The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-13

In the great Big Wagon, all gilt outside
And jolt within, as they numbered on
Into the town where Billy had gone
An hour ahead, Ike knightly guide
o. but the way that Billy could ride
BILLY can ride! O, Billy can 1idel
But what earth can he do besi(le?'
That what the farmers used to say
AS time went by year at a stride
And Billy twenty if he was day!
And many wise old fathers foot
Was put right down where it should be put
While many dutiful daughter sighed
In vain for more buggy ride
With the gallant Billy who none the less
Smiled at the old mans selishness,
And kissed his daughter, and rode away
Till one especially rich old chap
Noted for driving famous bay
Gave poor Billy so sharp rap
Regard ng HIS daughter, that Billy replied
By noisn2 it over he country wide,
That the old curmudgeon simply mad
Because he Billy undoubtedly had
faster horse than the famous bay,
And that was ali that he had to say
Then he'd touch his horse in the flank, and-zipp-
Talk about horses and horsemanship!-
Folks stare after him just waleyedl
Oomh the way that Billy could ride
Bang the cymbals! and thump the drum!
Stun the guineas! and pound the gong!
Mr.. Bull, git up and come!
And heller and paw for five days long!
Whoop and howl till you drown the band
That boots and toots in the Judges Stand!'
For this is the term of the county fair,
And you bet Billy will be there!-
And watch him there, old hcrsemen all!
And judges, you, in your lifted stall!
And gamblers, you. you clap and clack,
the order is heard to clear the track!
And watch him, you by the Floral Hail.
With sweet face pink as the parasol
You wave as you stand on the buggy-seat!--
And you, young man, you feel her hand
Tre1nble in yours, there you stand!
And watch him, too, you Old man gray,
With your houses, lands and your wealth complete
Not forgetting the famous bay
You ride with him in the race to-day
And lash, you start there side by side!
Lash! for the sake of your bay defed
Lash for the proof of your boosted pride!
Lash! as you'd lash a Gu, that lied!
LASH but watch him with both eyes wide
Fer o the way that Billy can ride.
Side by side in the open track
The horses stood--such glossy pair!-
Trim as sparrows about to fly
Pumage of name and song of eye.
Ho They were beautiful!-bay and black
The sunshine glittered along each back
Glanced at the shoulders, and fickered and run
In dappes of light that would daze the sum-
The veins of their limbs like tremulous vines
The breeze blows through and the vibrant lines
n +har noctrilS like tn the Inns of the ems
OF the gods, brimmed over with roseate sups-
From swish Of tail TO the toss of name
Pharaos favorites lived again.
| Lived and served, and as nobly, too.
As they sprung to the race, and onward hew
| Ho! but the sight of them side by side
Their masters faces seemed glorifed
| AS they flashed from view-in an instant gone,
And you saw but their shoulders, as they rode on,
| Narrowng-narrowing-le and less
AS you gazed after in breathlessness
| Shoulder to shoulder and neck to neck
And the hearts of the crowd spun round with them
| AS they dwinGled away to the self-same speck-
| When sudden-a fash-like the flash of gem
That had dropped in the dust while onward came
/ But one wild rider who homeward led
| So mad with delight that he shrieked his name
/ And it not 'Billy'-but all the same,
| Though far behind, he was far ahead
AS the rode in on his famous bay"
| His gray hair streaming beneath his hat,
And the wind blown, upturned b1im of that
| Flat on his forehead-was acclaim
The crowd was looking the other way!
Where, far in the distance, and through the mist
Of the dust you saw where hand was kissed
AS in hasty adieu-nor was that all,
But fairly and clearly and sharply Defined
You saw the black horse, with Billy astride
| With sweet little witch of a woman behind,
Gaily waving pink parasol
| And the crowd answered roundly with cheer upo,
| cheer,
AS the horse lightly wheeled with their manifold
| weight
And dashed from your gaze through the big lowe
| gate,
While back down the track, midst a tumult of ieers
| Was seen to rack out on MINDED" bay.
| An aged parent-amazed-irrate
On race that might end for years
| But end it did "'Who WON the race2"
| Grandfather paused, with graver face
| well, Billy won-but the reason why,
| Was the bay was 'blowed'-and SO was II
"Fzzles in everything else he's tried
] But o the way that Billy can rdel"