An Old Mate of your Father'S
The story revolves around a man who has been estranged from his family for many years and returns home after being away for an extended period. He is met with a mixture of emotions by his family members, some of whom are wary of him due to past conflicts. Upon his return, the man's presence disrupts the lives of those around him, causing tension and conflict within the household. His relationships with his wife and children are strained, and he struggles to reconnect with them. Throughout the story, the narrator explores themes of family dynamics, guilt, and redemption as the protagonist grapples with his past mistakes and tries to make amends with his loved ones.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1895 · Genre: Short Story, Australian Literature, Historical Fiction · 1,949 words
First lines
You remember when we hurried home from the old bush school how we were sometimes startled by a bearded apparition, who smiled kindly down on us, and whom our mother introduced, as we raked off our hats, as "An old mate of your father's on the diggings, Johnny. " And he would pat our heads and say we were fine boys, or girls -- as the case may have been -- and that we had our father's nose but our mother's eyes, or the other way about; and say that the baby was the dead spit of its mother, and then added, for father's benefit: "But yet he's like you, Tom. " It did seem strange to the children to hear him address the old man by his Christian name -- -considering that the mother always referred to him as "Father. " She called the old mate Mr So-and-so, and father called him Bill, or something to that effect.
What this Textopian page supports
An Old Mate of your Father'S is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Australian Literature, Historical Fiction, Realism, Nostalgia
- Length: 1,949 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Old Mate of your Father'S by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Old Mate of your Father'S?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Meeting Old Mates by Henry Lawson
- Two Larrikins by Henry Lawson
- Another Of Mitchells Plans For The Future by Henry Lawson
- The Old Landmark by O. Henry
- A Sketch Of Mateship by Henry Lawson
- Brummy Usen by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific event or series of events, typical of short stories.
- Australian Literature — The setting, characters, and themes are deeply rooted in Australian culture and history.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative incorporates historical elements, such as the gold rush and Eureka Stockade, to provide context and depth.
- Realism — The story portrays everyday life and characters in a realistic manner, focusing on ordinary people and their experiences.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Rural Life · Outback · Colonialism · National Identity · Regionalism · Folk Culture