Hallowe'en

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie

by James Whitcomb Riley

(written 1895-1900)

Little Orphan 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 upstairs,

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 cubbyhole and press

and even up the chimney flue and everywheres, I guess,

but all they ever found of him was his pants and roundabouts -

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 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 she's about -

and the goblins will get you if you 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, whooooooo,

you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,

and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphan's tears,

and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about -

or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!!!

Author's Note

This is a very old Halloween poem by James Whitcomb Riley, it's for kids of all ages - 2 to 122 & fun to read on Halloween night around a lit pumpkin.

There is a story of mine, written expressly for Halloween on Wattpad, now with it's original name:  "Night of the Spirits."

Happy Halloween, Every body - and those without one, too )