
A lively domestic comedy opens with Larrie, a tall, strong‑built young man, and his petite, quick‑witted partner Dot squabbling over who should shoulder the literal weight of their newborn. The baby, a restless bundle of twenty‑one pounds, becomes the catalyst for a spirited exchange about gender expectations, pride, and the everyday absurdities of early‑twentieth‑century life. Their banter is peppered with sharp retorts and playful exaggerations, turning a simple walk down a country lane into a stage for both humor and gentle criticism.
Through witty dialogue and vivid descriptions—Dot’s white parasol, Larrie's flushed brow, the soft green grass where the infant briefly rests—the narrative captures a snapshot of a couple learning to navigate new responsibilities. The story balances lightheartedness with a tender look at how love and stubbornness intertwine, inviting listeners to enjoy the charm of a bygone era while recognizing the timelessness of its domestic dilemmas.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (139K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Wilson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2017-01-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1958
Best known for a beloved Australian children's classic, this English-born writer built a long, varied career that also included journalism, poetry, and fiction for adults. Her stories helped shape early Australian children's literature and have stayed in print for generations.
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