A CAUTIONARY TALE

Evening Star, Issue 20688, 10 January 1931, Page 2

A CAUTIONARY TALE

THE AWFUL FATE OF BLOODY JANE (With apologies to Hilaire Belloc.) Diana Jane Matilda Meares— Although a child of tender years— Did so much like inflicting pain That people called her Bloody Jane. She loved to squash the beetles flat, She cut the whiskers off her cat And even shaved his tail, until The tortured animal was ill, And pilfered of his pussy pride Gave one despairing miaow, and died. The heartless girl was shunned by all The living creatures, great and small; They’d run or fly or swim for miles To double-cross her wicked wiles. She’d catch the insects, just for fun, And pull their logs off, one by one. While blow-flics were in bundles tied And roasted, till they cracked inside. The chief delight of wicked Jane Was early-worming in the rain; She’d fish in puddles all the day Until a bite .should come her way. Then into sections chopped the worm And, gloating, watched the pieces squirm. At last the victims of her claw Could bear this tyi'anny no more. They met in council one dark night And planned revenge with all their might; Decided also who be sent To measure out the punishment. And all those present (saving three) Did vote in favour of the flea. Next morning Jane awoke and saw Her anus and shoulders bitten raw. When Jane began to itch, the lloa Said, “ Serves you right for hurting me.” He bit her toes and bit her heels, And hopped for joy to hear her squeals. The next and twelve • succeeding nights The ilea recorded eighty bites. And all the animals wore glad When irritation drove Jane mad. Her wounds became so many that As she grow thin the liea grew fat. She scratched and scratched, but all in vain— The time had come for Bloody Jane. Her strength was soon with anguish spent, And doctors came and doctors wont. At last the flea .lumped out of bed And hopped off home, for Jane was dead. 0 gentle render, do not fail To learn a lesson by this tale; From hurting helpless beasts refrain Or you may end like Bloody Jane. —B.B.