Classic Poem

In this week's history of the Fair,
To-day will be the banner day.
The commonwealth will all be there
To view the truly grand display.
The country folk from miles around
Will gather in this monstrous hive,
And will in wondering groups be found
Where pigs and cows and squashes thrive.

The rural bumpkin and his gal
Will proudly note the Lima bean
And golden pumpkin from La Salle,
The sweet potato from Moline,
The toothsome cheese from Kankakee.
The turnip bred in Kickapoo;
And squashes fair and round we 'll see
From Crete and Big Foot Prairie, too.

Or, fancying live stock, they will ponder
On blooded cattle by the drove—
Sleek Berkshire bullocks from Golconda,
And Durham swine from Downer's Grove;
On gentle Southdown mules from Pana,
On Poland China sheep from Niles,
On calves from Buda and Urbana,
And likewise cows in divers styles.

Unhappy, most unhappy being
Who thinks to stay away from there—
Who misses all such sights worth seeing
At and around our glorious Fair!
So don, O youth, your paper collar,
And prink your best, O maiden gay,
A ticket costs but half a dollar—
Go join the multitude to-day!