The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley in ten volumes |
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THE LAND OF THUS-AND-SO |
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 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
1160
THE LAND OF THUS-AND-SO
“How would Willie like to go
To the Land of Thus-and-So?
Everything is proper there—
All the children comb their hair
Smoother than the fur of cats,
Or the nap of high silk hats;
Every face is clean and white
As a lily washed in light;
Never vaguest soil or speck
Found on forehead, throat or neck;
Every little crimpled ear,
In and out, as pure and clear
As the cherry-blossom's blow
In the Land of Thus-and-So.
To the Land of Thus-and-So?
Everything is proper there—
All the children comb their hair
Smoother than the fur of cats,
Or the nap of high silk hats;
Every face is clean and white
As a lily washed in light;
Never vaguest soil or speck
Found on forehead, throat or neck;
Every little crimpled ear,
In and out, as pure and clear
As the cherry-blossom's blow
In the Land of Thus-and-So.
“Little boys that never fall
Down the stairs, or cry at all—
Doing nothing to repent,
Watchful and obedient;
Never hungry, nor in haste—
Tidy shoe-strings always laced,
Never button rudely torn
From its fellows all unworn;
Knickerbockers always new—
Ribbon, tie, and collar, too;
Little watches, worn like men,
Always promptly half past ten—
Just precisely right, you know,
For the Land of Thus-and-So!
Down the stairs, or cry at all—
Doing nothing to repent,
Watchful and obedient;
Never hungry, nor in haste—
Tidy shoe-strings always laced,
Never button rudely torn
1161
Knickerbockers always new—
Ribbon, tie, and collar, too;
Little watches, worn like men,
Always promptly half past ten—
Just precisely right, you know,
For the Land of Thus-and-So!
“And the little babies there
Give no one the slightest care—
Nurse has not a thing to do
But be happy and sigh ‘Boo!’
While Mamma just nods, and knows
Nothing but to doze and doze:
Never litter round the grate;
Never lunch or dinner late;
Never any household din
Peals without or rings within—
Baby coos nor laughing calls
On the stairs or through the halls—
Just Great Hushes to and fro
Pace the Land of Thus-and-So!
Give no one the slightest care—
Nurse has not a thing to do
But be happy and sigh ‘Boo!’
While Mamma just nods, and knows
Nothing but to doze and doze:
Never litter round the grate;
Never lunch or dinner late;
Never any household din
Peals without or rings within—
Baby coos nor laughing calls
On the stairs or through the halls—
Just Great Hushes to and fro
Pace the Land of Thus-and-So!
“Oh! the Land of Thus-and-So!
Isn't it delightful, though?”
“Yes,” lisped Willie, answering me
Somewhat slow and doubtfully—
“Must be awful nice, but I
Ruther wait till by and by
'Fore I go there—maybe when
I be dead I'll go there then.—
But”—the troubled little face
Closer pressed in my embrace—
“Le's don't never ever go
To the Land of Thus-and-So!”
Isn't it delightful, though?”
“Yes,” lisped Willie, answering me
Somewhat slow and doubtfully—
“Must be awful nice, but I
Ruther wait till by and by
'Fore I go there—maybe when
I be dead I'll go there then.—
1162
Closer pressed in my embrace—
“Le's don't never ever go
To the Land of Thus-and-So!”
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |