The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley

in ten volumes

Riley, James Whitcomb (1849-1916)

WHAT SMITH KNEW ABOUT FARMING

A POET'S WOOING

MAN'S DEVOTION

A BALLAD

THE OLD TIMES WERE THE BEST

A SUMMER AFTERNOON

AT LAST

FARMER WHIPPLE—BACHELOR

MY JOLLY FRIEND'S SECRET

THE SPEEDING OF THE KING'S SPITE

IF I KNEW WHAT POETS KNOW

AN OLD SWEETHEART OF MINE

SQUIRE HAWKINS'S STORY

DEAD IN SIGHT OF FAME

IN THE DARK

THE IRON HORSE

DEAD LEAVES

OVER THE EYES OF GLADNESS

ONLY A DREAM

OUR LITTLE GIRL

THE FUNNY LITTLE FELLOW

THE HARP OF THE MINSTREL

HONEY DRIPPING FROM THE COMB

JOHN WALSH

ORLIE WILDE

THAT OTHER MAUD MULLER

WASH LOWRY'S REMINISCENCE

THE ANCIENT PRINTERMAN

PRIOR TO MISS BELLE'S APPEARANCE

WHEN MOTHER COMBED MY HAIR

A WRANGDILLION

GEORGE MULLEN'S CONFESSION

AN AUTUMNAL EXTRAVAGANZA

THE ROSE

THE MERMAN

THE RAINY MORNING

WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GLAD WHEN WE SMILE

A SUMMER SUNRISE

DAS KRIST KINDEL

AN OLD YEAR'S ADDRESS

A NEW YEAR'S PLAINT

LUTHER BENSON

“DREAM”

WHEN EVENING SHADOWS FALL

A CHILD'S HOME—LONG AGO

[For the Song's sake; even so]

THE FLYING ISLANDS OF THE NIGHT

THE VISION OF RABBI BEN ISAAC

MY BRIDE THAT IS TO BE

LULLABY

THE ROMAUNT OF KING MORDAMEER

DEARTH

THE SONG I NEVER SING

UNSPOKEN

THANKSGIVING DAY AT HUNCHLEY'S

THE LITTLE OLD POEM THAT NOBODY READS

A SLEEPING BEAUTY

LEEDLE DUTCH BABY

LINES

FRIEND OF A WAYWARD HOUR

THE LAUGHTER OF THE RAIN

GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE

THE TREE-TOAD

LAUGHING SONG

THE WITCH OF ERKMURDEN

THE BALLAD OF SMILES AND TEARS

THE LITTLE TOWN O' TAILHOLT

WHERE SHALL WE LAND

HOPE

THE LITTLE TINY KICKSHAW

DEATH

TO THE WINE-GOD MERLUS

THE GINOINE AR-TICKLE

A BRIDE

STANZAS FOR A NEW SONG

LINES TO AN ONSETTLED YOUNG MAN

PLANTATION HYMN

LAWYER AND CHILD

THE LOST KISS

MICHAEL FLYNN AND THE BABY

SISTER JONES'S CONFESSION

THE DEAD JOKE AND THE FUNNY MAN

MY LADDIE WI' THE BASHFU' GRACE

A TRESS OF HAIR

VOLUME III

THE PASSING OF A HEART

LET SOMETHING GOOD BE SAID

THE OLD HAND-ORGAN

HOME AT NIGHT

A DREAM OF INSPIRATION

LOVE'S AS BROAD AS LONG

THE SONG OF YESTERDAY

A WRAITH OF SUMMER-TIME

JACK THE GIANT-KILLER

MONSIEUR LE SECRETAIRE

THE NINE LITTLE GOBLINS

WHY

THE TOUCH OF LOVING HANDS

THE HOUR BEFORE THE DAWN

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW

WHEN DE FOLKS IS GONE

THE TWINS

THE ORCHARD LANDS OF LONG AGO

BRUDDER SIMS

DEFORMED

WHILE THE MUSICIAN PLAYED

FAITH

BE OUR FORTUNES AS THEY MAY

REACH YOUR HAND TO ME

WE MUST GET HOME

MABEL

AT DUSK

ANOTHER RIDE FROM GHENT TO AIX

THE OLD-FASHIONED BIBLE

THE LAND OF USED-TO-BE

BIN A-FISHIN'

UNCLE DAN'L IN TOWN OVER SUNDAY

THE OLD SWIMMIN'-HOLE

THOUGHTS FER THE DISCURAGED FARMER

THE CIRCUS-DAY PARADE

WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN

THAT NIGHT

THE BAT

ON THE DEATH OF LITTLE MAHALA ASHCRAFT

THE MULBERRY TREE

AUGUST

TO MY OLD FRIEND, WILLIAM LEACHMAN

THE SOUTH WIND AND THE SUN

AS I SIT IN THE SILENCE

LONGFELLOW'S LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN

A SONG OF LONG AGO

UNLESS

WHEN EARLY MARCH SEEMS MIDDLE MAY

THE MUSKINGUM VALLEY

SERENADE—TO NORA

THE LITTLE WHITE HEARSE

THE WAY THE BABY CAME

THE WAY THE BABY WOKE

THE WAY THE BABY SLEPT

WHEN MAIMIE MARRIED

HER HAIR

A VISION OF SUMMER

WHILE CIGARETTES TO ASHES TURN

THE LITTLE RED RIBBON

THE MAN IN THE MOON

A BAREFOOT BOY

“THE PREACHER'S BOY”

WE TO SIGH INSTEAD OF SING

TWO SONNETS TO THE JUNE-BUG

AT NINETY IN THE SHADE

THE BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH

HE CALLED HER IN

GIVE ME THE BABY

AN AUTUMNAL TONIC

OUT OF THE HITHERWHERE

AN IMPROMPTU ON ROLLER SKATES

ME AND MARY

WRITTEN IN BUNNER'S “AIRS FROM ARCADY”

A SONG

NEVER TALK BACK

MY FRIEND

THE LITTLE FAT DOCTOR

THE STRANGE YOUNG MAN

SCOTTY

ON THE SUNNY SIDE

THE HARPER

THE BLOSSOMS ON THE TREES

LAUGHTER HOLDING BOTH HIS SIDES

A MONUMENT FOR THE SOLDIERS

OUT TO OLD AUNT MARY'S

IN THE AFTERNOON

UNINTERPRETED

BILLY'S ALPHABETICAL ANIMAL SHOW

THE PIXY PEOPLE

THE TOWN KARNTEEL

DONN PIATT OF MAC-O-CHEE

HERR WEISER

FROM DELPHI TO CAMDEN

THE RIVALS; OR THE SHOWMAN'S RUSE

THE CHRIST

TO HEAR HER SING

FROM THE HEADBOARD OF A GRAVE IN PARAGUAY

A CANARY AT THE FARM

SEPTEMBER DARK

ANSELMO

TIME OF CLEARER TWITTERINGS

LIKE HIS MOTHER USED TO MAKE

A GOLDEN WEDDING

HIS CHRISTMAS SLED

A NEW YEAR'S TIME AT WILLARDS'S

I THE HIRED MAN TALKS

II THE OLD MAN TALKS

WHATEVER THE WEATHER MAY BE

A LEAVE-TAKING

DOWN ON WRIGGLE CRICK

LORD BACON

MY FIRST WOMERN

THE QUEST

TO AN IMPORTUNATE GHOST

TO JAMES NEWTON MATTHEWS

THE LAW OF THE PERVERSE

WHAT “OLD SANTA” OVERHEARD

GRANT

ON THE BANKS O' DEER CRICK

THE LAND OF THUS-AND-SO

THE HOSS

A OLD PLAYED-OUT SONG

A TALE OF THE AIRLY DAYS

THE ROSSVILLE LECTUR' COURSE

HER BEAUTIFUL EYES

WANT TO BE WHUR MOTHER IS

BABE HERRICK

TO A JILTED SWAIN

KNEELING WITH HERRICK

IN THE SOUTH

THE HAPPY LITTLE CRIPPLE

HAS SHE FORGOTTEN

ILLILEO

THE JOLLY MILLER

HE COMETH IN SWEET SENSE

KINGRY'S MILL

THE EARTHQUAKE

A FALL-CRICK VIEW OF THE EARTHQUAKE

WHEN THE WORLD BU'STS THROUGH

THE OLD RETIRED SEA-CAPTAIN

OLD MAN'S NURSERY RHYME

LEWIS D. HAYES

A LOCAL POLITICIAN FROM AWAY BACK

WHEN MY DREAMS COME TRUE

THE CHANT OF THE CROSS-BEARING CHILD

WHEN THE HEARSE COMES BACK

NESSMUK

BACK FROM A TWO-YEARS' SENTENCE

TO ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

THEM FLOWERS

THE ROBINS' OTHER NAME

A HOME-MADE FAIRY TALE

A VOICE FROM THE FARM

THE OLD HOME BY THE MILL

THE OLD MAN AND JIM

OUR OLD FRIEND NEVERFAIL

A MAN BY THE NAME OF BOLUS

THE TRAVELING MAN

THE ABSENCE OF LITTLE WESLEY

WHEN THE GREEN GITS BACK IN THE TREES

'MONGST THE HILLS O' SOMERSET

A PASSING HAIL

“LAST CHRISTMAS WAS A YEAR AGO”

LITTLE JOHNTS'S CHRIS'MUS

THAT-AIR YOUNG-UN

THE PIPES OF PAN

DOWN AROUND THE RIVER

CHAIRLEY BURKE'S IN TOWN

WAIT FOR THE MORNING

YOUTH AND AGE

THE POET OF THE FUTURE

NAUGHTY CLAUDE

THE ARTEMUS OF MICHIGAN

WAITIN' FER THE CAT TO DIE

THE ALL-KIND MOTHER

TO HATTIE—ON HER BIRTHDAY

DOWN TO THE CAPITAL

JAP MILLER

JOHN TARKINGTON JAMESON

HENRY W. GRADY

IN THE EVENING

THOUGHTS ON THE LATE WAR

THE OLD BAND

BY ANY OTHER NAME

LINES FER ISAAC BRADWELL, OF INDANOPLIS, IND., COUNTY-SEAT OF MARION

“THE LITTLE MAN IN THE TIN-SHOP”

THE RIDER OF THE KNEE

THE LITTLE-RED-APPLE TREE

UNCLE SIDNEY

IN THE NIGHT

THE DREAM OF THE LITTLE PRINCESS

THE SQUIRT-GUN UNCLE MAKED ME

THE LUGUBRIOUS WHING-WHANG

LITTLE MANDY'S CHRISTMAS-TREE

THE FUNNIEST THING IN THE WORLD

A FRUIT-PIECE

VOLUME VI

THE BUMBLEBEE

A PROSPECTIVE GLIMPSE

OLD JOHN CLEVENGER ON BUCKEYES

THE BOY LIVES ON OUR FARM

SONG OF THE BULLET

CHRISTMAS GREETING

UNCLE WILLIAM'S PICTURE

DECORATION DAY ON THE PLACE

TOWN AND COUNTRY

THE FIRST BLUEBIRD

LINES TO PERFESSER JOHN CLARK RIDPATH A. M., LL. D. T-Y-TY

ELIZABETH

SONGS OF A LIFE-TIME

AN OLD MAN'S MEMORY

US FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY

ON A DEAD BABE

“MYLO JONES'S WIFE”

A PEN-PICTUR' OF A CERT'IN FRIVVOLUS OLD MAN

THOUGHTS ON A PORE JOKE

EVAGENE BAKER

ON ANY ORDENARY MAN IN A HIGH STATE OF LAUGHTURE AND DELIGHT

THE HOODOO

CUORED O' SKEERIN'

OLD WINTERS ON THE FARM

“COON-DOG WESS”

GOIN' TO THE FAIR

THE WATCHES OF THE NIGHT

OSCAR C. McCULLOCH

WHAT CHRIS'MAS FETCHED THE WIGGINSES

GREEN FIELDS AND RUNNING BROOKS

SOME SCATTERING REMARKS OF BUB'S

BY HER WHITE BED

HOW JOHN QUIT THE FARM

HIS MOTHER'S WAY

THE HOOSIER FOLK-CHILD

THEIR SWEET SORROW

DAWN, NOON AND DEWFALL

JOHN ALDEN AND PERCILLY

THE RHYMES OF IRONQUILL

THE CURSE OF THE WANDERING FOOT

AS MY UNCLE UST TO SAY

WHITTIER—AT NEWBURYPORT

ROSAMOND C. BAILEY

TENNYSON

MRS. BENJAMIN HARRISON

THE POEMS HERE AT HOME

LITTLE COUSIN JASPER

THE DOODLE-BUGS'S CHARM

“THIS DEAR CHILD-HEARTED WOMAN THAT IS DEAD”

“HOW DID YOU REST, LAST NIGHT?”

TO—“THE J. W. R. LITERARY CLUB”

OUT OF THE DARK AND THE DEARTH

LITTLE DAVID

HOME AGAIN

A SEA-SONG FROM THE SHORE

THE DEAD WIFE

TO ELIZABETH

ARMAZINDY

THREE SINGING FRIENDS

I LEE O. HARRIS

II BENJ. S. PARKER

III JAMES NEWTON MATTHEWS

AT HIS WINTRY TENT

UP AND DOWN OLD BRANDYWINE

WRITIN' BACK TO THE HOME-FOLKS

RABBIT IN THE CROSS-TIES

WHEN LIDE MARRIED HIM

FOLKS AT LONESOMEVILLE

THE THREE JOLLY HUNTERS

THE LITTLE DOG-WOGGY

CHARMS

I FOR CORNS AND THINGS

II TO REMOVE FRECKLES—SCOTCH ONES

A FEW OF THE BIRD-FAMILY

THROUGH SLEEPY-LAND

THE TRESTLE AND THE BUCK-SAW

THE KING OF OO-RINKTUM-JING

THE TOY PENNY-DOG

JARGON-JINGLE

THE GREAT EXPLORER

THE SCHOOLBOY'S FAVORITE

ALBUMANIA

THE LITTLE MOCK-MAN

SUMMER-TIME AND WINTER-TIME

A FEEL IN THE CHRIS'MAS-AIR

MISTER HOP-TOAD

THE SILENT SINGER

THE GREEN GRASS OF OLD IRELAND

A PEACE-HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

MY DANCIN'-DAYS IS OVER

LITTLE MAID-O'-DREAMS

THE LOEHRS AND THE HAMMONDS

THE HIRED MAN AND FLORETTY

THE EVENING COMPANY

MAYMIE'S STORY OF RED RIDING-HOOD

LIMITATIONS OF GENIUS

MR. HAMMOND'S PARABLE

FLORETTY'S MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION

BUD'S FAIRY TALE

A DELICIOUS INTERRUPTION

THE PATHOS OF APPLAUSE

TOLD BY “THE NOTED TRAVELER”.

HEAT-LIGHTNING

UNCLE MART'S POEM

“LITTLE JACK JANITOR”

ST. LIRRIPER

“THEM OLD CHEERY WORDS”

A DUBIOUS “OLD KRISS”

ON A YOUTHFUL PORTRAIT OF STEVENSON

PROEM

RUBÁIYÁT OF DOC SIFERS

WHERE THE CHILDREN USED TO PLAY

MR. FOLEY'S CHRISTMAS

III

TO SANTA CLAUS

CHRISTMAS ALONG THE WIRES

TO THE BOY WITH A COUNTRY

AT CROWN HILL

SNOW IN THE AIR

THE NAME OF OLD GLORY

III

ONE WITH A SONG

INDIANA

CHRISTMAS AFTERTHOUGHT

THE CHRISTMAS LONG AGO

CLAUDE MATTHEWS

THE SERMON OF THE ROSE

OLD MAN WHISKERY-WHEE-KUM-WHEEZE

LITTLE-GIRL-TWO-LITTLE-GIRLS

THE PENALTY OF GENIUS

A PARENT REPRIMANDED

IN FERVENT PRAISE OF PICNICS

THE HOME-VOYAGE

TO THE QUIET OBSERVER

PROEM TO “HOME-FOLKS”

THE BALLADE OF THE COMING RAIN

TO THE JUDGE

A WHOLLY UNSCHOLASTIC OPINION

A SHORT'NIN' BREAD SONG—PIECED OUT

THE UNHEARD

EQUITY—?

MOONSHINER'S SERENADE

IN A BOX

VOLUME VIII

THE EDGE OF THE WIND

THE HIRED MAN'S FAITH IN CHILDREN

AMERICA'S THANKSGIVING

TO EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN

WHEN WE FIRST PLAYED “SHOW”

WILLIAM PINKNEY FISHBACK

A GOOD MAN

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH

HIS HEART OF CONSTANT YOUTH

THE PATHS OF PEACE

THE TRIBUTE OF HIS HOME

AMERICA

EVEN AS A CHILD

THE HOOSIER IN EXILE

THE QUEST OF THE FATHERS

TO THE MOTHER

NEW YEAR'S NURSERY JINGLE

FOOL-YOUNGENS

A GUSTATORY ACHIEVEMENT

TO JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

THE BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN

INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS

A MASQUE OF THE SEASONS

LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK

THE KATYDIDS

THE NOBLE OLD ELM

EVENSONG

AN IMPROMPTU FAIRY-TALE

THE TWINS

THE LITTLE LADY

“COMPANY MANNERS”

THE GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED PEOPLE

THE BEST TIMES

“HIK-TEE-DIK”

“OLD BOB WHITE”

A SESSION WITH UNCLE SIDNEY

I ONE OF HIS ANIMAL STORIES

II UNCLE BRIGHTENS UP—

III A PET OF UNCLE SIDNEY'S

IV IN THE KINDERGARTEN OF NOBLE SONG

V SINGS A “WINKY-TOODEN” SONG—

VI AND ANOTHER OF OUR BETSY—

VII AND MAKES NURSERY RHYMES

3 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS

SOME SONGS AFTER MASTER-SINGERS

I SONG

II TO THE CHILD JULIA

III THE DOLLY'S MOTHER

IV WIND OF THE SEA

V SUBTLETY

VI BORN TO THE PURPLE

CLIMATIC SORCERY

THE TREASURE OF THE WISE MAN

OLD GRANNY DUSK

FIRE AT NIGHT

THE YOUNG OLD MAN

SOME CHRISTMAS YOUNGSTERS

I THE STRENGTH OF THE WEAK

II THE LITTLE QUESTIONER

III PARENTAL CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

TWILIGHT STORIES

“GO READ YOUR BOOK!”

WHEN UNCLE DOC WAS YOUNG

ALMOST BEYOND ENDURANCE

THE TOY-BALLOON

THE OLD DAYS

TO A POET ON HIS MARRIAGE

LOCKERBIE FAIR

THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

PROSE OR VERSE?

BILLY MILLER'S CIRCUS-SHOW

IT'S GOT TO BE

CHRISTMAS SEASON

ART AND POETRY

THE CHILDREN OF THE CHILDLESS

HOOSIER SPRING-POETRY

THE VOICE OF PEACE

A DEFECTIVE SANTA CLAUS

WHAT LITTLE SAUL GOT, CHRISTMAS

GENERAL LEW WALLACE

ON READING DR. HENRY VAN DYKE'S VOLUME OF POEMS—MUSIC

HER SMILE OF CHEER AND VOICE OF SONG

CHILD'S CHRISTMAS CAROL

I' GOT TO FACE MOTHER TO-DAY!

NAME US NO NAMES NO MORE

A SPRING SONG AND A LATER

II THE PASSING OF A ZEPHYR

III EF UNCLE REMUS PLEASE TER 'SCUSEN ME

IV A RHYME FOR CHRISTMAS

V Vaudeville Skits

1 SERENADE AT THE CABIN

THE HIRED MAN'S DOG-STORY

PERVERSITY

HER POET-BROTHER

GRAMPA'S CHOICE

A LITTLE LAME BOY'S VIEWS

A VERY TALL BOY

THE RAGGEDY MAN ON CHILDREN

'LIZABUTH-ANN ON BAKIN'-DAY

UNCLE SIDNEY'S RHYMES

“BLUE-MONDAY” AT THE SHOE SHOP

THE THOUGHTS OF YOUTH

O. HENRY

WILLIAM McKINLEY

“MOTHER”

THE BOYS OF THE OLD GLEE CLUB

“MONA MACHREE”

SONG DISCORDANT

LARRY NOOLAN'S NEW YEAR

A CHRISTMAS-TIME JINGLE

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

785

BIN A-FISHIN'

W'en de sun's gone down, an' de moon is riz,
Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
It's I's aguine down wha' the by-o is!
Bin a-fishin' all night long!

Chorus

Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
Bin a-fishin' clean fum de dusk of night
Twel away 'long on in de mornin' light.

Bait my hook, un I plunk her down!
Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
Un I lay dat catfish weigh five pound!
Bin a-fishin' all night long!

Chorus

Folks tells me ut a sucker won't bite,
Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
Yit I lif' out fo' last Chuesday night,
Bin a-fishin' all night long!

786

Chorus

Little fish nibble un de big fish come;
Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
“Go way, little fish! I want some!”
Bin a-fishin' all night long!

Chorus

Sez de bullfrog, “D-runk!” sez de ole owl “Whoo!”
Bin a-fishin'! Bin a-fishin'!
'Spec, Mr. Nigger, dey's a-meanin' you,
Bin a-fishin' all night long!

Chorus

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