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For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men:
But different folk have different views:
I know a person small--
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!
She sends 'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes--
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!




THE SING-SONG OF OLD MAN KANGAROO

NOT always was the Kangaroo as now we do behold him, but a
Different Animal with four short legs. He was grey and he was
woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he danced on an outcrop in
the middle of Australia, and he went to the Little God Nqa.

He went to Nqa at six before breakfast, saying, 'Make me
different from all other animals by five this afternoon.'

Up jumped Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted, 'Go
away!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he
danced on a rock-ledge in the middle of Australia, and he went to
the Middle God Nquing.

He went to Nquing at eight after breakfast, saying, ' Make me
different from all other animals; make me, also, wonderfully
popular by five this afternoon.'

Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, 'Go
away!'

He was grey and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he
danced on a sandbank in the middle of Australia, and he went to
the Big God Nqong.

He went to Nqong at ten before dinner-time, saying, 'Make me
different from all other animals; make me popular and wonderfully
run after by five this afternoon.'

Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, 'Yes,
I will!'

Nqong called Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, dusty in the
sunshine, and showed him Kangaroo. Nqong said, 'Dingo! Wake up,
Dingo! Do you see that gentleman dancing on an ashpit? He wants
to be popular and very truly run after. Dingo, make him SO!'

Up jumped Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--and said, 'What, that
cat-rabbit?'

Off ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a
coal-scuttle,--ran after Kangaroo.

Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.

This, O Beloved of mine, ends the first part of the tale!

He ran through the desert; he ran through the mountains; he ran
through the salt-pans; he ran through the reed-beds; he ran
through the blue gums; he ran through the spinifex; he ran till
his front legs ached.

He had to!

Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a
rat-trap, never getting nearer, never getting farther,--ran after
Kangaroo.

He had to!

Still ran Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo. He ran through the
ti-trees; he ran through the mulga; he ran through the long
grass; he ran through the short grass; he ran through the Tropics
of Capricorn and Cancer; he ran till his hind legs ached.

He had to!

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