Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 25, 2025
Mitchell began to take some interest in O'Briar, and treated him with greater respect. But our camp had the name of being the best-constructed, the cleanest, and the most respectable in the vicinity. The health officer and constable in charge had complimented us on the fact, and we were proud of it.
He was not popular on the jobs. There was something sly about Alf, they said. The Oracle had taken him on in the first place as a day-labourer, but afterwards shared the pay with him as with Mitchell. O'Briar shouted judiciously, but on every possible occasion for the Oracle; and, as he was an indifferent workman, the boys said he only did this so that the Oracle might keep him on.
We found out accidentally that O'Briar was an excellent mimic and a bit of a ventriloquist, but he never entertained us with his peculiar gifts; and we set that down to churlishness. O'Briar kept his own counsel, and his history, if he had one; and hid his hopes, joys, and sorrows, if he had any, behind a vacant grin, as Mitchell hid his behind a quizzical one.
The Oracle had a "Case" right under his nose in his own employ, in fact; but was not aware of the fact until Mitchell drew his attention to it. The Case went by the name of Alfred O'Briar which hinted a mixed parentage. He was a small, nervous working-man, of no particular colour, and no decided character, apparently. If he had a soul above bricks, he never betrayed it.
"Av coorse, men will be men," said the constable, as he turned his horse's head, "but I thought I'd mention it. O'Briar is a dacent man, and he's one of yer mates. Av coorse. There's a bad lot in that camp in the scrub over yander, and av coorse. Good-day to ye, byes." Next night we heard the voice in O'Briar's tent again, and decided to speak to Alf in a friendly way about it in the morning.
He never resented alleged satire perhaps he couldn't see it and therefore he got the name of being a cur. As a rule, he was careful with his money, and was called mean not, however, by the Oracle, whose philosophy was simple, and whose sympathy could not realise a limit; nor yet by Mitchell. Mitchell waited. O'Briar occupied a small tent by himself, and lived privately of evenings.
If O'Briar took things easy and did no more than the rest of us, at least one of us would be sure to get it into his head that he was loafing on us; and if he grafted harder than we did, we'd be sure to feel indignant about that too, and reckon that it was done out of nastiness or crawlsomeness, and feel a contempt for him accordingly.
O'Briar from Perth." "Mary, go and open the door!" said the old woman. "Come in, Mr. O'Breer," said the old woman. "Come in. How do you do? When did you get back?" "Only last night," said Alf. "Look at that now! Bless us all! And how did you like the country at all?" "I didn't care much for it," said Alf. We lost the thread of it until the old woman spoke again. "Have you had your tea, Mr.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking