Henry Lawson single work   biography  
Issue Details: First known date: 2017... 2017 Henry Lawson
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'I first met him in the main street of Bourke. I was lonely, and somewhat

frightened and home sick, and he was alone pacing the footpath up one side

and down the other. I watched him for a while, he seemed different to all the

others, busy tradesmen or bush town loafer[s]: and after following the full

length of the square I met him as he turned to retrace his steps. I said ‘Good

day mate’ and he looked up suddenly and had in his face the look of one who

was embarrassed at being caught day dreaming. After a searching look at me,

he replied ‘Hello have you been shanghaied too?’ and chuckled softly. I guessed

that it was my untanned skin, heavy winter clothing, and light laced up boots,

that gave him his cue. After I had explained to him that I was looking for a job

and that I had little or no money he said [‘]There are a couple of us camped in

a place just across the billabong [,] there’s room for you if you care to come.[’] I

did care to go, and that was the friendship that lasted a life time – As we were

passing a grocery store I went in and bought some tinned food and half a loaf

of bread. I was half afraid that he would have disappeared, but as I came out he

was waiting. In front of an old fashioned looking pub he halted for a second,

and said casually, ‘Do you shicker[?]’ And when I replied in the negative, he

again chuckled softly and said ‘Nor do I.’ The house was the smallest to have

three rooms that I have ever seen, but it was well built, with stone and open

fireplace, firewood seemed to be a problem and as we entered a tall blonde

Norse or Swede was stoking the fire with a cows shinbone and dry cow dung. (Introduction)

Notes

  • Editor's note: The following memoir of Henry Lawson was written by his friend, Jim Grahame (Jim Gordon), shortly after Lawson’s death in Sydney in September 1922. The version published here is held in the Cyril Goode Papers in State Library Victoria and is one of three memoirs of Lawson by Grahame. The text has been transcribed by John Barnes.'

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The La Trobe Journal no. 99 March 2017 11019260 2017 periodical issue

    'Edited by John Arnold, issue 99 of the La Trobe Journal has a biographical flavour, and includes articles on a range of individuals with a diversity of interests and experience.

    'Amongst those featured are explorer and linguist Alfred Howitt, and writers Marcus Clarke and Henry Lawson.

    'Less well-known figures include:

    James Miller Marshall, a visiting English artist resident in Victoria in the 1890s, seen through the eyes of Norman and Lionel Lindsay as boys

    Ina Higgins, garden designer and first wave feminist

    Allan McKay, publisher and proprietor of the Specialty Press

    Frederick Sinclaire, socialist, utilitarian minister and WWI anti-conscriptionist

    a German émigré family who returned to their homeland on the eve of WWII

    (Publication summary)

    2017
    pg. 50-57
Last amended 10 Apr 2017 13:02:10
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