Explore "The Penalty of Genius" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"When little 'Pollus Morton he's / A-go' to speak a piece, w'y, nen / The Teacher smiles an' says 'at she's / Most proud, of all her little men / An' women in her school -- 'cause 'Poll / He allus speaks the best of all.
An' nen she'll pat him on the cheek, / An' hold her finger up at you / _Before_ he speak'; an' _when_ he speak' / It's ist some piece _she_ learn' him to! / 'Cause he's her favorite. An' she / Ain't pop'lar as she _ust_ to be!
When 'Pollus Morton speaks, w'y, nen / Ist all the other childern knows / They're smart as him an' smart-again! -- / Ef they _can't_ speak an' got fine clo'es, / Their Parunts loves 'em more 'n 'Poll- / Us Morton, Teacher, speech, an' all!