“Lawson’s cap in a circle” in summary
The main heroes of the stories of Henry Lawson are simple Australians, mostly people of manual labor. In the story “Cap on a circle” the author tells about shearing sheep Bobe Brasserce nicknamed Giraffe. He’s a tall guy, about six feet three inches tall. He is complicated, and his face is brown. He is often seen bypassing people with his old hat in his hands. This cap, which friends nicknamed “cabbage palm”, he uses to collect money for this or that good deed. So, Giraffe considers it necessary to help one guy who came to work from another city – he had to pick up the wool after shearing the sheep – but in the first week fell ill. He must be sent to a hospital in Sydney, where he has a wife and children. The comrades of the Giraffe grumble, curse, curse the kindness of the Giraffe,
Giraffe is not a local, he is a native of Victoria. But in the town of Burk, where he shears sheep, has long been a popular figure. Strigali often instructed
“Wanted by the police” – another story about the comradely solidarity of the poor. In the hut of the farmer there live two families of immigrants – only seven people. One night, when it was pouring rain, the farmer read a note in the newspaper that the police were looking for two people accused of stealing sheep and cattle. The inhabitants of the hut sympathized with these two people and wished them all the best. A little later someone came to the hut and called the owner. It turned out that those were the fugitives behind whom the police were chasing. They were invited to enter. It was a sturdy man and a young man, drenched to the skin, exhausted from strength, almost a boy suffering from a painful cough. They were dried, fed, poured hot gin, which they cherished as medicine, and gave a little provisions for the journey. Before leaving, the man gave the hostess a small Bible and a bunch of letters and asked them to keep them. He said that if he manages to get out of the difficult situation in which he fell, he will someday send for them. The farmer escorted the fugitives, showed them the way, and when he returned, he drove the cows out onto the road so that they trampled the tracks. In the morning policemen appeared and began to question the owners with suspicion about last night. But the inhabitants of the hut did not say anything about the fugitives, and the police left. Five years passed. The farmer and his wife had one dream: to earn a few pounds to clear and enclose the site, to buy another good working horse and several more cows. One evening the postman delivered a packet to the hut. Inside the packet lay a thick envelope, on which were written the words: “For the feed of horses, for a rest and for dinner.” In the envelope they found fifty pounds. It was a huge sum for the inhabitants of the hut, sent by a fugitive rescued by them five years ago.
About comradely solidarity is also told in the story “Tell Mrs. Baker.” Cattle rider Bob Baker goes north on a two-year business trip. A narrator named Jack and his friend Andy M’Culloch agreed to go with Bob as assistants. During this trip, Bob Baker too often visited roadside taverns and city inns. In Malgataun, he desperately snapped up, confused with one barmaid, who, in collusion with the innkeeper, did everything to ensure Baker was left without a livelihood. He spent on it not only all his, but also other people’s money. When this was learned by the livestockman, to which Bob worked, he fired him, and sent the herd with another croaker. The new driver did not need helpers, since he had two of his brothers. Therefore, with Andy and Jack, the calculation was made. But they did not leave Bob alone in a foreign land, because the unwritten law by which they lived, did not allow to throw a friend in trouble. Bob sank lower and lower: he was dragging himself along taverns, getting drunk, getting into a fight. Andy telegraphed to Bob Ned’s brother. Ned came in a week, just a few hours before Bob’s death, who died of a fit of white fever. Ned took care of the funeral, and then avenged his brother, having beaten the innkeeper well. A few days later the three men parted. Ned returned to himself, and Andy and the narrator set off on their return journey. Andy was in great agitation, because he had to go to Mrs. Baker and tell her about the death of her husband. Pitying the woman and sympathizing with the deceased, the friends decided not to tell her the whole truth. On the road Andy came up with a completely different version of Bob’s demise. He told Mrs. Baker, that her husband felt unimportant when they crossed the border. Near Malgatown, he felt very bad. One local squatter drove him to town and placed him in a better hotel, the owner of which knew Baker and did all he could for him. Ned arrived three days before Bob’s death. Bob died of a fever, but at the last minute he was calm and always remembered about his family. He asked his wife to send her request – she and the children should move to Sydney, where her relatives live, who will certainly help her. Ned promised to transport Bob’s body to Sydney. After this story, Mrs. Baker a little uplifted and thanked her friends for everything they had done for her and her husband. On the street, Andy and Jack confessed to Mrs. Baker’s younger sister, who came to her from Sydney, that Bob had died of drunkenness.
Most of the collection’s stories are written with extraordinary humor. “Two Evenings” refers to their number. Svempi and Brummi are typical bumers, that is traveling vagabonds, who do not want to work even when such an opportunity is provided. In Australia, it is customary to feed these travelers free of charge and even give them tea, sugar, flour or meat on their way. Svypi and Brummi strain all their mental abilities, so that with the help of blackmail, petty thefts, hidden threats and cunning inventions, get more products for future use. But one day they had to think seriously about the work: their trousers were rubbed to holes, and in order to update this important part of the toilet, they had to work for two weeks and earn a few pounds. The farmer, to whom they applied, said that he can hire only one. Brummy and Svempe alternately give each other this opportunity. Without agreeing, they cast lots. Brummi comes to work. For two weeks he collects wool from sheep, gives Snape tobacco and buys him new trousers. However, he does not want to divide the remaining money in half. Svempi considers this unfair, he takes offense at the companion and decides to steal his purse during a night’s sleep. Three nights in a row he tries to find a purse in his pockets and under his pillow, but without success. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Guessing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy asked Brumi where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. they cast lots. Brummi comes to work. For two weeks he collects wool from sheep, gives Snape tobacco and buys him new trousers. However, he does not want to divide the remaining money in half. Svempi considers this unfair, he takes offense at the companion and decides to steal his purse during a night’s sleep. Three nights in a row he tries to find a purse in his pockets and under his pillow, but without success. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Guessing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy asked Brumi where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. they cast lots. Brummi comes to work. For two weeks he collects wool from sheep, gives Snape tobacco and buys him new trousers. However, he does not want to divide the remaining money in half. Svempi considers this unfair, he takes offense at the companion and decides to steal his purse during a night’s sleep. Three nights in a row he tries to find a purse in his pockets and under his pillow, but without success. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Guessing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy asked Brumi where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. However, he does not want to divide the remaining money in half. Svempi considers this unfair, he takes offense at the companion and decides to steal his purse during a night’s sleep. Three nights in a row he tries to find a purse in his pockets and under his pillow, but without success. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Realizing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy directly asked Brummy where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. However, he does not want to divide the remaining money in half. Svempi considers this unfair, he takes offense at the companion and decides to steal his purse during a night’s sleep. Three nights in a row he tries to find a purse in his pockets and under his pillow, but without success. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Realizing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy directly asked Brummy where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Guessing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy asked Brumi where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it. When Brummy was snoring too loudly, Svempy pricked up his ears. Guessing that his companion was only pretending to be asleep, Svempy asked Brumi where he was hiding the money. Brumi cheerfully replied that under the pillow at Svempy. Such suspicion and cunning on the part of a friend of Svempy can not forgive and therefore part with it.
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