| Page | | Careless Jane | 7 | | Boisterous Ann | 15 | | The Brother and Sister | 23 | | Georgie Lie-a-Bed | 35 | | Untidy Amanda | 43 | | The Child who would not go to Bed | 49 | | The Beet | 57 | | The Robber Rat | 65 | | Grandfather Stork | 73 | | Old Mother Webtoes | 81 | | The Rabbit Witch | 91 | | Peter and the Ogress | 103 |
To My Nephew To
My Nephew
Careless Jane
| "Come Jane," said grandmamma one day, "'Tis time you learned to sew; At your age I could make a frock, And you should also know." But Jane cared little for such things; She liked to make a noise; She used to run about all day, And shout, and play with boys. |
| So now she only tossed her head And ran with eager feet, And soon was racing up and down, And playing in the street. Once Jane was to a party asked; Her friends would all be there; She wore her best sprigged muslin frock, And ribbons tied her hair. |
| When she was shown upstairs to lay Her hat upon the bed, She saw a little basket there, With needles, wax and thread. "I wonder," said untidy Jane, "If Mattie likes to sew; I'm glad that I have never learned; I should not care to know." |
| With that she laughed and ran downstairs, But on the way—ah see! She's caught her skirt upon a nail And torn it terribly. If Jane had learned from grandmamma She might have mended it, But she had been a thoughtless child And could not sew a bit. |
| So with her frock all torn, into The room she had to go, And all the children wondering stared To see her looking so; Then when Jane played it caught her feet And almost made her fall; That shamed her so she ran away And tried to hide from all. |
| When nurse at last was sent for her, How glad was little Jane; She almost thought she never wished To romp or play again. "Oh! grandmamma, dear grandmamma, Indeed, indeed," said she, "If now you'll teach me how to sew A thankful child I'll be." |
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