Sunday, about
8 a.m
There 's an old mate of mine in business in Sydney , and I 'd like to have a yarn with him . '' A DAY ON A SELECTION The scene is a small New South Wales western selection , the holder whereof is native-English . His wife is native-Irish . Time , Sunday , about 8 a.m. . A used-up looking woman comes from the slab-and-bark house , turns her face towards the hillside , and shrieks : `` T-o-o-m _ may _ ! '' No response , and presently she draws a long breath and screams again : `` _ Tom _ m-a-a-y ! '' A faint echo comes from far up the siding where Tommy 's presence is vaguely indicated by half a dozen cows moving slowly -- very slowly -- down towards the cow-yard .