Riley James Whitcomb
Little Orphan Annie and Billy Miller's Circus-Show

LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE

INSCRIBED

– WITH ALL FAITH AND AFFECTION —

 
To all the little children: – The happy ones; and sad ones;
The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
The good ones, yes the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.
 
 
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE she knows riddles, rhymes and things!
Knows 'bout the Witches 'at rides brooms, an' Imps 'at flies with w'n
The same as bats er lightnin'-bugs! – An' knows 'bout Ring-mo-rees
'At thist can take an' turn theirselves in anything they please!
"An' childerns all, both great an' small," she says, an' rolls her eyes
When we're a-listnun', all so still, "you needen' be surprise'
Ef right this livin' minut' – 'fore ye know they's one about —