THE FOSSICKER'S ARGUMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6362, 17 December 1898, Page 7

THE FOSSICKER'S ARGUMENT.

He was standing with a sluicefork, •' lifting stone 3 from out the box, . "■■■.■" And looked just like a scarecrow, with' his hoary, draggled locks , , Trailing o'er his waiscoat collar, unkempt, unevenly, As straggled and as scattered as a patch of dry ti-tree; His face was hard and grimy and. his figure gaunt and bent, '. , This regular good old-tinier who had lived in hut and tent. ■" "■.<•■ I'd have staked my whole existence,- before' & word he spoke, . . ;. „.-•<, That he'd made and spent a fortune, and now was stony broke. . „'.'. I reluctantly approached him, "How's she . . .gping r matqi?,.';. says. I >t . - . ." '. . , '. \ '..'; 'And at- tho- slulqebpx , rjppjfls he pointed for ■ -'reply. / . -,; "' ' : ..' ."> - : • . "_• __• • There were colours in the ripple's 'faintly show■ing -here and 'there ' : " ■•• ■'- :."'• -■'•- Through the stony, sandy wash-dirt, with * „. gaudy, yellow glare, j' ■'. .'.,. ' .. ; ' I. guess, she's not a fortune," I remarked to .: ..him again, ■ ■ " •■•: ■ ■' And he started up and answered, " I've seen the day — but then, ' ■ ' - . \ What's the use o' braggin' 'bout .what I've seen . and done, .-."■■ \ 'Bout what I've seen and havenH, why what's the use? there's none. But this I'm goin' to tell you, I've seen and known the day •' ■ • ■ ■ When at this blessed duffer a shake I wouldn't stay ; • .-. • ; For she's pract'illy a duffer. What's a pennyweight or two , . ■. For a blessed hard week's workin' ? Still what'a , a chap to do ? ' "- ' . ■■ • Everywhere you turn to, you find it all the same — i ■ The country's fairly duffered, and a chap can't • get a claim . ... . . .' That pays a decent divvy for the time and labour spent, ■••■■•.. ; .. A claim that keeps you safe like, and makes your mind content. This crowd they call the fatman, you know, these men with meyns, : ■ .' . T They're peggin' off the 1 country, • and' we are . catchin' beans.- . •• ...■• - . , •■ Tney'.ve got. this cy'nide process, and -machinery . >n full blast, - ' .- *.'".-' And '• the old alluvial " digger" is s a ' relic of the ! v --p-agt. " ■>■'■''■ ' ' ; ; : - •' ■": '■. ■■■;■• :- : ';-- : -. v ' If ytryiriike .to. creep and pander: jroa can 'get a '■ jobj the3 r say, tJnder a stand-up collar boss, for some few bob a day. ■ • tßut you haven't got your freedom, and what kills a pioneer . -.- • . ■ ■ . Is this " haw haw " bossy business that'B spreadin' over here. .... Let' 3 have the old style over— four pegs, a plot of ground, And every man his; own boss the wide world round and round. ' : : They're snappin' up the leases on every creek and flat, On the ground that's been prospected these fat men grow more fat, ■ And they don't at all consider the likes b me and you, Where the ground is sort o' decent, might want a piece "or two; But they simply keep repeatin' o'er, and o'er again, ' We're the makers of this country and, of course, we are the men. The place is lyin' dormant, but hold, on, just you wait! . . We'll make things hum directly,' says the bloated syndicate.. . .. Well, they nu>lit, mate, and they mightn't; but we'll wait a-bit and see ■. ■ ' . " If 'these chaps are only windy, jot if such a' „ thingwill.be. . . ' ■'-. ' - '• ' , As.to bow they mad© this country, I- think I V 1 " ought to know, . . Who helped to. colonise it, in the golden long ■'-■ ago.- ' " •■ ■■'■' -.. ,-. : , ;

And I siy that it's untruthful^r'Td.say more, but what's the use? .. . •• ~ '.':.. Tet I can't stand empty braggarts ; they "dfegervte tha worst abwas."

The old chap's face was twitching, he was warming to the fray, . So I mumbled out " good evening," and wan* Sered on my way. ' : I just once looked o'er my- shoulder, for apart* ing glance at him, As he stooped above the sluicebpx with hi« figure gaunt and slim, • : And I then began to wonder, aa on my way I went, . ' - : If there was really any logic in the- olds chap's argument. THOMAS M'MAHON, WeUii«ton. ;