A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 3 The Gathering Of The Clans

[Voice from behind high board-fence.]



"Where's the crowd that dares to go
Where I dare to lead? - you know!"



"Well, here's one!"
Shouts Ezry Dunn.



"Count me two!"
Yells Cootsy Drew.



"Here's yer three!"
Sings Babe Magee.



"Score me four!"
Roars Leech-hole Moore.



"Tally - five!"
Howls Jamesy Clive.



"I make six!"
Chirps Herbert Dix.



"Punctchul! - seven!"
Pipes Runt Replevin.



"Mark me eight!"
Grunts Mealbag Nate.



"I'm yet nine!"
Growls "Lud'rick" Stein.



"Hi! here's ten!"
Whoops Catfish Ben.



"And now we march, in daring line,
For the banks of Brandywine!"

James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. He was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and the "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and children's poetry respectively. Over his career, Riley authored approximately 1,000 poems, including "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Raggedy Man". His influence extended into the 20th century, and his works continued to be celebrated for their nostalgic and rural themes.

James Whitcomb Riley

To Santa Claus

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Maymie's Story Of Red Riding Hood

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

On The Sunny Side

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Old Indiany. Intended For A Dinner Of The Indiana Society Of Chicago

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 4 "It"

A wee little worm in a hickory-nut
    Sang, happy as he could be, -



"O I live in the heart of the whole round world,
    And it all belongs to me!"

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 5 The Daring Prince

A daring prince, of the realm Rangg Dhune,
Once went up in a big balloon

That caught and stuck on the horns of the moon,
And he hung up there till next day noon -
When all at once he exclaimed, "Hoot-toot!"
And then came down in his parachute.

James Whitcomb Riley

When We First Played "Show"

Wasn't it a good time,
    Long Time Ago -
When we all were little tads
    And first played "Show"! -
When every newer day
    Wore as bright a glow
As the ones we laughed away -
    Long Time Ago!

Calf was in the back-lot;
    Clover in the red;
Bluebird in the pear-tree;
    Pigeons on the shed;
Tom a-chargin' twenty pins
    At the barn; and Dan
Spraddled out just like "The
    'Injarubber'-Man!"

Me and Bub and Rusty,
    Eck and Dunk and Sid,
'Tumblin' on the sawdust
    Like the A-rabs did;
Jamesy on the slack-rope
    In a wild retreat,
Grappling back, to start again -
    When he chalked his feet!

Wasn't Eck a wonder,
    In his stocking-tights?

Wasn't Dunk - his leaping lion -

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 2 The Imperious Angler

Miss Medairy Dory-Ann
Cast her line and caught a man,


But when he looked so pleased, alack!
She unhooked and plunked him back. -
"I never like to catch what I can,"
Said Miss Medairy Dory-Ann.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - II - Uncle Brightens Up

Uncle he says 'at 'way down in the sea
Ever'thing's ist like it used to be: -
He says they's mermaids, an' mermens, too,
An' little merchildern, like me an' you -
Little merboys, with tops an' balls,
An' little mergirls, with little merdolls.

Uncle Sidney's vurry proud
    Of little Leslie-Janey,
'Cause she's so smart, an' goes to school
    Clean 'way in Pennsylvany!


She print' an' sent a postul-card
    To Uncle Sidney, telling
How glad he'll be to hear that she
    "Toock the onners in Speling."

Uncle he learns us to rhyme an' write
An' all be poets an' all recite:
His little-est poet's his little-est niece,
An' this is her little-est poetry-piece.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 1 The Diners In The Kitchen

Our dog Fred
Et the bread.



Our dog Dash
Et the hash.



Our dog Pete
Et the meat.



Our dog Davy
Et the gravy.



Our dog Toffy
Et the coffee.



Our dog Jake
Et the cake.



Our dog Trip
Et the dip.

And - the worst,
From the first, -



Our dog Fido
Et the pie-dough.

James Whitcomb Riley