The town crier has rung his bell , at a distant corner , and little Annie stands on her father 's doorsteps , trying to hear what the man with the loud voice is talking about . Let me listen too . O , he is telling the people that an elephant , and a lion , and a royal tiger , and a horse with horns , and other strange beasts from foreign countries , have come to town , and will receive all visitors who choose to wait upon them ! Perhaps little Annie would like to go . Yes ; and I can see that the pretty child is weary of this wide and pleasant street , with the green trees flinging their shade across the quiet sunshine , and the pavements and the sidewalks all as clean as if the housemaid had just swept them with her broom . She feels that impulse to go strolling away -- that longing after the mystery of the great world -- which many children feel , and which I felt in my childhood . Little Annie shall take a ramble with me . See ! I do but hold out my hand , and , like some bright bird in the sunny air , with her blue silk frock fluttering upwards from her white pantalets , she comes bounding on tiptoe across the street . Smooth back your brown curls , Annie ; and let me tie on your bonnet , and we will set forth ! What a strange couple to go on their rambles together ! One walks in black attire , with a measured step , and a heavy brow , and his thoughtful eyes bent down , while the gay little girl trips lightly along , as if she were forced to keep hold of my hand , lest her feet should dance away from the earth . Yet there is sympathy between us . If I pride myself on anything , it is because I have a smile that children love ; and , on the other hand , there are few grown ladies that could entice me from the side of little Annie ; for I delight to let my mind go hand in hand with the mind of a sinless child . So , come , Annie ; but if I moralize as we go , do not listen to me ; only look about you , and be merry ! Now we turn the corner . Here are hacks with two horses , and stage-coaches with four , thundering to meet each other , and trucks and carts moving at a slower pace , being heavily laden with barrels from the wharves , and here are rattling gigs , which perhaps will be smashed to pieces before our eyes . Hitherward , also , comes a man trundling a wheelbarrow along the pavement . Is not little Annie afraid of such a tumult ? No ; she does not even shrink closer to my side , but passes on with fearless confidence , a happy child amidst a great throng of grown people , who pay the same reverence to her infancy that they would to extreme old age .
Nobody jostles her ; all turn aside to make way for little XXXXX ; and , what is most singular , she appears conscious of her claim to such respect .
Annie Hitherward crier doorsteps gigs hacks pantalets stage-coaches tumult wheelbarrow