Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-01
A WHOLESALE POET.
Tho Astonishing Experience of James
 WhitcOmb Riley.

whitcomb 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 large and pleased audience had dispersed. Nye had been taken in hand by the town lecture com mittee and lowed off up to 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; he had been unable to attend the lecture on account of rheumatism, but had promised to sit up till the committee brought Nye around The red COW story was his masterpiece, and he was anxious that Nye should hear it, 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 em- ploy the same excuse and was sitting in the hotel office at about II o'clock congratulating himself and chuckly quietly. He was think ing of various faceticus remarks which he would make to Nye, should he survive the operation he 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 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 a long finger at him.
 The poet blushed slightly and modestly ad- mitted the fact. "Yes, yes," went on the man; ''I know you, though I never saw you before. We never met, but we've had a good deal of business with each other"
 'Well, perhaps" replied Riley, ''but I don't exactly understand what you refer to.s
 "Ha! I'll tell you. My name is Thomas H. Stockwell," and he looked at Riley tri- umphantly.
 "Er-well, I can't just place you I'm afraid" answered Riley.
 "You can't7 Why, I'm the man that has written all your poetry for you!"
 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, II s.m the man who has written all of James Whitcomb Riley's poems for him. When he has wanted new one he has always written to me and have sent it to him and got my pay for it, and IU. \ know it, MT. Riley, as we'll as do. But I'm sick and tired of it. Hereafter, sir, the world shall know Thomas H. Stockwell as he is; the fame of James Whitcomh Riley will hereafter rest on tho brow of Thomas Hos letter Stockwell. The time has come for me to declare myself and claim my ownr'
 The unknown poet who had blushed un- seen all these years drew himself up proudly and laid his hand on his heart. Riley had been gradually getting over his astonishment and now found his voice.
 Perhaps MT. Stockwell,n he said, ''you may have some of your poems with you sach as you have been furnishing me, and can favor us with short reading.n
 Certainly" replied the long haired iudi- vidual promptly, as he pulled 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. will read one verse;
 When you go out in our barnyard a-kind Q wan
 n round
 Amongst the hens and sheep, and the hogs
 arootin' in the ground,
 And git fgg'rin' on the colts and how much thev'u
 prob'bly bring
 When they're broke to drive in harness later in
 the spring,
 Aige off from the sheep with horns-'Iess you
 want to see some stars
 Cause he's predjerdiced and i'ble to hunt you
 through the bars,
 But what you want to rally void aint airy pig CT
 sheep CT hoss,
 But the cow ats got the spotted calf