Annie by Jay Maeder and Alan Kupperberg for March 05, 2009

I like the drawing of Shuter, they’ve made his face quite interesting.

“Well, you see, in the beginning there was nothingness, and then a big bang occurred…”

Flying Thompson’s Gazelle of the Yard?

Shuter’s got a little Humphrey Bogart and Harrison Ford in his face. The hair is all Bogie.

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-listenin’ 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’ ‘for 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’ cherish 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!

Thanks for posting this, Marge. It’s an honest-to-God poem that appeared in the early 30s I believe, and I’m glad to see it wasn’t lost, but preserved to prosperity.

Oh, and responding to Shuter’s looks, Marg, it good to see that his acne condition has cleared up from his earlier appearances. I really like this guy.

Margueritem! I took the time to look Riley up, a very interesting read. Thanks for sharing. I’ve come to enjoy old prose and poetry these days. I think Riley will be interesting to read. Thanks again. D

From what I’ve read, this comic is an idea that sprang from the poem.

Morning, Anniephans!

Shuter’s face is different than in earlier stories. He used to have warts all over his face.