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1849–1916

IRY AND BILLY AND JO.

James Whitcomb Riley

Iry an’ Billy an’ Jo!— Iry an’ Billy's the boys, An’ Jo's their dog, you know,— Their pictures took all in a row.

Bet they kin kick up a noise — Iry and Billy, the boys, And that-air little dog Jo! Iry's the one‘ at stands

Up there a-lookin’ so mild An’ meek — with his hat in his hands, Like such a‘ bediant child — ( Sakes-alive! ) — An’ Billy he sets

In the cheer an’ holds onto Jo an’ sweats Hisse'f, a-lookin’ so good! Ho-ho! Iry an’ Billy an’ Jo! Yit the way them boys, you know,

Usen to jes turn in An’ fight over that dog Jo Wuz a burnin’ - shame-an’ - a-sin!— Iry he'd argy‘ at, by gee-whizz!

That-air little Jo-dog wuz his!— An’ Billy he'd claim it wuz n't so — ‘ Cause the dog wuz his'n!— An’ at it they'd go, Nip-an’ - tugg, tooth-an’ - toenail, you know —

Iry an’ Billy an’ Jo! But their Pa — ( He wuz the marshal then ) He‘ tended-like‘ at he jerked‘ em up; An’ got a jury o’ Brickyard men

An’ helt a trial about the pup: An’ he says he jes like to a-died When the rest o’ us town-boys testified — Regardin’, you know,

Iry an’ Billy an’ Jo.— ‘ Cause we all knowed, when the Gypsies they Camped down here by the crick last Fall, They brung Jo with‘ em, an’ give him away

To Iry an’ Billy fer nothin’ at all!— So the jury fetched in the verdick so Jo he ai n't neether o’ theirn fer shore — He's both their dog, an’ jes no more!

An’ so They've quit quarrelin’ long ago, Iry an’ Billy an’ Jo.

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IRY AND BILLY AND JO. · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove