Little Cousin Jasper
By James Whitcomb Riley
Little Cousin Jasper, he
Don't live in this town, like me -
He lives 'way to Rensselaer,
An' ist comes to visit here.
He says 'at our court-house square
Ain't nigh big as theirn is there!-
He says there town's big as four
Er five towns like this, an' more!
He says ef his folks moved here
He'd cry to leave Rensselaer
'Cause they's prairie ther, an' Lakes,
An' wile-ducks an' rattlesnakes!
Yes, 'n' Jasper he says they
Got a brass band there, an' play
On it, an' march up an down
An' all over round the town!
Wisht our town ain't like it is! -
Wisht it's ist as big as his!
Wisht 'at his folks they'd move here,
An we'd move to Rensselaer!
