LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE

A poem for children of all ages!

by James Whitcome Riley

Illustrated by Will Vawter

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Little Orphant Annie Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board
An' all us other children, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,

An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you

Ef you

Out!

Onc't they was a little boy wouldn't say his prayers, --
So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all!
An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
An' seeked him up the chimbly-flu, an' ever'wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was thist his pants an' rounda-bout: -

An' the Gobble-uns'll git you

Out!

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
An' make fun of ever'one, an' all her blood an' kin;
An' onc't, when they was "company," an' ole folks was there,
She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!

An' the Gobble-uns'll git you

Ef you

Out!

An' little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin'-bug in dew is all squenched away, ---
You better mind yer parents, an' yer teachers fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,

Er the Gobble-uns'll git you

Ef you

Out!

Little Orphant Annie

This poem may be read free on Ongoing Tales or purchased as part of a brower readable e-book on CD-ROM.

A Mixed Bag of Verse is a collection of original and old time poems, electronically enhanced for added enjoyment. Use this e-book to introduce children to the joy of poetry, or to kick back and relax with a few new, and familiar friends, with new faces.
View list of poems in A Mixed Bag of Verse
This browser readable e-book on CD-ROM comes with two books. One book with music to help set the mood for each poem, and one book without sound for times when you wish a quieter read.
Purchase this collection of poems as a browser readable e-book on CD-ROM from Antelope Publishing and introduce your children, or yourself, to this wonderful collection of electronically enhanced poems.

A Mixed Bag of Verse Price $9.95
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

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