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Ben King's Verse

This is a volume of Benjamin King's collected verse, published shortly after his sudden death in 1894. The American humorist was very famous during his lifetime, and is still widely referenced and quoted until today. This volume was published in Chicago after his death, reportedly outselling any other volume of poetry in Michigan for 25 years after being published. It is also prefaced by two short biographies by John McGovern and Opie Read. - Summary by Carolin (3 hr 35 min)

Chapters

Introduction by John McGovern

Biography by Opie Read

If I Should Die

Say When, and Say It

Gittin' My Soul Inter Shape

Evolution

Gedder in Yo' Grain

Jane Jones

Elopement

Her Folks an' Hiz'n

The Yaller Jackets' Nest

How Hank Died

How Often

Renton Harbor, Mich.

Asphodel

The Flowers' Ball

De Sun's Comin' Back

The River St. Joe

The Robin and the Chicken

Baby Up at Battenberg's

No Harm Done

The Fates

Paraphrase

If I can be by Her

Toboggan

De Bugel on de Hill

Old St. Joe

The Tramp

The Chautauquan Maid

I'm a Bluejay

'Rastus King

That Valentine

De Good Ship

A Casual Observation

Like the New Friends Best

A Negro Song of Home

S'posin'

Little 'Rasmus

Nobody Knows

She does not Hear

Down the Mississippi

The Mermaid

De Blackbird Fetched de Spring

Appearances

The Girl with the Jersey

If my Wife Taught School

The Old Spinning Wheel

The Owl and the Crow

De Clouds am Gwin ter Pass

A Summer's Afternoon

I Fed the Fishes

Ole Bossie Cow

That Cat

A Frog's Thanksgiving

Lovey-Loves

Hank Spink

The Nile

Like de Ole Mule Bes'

De Ribber ob Life

The Cat o' Nine Tails

The Hair-Tonic Bottle

De Circus Turkey

Sofie Jakobowski

Sunrise

The Woodticks

Didn't we, Jim?

The Post-Driver

Lef' de Ole Hoss Out

Ec-A-Lec-Tic Fits

Keep Him a Baby

Angeliny

De Eyarfquake

The Pessimist

But Then

Presque Isle

Beulah Land

The Blackbird and the Thrush

De Spring-House

Under Obligations

Cleopatra and Charmian

Pinkey

The Bung Town Canal

De Massa

Coonie in de Holler

After Weidenfeller Goes

Zaccheus

A Retrospection

St. Patrick's Day

Injun Summah

'Cause it's Gittin' Spring

Decorate de Cabin

The Ultimatum

Dreamy Days

When the Stage Gits in

The Cultured Girl Again

The Cushville Hop

Gord Only Knows

Jes' Take my Advice

Patriotism and a Pension

The Old Musician's Fate

A Record from 'way back

Thanksgibbin in Ole Virginny

Grave Matters

Comin' Christmas Morn

Sad Fate of Yim Yohnsen

Legend of the St. Joseph

Little Jude

Little Pucken Singer

Down in Walhallalah