The Bully

[thestoryteller]

My loyalty to a cobber, who shared my cabin, was put to the test on one occasion when one of the lads on the farm, a well-known bully, took a set on him and goaded him into a blue. After a bit of pushing and shoving and a lot of accusing I stepped in.

THE BULLY

Some blokes they fancy in their minds they're tougher than the rest,
But mostly they're just bully boys and nothing but a pest.
Most take a set on weaker men who don't know how to fight;
this happened to a mate of mine. I'll tell you of his plight.

'Twas in a paddock down the back while working lucerne hay.
My mate and I were loading stooks upon a horse drawn dray.
The Super gave my mate the job to drive it to the shed,
though Thumper Thomas intervened and grabbed the reins instead.

I saw my mate, a plucky lad, then try to take a stand,
but Thumper hit him in the mouth with his great hairy hand.
He didn't stand a chance with him as he was far too small.
I stood between the two of them to stop an all-out brawl.

"Get lost you squirt!" the bully yelled; 'twould be my mate's demise.
"Get lost yourself," was my reply, "try someone your own size."
He took me at my word it seems and hit me with a right.
It landed fair, square on my chin, I thought it was goodnight.

Then Thumper put a headlock on and things were looking grim.
"You give!" he cried, "you had enough!" Was all I heard from him.
'Twas little I could really do but forfeit my poor pride.
"I give," I said, "I've had enough. I guess I'll let it ride."

The bully Thomas walked away and gloated as they do.
He had no mind to drive the dray, but only sought a blue.
Old Thumper might have won his fights though when it's said and done
he'd never win a mate in life - so they were all he won.

© Merv Webster

From the book In days Gone By.
http://users.tpg.com.au/thegrey/InDaysGoneBy.htm