Poem

The Federal Bus Conductor and the Old Lady

by A. B. Paterson · 1899

Now ’urry, Mrs New South Wales, and come along of us,We’re all a-goin’ ridin’ in the Federation ’bus.A fam’ly party, don’t you know—yes, Queensland’s comin’, too.You can’t afford it! Go along! We’ve kep’ box seat for you.The very one of all the lot that can afford it best,You’ll only have to pay your share the same as all the rest.
You say your sons is workin’ men, and can’t afford to ride!Well, all our sons is workin’ men, a-smokin’ up outside.You think you might be drove to smash by some unskilful bloke!Well, ain’t we all got necks ourselves? And we don’t want ’em broke.You bet your life we’re not such fools but what we’ll do our bestTo keep from harm—for harm to one is harm to all the rest.
Now, don’t go trudgin’ on alone, but get aboard the trap;That basket, labelled “Capital”, you take it in your lap!It’s nearly time we made a start, so let’s ’ave no more talk:You ’urry up and get aboard, or else stop out and walk.We’ve got a flag; we’ve got a band; our ’orses travels fast;Ho! Right away, Bill! Let ’em go! The old ’un’s come at last!”
Sources, publication & text notesReference details
Canonical recordPOEM-000908
Copy-textClean Project Gutenberg Australia transcription (SRC-000074), reconciled against fixed Trove facsimile SRC-000158 (The Riverine Grazier, 1899-06-16; article 143536236)
Source recordSRC-000074
Rights determinationRGT-000891
Text statusCANONICAL TEXT READY
TranscriptionDIPLOMATIC_D208

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While The Billy Boils · Verified public-domain text · www.whilethebillyboils.com.au/poems/the-federal-bus-conductor-and-the-old-lady