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Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) |
Adapted from "Little Orphant [sic] Annie" in The Oxford Book of Children's Verse, eds. Iona and Peter Opie (London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1973), pages 300-301. The title of Harold Gray's popular comic strip came from this poem about Mary Alice "Allie" Smith who helped out with chores at the Riley household. |
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Once there was an orphan who came to our house to stay. She washed the cups and saucers. She swept the crumbs away. We sat around the kitchen table and listened to her scary tales. She told us about goblins, and how the gobble-uns will get you IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT! Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers. So when he went to bed at night and he went up the stairs, his mother heard him holler and his father heard him bawl. But when they checked his room, he wasn't there at all! And the gobble-uns will get you IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT! |
Once there was a little girl who made fun of everyone. She mocked them and shocked them. She said she didn't care! Two great shadows standing by her side took her through the ceiling on a wild ride. And the gobble-uns will get you IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT! Once there was an orphan who said when the fire is blue, and the candle goes out, and the wind goes "woo-oo!" then you better listen to your parents, and respect your teachers, too! And cherish those who love you, and help the poor all around, or the gobble-uns will get you IF YOU DON'T WATCH OUT! |
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Vocabulary orphan \'OUR-fen\: child who has no living parents scary \'SKER-i\: frightening goblins \'GAB-linz\: ugly mischievous creatures from folklore watch out: \wach aut\ be careful holler \'HA-ler\: shout bawl \bal\: cry *pronunciation for 5-vowel languages |
make fun of: ridicule mock \mak\: ridicule shock \shak\: cause extreme surprise don't care: not bothered by you better listen: you should listen cherish \'CHE-rish\: show affection toward |