Limitations Of Genius

The audience entire seemed pleased - indeed
Extremely pleased. And little Maymie, freed
From her task of instructing, ran to show
Her wondrous colored picture to and fro
Among the company.

    "And how comes it," said
Some one to Mr. Hammond, "that, instead
Of the inventor's life you did not choose
The artist's? - since the world can better lose
A cutting-box or reaper than it can
A noble picture painted by a man
Endowed with gifts this drawing would suggest" -
Holding the picture up to show the rest.
"There now!" chimed in the wife, her pale face lit
Like winter snow with sunrise over it, -
"That's what I'm always asking him. - But he -
Well, as he's answering you, he answers me, -
With that same silent, suffocating smile
He's wearing now!"

    For quite a little while
No further speech from anyone, although
All looked at Mr. Hammond and that slow,
Immutable, mild smile of his. And then
The encouraged querist asked him yet again
Why was it, and etcetera - with all
The rest, expectant, waiting 'round the wall, -
Until the gentle Mr. Hammond said
He'd answer with a "parable," instead -
About "a dreamer" that he used to know -
"An artist" - "master" - all - in embryo.

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

Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Thomas The Pretender

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

A Fantasy

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

The Best Is Good Enough

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

English

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The Evening Company

Within the sitting-room, the company
Had been increased in number. Two or three
Young couples had been added: Emma King,
Ella and Mary Mathers - all could sing
Like veritable angels - Lydia Martin, too,
And Nelly Millikan. - What songs they knew! -

        "'Ever of Thee - wherever I may be,
        Fondly I'm drea-m-ing ever of thee!'"

And with their gracious voices blend the grace
Of Warsaw Barnett's tenor; and the bass
Unfathomed of Wick Chapman - Fancy still
Can feel, as well as hear it, thrill on thrill,
Vibrating plainly down the backs of chairs
And through the wall and up the old hall-stairs. -
Indeed young Chapman's voice especially
Attracted Mr. Hammond - For, said he,
Waiving the most Elysian sweetness of
...

James Whitcomb Riley

The Reward Of Merit.

Dr. Belville was regarded as the Crichton of his age:
His tragedies were reckoned much too thoughtful for the stage;
His poems held a noble rank, although it's very true
That, being very proper, they were read by very few.
He was a famous Painter, too, and shone upon the "line,"
And even Mr. Ruskin came and worshipped at his shrine;
But, alas, the school he followed was heroically high
The kind of Art men rave about, but very seldom buy
And everybody said
"How can he be repaid
This very great this very good this very gifted man?"
But nobody could hit upon a practicable plan!

He was a great Inventor, and discovered, all alone,
A plan for making everybody's fortune but his own;
For, in business, an Inventor's little better than a fool,
And my highly gifted frie...

William Schwenck Gilbert

Mr. Hammond's Parable

THE DREAMER

I

He was a Dreamer of the Days:
    Indolent as a lazy breeze
Of midsummer, in idlest ways
    Lolling about in the shade of trees.
The farmer turned - as he passed him by
    Under the hillside where he kneeled
Plucking a flower - with scornful eye
    And rode ahead in the harvest field
Muttering - "Lawz! ef that-air shirk
    Of a boy was mine fer a week er so,
He'd quit dreamin' and git to work
    And airn his livin' - er - Well! I know!"
And even kindlier rumor said,
Tapping with finger a shaking head, -
"Got such a curious kind o' way -
Wouldn't surprise me much, I say!"

Lying limp, with upturned gaze
Idly dreaming away his days.
No companions? Yes, a book
Sometimes under his ar...

James Whitcomb Riley

Intellectual Limitations

Parunts knows lots more than us,
    But they don't know all things, -
'Cause we ketch 'em, lots o' times,
    Even on little small things.

One time Winnie ask' her Ma,
    At the winder, sewin',
What's the wind a-doin' when
    It's a-not a-blowin'?

Yes, an' 'Del', that very day,
    When we're nearly froze out,
He ask' Uncle where it goes
    When the fire goes out?

Nen I run to ask my Pa,
    That way, somepin' funny;
But I can't say ist but "Say,"
When he turn to me an' say,
    "Well, what is it, Honey?"

James Whitcomb Riley

Floretty's Musical Contribution

All seemed delighted, though the elders more,
Of course, than were the children. - Thus, before
Much interchange of mirthful compliment,
The story-teller said his stories "went"
(Like a bad candle) best when they went out, -
And that some sprightly music, dashed about,
Would wholly quench his "glimmer," and inspire
Far brighter lights.

    And, answering this desire,
The flutist opened, in a rapturous strain
Of rippling notes - a perfect April-rain
Of melody that drenched the senses through; -
Then - gentler - gentler - as the dusk sheds dew,
It fell, by velvety, staccatoed halts,
Swooning away in old "Von Weber's Waltz."
Then the young ladies sang "Isle of the Sea" -
In ebb and flow and wave so billowy, -
Only with quave...

James Whitcomb Riley

A Man Of Many Parts

It was a man of many parts,
    Who in his coffer mind
Had stored the Classics and the Arts
    And Sciences combined;
The purest gems of poesy
    Came flashing from his pen -
The wholesome truths of History
    He gave his fellow men.

He knew the stars from "Dog" to Mars;
    And he could tell you, too,
Their distances - as though the cars
    Had often checked him through -
And time 'twould take to reach the sun,
    Or by the "Milky Way,"
Drop in upon the moon, or run
    The homeward trip, or stay.

With Logic at his fingers' ends,
    Theology in mind,
He often entertained his friends
    Until they died resigned;
And with inquiring mind intent
    Upon Alchemic arts
A dynamite experiment -
    .    .    .   ...

James Whitcomb Riley