James Whitcomb Riley Poems

Only a dream!
Her head is bent
Over the keys of the instrument,
While her trembling fingers go astray
...

There was a curious quiet for a space
Directly following: and in the face
Of one rapt listener pulsed the flush and glow
...

When frost's all on our winder, an' the snow's
All out-o'-doors, our 'Old-Kriss'-milkman goes
A-drivin' round, ist purt'-nigh froze to death,
...

I

In the evening of our days,
When the first far stars above
...

Dear Lord, to Thee my knee is bent.--
Give me content--
Full-pleasured with what comes to me,
What e'er it be:
...

Ay, thou varlet! Laugh away!
All the world's a holiday!
Laugh away, and roar and shout
Till thy hoarse tongue lolleth out!
...

W'y, one time wuz a little-weenty dirl,
An' she wuz named Red Riding Hood, 'cause her--
Her _Ma_ she maked a little red cloak fer her
...

Ot's a leedle Gristmas story
Dot I told der leedle folks--
Und I vant you stop dot laughin'
...

Of all the doctors I could cite you to in this-'ere town
Doc Sifers is my favorite, jes' take him up and down!
...

I.

When old Jack died, we staid from school (they said,
At home, we needn't go that day), and none
...