The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley in ten volumes |
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| 4. | IV |
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 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
IV
“Billy can ride! Oh, Billy can ride!But what on earth can he do beside?”
That's what the farmers used to say,
As time went by a year at a stride,
And Billy was twenty if he was a day!
And many a wise old father's foot
Was put right down where it should be put,
While many a dutiful daughter sighed
In vain for one more glorious ride
With the gallant Billy, who none the less
Smiled at the old man's selfishness
And kissed his daughter, and rode away,—
Till one especially rich old chap—
Noted for driving a famous bay—
Gave poor Billy so sharp a rap
Regarding HIS daughter, that Billy replied
By noising it over the country wide,
That the old curmudgeon was simply mad
Because he (Billy) undoubtedly had
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And that was all that he had to say!—
Touched his horse in the flank—and zipp!—
Talk about horses and horsemanship!—
Folks stared after him just wild-eyed. ...
Oomh! the way that Billy could ride!
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |