James Whitcomb Riley

“ 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 015ORPHANT 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—
'At the GOBBLE-UNS 'll git ye—
Ef you Don't
Watch out!" ”

“ A dressin'-room,—so's he can go
An' dress an' paint up when he plays
He's somepin' else;—'cause sometimes he's
"Ringmaster"—bossin' like he please—
An' sometimes "Ephalunt"—er "Bare-
Back Rider," prancin out o' there! ”