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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TOY-BALLOON by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THEY WUZ A BIG DAY WUNST IN TOWN
Last Line: "COLUMBY, HAPPY LAND!"
Subject(s): BALLOONS; TOYS;

THEY wuz a Big Day wunst in town,
An' little Jason's Pa
Buyed him a little toy-balloon,
The first he ever saw. --
An' oh! but Jase wuz @3more'n@1 proud,
A-holdin' to the string
An' scrougin' through the grea'-big crowd,
To hear the Glee Club sing.

The Glee Club it wuz goin' to sing
In old Masonic Hall;
An' Speakin', it wuz in there, too,
An' soldiers, folks an' all:
An' Jason's Pa he git a seat
An' set down purty soon,
A-holdin' little Jase, an' him
A-holdin' his balloon.

An' while the Speakin' 's startin' up
An' ever'body still --
The first you know wuz little Jase
A-yellin' fit to kill! --
Nen Jason's Pa jump on his seat
An' grab up in the air, --
But little Jason's toy-balloon
Wuz clean away from there!

An' Jase he yelled; an' Jase's Pa,
Still lookin' up, clumb down --
While that-air little toy-balloon
Went bumpin' roun' an' roun'
Ag'inst the ceilin', 'way up there
Where ever'body saw,
An' @3they@1 all yelled, an' @3Jason@1 yelled,
An' little Jason's Pa!

But when his Pa he packed him out
A-screamin' -- nen the crowd
Looked down an' hushed -- till they looked up
An' howled ag'in out loud;
An' nen the speaker, mad an' pale,
Jist turned an' left the stand,
An' all j'ined in the Glee Club -- "Hail,
Columby, Happy Land!"



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