Explore "The Little Mock-Man" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The Little Mock-man on the Stairs- / He mocks the lady's horse 'at rares / At bi-sickles an' things,- / He mocks the mens 'at rides 'em, too; / An' mocks the Movers, drivin' through. / An' hollers, "Here's the way _you_ do / With them-air hitchin'-strings! " / "Ho! ho! " he'll say, / Ole Settlers' Day, / When they're all jogglin' by,- / "You look like _this_," / He'll say, an' twis' / His mouth an' squint his eye / An' 'tend-like _he_ wuz beat the bass / Drum at both ends-an' toots an' blares / Ole dinner-horn an' puffs his face- / The Little Mock-man on the Stairs!
The Little Mock-man on the Stairs / Mocks all the peoples all he cares / 'At passes up an' down! / He mocks the chickens round the door, / An' mocks the girl 'at scrubs the floor, / An' mocks the rich, an' mocks the pore, / An' ever'thing in town! / "Ho! ho! " says he, / To you er me; / An' ef we turns an' looks, / He's all cross-eyed / An' mouth all wide / Like Giunts is, in books. - / "Ho! ho! " he yells, "look here at _me_," / An' rolls his fat eyes roun' an' glares,- / "_You_ look like _this_! " he says, says he- / The Little Mock-man on the Stairs!