Up the Country: A Saga of Pioneering Days

McEachern was a great mon the night, ye ken, supported on either side, as by seraphim and cherubim, by Healey of Little River, bedad, and Gilbert of Maryvale, and Timson of Wombat Hill. Labosseer of Eueurunda was likewise there, and Poole of Curradoobidgee, and several visiting squatters of Goulburn, as well as Mazere Himself, J.P., of Three Rivers. Dignified in frock coats, all had their faces washed and their hair--as yet ungreying--neatly trained about their ears. Stiff collars and voluminous stocks were about their necks.

A greater man than any that night was Rab McIntosh, the chief musician. And since Simon Labosseer, Mazere and a couple of the English guests could play charmingly on the flute, Tim Brennan and old Healey and several others were decent fiddlers, and a larger percentage than can play the piano today could manage the concertina, there was no lack in the orchestral department. But Rab, the Eueurunda shepherd, was the boss cocky of the musical department and had been specially borrowed for the occasion. Rab knew so much of the hearts of the men and women on Maneroo that he was accredited with second sight, but perhaps it was only the keen observation he employed as musician at the balls when folks forgot his presence. He was a natural musician to whom every instrument was a friend, whether it was the Jew's harp, the concertina or the fiddle. He was a genius at the ballads, reels and strathspeys of his own country, and the airs of other countries had only to be hummed for him to add them to his repertoire.