[Illustration] THE POEMS AND PROSE SKETCHES OF JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY ARMAZINDY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS NEW YORK 1917 Copyright, 1894, 1898, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY ⁂ _The publication of this volume in the Homestead Edition of the works of James Whitcomb Riley is made possible by the courtesy of The Bowen-Merrill Company, of Indianapolis, the original publishers of Mr. Riley’s books._ TO HENRY EITEL CONTENTS PAGE ARMAZINDY ARMAZINDY 3 THE OLD TRUNDLE-BED 15 NATURAL PERVERSITIES 17 THE OLD SCHOOL-CHUM 20 WRITIN’ BACK TO THE HOME-FOLKS 22 THE BLIND GIRL 25 WE DEFER THINGS 28 THE MUSKINGUM VALLEY 29 FOR THIS CHRISTMAS 31 A POOR MAN’S WEALTH 32 THE LITTLE RED RIBBON 34 “HOW DID YOU REST, LAST NIGHT?” 35 A GOOD-BYE 37 WHEN MAIMIE MARRIED 38 “THIS DEAR CHILD-HEARTED WOMAN THAT IS DEAD” 40 TO A POET-CRITIC 41 AN OLD-TIMER 42 THE SILENT VICTORS 44 UP AND DOWN OLD BRANDYWINE 51 THREE SINGING FRIENDS 56 A NOON LULL 59 A WINDY DAY 60 MY HENRY 62 THE SONG I NEVER SING 64 TO EDGAR WILSON NYE 67 LITTLE DAVID 68 OUT OF THE HITHERWHERE 69 RABBIT IN THE CROSS-TIES 71 SERENADE—TO NORA 72 THE LITTLE WHITE HEARSE 74 WHAT REDRESS 76 DREAMER, SAY 77 WHEN LIDE MARRIED _HIM_ 79 MY BRIDE THAT IS TO BE 81 “RINGWORM FRANK” 85 AN EMPTY GLOVE 87 OUR OWN 89 MAKE-BELIEVE AND CHILD-PLAY _The Frog_ 93