The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1893-04-15
NO.. 46.
A WHOLESALE POET.
The Astonishing Experience Of James
Whltcomb 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 10 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
mittee 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 1899 Uncle Asa was a local
humorist Of great renown; he had been
unable 70 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
| 10 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 congratulating
himself and chuckly quietly He was think
ing Of various facetiOus remarks which he
would make TO Nye, should be 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 be had 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 long finger at him
The poet blushed slightly and modestly ad-
mitted the fact "Yes, yes" went on the
man II know you, though never saw you
before. We never met, but we've had .
good deal Of business with each other"
"Well, perhaps" replied Riley, "but
don't exactly understand what you refer to-"
"Hal III tell you. My name is Thomas
q. Stockwell," and he looked at Riley tri-
umphantly.
"Er-well, can't just place you I'm afraid"
answered Riley.
"You can'tl Why, I'm the man that has
written all your poetry for you'll"
The poet looked at the hollow eyed visitor
speechless
"Yes. sir gentlemen" went o1 the intru-
der, swinging his long, boay hand so as to
include the little group, II am the man who
has written all of James Whitcomb Riley's
poems for him. When be has wanted new
one he has always written to me and have
sent it to him and got my pay for it, and
that has been all there is about it. You
know it, Mr.. 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 Whitcomb Riley will
hereafter rest on the 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 bis voice.
perhaps, Mr.. Stockwell," he said, ''you
may have some of your poems with you such
as you have been furnishing me, and can
favor US with a short reading"
Certainly" replied the long haired indi-
vidual promptly, as be 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. | will
read one verse:
When you go out in our barnyard a-kind o wan
rim round
Amongst the hens and sheep. and the hogs
a-rootin' In the ground,
And git fggrin' on the colts and how much they'll
prob'bly bring
When they're broke to drive In harness later In
the spring.
Aige of from the sheep with horns-'less you
want to see some stars
Cause he's predjerdiced and H'ble to bunt you
through the bars,
But what you want to rally void amt airy pig er
sheep er boss,
But the COW ats got the spotted calf
When