The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

sentiment found in the utterances of so
many writer's, but that common 10 humani-
ty, high or low-oftener felt than spoken,
often hidden in the background Of the mind
for fear of ridicule or from sheer inability
TO formulate the thoughts. but existing in
every normal heart, nevertheless. 1t was
many a lonely old heart that these lines
touched:
The old farm-home is mothers yet, and mine,
And hled It is with plenty ana 20 spare
Though fortune smiles around US everywhere:
We look across the gold;
The corn. the fragrant clover, and the hay;
But most we turn and gaze.
To the orchard, where the children used to play
Mr.. Riley has touched life on many sides
in his verses, but perhaps nothing that he
has written has given so much pleasure as
the poems dealing with rural experiences.
1t is these that the chance reader cuts from
the corner Of his newspaper and places
carefully in his pocket, these that the
woman by the fireside puts into her scrap
book, these that the boy and girl commit
to memory and recite-"Old Fashioned
Roses when the Frost Is on the Pun
kim" "Knee-deep in June" "Wortermelon
Time" these and a host Of others.
Realizing that such poems are especial
favorites, Mr.. Riley's publishers have Sc
lected from his writings enough of the ia
vorite poems having this rural favor TO fill
a volume, and have issued it under the
title Farm Rhymes" To make 1t doubly
attractive they nave embellished it with
many Illustrations from drawings by VIII
Vawter. This young artist enters into the
spirit of Mr.. Riley's work. and his pictures
show thorough understanding and appre-
citation. Some of them are very beautiful,
all really illustrate the text. The familiar
verses have a new charm in such attractive
setting. They can never be too familiar to
Justify repetition. 1t is worth while TO read
again the quaint lines:
'It hain't no use to grumble and complaint;
It's just as cheap and easy TO Teloice;
When God sorts out weather and sends rain,
wy, rains my choice.
MEN ginerly. to all intents-
Although they're apt to grumble some
Puts most theyr trust in Providence,
And takes things as they come
THAT is. the commonality
OF men, that's lived as long as me,
Has watched the world enough to learn
They're not the boss Of this concern"
What a characteristic family group that
is which Vawter has depicted looking at the
new canary bird, with the old man peeping
over the top of his paper and thus medi-
tating:
Folks has ben to town. and sahry
Fetched ,er home a pet canary
And of all the blame, contrary
Aggravatin' things alive!
! love ~music-thats i love II
When it's free-and plenty or H.
But 1 kindo' git above II,
At a dollar eighty-ivei
Reasons plain. as I'm a-sayin'-
Jes' the idy, now, o layln
out yer money. and a-payin'
Fer a willer cage and bird,
UTIan the u,ad6ar 1QrkC iG VVinQin'
Round you. and the woods is ringin'
That q mortal ever heard!'
Not all of us nave had the experience of
but the human nature of "Griggsby's Sta
ton appeals to all. nevertheless:
'Pap's got his patient right, and rich as all Gre
alton;
But where's the peace and comfort that we all
Les 90 a%-visitin' back to Griggsby's station
Back where we ut to be so happy and so pore!
THE likes of US alvin here! It's just a NOR
To see US in this great big house, with cyarpets
on the stairs,
And nothin' but the city all around US ever
where's
of another sort:
Il come upon it suddenly. alone
a little pathway winding in the weeds
That fringe the roadside; and with dreams,
my own.
/ wander as IL leads.
Full ~wistfully along the slender way.
Through summer tan of freckled shade and
I take the path that leads me as it may;
Its every choice is mine.
why 1 am as a Iong-Iost boy that went
At dusk to bring the cattle to the bars,