Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/157

WHO FOLLOWED THE PIPER "And what will I be?" said Simple Simon, his round eyes fixed upon the Piper.

"You will watch to see that the maids roll the paste and that the cooks don't let the pies burn in the ovens."

"Oh, I'd love to do that," said Simple Simon.

"What will I be?" said Johnny-Jump-Up, whose father used to eat fire in the market place on Thursdays.

"You will be given to the King's Arab to train; you will be made a lion tamer; you shall have a hoop and a long whip, and you will make the long-maned yellow lion jump through the hoop."

"I'd love to do that," said Johnny-Jump-Up.

"What will I be given to do?" said Mary-Mary, quite contrary.

"You will plant cockleshells in the Queen's garden and watch them grow," said the Piper.

"I'd love to do that," said Mary.

"What will I be?" said Meg, the ragpicker's daughter.