LITTLE
ORPHANT
ANNIE:
A CHILDREN'S
PLAY
IN THREE ACTS
Act well kids,
a talent scout
may be watching.
From the writings and poetry
of James Whitcomb Riley
(For shorter programs, a reading of the poems "Little Orphant
Annie" and "The Raggedy Man" may be omitted. The author asks
that the recitation of the poem, "Prayer Perfect," by the
entire cast at the end of the play not be omitted under any
circumstances.) BY
THOMAS EARL QUITMAN WILLIAMS Cover Illustration
by Ethel Franklin Betts Copyright, 1998, Thomas Earl Quitman Williams (PERMISSION IS GIVEN FOR THE USE OF THIS PLAY
FOR ANY 150TH BIRTHDAY PURPOSE IN THE YEAR
1999 OR 2000) Coiny Publishing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 585,
Greenfield, IN 46140
317/462-7758 Special notice should be taken that the possession of
this play without initial purchase from Coiny Publishing Co.,
Inc., or permission by the copyright owner, confers no right
or license to produce the play publicly or in private for any
reason except as to the author's permission given above. The
copying, either of separate parts or the whole
of this work, by any process whatsoever, is forbidden by law
and subject to the penalties proscribed by the United States
Copyright Law, Title 28, U.S. Code.
Modification of this play is expressly permitted after
purchase. CAST
(IN THE ORDER OF THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE)JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY ANNIE UNCLE JOHN BUD ELVA MAY ELIZABETH RILEY REUBEN RILEY THE RAGGEDY MAN STAIR PIXIES (Clarabell, Annabell, Florabell, etc.) SQUIDGICUM SQUEEZE (S) STAIR PIXIES TWO BEARS (One big, one little)
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT 1 INSIDE OF RILEY HOME, Parlor on left, Front Hall with
stairway on the right. The stairs are not to be climbed
but instead must have holes in them for children acting
the parts of the "stair pixies" to emerge. (In the dead of winter) ACT 2 BACKYARD OF RILEY HOME UNDER AN APPLE TREE. Also many
trees: sugar (sugar maple) trees, apple trees and sweet-
smelling locusts. A highboard fence is at the right over
which the nine ittle goblins can appear. The raggey man is
at a woodpile chopping wood. (In the late summer) ACT 3 LOG CABIN set in the frontier days of Indiana in a clearing
with giant hardwood trees in the background. Such stands
were left when homesteads were cut from the ancient forests
of the American mid-continent. (In the fall) DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTERS JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY. Riley is dressed in formal attire
with white shirt, diamond pin, cutaway jacket, leather gloves
and top hat with prince nez eyeglasses. (The poems to be
read by this character may be from a book of Riley's poetry) ANNIE. Annie, 18 or so, wore black because she was an orphan
and had to go to work for her own board and keep. In Act
I, she is a blue-lipped and red-nosed teenaged girl when she
first arrives in the winter. In Act II, she wears a gingham
dress without shoes or stockings and with a white apron. In
Act III, she wears a simple white dress like a graduation
dress. UNCLE JOHN. A gaunt, round-shouldered man with deep eyes,
sallow cheeks and weedy looking beard. He wears overhauls and
a dark shirt and carries a cane. On his head he wears a soft
hat pulled down to his ears. RAGGEDY MAN. The raggedy man, 18 or so, wears tattered
clothes in Acts I and II. A soft shirt and battered soft hat.
In Act III he wears a hickory shirt and overalls and
boots. BUD. He wears a little blue roundabout and a soft white felt
hat with no banding or lining. His hair is very light and
cut short. His eyes are big and blue and his face freckled.
He is small in size. ELVA MAY. about six years of age. A child who clings to her
mother, Elizabeth Riley, throughout the play. ELIZABETH RILEY 38. She is wearing a calico dress with long
white apron. REUBEN RILEY Reuben Riley, 42, is a hardy looking man dressed
in a straw hat and white duck suit. NINE LITTLE GOBLINS dressed in green outfits with pointy
black stockings and smoke red hair. STAIR PIXIES (Clarabell, Annabell, Florabell, etc.) Wear pink
filmy gauzy dresses with wings and stars in their hair. TWO BEARS (One big, one little). Dressed in furry bear
outfits. SQUIDGICUM SQEEZE A great round blob with nothing but a huge
mouth across the front.
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE ACT 1 James Whitcomb Riley comes out on stage: Riley. Hello folks! I am James Whitcomb Riley and I wanted to
come before you tonight to tell you about this grown-up hired
girl I knew when I was boy.
Did you all know that I like to write poetry? Seems
funny someone born in a log cabin like I was would want to do
such a thing.
Yes, I wrote many, many poems that people know about
all over the country.
But one of my favorites goes like this: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!
Riley looks out over the audience.Riley. Say I think here comes Little Orphant Annie right now. (Riley exits) (Annie, dressed in black as an orphan girl was in
those days, comes down the aisle from the back led
by Uncle John.)Uncle John. Here is the Riley House, Annie. The Riley's say
they will take you in for your board and keep if you will
help with the chores. Annie. Let me check with my mother in the "Good World" to see
if its okay. (She looks up into the sky.) Okay, Uncle John, she says it's fine. The Rileys are going to
give me a nice place to stay until I can have my own home. (They walk up on stage and into the parlor. Bud
is in front. In the parlor are seated Reuben Riley
and his wife, Elizabeth Riley, on a rocking chair
holding a baby. Also present is Elva May, Bud's
younger sister. Uncle John walks over to Reuben and
Elizabeth.)Bud. (Going over to Annie.) Who are you? Annie. (Folding her arms tightly across her chest and tilting
her face back and forth proudly.) Why, Annie is my name-
that's who Annie is! Reuben. (Talking to Uncle John). Yes, we will have the girl
stay with Elizabeth and I and our children. The Civil War
will be coming on pretty soon and she can stay here until I
get back. She can help Elizabeth with the children and earn
her board and keep. Elizabeth. (Agreeing with her husband.) Yes, I need the help.
My four children keep me very busy and my baby needs me every
minute! Babydoll. (Cries.) Elizabeth. See what I mean? Bud. (Takes Annie to the hallway) Here Annie are the stairs
that lead upstairs. Uncle John. Good-bye I got to be getting back to my farm
down the pike. Reuben. Let's all turn in. (Lights go out but Annie comes in with a candle and
looks at the stairs and laughs and laughs. Bud joins her.) (Annie listens at one stairstep then another. The ones
close she pats with her hand and cups her ear down to listen
at each of the lower ones.) Bud. Hey! What are you doing? Annie. Did you know there's a pixie lives under each one of
the steps? Bud. What? No such thing. Annie. Yes there is! How do you think I know about them if
there weren't any such thing? Bud. What do they do? Annie. Well, you like to dream when you go to sleep don't
you? Bud. Yes, Annie. Well, pixies are the ones that bring you dreams...
good ones that is. That's their main job. (Annie put her ear close to the step.) Annie. This one's named Clarabell. Clarabell Pixie. (Appears on the other side of first step.)
I'm glad I'm not an orphan like Annie so I don't have to wash
the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away. Bud. Did I really hear that? Why I never heard a
pixie talk before. Is there a pixie under that step too? (Bud points to second step). Annie. Yes. Her name is Annabell. Annabell Pixie. (Appears on the other side of the second
step as Clarabell Pixie disappears.) Leave me alone for
I'm thinking of the green leaves of the summer and I want to
nod off. Bud. (Scratching his head,) Who said that? What about the
next one? Annie. Her name is Florabell and she has a secret to
tell you. But you got to ask her and promise not to tell
anybody. Bud. Okay I promise cross my heart and hope to die!
Florabell, what's your secret? Florabell Pixie. (Appears on the other side of the third
step. as Clarabell Pixie disappears.) You want to know
the secret and promise not to tell people...except Annie? Bud. Yes, I promise Florabell. Florabell Pixie. Well okay. Did you know you got another
name you never heard of? Bud. No, I don't. Florabell Pixie. Oh yes you do. Your real name is Nibsey. Bud. No, I'm Bud!!! Florabell. Not to the pixies you're not. All us pixies
think that Bud's an awful funny name. But your real name is
Nibsey! I thought you wanted to know. Why you thought your
name was Bud I bet. (Annie laughs and so do all the pixies.) Annie. Now they're saying we got to go to bed or they'll kick
us hard as they can. Oh, wait a minute, Glorybell and
Betsybell are saying we better never try to catch them in our
hands because the last ones that did squeezed `em too hard
and got their wings all crumpled and most turned them into
sqeezics's for sure. Squeezics's are pixies that can't fly
anymore you know. Bud. Can't we talk to `em some more? Annie. No, they got to get up real early to peel off
snowflakes for the cloud people so it can snow tomorry.
You ever look at the snowflakes? They're real hard to whittle
and it takes the pixies ever so long to get them lookin'
right. Now goodnight. (Annie takes Bud's hand and blows out the candle.) (Raggedy Man slips in. He lies down on the floor in
the parlor. Audience sees him when Bud comes downstairs with
the candle lit again and goes over to the stairs to see if
the pixies are still there. Raggedy man comes over.) Raggedy Man. What in tarnation are you doing, Bud? Bud. Raggedy man, I can't sleep. Did you know there are
pixies under those stairs and did you know there's a new
hired girl come here to live? Raggedy Man. I didn't know either one. Who is the hired
girl? Bud. Annie is her name. (Annie appears in the background to listen) Raggedy Man. No, I never met her I guess. Maybe I will
sometime. Now, you go to sleep or you'll run up against
the squidgicum-squeezes that swallow themselves at night. (Squidjicum Squeeze(s) comes in and starts opening
its mouth really wide and closing it.) Raggedy man. If you go to bed real fast then the squidgicum
squeeze(s) probably won't get you. The problem with the
squidgicum and little boys is when the little boys are too
close around when the squidgicum "swallers" at night-who
knows where -sometimes it swallers little boys up with
itself. (Raggedy Man laughs and Bud blows out his candle
and runs out.) (Annie comes forward after all are asleep and
gestures right and left as she describes the rooms in
this piece).Annie. They need to remember one thing. After I've been in
this house a long, long time, and they all gets so they like
me awful, awful, awful well, then some day they'll go in this
room there, and that room there, and in the kitchen, and out
on the porch, and down the cellar, and out in the smoke-
house, and the wood-house, and the loft, and all around - oh!
every place! - and in here and up the stairs, and all the
rooms up there. And they'll look behind all the doors, and
in all the cupboards, and under all the beds, and then
they'll look sorry-like, and holler out, kind o' scared, and
they'll say, `Where is Annie?' And then they'll wait and
listen and hold their breath, and then something'll holler
back, away far off, and say, `Oh, she has gone home!' And
then everything'll be all still again. (Annie slips out the back of the room). ACT II Riley. How's it going so far? I am James Whitcomb Riley again
and I thought you might like to know about this fellow the
Raggedy Man. O The Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa;
An' he's the goodest man ever you saw!
He comes to our house every day,
An' waters the horses, an' feeds 'em hay;
An' he opens the shed - an' we all ist laugh
When he drives out our little old wobble-ly calf;
An' nen - ef our hired girl says he can -
He milks the cow fer 'Lizabuth Ann. -
Ain't he a' awful good Raggedy Man?
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
W'y, the Raggedy Man -he's ist so good,
He splits the kindlin' an' chops the wood;
An' nen he spades in our garden, too,
An' does most things 'at boys can't do. -
He clumbed clean up in our big tree
An' shooked a' apple down fer me -
An' 'nother 'n' too, fer 'Lizabuth Ann -
An' 'nuther 'n' too, fer The Raggedy Man. -
Ain't he a' awful kind Raggedy Man?
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
An' The Raggedy Man one time say he,
Pick' roast' rambos from a' orchurd-tree,
An' et 'em - all ist roast' an hot! -
An' it's so, too! - 'cause a corn-crib got
Afire one time an' all burn' down
On "The Smoot Farm," 'bout four mile from town -
On "The Smoot Farm"! Yes - an' the hired han'
'At worked there nen 'uz The Raggedy Man! -
Ain't he the beatin'est Raggedy Man?
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
The Raggedy Man's so good an' kind
He'll be our "horsey," an "haw" an' mind
Ever'thing 'at you make him do -
An' won't run off - 'less you want him to!
I drived him wunst way down our lane
An' he got skeered, when it 'menced to rain,
An' ist rared up an' squealed and run
Purt' nigh away! - an' it's all in fun!
Nene he skeered ag'in at a' old tin can...
Whoa! y' old runaway Raggedy Man!
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
An' The Raggedy Man, he knows most rhymes,
An' tells 'em, ef I be good, sometimes:
Knows 'bout Giunts, an' Griffuns, an' Elves,
An' the Squidgicum-Squees 'at swallers the'rselves:
An', rite by the pump in our pasture-lot,
He showed me the hole 'at the Wunks is got,
'At lives 'way deep in the ground, an' can
Turn into me, er 'Lizabeth Ann!
Er Ma, er Pa, er The Raggedy Man!
Ain't he a funny old Raggedy Man?
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
An' wunst, when The Raggedy Man come late,
An' pigs ist root' thru the garden-gate,
He 'tend like the pigs 'uz bears an' said,
"Old Bear-shooter'll shoot 'em dead!"
An' race' an' chase' 'em, an' they'd ist run
When he pint his hoe at 'em like it's a gun
An' go "Bang!-Bang!" nen 'tend he stan'
An' load up his gun ag'in! Raggedy Man!
He's an old Bear-Shooter Raggedy Man!
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
An' sometimes The Raggedy Man lets on
We're little prince-children, an' old King's gone
To git more money, an' lef' us there -
And Robbers is ist thick ever'where:
An' nen - ef we all won't cry, fer shore -
The Raggedy Man he'll come and "splore
The Castul-Halls," an' steal the "gold" -
An' steal us, too, an' grab an' hold
An' pack us off to his old "Cave"! - An'
Haymow's the "cave" o' The Raggedy Man! -
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!
The Raggedy Man - one time, when he
Wuz makin' a little bow-'n'-orry fer me,
Says "When you're big like your Pa is,
Air you go' to keep a fine store like his -
An' be a rich merchunt - an' wear fine clothes? -
Er what air you go' to be, goodness knows?"
An' nen he laughed at 'Lizabuth Ann,
An' I says "'M go' to be a nice Raggedy Man!"
I'm ist go' to be a nice Raggedy Man!
Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man! (James Whitcomb Riley departs the stage). (Annie comes walking over to the Raggedy Man
chopping wood with Bud close by watching. Annie
holds up an old pair of Bud's father's pants.)Annie. Raggedy man, chop these off about Bud's size. I been
noticing he needs a pair of pants for church. (Raggedy Man holds up the pants to Bud and then
sets them on a stump and chops off the "too long"
part of the legs.) (Annie holds up the pants to Bud and compares them
to Bud's leg size and then nods her head.)Annie. Okay those will do just fine. Now I'll sew them up
just right. (As Annie leaves, Bud stops her.) Bud. Annie I miss my father really bad now that he went off
to be a soldier for Abraham Lincoln and fight against
slavery. (Annie sits down under an apple tree with a
board fence just behind.)Annie. Your daddy will soon be comin' home. Why it's just
like he were on the other side of that highboard fence. (Bud yawns he is so tired from worry about his dad). Annie. Hey, look on top of that fence. (Annie points to the highboard fence in the
background.)Bud. (Shaking his head.) Nothin' there. Annie. Close your eyes real fast and then open them and
you'll see them! (Bud tries but no luck.) Annie. Close your eyes and I'll tell you what I see. Bud. There they are. Let me count `em. (She counts to nine.)
Yes, there they are-nine little goblins with green glass eyes
and red hair like flames. Bud. Huh! Annie. Keep your eyes closed. Annie. (Yelling over the fence.) Hey! What you starring at? (Nine little goblins pop up on top of the board
fence.)Bud. Are they staring at us Annie? Annie. Yes, child. Now keep your eyes closed while I get to
the bottom of this. Whatcha doin' over there? The first one
is scratchin' his head with a queer little arm reachin' out
of his ear. First little goblin. `This is what my arm is for!' Bud. What about the second one? Second little goblin. (To Bud) How on earth does that boy
scratch his head? Bud. With my hand on my arm. (Bud scratches his head). (All the goblins start laughing hysterically). Annie. (Annie interprets) They don't think anyone with sense
does it that way. They're all laughin' at you for saying that
til their faces look like knots. (One goblin thumps himself on the back with a fist
from his tail to catch his breath.)Bud. (Eyes still closed). What about the third one? Annie. I don't like lookin' at him. Bud. Why? Annie. Why he doesn't have lids on his eyes. He's impudent
too. He just clucked his eye and asked me what is the style
of socks this fall. Oh, no. His hands are where his feet
should be! (Bud slips into Annie's arms. His eyes are
still closed.)Bud. (Sounds very tired). What else? Annie. Annie. One just took off his eyebrows and pasted them over
his lips for a mustache. Yes, he did. And now he's cryin',
`Would - Ah, would I'd me brows again!' Bud. (Yawning). Tell him to put them back. Annie. I can't. Now they aren't talkin' like us at all. Now
they're talkin' in their goo-goo language. (Bud is asleep. Annie lets him rest there under the
apple tree asleep. Annie gets up to go offstage but is
stopped by Elizabeth who comes out waving a letter.) Elizabeth. Good news Annie. Reuben is coming home soon.
The militia boys won a battle at Rich Mountain that saved
West Virginia for the Union. He will be returning from the
Civil War in the next few weeks. (Raggedy man comes over to Elizabeth). Raggedy man. Did you say the boy's father will be coming
home soon? Elizabeth. Yes. Isn't that good news? Raggedy man. But what about Annie? Doesn't that mean Annie
will have to leave? Wasn't she just going to stay here to
help while Reuben was away? Elizabeth. That's right. We must think about what to do
about Annie. Annie. (crying) What can I do? Now that I am grown up and
all. Why can't I have a home like other folks do? (First Elizabeth and then Annie leave the stage) (Raggedy man walks over to Bud and shakes him
awake).Raggedy man. Bud, you know how I told you I kinda liked
Annie. Bud. (sleepy) Yes. Raggedy man. Well you and I got work to do. I'm goin' to
speculate and hope something will come my way. I feel like I
can gain on it if only a certain someone takes a hankerin' to
me.
ACT III James Whitcomb Riley comes onstage again. Riley. Now who would have ever dreamed the raggedy man was
going to build a log cabin out toward the settlement of
Philadelphia on the other side of the Black Swamp? Where did
he find time with all the chores he had to do? But he was
going to build this log cabin or bust!
Every once in a while when I was a boy, of course, the
raggedy man took me with him to the building site for help.
When I went there the first time, crickets were leaping
across the path back to the raggedy man's log cabin. I helped
him that day to make slabs. Every time I was out there it
seemed like singing-birds filled the air with music. The
raggedy man kept saying, "Now don't you tell a soul about
this or I will eat you alive!" Then he laughed and winked.
I went out another time to start on the roof. Topping
out the log cabin was hard work. You have to lay four foot
clapboards down in courses on bearer logs.
Then we had to make a great open fireplace in the space
left open in the end wall. (James Whitcomb Riley goes backstage and Raggedy
man comes out and sits in front of the log cabin.
He picks up a sign he has made that says "Annie's
home," and puts it on the log cabin.)Raggedy man. Well, I've made her a home all right. But will
she want to be my wife and live here? (The Raggedy man scratches his head). (From the far side of the stage, Bud emerges
leading Annie toward the log cabin holding a mock shotgun.) Annie. Why are you taking me all this way out here? Bud. A bear has the raggedy man up in a tree and we got
to save him. Annie. A bear has the raggedy man? Bud. Yes, way out here in the woods. (Annie holds her hands to her face in fright). Bud. We got to go save him. I got father's shotgun and we'll
just have to find him somewhere out here in the woods where
he is stavin' off the bear with all his might. Annie. (To Bud). How did you escape to come and tell me? Bud. Well The raggedy man and I were goin' along and goin'
along, you know, and pretty soon we heard somethin' go
`Wooh!'- Just thataway-`Woo-ooh!' And we were both scared.
So we ran and climbed a tree - A great big tree, we did,-a
sycamore tree. (Two bears come out and lurk in the background). Bud. And then we heard it again. And we looked around. It was
a bear - a great big sure enough bear!-No. It was two bears,
it was -two great big bears-One of them was-the first one was
a great big bear. -But they just both went `Wooh!'-And here
they come to climb the tree and get me and the raggedy man to
eat us up! Bears. Woof. Woo-ooh. (In the background). (Annie and Bud look around scared). Annie. So how far away is the raggedy man? Bud. He's past the Black Swamp. Here came the great big bear
climbing the tree to get the raggedy man when I ran away and
came to get you and pa's gun. Bears. Woof. Woo-ooh. (Come closer threateningly). Bud. Did I tell you the raggedy had a gun when he climbed
the tree- So here the bear come climbin' the tree - and
climbin' the tree! Then when he got right close, the raggedy
man just pulled up his gun and shot the bear, he did, and
killed him dead! And then the bear - he fell clean on down
out of the tree - away clean to the ground, he did -Spling-
splung! he fell plum down, and killed him, too! (One of the bears puts his hands over his heart. First bear. I'm shot dead for sure! Annie. Well, if the raggedy man killed the bear what's the
problem. Raggedy man isn't in danger. Bud. Well that left the old bear. The one shot was the
younger one you know. Now the big bear's awful mad, you bet!
And so here came the great big bear, he did, - a'climbin' up
- and up the tree, to get the raggedy man and eat him up!
And so the raggedy man climbed on higher, and higher,
And higher up the tree - and higher - and higher -
And higher'n our house. And that's where the raggedy man is
waiting for us to come get him out of that mess. Second bear. Woof. Woo-ooh! Annie. Well, why didn't the big bear eat him up? Bud. They are both waiting for us to get there with more
load for the raggedy man's gun I spect. The raggedy man
didn't have any more in the gun! (Bud leads Annie to the front of the cabin. Annie
holds her hands up to her face in surprise.) (Raggedy man is sitting in front with his pet dog.) Annie. Oh raggedy man. I'm so glad you're safe. Raggedy man (Stands up and holds his heart.) Annie, I can't
bear to think of you going away. I know its strange. I know
that you might never love me. But look what I've done. I've
built you a home. Annie, I love you. Annie, this home is
yours. (Annie goes over to the sign that says "ANNIE'S
HOUSE. She holds her hand to her mouth when she
sees it.)Annie. Oh, raggedy man, Raggedy man. Deep in my heart, I've been so lonesome, Annie.
I never ever wanted to search for anyone else from the
minute I met you. Annie. Oh, raggedy man. Raggedy man. Will you marry me? If you will, I will love you
forever. I can make my love for you last forever. Annie. Oh, raggedy man. Raggedy man. Well? Annie, will you try to find a way to make
it to love the raggedy man and live here with me and have a
family with me all our own? Annie. Oh, raggedy man, do you really want me for a wife? Raggedy man. You bet, Annie. I've loved you ever so long. Annie. Oh, raggedy man. Say! Some hollyhawks would look good
over by the door. And how about some roses - old fashioned
ones - around that porch. Raggedy man. Sure, Annie. Anything for you." (He pulls out from his pocket a marryin'
license.)Raggedy man. I was hopin you might marry me, Annie. (He
shows Annie her name on the license to marry the raggedy
man.) Raggedy man. Will you have me? Annie. (Nodding her head). Annie has found a home now. (James Whitcomb Riley comes back out on stage.) James Whitcomb Riley. After I got back home, you know what
happened. Well, I went upstairs. After a long and breathless
time, I still could hear Annie's faint and quavering voice
with a great tenderness like a belated echo, "Where is
Annie?"
And the reply, "Oh, she has gone home!"
(The whole cast, led by James Whitcomb Riley,
recites "Prayer Perfect.") Dear Lord! Kind Lord!
Gracious Lord! We pray
Thou will look on all we love
Tenderly today.
Weed their hearts of weariness
Scatter every care
Down a wake of angel-wings
Winnowing the air. Bring upon the sorrowing
All release from pain:
Let the lips of laughter
Overflow again:
And with all the needy
O divide we pray
This vast treasure of content
That is ours today. | 