Digger Smith

by C. J. Dennis

XIII. A SQUARE DEAL

A Square Deal

REAMIN'?" I sez to Digger Smith.

"Buck up, ole sport, an' smile.

Ain't there enough uv joy to-day
To drive the bogey man away

An' make reel things worth while?

A bloke would think, to see you stare,
There's visions on the 'ill-tops there."
"Dreamin'," sez Digger Smith. "Why not?

An' there is visions too.

An' when I get 'em sorted out,
An' strafe that little bogey, Doubt,

I'll start me life all new.

Oh, I ain't crook; but packed in 'ere
Is thoughts: enough to last a year.
"I'm thinkin' things," sez Digger Smith.

"I'm thinkin' big an' fine

Uv Life an' Love an' all the rest,
An' wot is right an' wot is best,

An' 'ow much will be mine.

Not that I'm wantin' overmuch
Some work, some play, an' food an' such."
"See 'ere," I sez. "You 'ark to me.

I've done some thinkin' too.

An' this 'ere land, for wot yeh did,
Owes some few million solid quid

To fightin' blokes like you.

So don't be too dam modest or
Yeh'll git less than yeh're lookin' for."
"Money?" sez Digger. "Loot?" sez 'e

"Aw, give that talk a rest!

I'm sick uv it. I didn't say
That I was thinkin' all uv pay,

But wot was right an' best.

An' that ain't in the crazy game
Uv grabbin' wealth an' chasin' fame.
"Do you think us blokes Over There,

When things was goin' strong,

Was keepin' ledgers day be day
An' reck'nin' wot the crowd would pay?

Pull off! Yeh got it wrong.

Do you think all the boys gone West
Wants great swank 'ead-stones on their chest?
"You chaps at 'ome 'as small ideer

Uv wot we think an' feel.

We done our bit an' seen it thro',
An' all that we are askin' you

Is jist a fair, square deal.

We want this land we battled for
To settle up--an' somethin' more.
"We want the land we battled for

To be a land worth while.

We're sick uv greed, an' 'ate, an' strife,
An' all the mess that's made uv life." . . .

'E stopped a bit to smile.

"I got these thoughts Out There becos
We learnt wot mateship reely was."
. . . . . . . .
The hills be'ind the orchard trees

Was showin' misty blue.

The ev'nin' light was growin' dim;
An' down I sat 'longside uv 'im,

An' done some dreamin' too.

I dreams uv war; an' wot is paid
By blokes that went an' blokes that stayed.
I dreams uv honour an' reward,

An' 'ow to pay a debt.

For partin' cash, an' buyin' farms,
An' fittin' chaps with legs an' arms

Ain't all--there's somethin' yet.

There's still a solid balance due;
An' now it's up to me an' you.
There's men I know ain't yet woke up,

Or reckernized that debt--

Proud men 'oo wouldn't take yeh down
Or owe their grocer 'arf-a-crown--

They ain't considered, yet,

There's somethin' owin'--to the dead,
An' Diggers live for more than bread.
"We learnt wot mateship was," 'e sez.

"Us Diggers found the good

That's hid away somewhere in chaps,
An' ain't searched for enough, per'aps,

Or prized, or understood.

But all this game uv grab an' greed
An' silly 'ate--Why, where's the need?"
The hills be'ind the orchard trees

Jist caught the settin' sun.

A bloke might easy think that there,
'Way back be'ind the range somewhere,

Where streaks uv sunlight run,

There was a land, swep' clear uv doubt,
Where men finds wot they dreams about.
. . . . . . . .
"Beauty," sez Digger, sudden-like,

"An' love, an' kindliness;

The chance to live a clean, straight life,
A dinkum deal for kids an' wife

A man needs nothin' less. . . .

Maybe they'll get it when I go
To push up daisies. I dunno."
"Dreamin'," sez Digger Smith. "Why not?

There's visions on the hill.". . .

Then I gets up an' steals away,
An' leaves 'im with the dyin' day,

Dreamin' an' doubtin' still. . . .

Cobber, it's up to me an' you
To see that 'arf 'is dream comes true.

THE END

GLOSSARY

Alley, to throw in the.To surrender.
Ar.An exclamation expressing joy, sorrow, surprise, etc.,
according to the manner of utterance. Aussie.Australia; an Australian.
Bag of tricks.All one's belongings.
Barrack.To take sides.
Beat the band.To amaze.
Bint.Girl.
Bird, to give the.To treat with derision.
Blighty.London.
Blind.Deception, "bluff."
Bloke.A male adult of the genus homo.
Bluff.Cunning practice; make-believe; to deceive; to mislead.
Bonzer,The best. [In text, only Boshter]
Book.In whist, six tricks.
Booked.Engaged.
Buckley's (Chance)A forlorn hope.
Buck up.Cheer up.
Bunk, to do a.To depart.
Chap.A "bloke" or "cove."
Chuck offTo chaff; to employ sarcasm.
Chuck up.To relinquish.
Chump.A foolish fellow.
CobberA boon companion.
Coot.A person of no account (used contemptuously).
CoveA "chap" or "bloke." q.v. (Gipsy).
Cow.A thoroughly unworthy, not to say despicable person,
place, thing or circumstance. CrackTo smite.
Crack hardy.To suppress emotion; to endure patiently;
to keep a secret. Crook.Unwell; dishonest; spurious; fraudulent.
Superlative=dead crook. Crook.A dishonest or evil person.
Crool.To frustrate; to interfere with.
Dead.In a superlative degree; very.
Deal.A "hand" at cards.
Digger.An infantryman; a comrade.
Dilly.Foolish; half-witted.
Dinkum.Honest; true.
Dipped.Mentally deficient.
Dizzy limitThe utmost; the superlative degree.
Dope.A drug.
Dud.No good; ineffective; used up.
Fag.A cigarette.
Final, to run one's.To die.
Final kick.Final leave.
Fly.A turn; a try.
Game.Occupation; scheme; design.
Grandstand play.Playing to the gallery.
Groggy.Unsteady.
Grouch.To mope; to grumble.
Hokey Fly, by the.A mild expletive,
without any particular meaning. Hump, toTo carry, as a swag or other burden.
Job.Work, occupation.
John 'Op (or Jonop)Policeman.
Jolt.A blow.
Keep one down.Take a drink.
Kick.Leave.
Kick about.To loaf or hang about.
KidA child.
Kid, to.To deceive; to persuade with flattery.
Lob, toTo arrive.
LurkA plan of action; a regular occupation.
Moniker.A name; a title; a signature.
Mug.A simpleton.
Nail.Catch.
Nark.s., a spoilsport; a churlish fellow.
Nark, to.To annoy; to foil.
Neck and neck.Side by side.
Nix.Nothing.
Nod, on the.Without payment.
Pal.A friend; a mate (Gipsy).
Part.Give; hand over.
Pins.Legs.
Pull, to take a.To desist; to discontinue.
Pull off.Desist.
Pull my (or your) leg.To deceive or get the best of.
Punter.The natural prey of bookmakers (betting men).
Push up daisies, to.To be interred.
Quid.A sovereign, or pound sterling.
Rag.Song in rag time.
RattledExcited; confused.
Recomeniber.Remember.
Renege.To fail to follow suit (in playing cards); to quit.
RileTo annoy.
RiledRoused to anger.
Ringer.Expert.
Rook, to.To "take down."
Rouse (or Roust).To upbraid with many words.
Ructions.Growling; argument.
Run 'is final.Died.
Sawing wood"Bluffing;" biding one's time.
School.A club; a clique of gamblers, or others.
Scoot.To hurry; to scuttle.
Scrap.Fight.
ShickerIntoxicating liquor.
Skite.To boast.
Slam,Making all the tricks (in card-playing).
Sling.Discard; throw.
Slope, to.To leave in haste.
Smooge.To flatter or fawn; to bill and coo.
SnarkyAngry.
Sock it into.To administer physical punishment.
S.O.SSignal of distress or warning, used in telegraphy.
Spare my days.A pious ejaculation.
Spell.Rest or change.
SpragTo accost truculently; to convince.
Spuds.Potatoes.
Square.Upright; honest.
Squeak.To give away a secret.
Stoke.Eat.
Stop one.To receive a blow.
StoushTo punch with the fist. s., Violence.
Strength.Truth; correct estimate.
Strike me!The innocuous remnant of a hardy curse.
'Struth!An emaciated oath.
Stunt.A performance; a tale. [At the front: a battle, engagement]
Swank.Affectation; ostentation.
Swap.Exchange.
Swiv'lyAfraid, or unable, to look straight.
Take down.Deceive; get the best of.
Tart.A young woman (contraction of sweetheart).
TaterPotato.
Throw in the alley.To surrender.
Tip.A warning; a prognostication; a hint.
Toff.An exalted person.
Tony.Stylish.
Tossed out on my neck.Rejected.
Track withTo woo; to "go walking with."
Treat.Very much or very good.
Tucker.Food.
Twig.To observe; to espy.
Umptydoo.Far-fetched; "crook."
Up to us.Our duty.
Wade inTake your fill.
Wise, to put.To explain; to instruct.
WowserA narrow-minded, intolerant person.
YapTo talk volubly.

---