["The Star-Spangled Banner"] The little chatterbox, the one with pretty open mouth, whom do you see, this little orphan Annie? She and Fanny make a pair, they never seem to have a care. Give little she, this little orphan Annie. Bright eyes, she's a birdie girl, carries a store of healthy little candy. My eyes always on the go, if you want to know, aren't test candy always wears a sunny smile. Now wouldn't it be worse so far, if you could be like little orphan Annie. It's 5.45 now, opening time, and orphan Annie time again. But first, I want to ask you, have you sent in an A yet for that Airedale dog that Annie got for Billy the Blind Boy? Remember, Annie started a new and exciting naming contest to find the best name for Billy's dog. And all you boys and girls who drink Ovaltine can enter this contest and win a thrilling prize absolutely free. But now here's something important. If you haven't sent in a name for Billy's dog yet, you better hurry up, because this exciting contest is going to be absolutely closed up tight at midnight next Saturday night. That's next Saturday, June 6th. And if you don't send in a dog's name by midnight next Saturday, you're going to miss getting that wonderful book about dogs that Annie sent you free, and you're going to miss out on your opportunity of winning one of those 50 pedigreed Airedale puppies. That are going to be given away to the 50 boys and girls who send in the best names for Billy's dog. And believe me, there's not a boy or girl anywhere who wants to miss this opportunity, because these 50 dogs are pedigreed Airedale puppies worth $100 each. And if you win, you get official pedigree papers that show the famous prize-winning ancestors of the dog you win. And what's more, all these pure-blooded Airedales are healthy male puppies. They're housebroken and guaranteed to be in sound, healthy condition. But the best part of all is each one of the 50 Airedales is trained to do tricks. They're all been trained by Mr. Vaughn Moffitt, who's handled some of the most famous prize-winning dogs in America. And each dog can do three tricks. They're trained to speak, sit up, and shake hands on command. And can't you just be real juicy to win a pick dog like that, to have for your very own? Especially since you can get him absolutely free if you're an Obelgene user just by sending in one of the 50 best names for Billy's dog now. That's not all, remember. This is a contest where everybody who enters wins something. And he's going to send you a brand new book about dogs to everyone who enters the contest. This book has 37 pages and is printed in four beautiful colors and just packed full of pictures. It shows you 34 different breeds of dogs and tells you exactly what each breed is like. And besides all that, this book tells you trainers on Moffitt's special training secrets on how to teach your dog to do all kinds of tricks. And so you can see that you certainly don't want to miss getting this wonderful book that Annie sent you free just for entering your contest. Besides, the judges may select the name you send in as one of the 50 best. So start thinking up your name for Billy's dog right now. That's mighty easy to do because he's a fine, big, air-dale, smart, fast, and full of depth, a faithful, dependable dog who will lead little Billy safely wherever he wants to go. He's a beautiful brown color except for his black back, and he has a black spot shaped like a diamond on his forehead. He looks like Sandy, only he's smaller. You say, you can think of lots of good names right off for a dog like that. I can think of Pals, Black Rover, Flash, Fox, Brownie. Well, I bet you've thought of a catchier name for Billy's dog already. And as soon as you do, here's all you have to do. Just print the name you suggest for Billy's dog and then your own name and address, plainly on a piece of paper. Then just send it in, together with all of the thin, round aluminum seal. From under the lid of a can of Ovoozine or a fat stimuli of the can, mail it to Little Orphan Annie, Chicago, Illinois. Or if you live in Canada, mail it to Ovoozine, Peterball, Ontario. That's all you do. The dog names will be judged solely on their originality, uniqueness, and suitability for Billy's dog. We want a name that fits him. The judge's decisions are final. Duplicate prizes will be awarded in case of prize. You can send in as many entries as you like, but each dog name you send must be on a separate piece of paper, together with your name and address, and a separate aluminum seal. Winners of the 55 dogs will be announced over the radio. But remember, his contest closes next Saturday night. That's only a few days away, you know, so get busy and send in this very night. But now for Annie's adventure. Last time, remember, the sheriff of Fairhaven refused to delay the auction sale of Jed Showboats, and Annie discovered that an old enemy of Jed, Russ Randolph, is after Jed's boat. But here it is, the day of the auction sale now, and Annie, Joe, and Mr. and Mrs. Spiro are in the cabin of the Showboats. Listen to what Mr. Spiro says. Well, it looks pretty hopeless to me, Annie. Land state. Wouldn't this sheriff do a thing, Annie? Wouldn't he even wait one day? Not one minute, Mr. Spiro. I never saw anybody who accepted a sticker to the law. But he's right, Annie. If the law says he's got to sell this boat at 12 o'clock noon today, he's got to do it. Just as is the law. I know a joke, but if it hadn't been for that fellow Randolph, I'll bet the sheriff would have been a lot more lenient. Randolph pushed him into the sale. The sheriff didn't get any of the oats, did he, Annie? Not at all. Did he, Joe? Just know he said rain or shine he was going to auction off the boat in the town square took to the clock struck 12. Well, I guess there's nothing to do but go tell Jed to batten. Land state, Paul. You're not going to tell him. I've got to, Maul. Come on, it's our duty. He kept this thing from him as old as dead. After all, it's his boat that's going to be sold, and he's got a right to know about it. God, this is a shame. I'll say it is. Then here we are. Morning, Jed. Oh, morning, Byron. Morning, everybody. Did you sleep well, Jed? Oh, Mary, then you Byron always jimmin' same. I never vented so well in my life. Ah, goodness, is this sight of all your faces there? Well, I guess there's just nothing I couldn't do for you but good. Well, Jed, I... Well, we've been trying to do something for you. Do something for me? What, Byron? I reckon you have. Well, just coming here the way you did. Oh, this is about your boat, Jed. It's a boat. It's your boat. What about the boat, Byron? Well, the person said this, but I'm afraid you're going to have to lose it. Lose it? Lose my son and daughter? I'm afraid so, Jed. You see, the sheriff... Yeah, I know, Byron. I'm sorry, Jed. Oh, now don't be, Mary. It's quite all right. I've had a lot of fun from this old boat of mine, this old son and daughter. Land, they keep carrying me up and down the river, too, many times. I've put on shows all those years at Plantation Land and Little Town. Good shows there were, too. Clean and sweet for children and grown-ups alike. I reckon the river folks know me from New Orleans to Illinois. And in years to come, they'll have a good word to say for Dr. Jed, because I've made them laugh and cry. I've entertained them and made them happy. So I guess the old boat isn't too much to lose if I have to lose it. It's done its job and done it well. That's about all we can ask of anything, isn't it? Sure, it's a shame. It's been ages since you wouldn't be so glad if it wasn't going to that fellow Randolph. What's that, Annie? Randolph? He's the one who's going to buy the boat, Jed. He's the one who's forcing the sheriff to sell it at auction today. Randolph, eh? Huh. Well, I don't usually talk against anyone, but Randolph's a bad one, and he always has been. So Randolph's forcing this thing? He is. He's bought up all the debt you owe from your accident, and he's making the sheriff sell the boat at noon. You'll not see anybody in the whole Mississippi Valley get the southern star than Randolph. He's the type of man who's ruined the showboat business. Easy, Jed, easy. Take it easy. Land, state, Jed, don't get yourself all excited on account of this one man. You don't understand. You don't... Oh, well, what can you... Cat food that might as well be Randolph's as anybody else. Those southern stars got to go. What difference does it make who gets it? Let her go. We haven't let her go yet, Jed. Annie, you're the grandest young die ever knew. You never give up hope, do you? Well, not while there's a chance I don't. Well, thanks, Annie. And you sure can put heart into a fella. But now, well, thanks for telling me all this. If you don't mind, I'd kind of like to be alone for a little while to think it over. Of course, Jed, of course. Let's leave Jed for a stale paw. Come on. All right, Mom, all right. Don't you give up hope, Uncle Jed. Oh, I won't, Annie. I won't. Gosh, they never give key anybody as fine as your brother, Mr. Tilo. I am proud of myself, dear. Took that like a major big leap. Losing his whole livelihood, but he took it grand. And they made me want to cry. He hasn't lost any of them yet. What do you mean, Annie? All I mean is what Mrs. Tilo said the other day. While there's life, there's hope. Well, there's life in all of us, so there's still hope. But my goodness, Annie, there's not much time. I am crying. What said it? Just fifteen minutes to go. Shucks. And at exactly twelve, when the town clock strikes, the sheriff's going to tell Jed both to the highest bidder. Yeah, and there's only one bidder. That is your Randolph, Annie. There could be another bidder. Oh, what do you mean, Annie? What would you be willing to do for your brother, Mr. Tilo? Do whatever I have to since I do anything for Jed. Of course you would, Paul. Well, then, why can't we get on this showboat as well as Ross Randolph? Be darned. At the auction, the sheriff's going to hold. What the real sakes, Annie? It is what we have gotten money. At least, well, the only money I've got is the pay I got for blue pool, for that big stock of money, a thousand dollars. And this year, Poonch, unless I'm wrong, I guess it's worth a whole lot more than. Who's supposed it is? At an auction, people don't expect to get what a thing is worth. Once it's set on, it has to be sold. I know, Annie, but my sakes, this Randolph fellow's got lots of money. He'd never let this boat get out of his hands for no bit of a thousand dollars. But that's no reason for not trying. It's not, Paul, it's not. Land Sake, Annie's right about this. You could at least try at that auction. Well, all right, I'm willing to try. Good for you, Paul. I swear. But all I can say is don't get no false hopes up, because if I know this year Randolph's right, he's going to get this showboat. Anyhow, we would take it every means to be fans of Bay Jet's property. That's right, Ma'am. I feel a lot better for having made this decision somewhat made of it. What time are you getting to be, Mr. Silo? Twelve to twelve, Annie. Chuck, we'd better hurry then. We sure have. The sheriff's down. It's twelve to twelve, didn't he, Chuck? We sure did. All right, let's get up on deck then, Annie. I'll miss our jamming plan. Goodbye, Ma'am. Goodbye, Paul. You'll do your best for Dad, won't you? We'll do our level best, Ma'am. Don't you worry. Goodbye, all. Bye, Mr. Silo. He's been midgeting. Boy, oh boy, he sure has rained. Rained? Oh, goodness, I never did see a rain like this in all my life. Just listen to the score on the deck. I think something's just coming down so hard, it's been hard to see the town out there. What you can see of it is there's not a thing moving except the rain. There's not a soul on the street. Well, I guess that calls all the auction for this news. Providence has kept me there to see this. Wait a minute, Mr. Silo. It looks like a providence had taken, but not in the way you think. Oh, well, watch that, Annie. Just from the grasshoppers, this rain is just what we wanted. Don't you think, Steve? This rain has given me a big idea. It's this rain that's going to save Jed Schoble. Well, what's this big idea that Annie has now? The rain going to save Jed Schoble. What in the world has Annie got up her sleeve, I wonder? And don't forget, if you want to try it for one of those beautiful, air-nailed dogs, you'll have to send in your name for a Philly's dog without delay because the contest closes up tight at midnight next Saturday night. Remember, just print the dog's name and then your old name and address plainly on a piece of paper, and then send it in together with one Ogledeen aluminum seal to Little Orphan Annie, Chicago, Illinois. Or if you live in Canada, mail it to Ogledeen Peterball, Ontario. And then Annie sends you that beautiful, book-about dog absolutely free. And if the judges decide that you send in one of the best names for Billy's dog, you'll win one of those 50 pedigreed, air-nailed, trick dogs absolutely free. But you have to get your entry in the mail not later than midnight next Saturday night, so don't lose out. But get busy and send in this very night. And be sure and be here tomorrow, right on time, to see what Annie's big idea is about saving the Schoble. Until tomorrow then, goodbye. ...
