Read "The Federal Bus Conductor and the Old Lady" by Andrew Barton Paterson online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Now 'urry, Mrs New South Wales, and come along of us, / We're all a-goin' ridin' in the Federation 'bus. / A fam'ly party, don't you know -- yes, Queensland's comin', too. / You can't afford it! Go along! We've kep' box seat for you. / The very one of all the lot that can afford it best, / You'll only have to pay your share the same as all the rest.
You say your sons is workin' men, and can't afford to ride! / Well, all our sons is workin' men, a-smokin' up outside. / You think you might be drove to smash by some unskilful bloke! / Well, ain't we all got necks ourselves? And we don't want 'em broke. / You bet your life we're not such fools but what we'll do our best / To keep from harm -- for harm to one is harm to all the rest.