AustLit

Tells the story of the stockman, Two-Handed Dick, and how he defeats a rampaging bull and later a group Aboriginal Australians with a musket in one hand and an axe in the other, the latter incident giving rise to his nickname.

A story about a series of unfortunate events that lead to a young man's transportation to Australia. He suffers trials and tribulations until he has the good fortune to meet the anonymous narrator who helps the young man find stability in his life. Consequently, the transportee becomes a prosperous farmer and is reunited eventually with his wife and child. The message of the story is directed at English readers: 'tell the wretched and the starving [in England] how honest sober labour is sure of full reward here [in Australia]. Tell them that poverty may be turned to competence, crime to repentence and happiness'.

A burning Christmas Day outback in 1840 and two English stockmen, left without food, journey to their Devon neighbour's station and join his generous Christmas party. One of the pair enjoys not only the repast but the fair company - and later marries her. Slight, colourful, cheery, egalitarian yarn: well-connected Englishmen meet successful once-starving Devon family in the land of opportunity. The earlier version includes the reminiscence it stirs of an English Christmas in 1832 when poverty forced his family to emigrate ...(PB)