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James Whitcomb Riley - Griggsby`s Station
Work rating: Low

Pap`s got his patent-right, and rich is all creation;
But where`s the peace and comfort that we all had before?
Le`s go a-visitin` back to Griggsby`s Station--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!

The likes of us a-livin` here! It`s jest a mortal pity
To see us in this great big house, with cyarpets on the stairs,
And the pump right in the kitchen! And the city! City! City
And nothin` but the city all around us ever`wheres!

Climb clean above the roof and look from the steeple,
And never see a robin, nor a beech or ellum tree!
And right here in ear-shot of at least a thousan` people,
And none that neighbors with us or we want to go and see!

Le`s go a-visitin` back to Griggsby`s Station--
Back where the latch-strings a-hangin` from the door,
And ever` neighbor round the place is dear as a relation--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!

I want to see the Wiggenses, the whole kit-and-bilin`,
A-drivin` up from Shallor Ford to stay the Sunday through;
And I want to see `em hitchin` at their son-in-law`s and pilin`
Out there at `Lizy Ellen`s like they ust to do!

I want to see the piece-quilts the Jones girls is makin`;
And I want to pester Laury `bout their freckled hired hand,
And joke her `bout the widower she come purt` nigh a-takin`,
Till her Pap got his pension `lowed in time to save his land.

Le`s go a-visitin` back to Griggsby`s Station--
Back where they`s nothin` aggervatin` any more,
Shet away safe in the woods around the old location--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!

I want to see Marindy and he`p her with her sewin`,
And hear her talk so lovin` of her man that`s dead and gone,
And stand up with Emanuel to show me how he`s growin`,
And smile as I have saw her `fore she putt her mournin` on.

And I want to see the Samples, on the old lower eighty,
Where John, our oldest boy, he was tuk and burried-- for
His own sake and Katy`s--, and I want to cry with Katy
As she reads all his letters over, writ from The War.

What`s in all this grand life and high situation,
And nary pink nor hollyhawk a-bloomin` at the door--?
Le`s go a-visitin` back to Griggsby`s Station--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!
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