The Little Orphant Annie 

by 

James Whitcomb Riley

Little Orphant Annie's come to my house to stay. 
To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away. 
To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep, 
and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep. 
While all us other children, when the supper things is done, 
we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun, 
a listening to the witch tales that Annie tells about 
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

 Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers, 
and when he went to bed at night away up stairs, 
his mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl, 
and when they turned the covers down, 
he wasn't there at all! 
They searched him in the attic room 
and cubby hole and press 
and even up the chimney flu and every wheres, I guess,
but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned 
and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin, 
and once when there was company and old folks was there, 
she mocked them and she shocked them and said, she didn't care. 
And just as she turned on her heels and to go and run and hide, 
there was two great big black things a standing by her side. 
They snatched her through the ceiling fore she knew what shes about, 
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

 
When the night is dark and scary, 
and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo, 
you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear, 
and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears 
and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about, 
or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!!