The Free-Selector's Daughter
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her rural home after being educated in the city. She struggles with the harsh realities of country life and the expectations placed upon her by her family and community. Her experiences highlight the tensions between tradition and modernity, as well as the difficulties faced by women in a patriarchal society.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1888 · Genre: Romance, Pastoral, Poetry · 237 words
First lines
I met her on the Lachlan Side -- A darling girl I thought her, And ere I left I swore I'd win The free-selector's daughter.
I milked her father's cows a month, I brought the wood and water, I mended all the broken fence, Before I won the daughter.
I listened to her father's yarns, I did just what I 'oughter', And what you'll have to do to win A free-selector's daughter.
I broke my pipe and burnt my twist, And washed my mouth with water; I had a shave before I kissed The free-selector's daughter.
What this Textopian page supports
The Free-Selector's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Pastoral, Poetry, Australian Literature
- Length: 237 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Free-Selector's Daughter 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 The Free-Selector's Daughter?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Outback Marriage by Banjo Paterson
- The Hoopskirt by John Gould Fletcher
- When The Children Come Home by Henry Lawson
- Saint Peter by Henry Lawson
- The Roaring Days by Henry Lawson
- Vale by Hervey Allen
Genres
- Romance — The central theme revolves around the narrator's courtship and eventual romantic relationship with the daughter.
- Pastoral — The setting and activities described, such as milking cows and mending fences, highlight rural life and its simplicity.
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetic form.
- Australian Literature — The setting and cultural references are distinctly Australian, reflecting the lifestyle and social norms of the time.
Tags
Australian Literature · Fiction · Historical Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Rural Life · Outback Setting · Colonial Era · Female Protagonist · Self-Discovery