A Halloween thread
#1
Since we already have a pumpkin thread, figured I would start a different one. This is definitely my favorite Halloween poem
[Image: Death.jpg]

Little Orphant Annie

by James Whitcomb Riley

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-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits 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 at all!
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’ ‘fore she knowed what 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’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
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#2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Little Orphant Annie" is an 1885 poem written by James Whitcomb Riley and published by the Bowen-Merrill Company. First titled "The Elf Child", Riley changed the name to "Little Orphant Allie" at its third printing, however a typecasting error during printing renamed the poem to its current form. Known as the "Hoosier poet", Riley wrote the rhymes in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect. As one of his most well known poems, it served as the inspiration for the character Little Orphan Annie upon whom was based a comic strip, plays, radio programs, television shows, and movies.

The subject was inspired by Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, an orphan living in the Riley home during his childhood. The poem contains four stanzas; the first introduces Annie and the following three are stories she is telling to young children. The stories each tell of a bad child who is snatched away by goblins as a result of their misbehavior. The underlying moral and warning is announced in the final stanza, telling children that they should obey their parents and be kind to the unfortunate, lest they suffer the same fate.

Background

James Whitcomb Riley was a poet who achieved national fame in the United States during late nineteenth and early twentieth century. "Little Orphant Annie" is one of Whitcomb's most well known poems. Originally published in the Indianapolis Journal on November 15, 1885 under the title "The Elf Child," the poem was inspired by a girl named Mary Alice "Allie" Smith. She was orphaned at age twelve when her father was killed in the American Civil War. Smith lived near the Riley's home, and they learned of her plight through a family member. Riley's father was also a soldier in the war, leaving his wife Elizabeth to manage the household affairs in his absence. She brought Smith into their home in Greenfield, Indiana. As was customary at that time, she worked alongside the family to earn her board. In the evening hours she often told stories to the younger children, including Riley. Smith did not learn she was the inspiration for the character until the 1910s when she visited with Riley.
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#3
I'm getting ready to take my kids around for trick or treat, last week we had a big snowstorm and it got rescheduled for tonight. I just looked around and do not see any lights on. This may turn into a very disapointing night for them if nobody has any more candy. They have been excited about it all day. Smiley_emoticons_slash a Ghoul and a Frankenstien they look scary.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
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#4
QB, you have a weird sense of timing.
Commando Cunt Queen
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#5
(11-06-2011, 05:56 PM)Maggot Wrote: I'm getting ready to take my kids around for trick or treat, last week we had a big snowstorm and it got rescheduled for tonight. I just looked around and do not see any lights on. This may turn into a very disapointing night for them if nobody has any more candy. They have been excited about it all day. Smiley_emoticons_slash a Ghoul and a Frankenstien they look scary.

i was afraid nobody would care about trick-or-treat this weekend, i hope they have fun Maggot! take some photos of them for us. hopefully other parents will still do the Halloween thing for all the kids who missed out. Signs_173


















































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#6
(11-06-2011, 06:10 PM)username Wrote: QB, you have a weird sense of timing.

Hey..I posted the thing before the holiday...cannot help it if no one read it til now.
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