WHEN CASEY SLUGGED THE BALL
Oh, you all have heard of Mudville,
Heard of mighty Casey, too;
Qf the groans amid the bleachers
As the ball thrice past him flew;
But you haven't heard the story,
The best story of them all,
Of the day in happy Mudville,
When great Casey slugged the ball.
"Twas the day they played "the Giants;"
And the score stood ten to eight;
Two men were on the bases,
And great Casey at the plate,
"Swipe her, Casey," yelled the rooters,
And the hero.doffed his cap;
Three to win and two to tie
And Casey at the bat.
Mid a hush of expectation,
Now the ball flies past his head;
Great Casey grins a sickly grin:
"Strike one," the umpire said.
Again the pitcher raised his arm,
Again the horse-hide flew;
Great Casey spat upon the ground,
And the umpire said, "strike two."
"It's a roast,” came from the grand stand,
"He is bought without a doubt."
"He is rotten!" roared the bleachers,
"Throw the daylight robber out!"
"I'll break yer face," says Casey,
"That wan wint below me knee;
If I miss the nixt, ye blackguard,
Ye won't live long to see."
The next one came like lightning,
And the umpire held his breath,
For well he knew it Casey missed,
"Twould surely mean his death;
But Casey swung to meet it,
Backed by all his nerve and gall:
Oh, if you had but heard the yell,
As Casey smashed the ball!
He caught the pigskin on the nose,
It cleared the big town lot,
It sailed above the high church tower,
In vain the fielders sought;
And Casey didn't even run,
He stopped awhile, to talk,
And then amid the deafening cheers
He came round in a walk.
And now he keeps a beer saloon,
He is Mayor of the town,
The people flock to see him,
From all the country round;
And you need not look for Mudville
Or the man upon the wall,
Because the town's called Caseyville
Since Casey slugged the ball.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
