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THE SING-SONG OF OLD MAN KANGAROO

THE SING-SONG OF OLD MAN KANGAROO

Kangaroo bounded away,
They ran thirty degrees,
For he hopped like a cricket; like a pea in a saucepan; or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor.
Then said Nqong, who is always a gentleman, Why arent you grateful to Yellow-Dog Dingo? Why dont you thank him for all he has done for you?
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.
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.
His back-legs working like pistons--
Now, there wasnt any bridge, and there wasnt any ferry-boat, and Kangaroo didnt know how to get over; so he stood on his legs and hopped.
Then said Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan, Come and ask me about it tomorrow, because Im going to wash.
THIS is the mouth-filling song
Still ran Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo. He ran through the ti-trees; he ran through the mulga; he ran through the long g九-九-藏-書rass; 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!
Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, Go away!
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.
You would feel rather hot,
Much too busy to bark.
Yes, my importunate son, Youd be a Marvellous Kid!
Still ran Dingo--Tired-Dog Dingo--hungrier and hungrier, very much bewildered, and wondering when in the world or out of it would Old Man Kangaroo stop.
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.
Or followed the track that they flew in,
Sposing you could trot
Started by big God Nqong from Warrigaborrigarooma,
Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--very much bewildered九*九*藏*書, very much hungry, and wondering what in the world or out of it made Old Man Kangaroo hop.
He had to!
Off ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a coal-scuttle,--ran after Kangaroo.
For an afternoons run
No, said the Kangaroo. I must apologise. Legs are legs, and you neednt alter em so far as I am concerned. I only meant to explain to Your Lordliness that Ive had nothing to eat since morning, and Im very empty indeed.
Hadnt been given a name.
Up jumped Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--and said, What, that cat-rabbit?
For that Continent
He hopped through the Flinders; he hopped through the Cinders; he hopped through the deserts in the middle of Australia. He hopped like a Kangaroo.
And they ran back as they came.
Yes, said Kangaroo. I wish that I hadnt. I thought you would do it by charms and incantations, but this is a practical joke.
Then said Kangaroo--Tired Old Kangaroo--Hes chased me out of the homes of my childhood; hes chased me out of my regular meal-times; hes altered my shape so Ill never https://read.99csw.comget it back; and hes played Old Scratch with my legs.
Bounded from morning till dark,
From Adelaide to the Pacific,
He had to!
So they were left in the middle of Australia, Old Man Kangaroo and Yellow-Dog Dingo, and each said, Thats your fault.
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 Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted, Go away!
Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--hungrier and hungrier, grinning like a horse-collar, never getting nearer, never getting farther; and they came to the Wollgong River.
(Look at the Atlas, please),
From Torres Straits to the Leeuwin
Down sat Dingo--Poor Dog Dingo--always hungry, dusky in the sunshine; hung out his tongue and howled.
He had to!
This, O Beloved of mine, ends the first part of the tale!
He had to!
First he hopped one yard; then he hopped thread.99csw.comree yards; then he hopped five yards; his legs growing stronger; his legs growing longer. He hadnt any time for rest or refreshment, and he wanted them very much.
Still ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like a rat-trap, never getting nearer, never getting farther,--ran after Kangaroo.
Half what these gentlemen did
Yellow-Dog Dingo lay
Of the race that was run by a Boomer,
Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny.
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 tucked up his front legs; he hopped on his hind legs; he stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him; and he hopped through the Darling Downs.
Like a yellow cloud in the distance--
He had to!
Then said Nqong, Perhaps Im mistaken, but didnt you ask me to make you different from all other animals, as well as to make you very truly sought after? And now it is five oclock.
But your legs would develop terrific--
He ra九*九*藏*書n 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.
Twenty-five feet to a bound.
Yes, said Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo,--I am just in the same situation. Ive made him different from all other animals; but what may I have for my tea?
Old Man Kangaroo first: Yellow-Dog Dingo behind.
Down sat Kangaroo--Old Man Kangaroo--stuck out his tail like a milking-stool behind him, and said, Thank goodness thats finished!
Joke! said Nqong from his bath in the blue gums. Say that again and Ill whistle up Dingo and run your hind legs off.
My! but they covered the ground!
Nobody knows where they went,
Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans, and said, Its five oclock.
He went to Nqa at six before breakfast, saying, Make me different from all other animals by five this afternoon.
Run in a single burst--only event of its kind--
Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, Yes, I will!