The daily sentinel., 1909-09-14
LIKE KELLY DID.

LIKE KELLY DID.
CBy c. p. Mcdonald in Goodwin's
Weekly
Bill Sweeney was a backstop on the
noted Bugville team;
At winging down TO second base Bill
Sweeney was dream;
The rooters used TO swear by him. he
was their JOY and pride
Until he tried to emulate the famous
Kelley slide
For Bill had seen this Kelley steal
base after base and slide.
Had noted carefully his walk, his
manner, and his stride:
And Sweeney wished a thousand ways
each time the rooters cried.
They'd change the yell from Kelley
and would screech, Slide.
Sweeney, Slide'''
But Kelley was player with a wond-
rous burst of speed,
While Sweeney had cracking whip.
but great speed seemed a need /:
And though he copied Kelley's style,
when possible, and slid.
The fans yelled; Sweeney stole a
base! He did--Like Kelley
did"
For Sweeney was moving van
whene'er he reached a bag.
And when he tried to steal. his feet
would tangle up and lag;
And when he'd start the fans would
yelp together as man:
"Oh. Sweeney. he can steal base!
He can--Like Kelley cam"
Now. Sweeney was bullheaded. and
he didn't seem to know
He hadn't speed enough to beat the
slowest kind of throw
But Sweeney said that Kelley stole a
base each time he slid.
And so he'd keep on trying till he
stole-like Kelley did!
The captain used to argue. and he'd
say: Now look here, Bill.
You never yet amt stole no base
and. what's more. never will,
You're all right with your THROWN
arm, and with the mitt you're
rare,
But when 1t comes to pilferin' the
bags, why, you aint there,
Now this here Kelley's got a speed
our whole team can't attain,
And how this bunch cops out the
games is easy to explain:
But you-you've got to take reef
put out your stealth flames.
Because your wild cavortin' costin'
us a lot of games,"
Well, Bill was decent for awhile and
played a ripping game:
He curbed his strong ambition to per-
petuate his name:
And when he stung a safety and gal
loped down TO first
He'd hug the sack so closely that the
captain raved and cursed.
But when the shades of night fell and
The moon rose DER the hill.
Bill sneaked out TO the baseball lot
and stole The bags at will.
He'd take a long lead off of first,
then slide upon his shirt
For twenty feet, then stand on sec
ond and brush off the dirt.
Al last the year drew to a close, the
pennant season came.
And Bill was there behind the bat to
play the final game
We'll take this fight" the captain
said to Bill, 'and win the flag:
But, for the love of all that's good
uuu ITN 10 siedl Da
The ninth round came; the visitors
had tied the single score:
The side retired. the home BOYS came
to bat amid a roar.
Bill opened with double and was
hooted down to third:
Then rose the loudest roofing.
Sweeney swore, he ever heard.
The npNt two 1ipl ore roo china, q,
and Bill was held on third.
Up stepped the heavy sticker of the
team. clouting bird.
But while Bill paved the ground at
third, out yelled a Jealous fan:
oh. Bill can steal home base and
vim He can2-Like Kelley
Bill heard. Before his eyes there
flashed swift and livid flame!
Al last the time was come TO act
immortalze his name!
His moonlight practice had improved
his speed he'd sure make good
his speed-he'd sure make good.
He now was fleet as Kelley and could
steal-like Kelley could,
And then, cen while the pitcher held
the ball. Bill sprang from third,
Go back. you bonehead!" cried the
boss, but Sweeney never heard
hush fell on the multitude sill
ence deep, profound.
| While Bill dived to the earth and
plowed up twenty feet of ground.
In Bugville's potter field today there
is little plot.
And Ger it stands a painted board
| which marks Bills resting spot