THE SING-SONG OF OLD MAN KANGAROO
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ot always was the Kangaroo as now we do behold him, but a DifferentAnimal with four short legs. He was gray and he was woolly, and hispride was inordinate: he danced on an outcrop in the middle ofAustralia, and he went to the Little God Nqa at six before breakfast,saying, "Make me different from all other animals by five thisafternoon." Up jumped Nqa from his seat on the sandflat and shouted, "Go away!" He was gray and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: he dancedon a rockledge in the middle of Australia, and he went to the MiddleGod Nquing. He went to Nquing at eight after breakfast, saying, "Make me differentfrom all other animals; make me, also, wonderfully popular by fivethis afternoon." Up jumped Nquing from his burrow in the spinifex and shouted, "Goaway!" He was gray and he was woolly, and his pride was inordinate: hedanced on a sandbank in the middle of Australia, and he went to theBig God Nqong. He went to Nqong at ten before dinner-time, saying, "Make me differentfrom all other animals; make me popular and wonderfully run after byfive this afternoon." Up jumped Nqong from his bath in the salt-pan and shouted, "Yes, Iwill!" Nqong called Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, dusty in thesunshine, and showed him Kangaroo. Nqong said, "Dingo! Wake up, Dingo!Do you see that gentleman dancing on an ash-pit? He wants to bepopular and very truly run after. Dingo, make him so!" Up jumped Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--and said, "What, _that_cat-rabbit?" Off ran Dingo--Yellow-Dog Dingo--always hungry, grinning like acoal-scuttle--ran after Kangaroo. Off went the proud Kangaroo on his four little legs like a bunny. This, O Beloved of mine, ends the first part of the tale! He ran through the desert; he ran through the mountains; he ranthrough the salt-pans; he ran through the reed-beds; he ran throughthe blue gums; he ran through the spinifex; he ran till his front legsached.
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