Out to Old Aunt Mary’s

‘Out to Old Aunt Mary’s’ is a sentimental work by James Whitcomb Riley, the “housseir poet.” This poem, capturing the rural picturesque backdrop of the Midwest, is another evidence of Riley’s ability to merge exquisite imagery with nostalgia for a bygone period.

It honors familial connections and rural landscapes with its numerous natural riches as it explores childhood days and the fleetingness of time. It’s a tapestry of youthful happiness and innocence, highlighting the enduring power of bittersweet recollections.

Out to Old Aunt Mary's
James Whitcomb Riley

Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine,In those old days of the lost sunshine     Of youth—when the Saturday's chores were through,     And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too,     And we went visiting, "me and you,"          Out to Old Aunt Mary's?—

"Me and you"—and the morning fair,With the dewdrops twinkling everywhere;     The scent of the cherry-blossoms blown     After us, in the roadway lone,     Our capering shadows onward thrown—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

It all comes back so clear to-day!     Though I am as bald as you are gray,—     Out by the barn-lot and down the lane,     We patter along in the dust again,     As light as the tips of the drops of rain,          Out to Old Aunt Mary's

The last few houses of the town;Then on, up the high creek bluffs and down;     Past the squat toll-gate with its well-sweep poll;     The bridge, "the old 'baptizin'-hole',"     Loitering, awed, o'er pool and shoal,          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

We cross the pasture, and through the wood,Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood,     Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry,     And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing"-sky     And lolled and circled as we went by          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Or, stayed by the glint of the redbird's wings,Or the glitter of the song that the bluebird sings,     All hushed we feign to strike strange trails,     As the "big braves" do in the Indian tales,     Till again our real quest lags and fails—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And the woodland echoes with yells of mirthThat make old war-whoops of minor worth!...     Where such heroes of war as we?—     With bows and arrows of fantasy,     Chasing each other from tree to tree          Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

And then in the dust of the road again;And the teams we met, and the countrymen;     And the long highway, with sunshine spread     As thick as butter on country bread,     Our cares behind, our hearts ahead          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.—

For only, now, at the road's next bendTo the right we could make out the gable-end     Of the fine old Huston homestead—not     Not half a mile from the sacred spot     Where dwelt our Saint in her simple cot—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Why, I see her now in the open doorWhere the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er     The clapboard roof!—And her face—ah, me!     Wasn't it good for a boy to see—     And wasn't it good for a boy to be          Out to Old Aunt Mary's?—

The jelly, the jam, and the marmalade,And the cherry and quince "preserves" she made!     And the sweet-sour pickles of peach and pear,     With cinnamon in 'em and all things rare!—     And the more we ate was the more to spare          Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

Ah, was there, ever, so kind a faceAnd gentle as hers, and such a grace     Of welcoming, as she cut the cake     Or the juicy pies she joyed to make     Just for the visiting children's sake—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

The honey, too, in its amber combOne only finds in an old farm-home;     And the coffee, fragrant and sweet, and ho!     So hot that we gloried to drink it so,     With spangles of tears in our eyes, you know—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And the romps we took, in our glad unrest!—Was it the lawn that we loved the best,     With its swooping swing in the locust trees,     Or was it the grove, with its leafy breeze,     Or the dim haymow,with its fragrancies—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Far fields, bottom-lands, creek-banks— allWe ranged at will.— Where the waterfall     Laughed all day as it slowly poured     Over the dam by the old mill-ford,     While the tail-race writhed, and the mill-wheel roared—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

But home, with Aunty in nearer call,That was the best place, after all!—     The talks on the back porch, in the low     Slanting sun and the evening glow,     With the voice of counsel that touched us so,          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And then, in the garden—near the sideWhere the beehives were and the path was wide,—     The apple-house—like a fairy cell—     With the little square door we knew so well,     And the wealth inside but our tongues could tell—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And the old spring-house, the cool green gloomOf the willow trees,—and the cooler room     Where the swinging shelves and the crocks were kept,     Where the cream in a golden languor slept,     While the waters gurgled and laughed and wept—          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And as many a time as you and I—Barefoot boys in the days gone by—     Knelt in the tremulous ecstasies     Dipped our lips into sweets like these,—     Memory now is on her knees          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.—

For,O my brother so far away,This is to tell you—she waits to-day     To welcome us:—Aunt Mary fell     Asleep this morning, whispering, "Tell     The boys to come."...And all is well          Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Summary

The poem reflects the essence of an enriching upbringing and recognizes the value of treasured memories

‘Out to Old Aunt Mary’s’ is the speaker’s address to their brother and remembrance of previous visits to their aunt’s home. The speaker reflects on the simple pleasures of yesteryear as both the siblings finish off Saturday duties and prepare to leave for Aunt Mary’s house. As they traveled through the countryside and woodlands, they would participate in imaginative play and adventure.

There are also memories of Aunt’s cooking specialties and her home’s surroundings. While the speaker admires the aunt’s cooking skills, he also remembers the beautiful views, sounds, and aromas that greeted them when they arrived at her home. The poem is an homage to Aunt Mary’s legacy, her comforting demeanor, and her hospitality, which lives on via her memories.  

Structure

The poem is divided into 20 stanzas of six lines each. The AABBBC rhyming pattern runs throughout the piece, adding to its rhythmic quality. It is mostly in first-person narrative but momentarily changes to second- and third-person narrative thought. 

Literary Devices

• Imagery: As is typical of Riley’s writing, the poem is rich in sensory imagery. Through visual, olfactory, and auditory details, the poetry engages numerous senses. Examples: “With dewdrops twinkling everywhere,” “the scent of cherry blossoms blown,” “and the woodland echoes with yells of mirth.”
• Simile: The poem uses “as” to compare two things. “As light as the tips of the drops of rain,” “as thick as butter on country bread.”
• Repletion: The line “Out to Old Aunt Mary’s” is repeated at the end of each stanza. This not only emphasizes the significance of the location but also contributes to the poem’s musical character.
• Personification: The poem imparts human characteristics to the waterfall in “— Where the waterfall laughed all day.” In “With the dewdrops twinkling everywhere,” dewdrops are given a human aspect in their propensity to twinkle.

Detailed Analysis

Stanza 1-2

Wasn’t it pleasant, O brother mine,

In those old days of the lost sunshine

Of youth—when the Saturday’s chores were through,

And the “Sunday’s wood” in the kitchen, too,

And we went visiting, “me and you,”

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s?—

“Me and you”—and the morning fair,

With the dewdrops twinkling everywhere;

The scent of the cherry-blossoms blown

After us, in the roadway lone,

Our capering shadows onward thrown—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

The poem opens with the speaker’s tender nostalgic feeling. It starts with the speaker addressing their brother and reminiscing about the “old days.” These were the “sunshine” days, representing the warmth and delight they had for both of the siblings. However, the word “lost” implies that they have faded away. 

The speaker recalls carefree Saturday tasks from youth. They would gather the firewood ahead of time and store it in the kitchen. This most likely refers to the joyous gathering of family members on Sundays over firewood.

The title of the poem is mentioned as the speaker recalls visiting their aging Aunt Mary with their brother. They both headed off to the aunt’s house on a “fair morning with dewdrops,” implying early morning. As it describes the cherry blossom aroma trailing them along the road to the aunt, the poem sets a picturesque scene. The presence of cherry blossoms and the shadows of the youngsters “onward thrown” suggest that it is a sunny spring day.

Stanza 3-4

It all comes back so clear to-day!

Though I am as bald as you are gray,—

Out by the barn-lot and down the lane,

We patter along in the dust again,

As light as the tips of the drops of rain,

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s

The last few houses of the town;

Then on, up the high creek bluffs and down;

Past the squat toll-gate with its well-sweep poll;

The bridge, “the old ‘baptizin’-hole’,”

Loitering, awed, o’er pool and shoal,

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

The Speaker claims all his memories are vivid. They acknowledge that although the once-young kids are now bald and grey, all the recollections are as if they are happening again. The siblings would pass along a barn and lane and tap their foot along the dusty lanes. And as they strolled along, they would be as light and carefree as raindrops, just like this childhood memory of their visit.

They traveled by the final few houses in town, implying that their aunt lived in the countryside. They came across “the old ‘baptizin’-hole” bridge after climbing the high hills and passing through a toll gate with a well-sweep pole. The speaker expresses the awe that both youngsters would feel observing a pool shoal in the water.

The stanzas describe the children’s journey to their aunt’s house and the various natural elements they encountered along the way. They emphasize the positive impact of nature on everyone, as well as the strength of memories that stick with us.

Stanza 5-6

We cross the pasture, and through the wood,

Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood,

Where the hammering “red-heads” hopped awry,

And the buzzard “raised” in the “clearing”-sky

And lolled and circled as we went by

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

Or, stayed by the glint of the redbird’s wings,

Or the glitter of the song that the bluebird sings,

All hushed we feign to strike strange trails,

As the “big braves” do in the Indian tales,

Till again our real quest lags and fails—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

The lovely description of the scenic hikes goes on. The two siblings walked through the woods, passing a relic of an old grey poplar tree. The next thing to notice would be the hammering of “red-heads” or woodpeckers, as well as their disorganized hopping. They also noticed a buzzard (vulture) circling in circles above them.

The speaker recalls that they would both pause on their travels to admire the glint of a redbird’s wings. The beauty of the bluebird’s song would lure them, causing them to loiter on their journey. Forgetting their intended destination, they imitated the “big braves,” Indian tale heroes on dangerous expeditions, and pretended to explore their new territory. This act continued until their “real quest,” their true objective, lost steam. Despite their lighthearted meandering, they refocused on their quest to see old Aunt Mary.

The stanzas highlight children’s cheerful, inventive, and adventurous talents. The siblings’ inherent curiosity is highlighted by their observation and enjoyment of nature.

Stanza 7-8

And the woodland echoes with yells of mirth

That make old war-whoops of minor worth!…

Where such heroes of war as we?—

With bows and arrows of fantasy,

Chasing each other from tree to tree

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s!

And then in the dust of the road again;

And the teams we met, and the countrymen;

And the long highway, with sunshine spread

As thick as butter on country bread,

Our cares behind, our hearts ahead

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.—

The children’s happy laughing could still be heard across the woods. Their yells were so energizing and passionate that they made typical war cries appear lackluster. They were like the heroes of such wars. But instead of iron weapons and bows, they used inventive imaginary instruments.

When the siblings emerged from the woods and onto the road, they encountered countrymen with their “teams” or carts. With a long drive and plenty of sunlight, the lovely scene reappears.  As the kids traveled on, they forgot about their worries and looked forward to reaching Aunt Mary’s house.

Stanza 9-10

For only, now, at the road’s next bend

To the right we could make out the gable-end

Of the fine old Huston homestead—not

Not half a mile from the sacred spot

Where dwelt our Saint in her simple cot—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

Why, I see her now in the open door

Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o’er

The clapboard roof!—And her face—ah, me!

Wasn’t it good for a boy to see—

And wasn’t it good for a boy to be

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s?—

The stanzas depict the children’s eagerness for their aunt’s home despite the fact that they were only a mile away from their “saint” of an aunt’s home. It describes the children’s excitement for their aunt’s residence when they weren’t even a mile away from their “saint” of an aunt’s abode. The moment they could finally see the gable-end (triangular section of a wall at the end of a roof) of the old Huston homestead is described.

The speaker remembers their loving aunt standing at the open door of her modest cottage, which had gourds not just on the sides but also on the clapboard roof. The speaker reveals their gender in the stanzas while reflecting on warm and wonderful experiences as a boy visiting his aunt. 

Stanza 11-12

The jelly, the jam, and the marmalade,

And the cherry and quince “preserves” she made!

And the sweet-sour pickles of peach and pear,

With cinnamon in ’em and all things rare!—

And the more we ate was the more to spare

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s!

Ah, was there, ever, so kind a face

And gentle as hers, and such a grace

Of welcoming, as she cut the cake

Or the juicy pies she joyed to make

Just for the visiting children’s sake—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s!

The speaker then recalls Aunt Mary’s pleasant disposition and friendliness. The aunt would bring them food delicacies that appear delectable to a child’s mind. Their flavors were so appealing to the children, and the act of eating always resulted in having more food available. This suggests the generosity of Aunt Mary as a host.  

On top of the delectable creations, he recalls their aunt’s warm demeanor as she sliced the cake and prepared juicy pies for them. The stanzas carry on Aunt Mary’s warm memories and reflect her soft and inviting attitude.

Stanza 13-14

The honey, too, in its amber comb

One only finds in an old farm-home;

And the coffee, fragrant and sweet, and ho!

So hot that we gloried to drink it so,

With spangles of tears in our eyes, you know—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

And the romps we took, in our glad unrest!—

Was it the lawn that we loved the best,

With its swooping swing in the locust trees,

Or was it the grove, with its leafy breeze,

Or the dim haymow,with its fragrancies—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

The rustic environment of Aunt Mary is expanded upon in the following stanzas. In its amber comb, they discovered the authentic honey of an old farmhouse. Coffee is enjoyed when it is aromatic and hot. Despite the tears that hot coffee would bring to their eyes, they enjoyed every moment in Aunt Mary’s caring presence.

The following stanza describes the activities that would keep the children occupied in adventures. They would have fun in the surroundings of the lovely grass with sweeping swings and locust trees. The grove on the lawn, with its lovely leafy wind, would only add to a fondness for the aunt’s home. The stanzas reflect the charms of Aunt Mary’s while maintaining the poem’s nostalgic tone.

Stanza 15-16

Far fields, bottom-lands, creek-banks— all

We ranged at will.— Where the waterfall

Laughed all day as it slowly poured

Over the dam by the old mill-ford,

While the tail-race writhed, and the mill-wheel roared—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

But home, with Aunty in nearer call,

That was the best place, after all!—

The talks on the back porch, in the low

Slanting sun and the evening glow,

With the voice of counsel that touched us so,

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

The kids would explore remote pastures and riverbanks with complete freedom.  Another place they went to investigate was the “laughing” vibrant waterfall falling over a dam. The dam’s water would power the mill wheel, which would drive the mill machinery, and the tail rail would convey the water away. The tail rail is described as “writhed” in the poem, signifying the intensity of the water pouring through it.

Despite all of the opportunities for exploration that nature provided the kids, the aunt’s house was the “best” location. The insightful words of the aunt during their conversations on the aunt’s porch, as well as the beautiful period of the gentle slanting sun, would have a profound emotional impact on the children.

The stanzas emphasize the children’s closeness with their aunt, who provided them with comfort. Aunt Mary’s warm demeanor and sensible counsel are what have made her memories indelible.

Stanza 17-18

And then, in the garden—near the side

Where the beehives were and the path was wide,—

The apple-house—like a fairy cell—

With the little square door we knew so well,

And the wealth inside but our tongues could tell—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

And the old spring-house, the cool green gloom

Of the willow trees,—and the cooler room

Where the swinging shelves and the crocks were kept,

Where the cream in a golden languor slept,

While the waters gurgled and laughed and wept—

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

Aunt Mary also had a wide pathway that led to a garden that was distinguished by the presence of beehives. An apple mansion as fascinating as a “fairy cell” welcomed the kids to a door that they were quite familiar with, implying their frequent visits to it. The children were so taken with the “wealth” or quantity of the apples that they couldn’t put it into words. 

 Aunt Mary’s old spring house, nestled in the green shade of willow trees, housed a cooler room. This area is distinguished by swinging shelves and crocks and houses the “cream,” which refers to the rich milk held in this cooler room. The soothing sound of water gurgles accompanied this location, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.

Stanza 19-20

And as many a time as you and I—

Barefoot boys in the days gone by—

Knelt in the tremulous ecstasies

Dipped our lips into sweets like these,—

Memory now is on her knees

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.—

For, O my brother so far away,

This is to tell you—she waits to-day

To welcome us:—Aunt Mary fell

Asleep this morning, whispering, “Tell

The boys to come.”…And all is well

Out to Old Aunt Mary’s.

As two tiny barefoot boys, the speaker and his brother would treasure Aunt Mary’s exuberant delights. But now, just their collective memory survives. The speaker exudes nostalgia and the anguish of never recreating them.

A shocking disclosure is on the way. The speaker addresses his brother, who is somewhere far away, and informs him about Aunt Mary’s death. She remembered the boys before she “fell asleep” for the rest of her life. Despite the sadness caused by the news, the final phrase guarantees that “all is well” when visiting Aunt Mary’s house, which is now just in memories.

Themes

• Nature: The poem depicts numerous natural surroundings as the two siblings travel to Aunt Mary’s house. There are woodlands, creek banks, fields, and pastures that constitute an important part of the speaker’s recollections. Along with scenery descriptions, the poet includes birds and waterfalls, which interact and add to the natural backdrop. Nature enhances the reader’s sensory experience and enriches imagery.
• Childhood: The poem is a reflection of two children’s visit to their aunt Mary. The poem invokes nostalgia and the transience of joyful memories by recounting childhood experiences, adventures, and delights on the route to the aunt’s house. The speaker contrasts the theme of childhood and its related memories with the passage of time as he thinks about his current state of being “bald.”
• Immortality: The poem explores the topic of immortality through memory. Even after several years, recollections of trips to Aunt Mary remain vivid. And, while the aunt’s physical involvement in the boys’ lives has ended, her sympathetic personality will continue. This implies that the influence of persons and the memories they share transcend physical existence and immortalize beings.

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