  BATTER in the home place, That was nobly done; Try and get the first base— Run! Run! RUN! Ah, there, short stop, will you miss? Hear the people cheer and hiss, Hear them yell and shout. Twinkling legs and flying feet— (Oh, I wonder who will beat!) Faster, faster, out! Umpire, umpire, go along; That was wrong, sir, that was wrong. Pitcher pitches, four balls, “Take your base, my man,” Toward the second now he crawls— “Steal it if you can.” Oh, the ball has gone so high, Can they catch it on the fly? Ah, there is no doubt, He will get his third, I vow— Pshaw! the ball has got there now, “Two men out!” Umpire, umpire, that was wrong; Go along, sir, go along. One man on the first base, Not a single run. Boys are warming to the race— Now look out for fun. Pitcher’s arm maybe is tired; Batter sudden seems inspired, Grounds the ball to win. Run there, run there, run your best, I am screaming with the rest: “Two men in!” Umpire, umpire, go away; Dead wrong, dead wrong, sir, I say. What’s the matter now, pray? Taking breath, that’s all; But the restless people say “Play ball, play ball.” One ball, two strikes, two balls—“Foul” Umpire calls, and people howl: “What is he about?” Run, run, run, run. Run, Run, RUN! Half the inning now is done, “Three men out!” Umpire, umpire, go along; You are always, always wrong. |
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