Show A A TIMELY POEM CASEY AT THE BAT BATBy By Phineas Thayer It t looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine that day The score stood two to four with butan butan but an inning loft left to play So when Cooney died at second and Burrows did the same A A. pallor wreathed the tho features of the patrons of the game A stra straggling gling few got up to go l leaving there thero the tho rest With that hope which springs eternal within the human breast For they thought If only Case Casey could get a wl whack ack at that Thed put up even en money now with Casey at the bat But Flynn preceded Casey and likewIse likewise likewise like like- wise so did Blake And the former was a and the latter was a fake So on that stricken multitude a dreamlike silence sat For there seemed but little chance hance o of Casey getting to tho the bat But Flynn FInn let drive a si single gle to the wonderment of all And the much much despised despised Blakey tore the cover off the ball And when the dust had lifted am and they saw what had oc occurred There was Blakey safe at second and Flynn huggin a third Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous yell yeU It rumbled in the tops mountain-tops i It rattled Tattled in the dell It struck upon the hillside and r rebounded rebounded re- re re- re bounded on the flat fiat For Casey mighty Casey was advancing advancing advancing ad- ad ad ad- to the bat baL There was ease in Casey's manner ashe as ashe as ashe he stepped into his place There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face And when responding to the cheers cheer he lightly d doffed his hat No stranger in the crowd could doubt Casey at the bat Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt Five thou thousand and tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt Then while th the New York pitcher ground the ball into his hip Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye a sneer curled Casey's lip And now the leather-covered leather sphere came hurling through the air And Casey stood watching a-watching it it in haughty grandeur there Close by the the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped sped sped- That aint my style said Casey Strike one the umpire said From the benches black with people there went up a muffled roar Like the beating of storm waves on 30 a astern astern stern and distant shore Kill him himl I Kill the umpire shouted some one on the stand And its it's likely they'd him had not Cas Casey y raised a hand With a smile of Christian charit charity great eat Casey's visage shone He Ele stilled the rising tumult he bade the game go on j He signaled to Sir Timothy once more the spheroid flew 0 But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said Strike two Fraud cried the maddened ands and echo echo answered answered Fraud But one scornful look from Casey and the was awed They saw his face grow ow stern and cold they saw his muscles strain And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball all go by again The sneer is gone from Casey's lip his teeth are clenched in innate hate He lIe pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate And now the pitcher holds the ball and now he lets it go And Aud now the air all is shattered red by the force of Casey's blow Oh Ob somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright The band is playing somewhere anc and nd somewhere hearts are light tight And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout But there is no joy in Mudville Mighty Casey has struck out |