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,
Her dear mamma was worried, too,
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,
“Where are you, Jane? Where can you be?”
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,
Now higher up the tree she went,
“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,
They talked and made a great to-do,
Till some one cried, “Without a doubt
“They have a ladder that’s so high
It almost reaches to the sky.”
Mamma cries, “Oh, for mercy’s sake
Now clang! clang! clang! the fire-bells go.
And down the street—ah only see!
“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.”
