I cannot bear," the child confessed,
"To see my dear Mama distressed."
Mama then took the rod, and went,
Leaving her daughter well content:
Jane's gentle smile grew quite sublime,
For her Mama was gone some time.

[Illustration: "_Jane's gentle smile grew quite sublime_"]

[Illustration: "_Hot and tired_"]

When twenty minutes had expired
She came in looking hot and tired;
And very shortly after, she
Went out to drink a dish of tea
With several friends she long had known,
Leaving her little girl alone.
Jane found it rather dull to read;
She soon felt very dull indeed.
How interesting Ann's tales had been
About that circus she had seen.
Jane wished Mama had let them go
And see this cattle fair and show.
She almost thought it would be fun
To go alone, as Ann had done.
"'Twill be her fault, if I _do_ go;
_She_ made me want to see the show.
Mama will not suspect the plan
Because I told her about Ann,"
She said, as she decided on it,
And went to fetch her beaver bonnet.
Betsy the maid was busy, so
Nobody saw Miss Janie go.
Prim and particular and neat
She minced along the village street,
And safely reached the village green
Unnoticed, and in fact unseen.
Once there, Miss Jane, I grieve to say,
Behaved in quite a naughty way!
--She even rode a wooden horse,
Though with propriety, of course;
She bought some sweetmeats at a stall
And then sat down and ate them all;
She saw the clowns and acrobats,
And the performing dogs and cats.
She thought them very clever, yet
The pig-faced lady was her pet!

[Illustration: "_With propriety_"]

[Illustration: "_A woman saw her tears_"]

Soon it grew dark, and little Jane
Began to feel some drops of rain;
Her gown would spot, if it got wet;
And what a whipping she would get
If kind Mama could ferret out
What her dear child had been about.
If she got wet, they'd ask her "Why?"--
And here poor Jane began to cry.
A woman saw her tears--and saw
The pretty necklace which she wore.
"Come, come!" she said, "my little Miss,
Don't spoil your pretty eyes like this;
If you're afraid of getting wet
Come to my caravan, my pet,
And I'll be proud if Miss will take
A dish of tea and slice of cake."
Jane thought the woman kind and nice,
And so she followed her advice:
But after she had drunk her tea
She felt as drowsy as could be,