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It was the time of the rabbit plague and green grass was nowhere to be seen. Even dry tough old weeds were scarce. Those damn rabbits in their thousands had eaten everything that was not poisonous to them except the Prickly Pear bushes which were also a pest. New growth on trees was eaten as was new seedlings from any shrubbery as soon as it showed above ground.2
Saturdays, busy days for me and my dog. He wasn't my dog really, he was my sister's, but he had no inclination towards sewing and fancywork so he attached himself to me. I was adventure in spades, from getting a few rabbits for the table from behind the sports oval, to camping in a farmers paddock and trapping the furry things to make a few shillings. Terry was soon "my dog". He was a cross between a blue cattle dog and a fox terrier, I think the terrier was the dominant side. When getting rabbits for the table at home Terry was invaluable. Between the two of us we could get three or four good eating rabbits in about twenty five minutes. I threw a piece of half inch water pipe in a flat spinning manner to either knock the rabbit over or trip it up, Terry did the rest and brought the bunnie back to me. He was ever so careful not to bruise the edible parts of the rabbit, he grabbed only the head. Good doggie. Saturdays meant hard work, I had to get all my home jobs for the day done before I could take the old push bike and go trapping rabbits. I worked like a trojan and left after midday, camping gear and rabbit traps on the old push bike.3
I never went more than about five miles, more or less, as I didn't need to. There were plenty of places within that range where there were good places to set my traps. On arrival the first thing I did was to take the traps from the bike and go set them where I reckoned I'd catch the most rabbits. Holes in netting fences, rabbit burrows and so on. then back to where I was going to camp and set it up for the night. Nothing fancy as I would only be there one night anyway. [a ten year old is not the best at such things, but I survived my own cooking for a couple of meals each week] Like a good trapper,I went around and cleared the traps at sundown and again about eleven at night; Me and my faithful dog.4
Then at daylight the last round was done. I picked up the traps this time.5
All the rabbits were killed and gutted, and paired by cutting a groove between the achilles tendon and the bone on the hind legs and threading the feet of the second rabbit through this. They hung together that way and were easier to transport. Simply put a stick across the handlebars and hang pairs either end of it. 6
I used binder twine to tie all the heads together so they did not get caught in the spokes of the push bike wheel. I had a carry rack behind the bike seat over the back wheel and it also held rabbits after a good nights trapping.7
And so to the freezing works.Sometimes I had to walk most of the way as the rabbits were heavy and uphill pedalling was too
hard. Fifteen pair of rabbits meant an income, tax free, of about eleven shillings. Wow! I did messages and odd jobs for the neighbors all week to earn one shilling and sixpence. Having unloaded my rabbits I then rode that damn bike back out and collected my camping gear. I was a tired but happy boy after a good night rabbitting on.
Comments
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Its good to see you finally writing those yarns you've told me for years over kitchen table
In Para 3 you have "ever so careful he..." Initially, the 'ever so' seemed incorrect, now I'm not so sure - I'll leave it to your judgement
The rabbit plague in the '50's must have been appalling. I know it wasn't too good in England at that time either. You've laid out the story so straight and honestly that it reads well and creates strong images in the reader's mind.
Great job, Bob
Just don't go off rabbiting again, okay?
Lis.beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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As you know, my love, there are so many stories and memory needs a kick start most times. I thank you for your support and encouragement over the last few years. You started me writing again after a long break and have continued to be an inspiration, a challenge and a leaning post.
I won't go rabbiting again. The poor little buggers have a right to live their lives as nature intended.
Bob
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I love the way you conjure up images of your childhood; they are so vivid.
I really enjoyed reading your story!
I hope you don't mind a few suggestions:
paragraph 1 - Last sentence; I would write it as - New growth on trees was eaten as was seedlings from any shrubbery as soon as it showed above ground.
paragraph 2 - Shouldn't it be; my sister's ...
How about shortening the 2nd paragraph to ..... to make a few shillings and then begin a new paragraph with - Terry was soon "my dog". Isn't it 'bunny', rather than 'bunnie'.
paragraph 4 - try not to use the same word too closely together in same sentence; 'places'.
paragraph 5 - the word 'round' used twice.
Best wishes
Bernice
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Hi Bernice, No I don't mind a few suggestions. I did write this from the point of view of a ten year old with little skills in grammar. However, I do see what you mean and will edit ASAP.
Ithank you for both comments and suggestions. I am a learner writer and appreciate suggestions.
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Awww...
...poor wee things!
I'll have to focus solely on your writing prowess here because otherwise I'll be in floods of tears.
I like the way you've handled your narration here ~ it's very conversational, which is by far the best way of writing a memoire. Your reader 'listens' to your voice and can pick up so much more than the words actually 'tell'.
Imagine a 10 year old going off camping alone in this day and age... how times have changed!
Well written. Well done.
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I appreciate your comments here very much. I tried writing my escapades as short stories but it didn't work. Lis told me to write as if I ws telling the 'yarn' around a camp fire. I have her to thank for this style.
I am fully aware of the changes in society since those carefree days. A ten year old would not have that kind of freedom I enjoyed so much.
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Very interesting.
I've heard about the rabbit plague and I believe the problem first started because of rabbits being introduced into a country where the rabbits, at that time, had no natural predators to fear.
It was a joy to read this tale of a young boy able to actually feel free to 'go it alone', what a change from today's 'modern' world.
One slight spot for you:
Penultimate sentence: campng
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Thanks for commenting and for advising me of the typo. Yes, rabbits were introduced to provide sport for the settlers in Victoria in the early days and there were no predators. Foxes were later introduced too, also for sport. Both multiplied and became pests. Today,the number of foxes is related to the number of rabbits in the area.
When writing this and the others in the series, i had many a smile as I reemembered the freedom we all had in those days. We could 'go it alone' without fear. Today we teach our kids fear, and then restrict their freedom because of it.
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I know I have already read it,
but I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. -
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It was a time of hardship for everyone, but it was a good life, just the same. Thanks Trish.
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Good story! Made even better by the fact that you've actually lived it =) I thought the first paragraph was a very nice touch, as it gave the reader a good perspective as to the setting of your story; rabitting in and of itself would still be an interesting tale, but you tell it here within the larger framework of the rabbit plague, which adds to the story's atmosphere.
Only critiques I have here are again of the grammatical sort, and mostly small. Be on the lookout for independent clauses that have ended up in the same sentence, such as "He was ever so careful not to bruise the edible parts of the rabbit, he grabbed only the head." These could stand perfectly well on their own, so it feels a little awkward having them stuck together. I'd recommend either making the comma a semicolon or just making it into two sentences, perhaps lengthening the second one a bit if you'd like. Look through for anything else like that, see if you want to reword at all =) also, last sentence of paragraph 6, might want to add an "I" at the beginning of the sentence ("I simply put..." etc.). Those are the main things that stood out to me.
Sounds like you've had an adventurous life; thank you for sharing these stories
beginning: 5, language: 3, plot: 4, ending: 4, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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I thank you for a very helpful critique. Yes, I have had a very adventuruous life. I was born dead curious and my father always said to ask questions if I wanted to know anything. He also said that experience was the best teacher ever. I thought these two contradicted each other so went and found out for myself. Some times I regretted not asking first. Such is life.
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Thank you for the story
I'm so gld to see that you have many more stories for me to read.
Trish
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Hi again Trish, and many thanks once again. In what is now the old days we in Australia had rabbits by the millions. the introduction of mosquito born diseases reduced the numbers to manageable proportions but those furry litte rabbits are still with us. Enjoy your reading.
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I remember when they had the rabbit problems. Wasn't that the reason for the thousand mile fence? It seems like I also remember when the country was overrun by mice.
Trish -
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I can remember three occasions when mice were in plague proportions. they seem to come and go. The rabbits came and for years, just stayed. Memory tells me from the late 30's to the early 50's. I can't remember exactly when mexamatosis was introduced but I do know that they will never use it again as it was too cruel.
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Good job, Bob! A tough, but a life full of freedom. Its a shame today's kids don't have the opportunity to experience the independence and the self-reliance you showed in this tale of your 'rabbiting'
Lis.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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The chances I took in those days were really minimal but in todays world there would be a hue and cry about something or other: danger to me as an unsupervised child, cruelty to the rabbits or maybe trespassing on the farm. Someone would find something to complain about. Todays kids would have as much fun and adventure as I did if they were allowed the freedom. I appreciate your commenting very much, feedback is needed.
Bob
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