Mischievous Jane

Only see how this naughty Jane Is frightening her nurse again.]

JANE'S greatest pleasure and delight Was putting others in a fright.

She loved to bounce and scream and climb, She kept nurse nervous all the time.

Her dear mamma was worried, too, She never knew what Jane would do.

One day she climbed up in a tree. A very daring child was she.

Then she began to scream and call, "Oh nurse, come quick! Oh! Oh! I'll fall!"

Quickly her nurse came running out, And anxiously she looked about.

"Where are you, Jane? Where can you be?" "Here I am, nurse, up in the tree."

Poor nurse was in a dreadful fright. "Oh Jane!" she cried. "That is not right."

"Come down! If your mamma should see You know how worried she would be."

Jane laughed aloud to see her fright, She thought it such a funny sight.

Now higher up the tree she went, On nurse's further torment bent.

"Now look!" she cried. But as she spoke The branch where she was standing broke,

And then--a fearful sight to see-- Down she came crashing through the tree.

Her nursie screamed so loud with fear That all the neighborhood could hear.

But luckily, when half way down A ragged branch caught Janie's gown.

It stopped her fall, and held her there Swinging and turning in the air.

Her nurse's cries brought mother out, And neighbors ran from all about.

They talked and made a great to-do, But how to reach her no one knew.

Till some one cried, "Without a doubt We'll have to call the firemen out.

"They have a ladder that's so high It almost reaches to the sky."

Mamma cries, "Oh, for mercy's sake Be quick! Suppose the branch should break?"

Now clang! clang! clang! the fire-bells go. People are running to and fro,

And down the street--ah only see! There comes the fire company.

"Quick! Get the ladder up!" "Look out!" "Be careful there what you're about."

Now up, up, up, the ladder goes. It's up as high as Janie's toes.

Up further still; it's resting now Its topmost rung against a bough.

Then quick a fireman, strong and brown Runs up and lifts the poor child down.

And listen how the anxious crowd That has been watching shouts aloud.

No need for any more alarms. He's placed her in her mother's arms.

"Oh dear! I'll never try," sobs Jane "To frighten any one again."