The Poetry Corner

Regardin' Terry Hut

By James Whitcomb Riley

Sence I tuk holt o' Gibbses' Churn And be'n a-handlin' the concern, I've travelled round the grand old State Of Indiany, lots, o' late! I've canvassed Crawferdsville and sweat Around the town o' Layfayette; I've saw a many a County-seat I ust to think was hard to beat: At constant dreenage and expense I've worked Greencastle and Vincennes - Drapped out o' Putnam into Clay, Owen, and on down thataway Plum into Knox, on the back-track Fer home ag'in - and glad I'm back! I've saw these towns, as I say - but They's none 'at beats old Terry Hut! It's more'n likely you'll insist I claim this 'cause I'm prejudist, Bein' born'd here in ole Vygo In sight o' Terry Hut; but no, Yer clean dead wrong! And I maintain They's nary drap in ary vein O' mine but what's as free as air To jest take issue with you there! 'Cause, boy and man, fer forty year, I've argied ag'inst livin' here, And jawed around and traded lies About our lack o' enterprise, And tuk and turned in and agreed All other towns was in the lead, When - drat my melts! They couldn't cut No shine a-tall with Terry Hut! Take even, statesmanship, and wit, And ginerel git-up-and-git, Old Terry Hut is sound clean through! Turn old Dick Thompson loose, er Dan Vorehees - and where's they any man Kin even hold a candle to Their eloquence? And where's as clean A fi-nan-seer as Rile' McKeen - Er puorer, in his daily walk, In railroad er in racin' stock! And there's 'Gene Debs - a man 'at stands And jest holds out in his two hands As warm a heart as ever beat Betwixt here and the Jedgement Seat! All these is reasons why I putt Sich bulk o' faith in Terry Hut. So I've come back, with eyes 'at sees My faults, at last, to make my peace With this old place, and truthful' swear - Like Gineral Tom Nelson does, "They hain't no city anywhere On God's green earth lays over us!" Our city government is grand - "Ner is they better farmin'-land Sun-kissed" as Tom goes on and says - "Er dower'd with sich advantages!" And I've come back, with welcome tread, From journeyin's vain, as I have said, To settle down in ca'm content, And cuss the towns where I have went, And brag on ourn, and boast and strut Around the streets o' Terry Hut!