Thursday, January 22, 2009

Little Orphan Annie

More nap time stories from Granny.
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-keep;An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun,A-listenin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers, -An' 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 wuzn't there atall!An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an'press,An seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
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' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz 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 wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'for she knowedwhat she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
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'bugs in dew is all squenched away, -You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,An' cherish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
- James Whitcomb Riley


Looking back - it's a wonder I ever took a nap. When she got to the "An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you " part she always lowered her voice, crouched her shoulders and made claws with her hands.

2 comments:

Abby said...

I totally heard her saying this while I was reading.
Stories like these are why I would try to creep into your bed at night.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. As I recall she used to recite this to me right before we went to bed on the many many nights I spent with her. By the way, happy birthday tomorrow, January 28th. Looking back so many years, I remember the night you were born as I sat at home waiting by the phone on my birthday. I remember my Dad's joy at what a miracle you were. He was so proud of Doug.