Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-20
A WHOLESALE POET.
Tho Astonishing Experience Of James
Whitcomb Riley.

Whltcomb Riley.
While the Nye-Riley combination was on
the road last winter a little incident hap
pened at Kalamazoo, Mich, which has never
been given to the public Their entertain.
ment was over for the night, and a large and
pleased audience had dispersed. Nye had
been taken in hand by the town lecture com.
mitteo and towed of up 10 Uncle Asa Butter
fields house to hear Uncle Asa tell his famous
story about his red cow and Dunk Browns
hired man, the occurrence having actually
taken place in 1889. Uncle Asa was a local
humorist of great renown; no had been
unable TO attend the lecture on account OF
rheumatism, but had promised 30 sit up till
tho committee brought Nye around. The
red COW story was his masterpiece,
and he was anxious that Nye should hear IL,
as he thought that very likely he might want
to introduce it into his lecture. Riley had
escaped by feigning sickness as soon as the
visit was proposed, and before Nye could EN-.
ploy the same excuse and was sitting In the
hotel Office at about II o'clock congratuating
himself and chuckly quietly. He was think
ing of various facetous remarks which he
would make TO Nye should he survive the
operation be was undergoing, about Uncle
Asa, the red COW, the hired man. and SO forth,
when man hurriedly entered who attracted
his attention at once. The man was tall and
angular with long gray hair and hollow eyes,
and he had a trick OF thrusting his head for
ward and pointing with q long bony finger.
He glanced around at the group Of hotel
guests sitting about and walked directly to
Riley
"You are Riley, James Whitcomb Riley"
he said, as he pointed long finger at him.
The poet blushed slightly and modestly adj
mitted the fact Eyes, yes,p went on the
man; II know you, though | never saw you
before We never met, but we've had a
good deal Of business with each other.n
"Well, perhaps replied Riley, ''but l
don't exactly understand what you refer tor
"Ha! I'll tell you Ny name is Thomas
H. Stoclwell,n and he looked at Riley tri-
umphantly.
"Er-wcll, l can't Just place you I'm afraid,n
answered Riley.
"You can't3 Why, I'm the man that has
written all your poetry for your
The poet looked at the hollow eyed visitor
speeches.
"Yes, sir, gentlemen went on the intru-
der, swinging his long, bony hand so as to
include the little group, ~ am the man who
has written all Of James Whitcomb Riley's
poems for him. When he has wanted a new
one he has always written TO me and have
sent IL to him and got my pay FOR il, and
that has been all there is about &C. You
know il, Mr.. Riley, as well as ! do But I'm
sick aud tired Of it. Hereafter, sir, the
world shall know Thomas IL. Stockwoll as he
Is; the fame of James Whitcomb Riley viii
hereafter rest on the brow Of Thomas Hos
letter Stockwell The time has come for me
10 declare myself and claim my ownn
The unknown poet who had blushed I'M
seen all these years drew himself up proudly
and laid his hand ON his heart Riley had
been gradually getting over his establishment
and now found his voice.
Perhaps, Mr.. Stockwell," he said, lyon
may have some Of your poems with you such
as you have been furnishing mo, and can
favor us with a short reading
"Certainly,n replied the long haired indi-
vidual promptly, as no pulled a handful Of
crumpled manuscript out Of his breast
pocket; certainly, nothing would give me
greater pleasure. have here among others
one entitled The Old Barnyard,' with which
intended filling your next order. viii
read one verse:
Whom you go out in our barnyard a-kind o wan.
rim round
Amongst the hens and sheep, and the hogs
arootn' in the ground,
And git fgg'rin' on the colts and how much theyil
prob bly bring
when they're broke 10 drive in harness later in
the spring,
Aigo of from the sheep with horns--lsss you
want to see some stars
Cause he's predjerdced and li'ble 20 bunt you
through the bars,
But what you want TO rally void amt airy pig or
sheep er hos, ,
But the COW ats got the spotted calf
When