The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-15
CASEY'S REVENGE.

Grantland Rice in the Cleveland News
There We're saddened hearts in Mud
vile for week or even more;
There were muttered oaths and curse
every fan in town was sore.
Just think" said one, "how soft i
| looked with Casey at the bat,
| And then to think he'd go and sprins
a bush league trick like that
All his past fame was forgotten; HI
was now a hopeless shine"
| They called him "Strike-out Casey
from the mayor down the line.
And as he came TO bat each day his
bosom heaved sigh,
i While a look of hopeless fury shone ir
| mighty Casey's eye.
He pondered in the days gone by that
he had been their king;
That when he strolled up to the plate
they made the welkin ring;
But now his nerve had vanished, for
when he heard them boot
He famed" or popped OUT daily,
like some minor league recruit.
He soon began to sulk and Loaf his
batting eye went lame;
No home runs on the score card now
were chalked against his name.
The fans without exception gave the
manager no peace,
For one and all kept clamoring for
Casey's quick release.
The Midwife squad began to slump,
the team was in the air:
Their playing went from bad to worse
nobody seemed to care
Back to the woods with Casey.' was
the cry from Rooters Row;
Get some one who can hit the ball.
and let that big dub go.''
The lane is long, some one has said,
that never turns again;
And Fate, though tickle, often gives
another chance to men.
And Casey smiled-his rugged face no
longer wore frown;
The pitcher who had started all the
trouble came to town.
All Midwife had assembled: ten thou
sand fans had come
To see the twirler who had put big
Casey on the bum;
And when he stepped into the box the
multitude went wild
He DOTTED his cap in proud disdain-
but Casey only smiled.
play ball!' the umpires voice rang
out, and then the game began;
But in that throng of thousands there
was not a single fan
Who thought Midwife had a chance:
and with the setting sun
Their hopes sank low-the rival team
was leading -four TO one
The last half of the ninth came round.
with no change in the score;
But when the first man up hit safe
the crowd began to roar.
The dim increased, the echo of ten
thousand shouts was heard
When the pitcher hit the second and
gave -four balls to the third.
Three men on base-nobody out-three
runs to tie the gamei
A triple meant the highest niche in
Mudville's hall of fame;
But here the rally ended and the gloom
was deep as night
When the fourth one "fouled to catch
err and the fifth flew out to
right
A dismal groan in chorus came-a
scowl was on each face
When Casey walked up. bat in hand,
and slowly took his place;
His bloodshot eyes in fury cleaned;
his teeth were clinched in hate;
He gave his cap a vicious hook and
pounded on the plate.
But fame is fleeing as the wind, and
glory fades away;
There were no wild and woolly cheers,
no glad acclaim this day.
They Kissed and groaned and hooted
as they clamored: Strike him out"
But Casey gave no outward sign that
he had heard this shout.
The pitcher smiled and cut one loose; |
across the plate it sped:
Another hiss, another groan-"S Strike |
one!" the umpire said.
Zip, Like a shot, the second curve |
broke just below his knee
Strike two" the umpire roared aloud; |
but Casey made no plea.
No roasting for the umpire now--his
was an easy lot.
But here the pitcher whirled again
Was that rifle shot?
4 whack. a crack, and out through
space the leather pellet flew
4 blot against the distant sky,
speak against the blue.
Above the fence in centerfield in rapid
whirling fight
The sphere sailed on; the blot grew
dim and then was lost to sight.
Ten thousand hats were thrown in air,
ten thousand threw fit;
But no one ever found the ball that |
mighty Casey hit!
Oh. somewhere in this favored land /
dark clouds may hide the sun,
And somwhere bands no longer play
and children have no fun;
And somewhere over blighted lives I
there hangs a heavy pail;
But Midwife hearts are happy now
for Casey hit the ball!