The Real Bush Christening
I have realised that many of those reading this blog (from OS) will have no idea of the references made to a ‘Bush Christening’… the phrase stems from a famous Australian verse, by the poet AB (Banjo) Paterson who recorded some of the more colourful aspects of the Australian lifestyle in the late 1800’s…
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My father always loved to recite this particular poem, usually as we walked the cattle back to the yards after mustering. We would be riding on our ponies at the back of the mob and he would break spontaneously into “song”. So have in your minds a scene from the 70’s, with a burly cattleman and his kids on horseback, ambling along in the dust in the Aussie sunshine. (And remember to use a broad Irish accent for the voice of the priest – it adds definite flavour to the tale). Enjoy.
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A Bush Christening
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On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
And men of religion are scanty,
On a road never cross’d ‘cept by folk that are lost,
One Michael Magee had a shanty.
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Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,
Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,
Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;
He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest
For the youngster had never been christened.
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And his wife used to cry,
And his wife used to cry,
`If the darlin’ should die Saint Peter would not recognise him.’
But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,
Who agreed straight away to baptise him.
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Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’,
And he muttered in fright, while his features turned white,
`What the divil and all is this christenin’?’
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He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,
It must mean something surely like branding!
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So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
While the tears in his eyelids they glistened
`’Tis outrageous,’ says he, `to brand youngsters like me,
I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!’
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Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
And his father with language uncivil,
Never heeding the `praste’ cried aloud in his haste,
`Come out and be christened, you divil!’
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But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
And his parents in vain might reprove him,
Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)`
I’ve a notion,’ says he, `that’ll move him.’
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`Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
`Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
Poke him aisy — don’t hurt him or maim him,
‘Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand,
As he rushes out this end I’ll name him.
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`Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name
`Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name
Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?
‘Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout
`Take your chance, anyhow, wid `Maginnis’!’
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As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,
The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head
That was labelled `MAGINNIS’S WHISKY’!
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And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And the one thing he hates more than sin is
To be asked by the folk, who have heard of the joke,
How he came to be christened `Maginnis’!
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(First published in the Bulletin, 16 December 1893)
(First published in the Bulletin, 16 December 1893)
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BB NB “Snug as a bug in a rug” is one of my favourite sayings to this day…
4 Comments
jeanie
We need that recorded (without him knowing it and putting on his “toff” voice).
debby
Oh, how funny! I’m glad that you explained things better to TLW. At least she did not run screaming for the bush.
Pencil Writer
That’s one reason I keep coming back here for more. Love the humor, pics and stories. Thanks, and God bless!
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
I definitely need to get a sound bite thingy (technical term there)happening on this site – but then where would your imaginations be? I guess it WOULD help with the accents though…
🙂
BB