The Poetry Corner

A Diverted Tragedy

By James Whitcomb Riley

Gracie wuz allus a careless tot; But Gracie dearly loved her doll, An' played wiv it on the winder-sill 'Way up-stairs, when she ought to not, An' her muvver telled her so an' all; But she won't mind what she say - till, First thing she know, her dolly fall Clean spang out o' the winder plumb Into the street! An' here Grace come Down-stairs, two at a time, ist wild An' a-screamin', "Oh, my child! my child!" Jule wuz a-bringin' their basket o' clo'es Ist then into their hall down there, - An' she ist stop' when Gracie bawl, An' Jule she say "She ist declare She's ist in time!" An' what you s'pose? She sets her basket down in the hall, An' wite on top o' the snowy clo'es Wuz Gracie's dolly a-layin' there An' ist ain't bu'st ner hurt a-tall! Nen Gracie smiled - ist sobbed an' smiled - An' cried, "My child! my precious child!"