'A BIT OFF.'

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 7 January 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

'A BIT OFF.'

By 'The Breaker.')

There was no one there knew by what track he had come, There was no one had seen him before; But he seemed a cool cuss—as he dump-' ed down his 'drum,' And bailed up the boss near the store. .< He was 'broke,' so he said, 'could wa give him a showAny job that might earn him a shilling?' And 'old Scotty' was loth to let any ona go Short of v. ork if they seemed to shapa ,- willing. ' • [ •Could he ride?'—'By the Lord, 'twa3 v exactly his game, wm Colt-breaking he'd soonest be taking; Were "there horses to break?' well, there..;; w.ere just that same, So he asked for a billet at breaking, i ' Now though canny 'Auld Scotty* had. '(Soots' o* the man. And not often his instincts were juster* He would give him the job if, ere 'break- h ing' began, He would help us the cattle to muster, /. -'Sling a saddle on Dinah, the nigger* L old mare,' And the new comer acted as bidden; Whilst I whispered. 'Young fellow, you'd better take care For 'tis some time since Dinah wa3 ridden.' Now the mare couldn't buck, she hut tossed up her heels, ' Humped her back and slewed suddenly! ;; round, And, an old trick of hers, gave a series ' of sQueals, mm And , . . . the newcomer shot to) the ground. f 'Ah, young chap. Scotty said, 'if yo* V tackle graft here, hi, You'll find colts that'll buck a lot " rougher; ' , >.'. From the way you came down off pl« : ; :. Dinah, I fear That you're only some sheep statloS -;; duffer!' Then the answer that came from that /L ragged young pup, .L Clearly showed he'd less science thank g pluck, sir— ' 'Twas a bit o' bad luck, for the old mar*. "kicked up" When I . . . . "put on a seat for __> _ -buck, sir!" '