Whose Wife

Harry! what, that yourself, back to old Vic., man,     Down from the Never Land? Now, whats your game?     Ugly as ever. Not dropped the old trick, man?     Say, whatll you take with me? Give it a name.     Here long? Well, rather, lad; five years and over,     Settled for good, and supporting a wife.     Slipped from the saddle, and living in clover,     Swore off a heap, and Ive slung the old life.     Whats come of Taffy, and Brum, and the rest of them?     Long since you broke with the Poverty push?     Bill, youre on top, youve the best of the best of them.     Poor Brums a dummy, Taff died in the bush;     Bobs cook for Chows on an absentees station,     Sams tout for spielers, Petes lumbered for life;     Im on a tramp through the whole of creation,     Tracking a woman, my runaway wife.     Left me six years agosloped! I was shearing     Up on the Thomson. She left not a word;     Last year was seen by a Barcoo man, steering     Round about here, and thats all that Ive heard.     Heard of her, know her, Bill?tallish and clever,     Blue eyes, dark hair, and shes branded here, so;     Not one to liquor, or go on the never,     But skittish and queer in her tantrums, you know.     This is her picture, Bill; just have a look at her.     Like any female you chance to have seen?     Hallo! here, hold up! Say, man, whats the matter?     Your Wife! By the Lord, Morton, what do you mean?