Plain Jane

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Title: Plain Jane
Author: G. M. George
Illustrator: G. M. C. Fry
Release Date: November 12, 2007 [EBook #23455]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
? START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLAIN JANE ***
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PLAIN JANE
G. M. C. FRY?and?G. M. GEORGE
THE DUMPY BOOKS?FOR CHILDREN
27. Plain Jane
The Dumpy Books for Children
CLOTH, ROYAL 32mo, 1/6 EACH
1. The Flamp.
2. Mrs. Turner's Cautionary Stories.
3. The Bad Family.
4. The Story of Little Black Sambo.
5. The Bountiful Lady.
6. A Cat Book.
7. A Flower Book.
8. The Pink Knight.
9. The Little Clown.
10. A Horse Book.
11. Little People: An Alphabet.
12. A Dog Book.
13. The Adventures Of Samuel and Selina.
14. The Little Girl Lost.
15. Dollies.
16. The Bad Mrs. Ginger.
17. Peter Piper's Practical Principles.
18. Little White Barbara.
19. The Japanese Dumpy Book.
20. Towlocks and His Wooden Horse.
21. The Three Little Foxes.
22. The Old Man's Bag.
23. The Three Goblins.
24. Dumpy Proverbs.
25. More Dollies.
26. Little Yellow Wang-lo.
27. Plain Jane.
28. The Sooty Man.
29. Fishy-Winkle.
_A Cloth Case to contain Twelve Volumes can be had, price 2s. net; or the First Twelve Volumes in Case, price ��1 net._
London: GRANT RICHARDS,?48, Leicester Square.
[Illustration (Publisher's Device)?SIR JOSEPH CAUSTON & SONS LIMITED / LONDON]
[Illustration]
Plain Jane
Text by G. M. George
ILLUSTRATED?BY G. M. C. FRY
LONDON:?GRANT RICHARDS?1903
That model Miss, Jemima Jane?Was very good, and very plain;?Her parents noticed with delight?How neat she was, and how polite.?Sometimes her young companions came?And begged she'd join them in a game.?But it was never any use;?She'd make some civil, quiet excuse,?And, "Dear Mama," she'd whisp'ring say,?"I love plain sewing more than play;?I hope you'll always think of me?As your own gentle, busy Bee!"?Jane rose at five. "What for?" you ask;?And I reply, "To con her task."?She breakfasted on milk and bread,?Nor ever asked for aught instead;?"I like it best, because," said she,?"'Tis wholesome for a child like me."?She used to think it quite a treat,?To put her bed and chamber neat;?But she enjoyed--oh, better far!?Saying her tasks to her Mama.
[Illustration: _Jane's Uncle_]
She took the air when these were done,?But she would never romp and run;?Prim and sedate she walked about,?Her back quite straight, her toes turned out:?And all the people, seeing this,?Exclaimed, "Oh, what a model Miss!"?Jane's Uncle, who lived far away,?Sent her Mama a note one day,?Explaining that he found he had?To spend a fortnight in Bagdad.?He had a daughter, and 'twas plain?He hoped that she might stay with Jane.?"She's a sad puss," he said, "I own;?But I can't leave the child alone."?"I think," Mama said, in a fuss,?"We can't have _her_ to stay with us:?I do not like my Jane to mix?With children who have naughty tricks."?But Jane said, with a gentle smile,?Plying her needle all the while,?"Pray, let her come here, dear Mama,?With the permission of Papa;?I have a hope that she might be?Influenced for her good by me:?For I could show her that she would?Be happier if she were good."
[Illustration: "_She bought a rod that afternoon_"]
[Illustration: "_Ann was brought there by?a serving man_"]
At this her kind Mama relented,?And, as her good Papa consented,?That very day her mother wrote?Her uncle quite a cordial note,?Saying, "I think that it is clear?Your Ann should spend your absence here"?As she expected Ann quite soon,?She bought a rod that afternoon.?And sure enough, next Tuesday, Ann?Was brought there by a serving-man.?Alas! alas! it soon was plain?She was not in the least like Jane!?She ran and laughed and romped about,?And raised a hubbub and a shout.?"Oh, fie!" said Jane, "Pray, cousin Ann,?Do be more tranquil if you can."?But Ann just laughed, and did not care,?And tweaked her cousin by the hair.?When they were out she climbed a tree,?Which quite annoyed the "busy Bee."?"Fie, fie!" she cried. Ann said "Here goes:"?And aimed an acorn at her nose!?So Jane replied, "My good Mama?Shall know how rude and rough you are."?"Your good Mama!" said little Ann;?"Well, if you want to tell, you can."?She went away--went whistling too,?Such a rude, boyish thing to do!
[Illustration: "_Aimed an acorn at her nose_"]
[Illustration: "'_Indeed, _indeed_, I would much rather not proceed_'"]
They went home shortly after, so?Jane told Mama her tale of woe.?"I do not tell this tale from choice,"?She said, in her most gentle voice;?"I thought you ought to know, you see,?How cousin Ann climbed up a tree;?And when I chid in gentle fashion,?She flew into a dreadful passion,?And--dear Mama, indeed, _indeed_,?I would much rather not proceed."?But since her mother thought it best,?She dutifully told the rest.?--"She threw things at me, tore my hair,?And _whistled_ as she left me there!"?At this Mama looked grim and stern,?And said that Ann had much to