know whether it's because the men is crawlers or whether it's dairyin'. I
don't think much of dairyin'. It's slavin', an' delvin', an' scrapin' yer
eyeballs out from mornin' to night, and nothink to show for your pains;
and now you'll oblige me, Mr Blackshaw, if youll lollop somewhere else
for a minute or two. I want to sweep under that sofer."

This had the effect of making him depart. He said good morning and went
off, not sure whether he was most amused or insulted.




CHAPTER FOUR



A Career Which Soon Careered To An End


While mother, Jane Haizelip, and I found the days long and life slow,
father was enjoying himself immensely.

He had embarked upon a lively career--that gambling trade known as dealing
in stock.

When he was not away in Riverina inspecting a flock of sheep, he was
attending the Homebush Fat Stock Sales, rushing away out to Bourke, or
tearing off down the Shoalhaven to buy some dairy heifers.

He was a familiar figure at the Goulburn sale-yards every Wednesday,