only company is the occasional traveller he waylays on the road past his property and persuades to stop for a yarn. When the narrator is invited back to Ratty's hut for a meal he is surprised to find it clean and tidy. Ratty tells him his wife has gone out for the day and it is not until five years later that the narrator learns the truth.

 (p. 75-88)
Mitchell's Jobs, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Jack Mitchell announces to his mate, Joe, that he is going to give up working so that he can make some real money.
 (p. 89-94)
Bill, the Ventriloquial Rooster, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Mitchell relates the sorry tale of Bill, a rooster mystified by the echo of his crowing.
 (p. 95-101)
Bush Cats, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Lawson writes admiringly about the toughness and hunting skills of cats living on farms and selections.
 (p. 102-107)
Meeting Old Mates, Henry Lawson , single work short story
The narrator, Joe, writes of meeting up with two of his mates, Tom Smith and Jack Ellis, after not seeing them for some time. Time has wrought changes in them all and their friendships cannot be the same.
 (p. 108-117)
Two Larrikins, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Ernie Stowsher's girl, Liz of Jones's Alley, is pregnant. She pleads with him for them to keep the child and Stowsher discovers the idea of fatherhood has appeal.
 (p. 118-122)
Mr Smellingscheck, Henry Lawson , single work short story
The narrator describes a fellow lodger, Mr Smellingscheck, who has fallen on hard times but still manages to retain his dignity.
 (p. 123-127)
A Rough Shed, Henry Lawson , single work short story
A rouseabout describes the routines and privations of his life in outback shearing sheds.
 (p. 128-136)
Payable Gold, Henry Lawson , single work short story
Peter MacKenzie, retired from the Ballarat goldfields and living in Melbourne with his family, is lured north to the N. S. W. goldfields. He has mortgaged his home to support his wife and children while he is away and labours unsuccessfully for years before he strikes payable gold. When he returns to Melbourne he finds that even Alligator Desolation, the family dog, has missed him.
 (p. 137-144)
An Oversight of Steelman's, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour
Steelman sends his mate, Smith, into a pub to buy what beer he can with their remaining fourpence. He coaches Smith on what to say and how to act, but there is a fatal flaw in his plan.
 (p. 145-152)
How Steelman Told His Story, Henry Lawson , single work short story humour

Steelman praises Smith, telling him he is nearly as good to talk to as an intelligent sheepdog, then reveals much of his life story in the form of counsel about life.

(p. 153-157)
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Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Other Formats

  • Also e-book.
  • Large print.
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Related Works

y separately published work icon On the Track, and, Over the Sliprails Henry Lawson , Sydney : Angus and Robertson , 1900 Z404390 1900 selected work short story Combined edition of On the Track and Over the Sliprails, issued initially as two separately paginated volumes in one and later in a continuously paginated format.
VIEW ALL RELATED WORKS (1)

Works about this Work

Towards a Genealogy of Minor Colonial Australian Character Types Ken Gelder , Rachael Weaver , 2015 single work criticism
— Appears in: Interventions : International Journal of Postcolonial Studies , January vol. 17 no. 2 2015; (p. 211-228)
Rediscovered Lawson Sketch of 1863 'Selection Farms' Paul Eggert , 2012 single work essay
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October-November vol. 27 no. 3/4 2012; (p. 124-135)

'Paul Eggert writes on the discovery of Henry Lawson's prose sketch 'Selection Farms'.
Untitled 1900 single work review
— Appears in: The Mount Morgan Argus , 4 May 1900; (p. 2)
— Review of On the Track Henry Lawson , 1900 selected work short story
Untitled 1900 single work review
— Appears in: The Mount Morgan Argus , 4 May 1900; (p. 2)
— Review of On the Track Henry Lawson , 1900 selected work short story
Rediscovered Lawson Sketch of 1863 'Selection Farms' Paul Eggert , 2012 single work essay
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October-November vol. 27 no. 3/4 2012; (p. 124-135)

'Paul Eggert writes on the discovery of Henry Lawson's prose sketch 'Selection Farms'.
Towards a Genealogy of Minor Colonial Australian Character Types Ken Gelder , Rachael Weaver , 2015 single work criticism
— Appears in: Interventions : International Journal of Postcolonial Studies , January vol. 17 no. 2 2015; (p. 211-228)
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (3)
Last amended 13 Feb 2020 09:44:01
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