The Squatter, Three Cornstalks, And The Well

There was a Squatter in the land So runs the truthful tale I tell There also were three cornstalks, and There also was the Squatter’s Well. Singing (slowly): Sin and sorrer, sin and sor-rer, sin and sor-r-r-rer. The Squatter he was full of pluck, The Cornstalks they were full of sin, The well it was half full of muck That many rains had drifted in. Singing (with increased feeling): Sin, &c. The Squatter hired the Cornstalks Three To cleanse the well of mud and clay; And so they started willing-lee At five-and-twenty bob a day. Singing (apprehensively): Sin, &c. At five-and-twenty bob the lot That’s eight-and-four the day would bring To each; and so they thought they’d got A rather soft and easy thing. Singing (sadly): Sin, &c. The Cornstalks cleaned the well within A day or two, or thereabout And then they worked an awful sin A scheme to make the job last out. Singing (reproachfully): Sin and sorrer, &c. For when the well was cleaned out quite Of all its logs and muck and clay They tipped a drayload down at night And worked to haul it up next day. Singing (dismally): Sin, &c. But first the eldest, christened Hodge, He greased the dray-wheel axles, so The super wouldn’t smell the dodge And couldn’t let the Squatter know. Singing (hopelessly): Sin and sorrer, &c. The stuff they surfaced out each day With some surprise the Squatter saw. He never dreamt the sand and clay Was three miles off the night before. Singing (mournfully): Sin and sorrer, &c. But he got something in his eye; It wasn’t green, that’s very plain. He said the well was rather dry, And they could fill it up again. Singing (mournfully and dismally): Sin and sorrer, &c. The Cornstalks went to work next day In hope, of course, of extra tin The Squatter watched, and, sad to say, The mullock wouldn’t all go in. Singing (with great pathos): Sin and sorrer, &c. And though the Cornstalks twigged the ruse Whereby the boss had done ’em brown, They argued that the clay was loose, And wanted time to settle down. Singing (hopelessly): Sin and sorrer, &c. The boss began to rave and tear, And yelled with a most awful frown, I will not settle up, I swear, Till that there clay is settled down! Singing (hopefully): Sin, &c. Before my cheques yer’Il pocket, boys, Yer’ll put a mountain in a well The Cornstalks didn’t make a noise, They only murmured sadly ! Singing (triumphantly): Sin and sorrer, &c. MORAL: There is a moral to my rhyme A moral to the dirge I sing That when you do go in for crime You mustn’t overdoo the thing. Singing (more dismally than ever): Sin and sorrer, s-i-n and sor-r-r-r-rer!