James Whitcomb Riley was a poet during the nineteenth century. "Little Orphant Annie" was published on November 15, 1885, under it's original title "The Elf Child". The poem was inspired by a young girl named Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, an orphan living in the Riley home. The poem contains four stanzas; The first story introduces Annie, the second and third are stories Annie tells to young children. The last and moral of the story is a warning to children that they should obey their parents and be kind to others, or the goblins will get you if you don't watch out.