ook of pained surprise.
How she had torn Jane's Sunday skirt,
And squirted at her with a squirt!
--And how another evening, she
Slipped salt into Jane's dish of tea;
And many another naughty feat
Did Ann perform and Jane repeat.
When Ann called Jane a "Tell-tale-tit,"
She went and told Mama of it.
She sighed, "I wondered how she _could!_
I long to help her to be good."
Jane's kind Mama, I need not say,
Behaved in the most prudent way;
Correcting Ann in various ways
And giving Jane much well-earned praise.

[Illustration: "_Slipped salt into Jane's dish of tea_"]

[Illustration: "_Off she started at a run_"]

Now in that village, every year
The people held a cattle fair;
And stalls and tents and swings were seen
Set up upon the village green.
Now when the fair came round that spring
Ann longed to go like anything.
"Oh, Aunt," she cried, "do let us go!"
And pouted when her Aunt said "No."
Next morning when out walking, Ann
Concocted such a naughty plan!
She had some money of her own,
And she would see the fair alone!
(I hope no other little miss
Has ever made a scheme like this.)
When she believed that no one saw,
She slipped out at the big front door,
And off she started at a run,
To see the shows and all the fun.
Now little Jane sat prim and neat
Upon the parlour window seat;
And so she saw her cousin go,
And guessed she meant to see the show.
"Mama!" she murmured, with a sigh,
"My cousin Ann has just run by;
I sadly fear--but no! oh, no!
It could not be to see the show."
Mama at once sent Betsy out
To see what Ann could be about:
And Betsy found her at the fair
Watching a big performing bear;
And Betsy brought her to her Aunt,
Altho' she fought and cried "I shan't!
I shan't go back! I won't go in!"
--And kicked poor Betsy on the shin.

[Illustration: "_Watching a big performing bear_"]

[Illustration: "_Jane fetched the rod_"]

Her Aunt, on hearing all, looked grave,
And said, "Is this how you behave?
You disobeyed me, and you fought!
--Go, Jane, and fetch the rod I bought."
Jane joyfully laid down her book,
And ran off with a merry look;
While Ann stood looking pale and queer,
And wishing that "Papa were here."
"Miss, to your room!" Mama said; so
Away poor Ann was forced to go.
Jane fetched the rod, and said, "Oh, why
Will my poor cousin be so sly?