In the Days When the World Was Wide

Middleton’s Rouseabout

Tall and freckled and sandy,
 Face of a country lout;
This was the picture of Andy,
 Middleton’s Rouseabout.

Type of a coming nation,
  In the land of cattle and sheep,
 Worked on Middleton’s station,
  ‘Pound a week and his keep.’

On Middleton’s wide dominions
  Plied the stockwhip and shears;
 Hadn’t any opinions,
  Hadn’t any ‘idears’.

Swiftly the years went over,
  Liquor and drought prevailed;
 Middleton went as a drover,
  After his station had failed.

Type of a careless nation,
  Men who are soon played out,
 Middleton was: — and his station
  Was bought by the Rouseabout.

Flourishing beard and sandy,
  Tall and robust and stout;
 This is the picture of Andy,
  Middleton’s Rouseabout.

Now on his own dominions
  Works with his overseers;
 Hasn’t any opinions,
  Hasn’t any ‘idears’.