Preface (by the author): 'This story has not been written with any moral purpose, nor to teach any lesson, nor to expose any fraud, but simply to amuse, and bring before the reader a character who was unique in his way - the old squatter's man (now extinct) - as portrayed in Teasum, and taken from life; as was also the O'Meara family. Some of the other characters are fictitious. Most of these people are either dead or scattered, for I met them in my boyhood; so if any of my friends seek to identify them the labor will be in vain. Many of the stories told by Teasum were related to me when a boy, and the rest have been collected since. I may say, in conclusion, that most of the situations and incidents were arranged, and the story compiled as I lay in bed, often sadly, in need of rest, but unable to sleep through physical and mental worry; so if the reader thinks the fun not as funny or the humour not as spontaneous as might be, this is my only excuse. Brigolong Laboratory, Gippsland.'
