The Irish standard., 1895-06-08

~ Il
BlsIEN BROS. 7 .SSs PRoPRIEToRs
Casey at the Bal. NJ
u locked extrel1nsl rocky for the Boston
& nine that day: s55. , .5
The score stood, two to four, with but an
timing left to play.
& Sc. when gooney died at second, and
E Esssss III ss Bllrro Mss did the same.
4 aA pallor Wreathed the features Of the
n, / II patrons OF the game.
sslA stra ggling few got up to go. leaving vi
there the rest, i
With that. hope which springs eternal
W.; Within the human breast. 49, a
Il Tor they thought: ''If only Casey could
A si i5s get a whaek at that, ss#
They put un even money now, with "a
Casey at the bat. & #f
& But Flynn preceded Casey and likewise e9
Fl so did Blake I
And the former was puddin', and the
latter was a. fake.
So on that stricken multitude a deathlike
rs 8 silence sat. .;
For there seemed but little chance OF
4 Casey 81 getting to the bat. Il
But Flynn let drive a single" to the
" wonderrnent of all, #t-;
And the much despiced- Blakey TORE the
Y i : cover off the ball.
And when the dust had lifted, ana they
g saw what had occurred,
HNere was Blakey safe at second, ana
$ 3i'-fS a third. t.la..s
Then. from the gladened multitude went
up a joyous yell,
It rumbled on the mountain tops, It
a. ratified in the dell;
FOR Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing
ss,.s 81 to the bat. ~. y
e There was ease in Caseys manner as ne
G. stepped into his place,
There was pride In Caseys bearing, and
a smile on Casey's face;
And when responding to the cheers he
lightly DOTTED his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt
twas Casey at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as ne
rubbed his hands with dirt,
Five thousand tongues applauded when
~ he rubbed them on his Shirt
Then when the writing pitcher ground
-I = the ball into his hip,
Defiance glanced in Casey's eye, sheer
curled Casey's lip.
And now the leather-covered sphere
came hur ling through the air, :
An Casey stood a-watchin 1t in ha1ghty
grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy !oatsnnan the ball un-
- needed sped; :. "s
'That amt my tyle.' said Casey.
"Strike one," the umpire said. T
From the benches, black with people,
there went up a 1nutI1ed roar, .
Like the beating of storm waves on the
stern and distant shore;
xiii him! kill the umpire!" shouted
some one Oh the stand;
And it's likely they would have killed
him had not Casey raised his hand.
With smile Of Christian charity great
Casey's visage shone;
IIe ssi1led the. rising tunlult, he made the
. game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once
more the spheroid flew; ~
But Casey still ignored it, and the una-
pire said, "strike two"
''Traud!" cried the maddened thousands,
and the echo answered, Fraud
But one soornful look from Casey and
the audience was awed;
They saw his face grow stern and coad'
they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let
~ the ball go by again. -.
The areer Is gone from Casey's lips, his
teeth are c1enched in hate,
He pounds with cruel vengeance his hat
upon the plate; 5s
And row the pitcher holds the ball, and
now he let's 1t go,
And now the air is shattered by the
force Of Casey's blow. 4
OH, somewhere in this favored land the
Sun is shining bright,
's'he band Is playing somewhere, and
somewhere hearts are light:
And somewhere men are laughing, and
somewhere children shout,
I,ut there is no JOY in Boston; mighty
Casey has struck out.
... ...>. --Phineas Thayer.