# Major A. A. Sprague explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief, humorous verse expresses a father bear's dying wish that Major A. A. Sprague, a Chicago wholesale grocer, were ill or had stayed away, highlighting a comedic resentment toward the grocer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Satire

The verse uses absurdity and a bear's deathbed curse to poke fun at a local businessman.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator presents the bear's dying words as a whimsical rhyme.

## Key lines

> I wish Major Sprague Were in bed with the plague, Or else had remained Over There.

The bear wishes the grocer were sick or had stayed away.

_A comedic expression of frustration toward Major Sprague._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/major-a-a-sprague
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters