Transcriber’s Note Italic text displayed as: _italic_ Spaced text displayes as: ~spaced~ TO THE PRESIDING SPIRIT (IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING) HEREIN CALLED “~BILL~” OF SKILLET FORK FARM ON THE BORDERS OF “EGYPT” [Illustration: “_Bill_” ] Idylls of the Skillet Fork by _Payson S. Wild_ [Illustration: Decoration] _Ralph Fletcher Seymour_ _Chicago_ Copyrighted 1918 Ralph Fletcher Seymour FOREWORD Twenty-two of these Bucolics have appeared from time to time during the last three years in “A LINE O’ TYPE OR TWO” of _The Chicago Tribune_. For permission to reprint them here I am indebted to the genial “Conductor.” P. S. W. _Chicago, November, 1918._ Contents _Page_ The Skillet 5 The Bootleg Gang at Sims’ 7 The Mocking Bird 11 The Siren 15 Laury at the ’Phone 17 The ’Possum Hunt 19 Jupiter 21 Laury’s Lullaby 23 Bill Non-Committal 25 Laury’s “Eats” 29 Bill on Seth Watts 33 The Katydid 37 Bill’s Vote 41 Bill’s “Risin’” 43 Calamitous Days 47 The Pet Calf 51 Bill on War 53 Treed 57 Bill on Tobacco 59 The New Year’s Turkey 65 The Picture 67 The Letter from Lon 69 The Drouth 73 The Labor Situation 75 Killed in Action 77 November 79 _Say, Bill, ef I’ve cast sparrergrass at yew In this ’ere book, ye needn’t think it’s trew; Fer yew air jes’ ’s yer be from day ter day In spite o’ what us foolin’ fellers say._ [Illustration: Creek in woods] IDYLLS OF THE SKILLET FORK I