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 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF VICTORIA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
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mmmm 
 
 mmmi 
 
 THE BROWNIES 
 AT HOME 
 
 BY 
 PALMER COX 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 THH CENTURY CO. 
 
 NHW YORK 
 
(.■il'viiirlil. iS()i, iHc)2, by The (Curtis Pi'blishing Company; 
 Copyright, i.Hcn, I'y The Cintury Co. 
 
 I 
 
 r 
 
 mm 
 
 <i''(« tviti 
 
WiM 
 
 LIKE fjirii:> jihl jiohliiis, arc inuigiiurr lil- 
 tli- ij^i iirs, '.il'o arc >ul^(iosi-tt to ililiiihl in 
 haniilt-sa f^ijiiks jml /\-lp/iil ,/,v</s. Tl.',v 
 work lIiu/ if'orl ichili: v.\\}iy hoiisiholji. 
 sit'tp, aiiil iidyr allow //'.'ws./i'.'s to l\- si\'ii 
 br mortal o'l's. 
 
 J 
 
COXMI^N'PS. 
 
 rAOB. 
 
 Bkownieh in January. 
 
 Tiii:y takk Advantauk ok tiik Snow — and uo 
 ON A Sij;ioii-Hiiti; — \viii:m', thkv iiavi: a Livki.y 
 Ti.Mi:— HIT Hn.iov thkir Expedition, 
 
 BkoWxMks in Fe]{1{i;aky. 
 
 Tl'knino tukiu Akyistic Skim, to Making 
 
 VAIiENTINK.S — THKY DlSTIillUTI'. Kl'.MKMMWANCKS 
 
 Far AND WiDK— Tin's Astonishing tiik Xativks. 
 
 13 
 
 Brownies in March. 
 
 Tiik Hand visits tiik National Capital — 
 
 AND makes a KaID UPON THE WllITK llorSK — ■"' 
 
 Aktkk a Dance in tiik East Hoom — they 
 
 VENTUHE INTO THE STATE BeDKOOM. 
 
liliOWXIKS IX Al'lUL. 
 
 Si'KiNii tiivr.s iiiKM Ni;\v I.ii'i; — Tiiky hk(iin 
 
 1(1 l.'i(l,l. Iluill'S— AM) MANY II.\IIIIIUi;At)TII Ks- 42 
 
 r.\iM.,-. (iivi; ("iiANii:s 'I'd SHOW thkik Dr.voTioN 
 ■1(1 Om; Anotiikk. 
 
 MiiowNtr.s IN M \v. 
 
 .M(ivi\(, TiMi: I'.NAiii.i.s Tiii; Hand in riiovr. 
 ITS (1(1(11) Wii.i,— A Ni:w )isi: tit in (>i;- 
 
 |)|.;i( — AND N(i TkACI; idlNI-. : H' Till; KlNDM 
 
 lli-.i.n.Ks. 
 
 57 
 
 /-V 
 
 HunWMI.S IN .llNK. 
 
 I'l'dN llir. HUddKI.VN HullKiK — A (iKAM) I{A('K 
 
 (ivr.i; •nii; lidi-rv K'dADWAV — Somk Si:i;k tiik Tdi- 71 
 
 OF A TdWKH — dTIIKliS 1 )l>i KNI) TO TlIK lidTT(JM 
 OK TlIK KlVKIf. 
 
 E^»— ~ ,,-1, 
 
 lii;()\VMi;s IN .li i,v. 
 
 \'i>niN(; Tin: ( )i.i) Stati; lidisi: in I'mii.adkmmiia, 
 Till-; Hand IIxamini'.s iiir, Hki.ks tiikuk — Tiiky 
 lfi;ii,i;ci' 1 I'dN Tin: liKNcTii di' ini: l»i:vdi.iTi(iN — 
 
 AND h'K.lOKi; dVIOK ITS HllSlLT. 
 
 84 
 
 Ainii ,i r, 
 
 
 
 I-JiiOWNiK.s IN August. 
 
 A UoAT-HiDK ri'oN thi". (iur.AT Fatiii-.k of 
 
 \VAI'i;iiS HKINOS TlIK HaNI) TO TlIK SiNNY 
 
 S'HiTi — wiiKin: TiiKV l)i:i,i(iHT in Furrrs 
 
 AND Fl.dWKHS— lUT Alii; NOT I 'LKASKD WITH 
 Al.LKiAToUS. 
 
 95 
 
\v/piUD'S [ 
 
 C'ol^u<^l^'vfll\^ I 
 
 /•il iri Alio,, 
 
 LiTiowNinH IN- Sr.i"rr.Mi?i;it. 
 
 TlIK 1V\N1» .IlllKNKVS 'I'O ClIM'AUd — 
 AND M;M»S a IIaNII T(»\VAlfl> I'KKI'All- 
 IN(i Till", WoHI.D'S KaIU— As A FiN 
 
 isiiiNii Tuicii, riiK.v lloisr ■riii; Stau- 
 SrANdLKi) Hannku a.mii) ('iii;i;us. 
 
 HAOK, 
 
 104 
 
 BuoWNrHS IN OCTOHF'l. 
 
 AdUicft.TruK HN'(iAfiKs THr;ri{ Attkn- 
 
 TION — I'liKSSINd OllSTlNATi; Am.MAI.S INTO 
 
 Skuvici;, tiikv I'l t Vurir and Vi:(ii;tahi-ks 
 oi T ni' .Iack Fkost's Ukack. 
 
 115 
 
 Brownies in NovE:\roER. 
 
 ('()LLE(TIN(i AIJ, TlIK 1)KI,I('A('IKS iW THK SkASON i^ty^ 
 
 —TlIK Band I'uki-akks a Sr.Mi-Ti'ors Fkast— and 
 TUKN Enjoys Natvue's Bounty. 
 
 Brownies in December. 
 
 The Brownies Select a fine Christmas Tree— 
 WHICH IS Loaded to the tip top with (tifts — 
 AND THE Hearts of Pook Children are jiade 
 
 «Jeai). 
 
 134 
 
 xi 
 
OTHHR BOOKS BY PAI.MHR COX: 
 PUBLISHHD BY IHH CKNTURY CO. 
 
 THE BROWNIES 
 THEIR BOOK 
 
 Quarlo. i ^o pjges. Price, in ho.irds, 81.50. 
 
 ANOTHER 
 BROWNIE BOOK 
 
 Quarto, m,, p;,i;es. Priee, in Uy.nds, ^,.^0. 
 
TTTE BllOWXTES IN JANITARY. 
 
 2et\} January laid tlie snow 
 
 On niount.iin liigli and valley low, 
 
 And glidinj^ Hloip^h and jingling bell 
 
 Showed folks improved their chances well, 
 
 The Brownies planned, with language bold, 
 
 A ride across the country cold. 
 
 Said one: "No cutter frail and lignt 
 
 Will answer our demands to-night; 
 
 We must have something large and strong 
 
 To carrj all the })and along, 
 
 And stand the strain of going fast 
 
 On wintry roads where (h'ifts are cast." 
 
 Another cried: "I know a place 
 
 Where rests a rig to suit the case; 
 
 'T is like a life-hoat, long and wide, 
 
 In which the sailors brave the ti<li': 
 
 'T will hold us all. I well l)elieve 
 
 Full half the hand can seats receive, 
 
THE BKOWNIES IN JANUAEY. 
 
 ■*•'-< : :i«i«ii3A 
 
 "While tliosc who are a seat denied 
 
 Can in some other manner ride. 
 
 It lias the plmnes, all blue and red, 
 
 To stream so j^aily overhead. 
 
 There \s nothinjij laeking there, 1 know, 
 
 That we require to make a show." 
 
 A third remarked: "To make it grand 
 A spk-ndid team is near at hand; 
 They will not take a seeond lash 
 Before the harness ijoes to smash. 
 But, treated skilfully, will glide 
 As fast as you will care to ride. 
 It matters not how hills may rise, 
 Or how the snow hefore them lies, — 
 Once on the road, you may depend. 
 They '11 strive to tind the other end. 
 When going fast the lines I '11 hold, — 
 More teams than one I have controlled 
 While comrades tremhled in their place 
 With bristling hair and pallid faces." 
 Another spoke: "Excuse my smile; 
 No disrespect is meant the while; 
 
 But, sir. to state the matter ])lain, 
 
 You 're hardly fit to hold ji rehi. 
 
 You may have strength, and courag(^ too, 
 
 And in your way may wonders do. 
 
 But 't is not all in ]>ull and haul. 
 
 Some judgment there must be, withal; 
 
 And that 's a quality or crown 
 
 With which you are not weighted down." 
 
 \ 
 

 THE BROWNIEH IN JANUARY. 
 
 Then brief uiscussions staried there 
 
 In settling which tlie whip should hear; 
 
THE JiJtOWNlES IN JANUAKY. 
 
 For Imlf ii (lozon lilod u claini 
 To wield tliat impleineiit of sliaiue. 
 Said oiu': "I '11 niako it snap so loud 
 'T will wake an echo in the cloud." 
 But others said: "You 're far too bold; 
 No hasty hand the Avhip should hold, 
 That in each ti'ivial action may 
 See cause to bring it into pla3%" 
 Those wlio have seen the Brownie band 
 In other scenes by sea or land, 
 Know how the cunnini;- roijues agree 
 Upon a scheme, whate'er it ])e; 
 While those who have not studied o'er 
 Their wondi'ous doings, heretofore, 
 
 Will learn, if they pursue the rhyme. 
 How much the Brownies value time. 
 In twenty minutes by the clock 
 
 That in a steeple on the block 
 Both day and night 
 
 its visage showed, 
 Some '^"^^''^'^^ ^^A^ "^*^3B^^fe>. The happy baud 
 
 to the team ^(f'B!^^^^ '^^'^^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 attention lent, '^^^ jC^^ W the road, 
 
 xind on the harness 
 
 were intent. 
 More through the yard as 
 
 sprightly sped, 
 To (b'ag the cutter from the shed, 
 The seats to portion or divide 
 So every one could share the ride, — 
 
 4 
 
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY. 
 
 The Brownies wlien occasion calls 
 Can almost roll themselves in halls, 
 In order to conform arijitht 
 To places that may crowd them tight. 
 But one by one the seats were jannned, 
 And spaces in between were crammed 
 With Brownies well content to seat 
 Themselves among the others' feet. 
 
 
 A picnic party on a barge 
 
 That floats, a puffing tug-boat's charge 
 
 Upon the river or the bay. 
 
 When workers take a holiday, 
 
 Could hardly show such faces Imght 
 
 As from the sleigh i)eeped out that night. 
 
 6 
 
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY. 
 
 For several miles, with uothiiif; wrong. 
 Behind the team they slid alonj;. 
 But, though the start was all indeed 
 That one could wish for sport and speed, 
 They found mishaps, you may depend, 
 If you i)ursue them to the end. 
 
 Some, ratlier than to lie left out 
 At such a lime, liad <'rawle<l ahout 
 
 
 
a;srn»!ss»aES5r-"T=-- 
 
 THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY. 
 
 Until they found a friendly brace 
 
 Or rail that offered them a place; 
 
 "While, disregarding? pride and ease, 
 
 Home rode on rattling whiffletrees. 
 
 And kept their seat through jolts and jogs, 
 
 And sudden turns round stumps and logs, — 
 
 Content to be, as it would seem. 
 
 At least the nearest to the team. 
 
 More rigged a board they chanced to find, 
 
 Which, like a rudder, reached behind, 
 
 And formed : seat and "teeter" gay 
 
 Unknown to makers of the sleigh. 
 
 At (certain bends and gravel banks 
 The wind had played its winter pranks, 
 And turned a road as smooth as glass 
 Into a choked and dangerous pass 
 Where walls and ditches hidden lay 
 And caused the Brownies great dismay. 
 
 Sometimes a jolt would cost the string 
 
 Upon the plank an upward tling 
 
 That seemed to rcuighly set aside 
 
 Their claims to any farther ride. 
 
 They boiuiced in air as though to seize 
 
 The moon, that sailed above the trees. 
 
 And drag it from its heavenly way 
 
 To be a head-light for their sleigh. 
 
 A shout would rise from all the crew, 
 
 But loudest from the hapless few 
 
 Who thus appeared to be consigned 
 
 To trouble of the gi'avest kind. 
 
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY. 
 
 But tlirouj^h uf^ility so j^niiid 
 
 'T is sokloin found outside the band, 
 
 They lield their own wliile in the air, 
 
 And, chasing after the affair, 
 
 Tlie plank was soon regained by i-aeli 
 
 Before it passed ])eyond their reach. 
 
 They circled round the country wide, 
 
 And then coinmenced their homeward ride 
 
 But as they near tlie city drew, 
 
 The road divided into two. 
 
 Some thought the right-liand one the best, 
 
 The left seemed better to the rest; 
 
 And each one pulled, to reason blind, 
 
 According to his turn of ndnd. 
 
 Too many cooks around tlu^ pot 
 
 Will spoil the broth, now doubt it not: 
 
 Too many hands to reins applied 
 
 Will surely spoil the finest ride. 
 
 Tlie team was not inclined to wait 
 
 Until tli(\y settled their debate, 
 
 But an inii)artial spirit showed. 
 
 And did not take to either road. 
 
 But carried out the neutral plan 
 
 And straight ahead ))etween them ran. 
 
 Now some pulled left, and more pulled i-ight, 
 
 While thos(! who could not manage quite 
 
 To reach the lines from where they stood 
 
 Gave free advice to those who could. 
 
 But counsel was not worth a pin, 
 
 For some fell out, and some fell in, 
 
THE Bl«)WNIi:.S IN JANUARY. 
 
 And all thao showed ahovo tlie seat, 
 At sundry places, worv the feet; 
 While those who took the outward fall 
 Had all the field in which to sprawl. 
 And nohly strove to do their share 
 In covering all the gi'ound was tlici-c. 
 
 
 But those who had the team to drive, 
 
 And to their duty were alive, 
 
 
 
THE nilOWNIES IN .TANUARY. 
 
 ••^, 
 
 y^. 'V.. .-r--^ 
 
 Had Itiiicly time a jjlanco t(» tlirow 
 
 At conirados tumbling; in the snow, 
 
 When t<» a sl(>])in^ place they drew 
 
 Where (lanjjer more apparent f?rew. 
 
 Then followed soon a sudch'n ])it('h, 
 
 An<l sl(Mj;h and load went in the ditch! 
 
 Now every one l»ej;an to find 
 
 A chance to exercise liis mind, 
 
 For s])eedy action wins the ])rizo 
 
 At such a time, you may snnnise. 
 
 Some fjrabbed the team without delay. 
 
 And some l)e«fan to rijjcht the sleif^li, 
 
 While others Aw^ to hrinj^ to lijjfht 
 
 Companions who had jjone from sight. 
 
 It was no easy task to know 
 
 Just who was missing in the snow. 
 
 For when the sleigli was overthrown 
 
 Piach thought alnmt himself alone, 
 
 And took small heed, as o'er he went. 
 How fiiends made out in their descent. 
 They had no time to call the roll. 
 But here and there a sunken hole 
 Would to the anxious searchers tell 
 i'*^^'*-*' \^'^. re some one in the snowdrift fell; 
 A foot would next uplifted be 
 And tell who stniggled to be free. 
 
 But when they came at length in view 
 
 A bosom friend one hardly knew. 
 
 So fearfully the smash had told 
 
 On garments fine and bearing bold. 
 
 10 
 
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY. 
 
 Thus was distress much quicker found 
 Than in these lines 1 now conii)ound. 
 But as they had no time to spare 
 To talk alxmt the mishap there, 
 They turned the team the proper way, 
 And gained the road that nearest lay. 
 Although the shaking up was l)ad, 
 They thought the pleasant ride they had 
 . Did more than pay for the upset 
 Whieh at the forking road they 'd met. 
 Each horse again liad found its stall, 
 Was watt'red, fed, ruhhed down, and all. 
 Before the lagging winter day 
 Began to chive the night away. 
 
 Then through the fields and down the road 
 A rapid gait the Brownies showed, — 
 Now through a place where gas-lamps shone. 
 Now through a tunnel made of stone, 
 Tiiat hrietly hid them all from sight; 
 Then, hreaking out into the light. 
 With equal interest, e<[ual speed. 
 Each struggled hard to gain the lead, 
 Whil(^ hright and brighter spread the glare 
 Of morning as they scampered there, 
 
 11 
 
THK ItltOWNrHH IN JANIAUY. 
 
 
 
 Till iu'i'<l«'(l slu'ltt'i' caiiic ill view 
 And secret haunts tliut well they knew. 
 Then Brownies found u place to hide, 
 And chat al)out tlieir si)lendid ride. 
 
 FROM The arrows or the sun 
 
 NOW THE RiJOWNita/IND MUST RUN 
 
 12 
 
 
TIIK JUJOWNIKS 
 
 IN in^:B!niAIJV 
 
 f^ Felmiiiry rolltjd ai'oiin<l, 
 
 All I'urly cluuico tlio Brownies i'oimd 
 
 To iiKH't and talk ulxmt tlic way 
 
 The pooi)l(^ toil from day to day, — 
 
 Some piling;- n\) wliateVr tliey please 
 
 And turninj? it to gain with ease; 
 
 Some losnij? what they 've saved for years 
 
 in spite of all their care and tears. 
 
 Said one: "Thronj^h all the rack and strife 
 
 That may be found in human life 
 
 From year to year, the tiiith to tell. 
 
 They hold to ancient customs well; 
 
 And in this month some moments find 
 
 To keep St. Valentine in mind." 
 
 A second spoke: "Ah! Cupid's arrow 
 
 The hardest heaii can deeply haiTOW. 
 
 The miser, tyrant, soldier, king. 
 
 Have felt its power, and its sting. 
 
 And after all 't is well indeed 
 
 That men should (-lipid's aiTow heed, 
 
 o 13 
 
THE imOWNII'.s IN FEimUARY. 
 
 ^t* ,>^ 
 
 For love "s IX ^it't that man alone, 
 As ]iocts sinii', fan call liis own, 
 And shall not Brownit's do their part 
 To i»raise the ti'Uc and lovinii' heart? 
 X(i\v we who note tVoni dav to <lay 
 
 ^\. 
 
 inkinil at lariiv, iis well we may 
 
 Can speak onr minds l>oth fair and free 
 On matters that we chance to see. 
 And t liis is plain as is the nose 
 On every face this nieetinu' shows: 
 No sweeter siii'lil can meet the ey<' 
 Than heai'ls honnd in one hivinu' tie, 
 Prepareil to hi'ave all kinds of weatht f 
 
 And, if need he. to hleed t oji-etlier." 
 
 A thii'd remarked: " N'oni" s]»ee(di defines 
 
 'I'lie feelini;- in the jioets' lines. 
 
 So connt it not as odd if we 
 
 In sentiment and sonl ai^ree. 
 
 'T is stranye to see a .uTasj)in<i* man. 
 
 Whose mind to money-ii'ettini;' I'an, 
 
 Devote his time and patient care 
 
 To I'hymes in praise of woman fair. 
 
 How many thousands. <;-reat aiul small, — 
 
 Ves, millions, — on this earthly hall 
 
 Do iind suri»i'ises in the mail. 
 
 Some stare thereon with aiiii'er ]>ale, 
 
 Then crowd the docunieiils fi'om sii,dit 
 
 Oi' hold them up for lauii'hter liy'hl ; 
 
 While nii>i'e with ]»leasui'e and with prid* 
 
 Display the ;:;ifts on evei'\' side, 
 
 14 
 
 '•^-^ 
 
THE BIIOWNIES IN FEBKUAKY. 
 
 That prove without a dou1)t or fear 
 They still are loved and counted dear." 
 "Your j^lowing words havc! filled my head 
 With notions strange," another said. 
 "To-night the l)and will undertake 
 Some striking valentines to make, 
 And then to buildings low and high, 
 Wlien all are done, we '11 quickly fly. 
 And leave tliem there to cause sm'i>rise 
 When people in the morning rise. 
 Those who delight to pick and ciioose 
 The words that best express their views. 
 
 Can as their part devote their time 
 To si)inning out the strings of rhyme, 
 While otliers draw the pictm'es fine 
 Who to that special art incline. 
 Thus each will have a task assigned 
 'Well suited to his turn of mind. 
 It won't take long, when once w;- start, 
 To pi'ove we 're not devoid of art; 
 Tlu' work is done, ' right otf the reel,' 
 In which all hands an interest feel." 
 
 "I know a place," another cried, 
 "Wliere we with paint can be sup})Hed, 
 And paper, too, of every grade 
 For just sucli dainty ])ainting made. 
 No other task, the truth to tell. 
 Could suit the Brownies lialf so well 
 As this wOiich gives a chance to show 
 And tell the people what we know." 
 
 15 
 
 /: 
 
 Jiv*vvi^^»:, 
 
THE lUIOWNll'.K IN I'l'.BKUAKY. 
 
 To liiid the paint and jtapcr, too, 
 And pen and ink tlic Bi-ownics Hew; 
 Tlion, safely housed away from sight, 
 Some ])ainted ])i('tures half the nij^ht, 
 While others inatehed the foi'm or face 
 With verses full of wit or <;Taee, 
 Aeeordint-: to tiie kind refpiired 
 To i)i(|ne. or [)lease, as they desired. 
 
 Some lirownies of a eoinic vein 
 I"'rom work on hand did pleasure .n'ain, 
 And smiled to think how well their wit 
 Would certain heads around them HI; 
 While more with sentiment divine 
 Ponrcd love into oa(di <ilowinj;' line, 
 I'ntil the ardent declaration 
 Was h<»und to start a palpitation. 
 
 i>; 
 
 m. 
 
^-%^ '.^.. 
 
 THE mjOWNlES IN FE15HUAKY. 
 
 ■-■^^^ 
 
 They round tlic (lictionaiy pressM 
 To clioose the words that suited best 
 To tell of Love's uiuhing tiaine 
 That at first sij^lit or meetiiii;' came, 
 And ever wann and warmer j^lowed 
 As time still greater heauty showed. 
 A Brownie has a level head, 
 Althongh perhaps not eollege-bred, 
 And knows jnst when to stop and start, 
 
 Or round a phrase to eateh the lieart; 
 
 And thougli sarcastic flings at men 
 
 They may indulge in now aud then. 
 
 The earnest, active Brownie mind 
 
 To thimghts of love is more in<'lined; 
 
 So hearts and arrows, in tlie main, 
 
 The Brownies' nussives di<l contain. 
 
 Wiien every picture was comidcte 
 
 And all tlie verses had their feet, 
 
 The Brownies wrote addresses <lowu 
 
 And started prom[)tly thrcmgh the 
 to^^^l, 
 
 To soon (listrilmte, as they planned. 
 
 In humble homes and mansions grand. 
 
 The valentines tliat were designed 
 
 To mystify the hmnan kind. 
 
 They clhnbed up winding stairs so high 
 
 Their breath gave out ere tiiey were nigh 
 
 17 
 
THE UROWNIES Ix\ FEimUARY. 
 
 The place they sought— 
 
 tlie Tipper flat; 
 
 So on tlie steps 
 
 hi rows they sat 
 
 To pant a while 
 
 and nioi'alize 
 
 How peopli' from 
 
 low stations rise. 
 At other builihngs 
 
 Brownies called 
 And hi the 
 
 elevators crawled — 
 
 Then, shootini-- up from tirst t(» last, 
 To all tlic floors they (luickly passed, 
 And smiled 1o sec how these affairs 
 Saved tilt' loni-- tram]>inj>' 
 
 lip the stairs; 
 
 And wislu'd in every house 
 
 they M And 
 Some useful flxture .a:.„, 
 
 of the kind. , f^!' 
 But fear at times ^^M^' 
 
 instead of fun ,feiili^" 
 The Bi'ownies knew ^^ 
 
 ere they were done. -_^^p'. 
 One, slii)i)in^- off ' 
 
 just as it I'ose, ^ . ^^ 
 
 Was eauiiht l»y comrades '^\. IV" J\i''^^ '^ ' 
 
 1)V the toes, 
 
 ^' '=? • -s . «% . -1^ 
 
 r?-«^«^'" 
 
 18 
 
THE BEOWNIES IN FEBRUAEY. 
 
 And ('arried in tluit wreteliod plight, 
 
 At risk of Itcing lost outriglit, 
 
 Till, at a halt, lio had acqiiired 
 
 A situation more desiivd. 
 
 Few pleasures people here below 
 
 Can find unmixed with pain or woe. 
 
 Whate'er the sport, the pang is near 
 
 And has its inning, never fear. 
 
 And Brownies though on pleasure hent 
 
 Found some mishaps as on they went. 
 
 And trials that would soon disgrace 
 
 Or crush a less deternnned race. 
 
 While on a lone suburban I'oad 
 
 The Brownies ran, each with his load, 
 
 A bridge that needed some repairs 
 
 Gave way and nnicli increased their cares; 
 
 For though some held to stringers well 
 
 And broken planks that all but fell, 
 
 A nnml)er, tumbling from the path. 
 
 Were (juickly treated to a l)ath. 
 
 No meditated leaj) was here. 
 
 With gracefid pose from float or pier. 
 
 Into a sunmier flood that gave 
 
 Warm invitations to its wave; 
 
 But head and lieels, just as they ran, 
 
 Tlie Brownies' sudden dive began 
 
 To ciu'rents neither warm nor nice, 
 
 For here and there a cake of ice 
 
 Was drifting on the water chill 
 
 And proved that winter lingered still. 
 
 IS) 
 
['HE lUtOWMKS IN I'HIilUAIiV. 
 
a.-=.rj.:;--?casrs?.-c' 
 
 :li4! 
 
 THE BKOWNIEH IN FEBliUAKY. 
 
 Now moi'tul folk, as well we know, 
 Would soon have let their Innulles j;o. 
 And trouljled neither hand nor head 
 Abont tlu^ saints, alive or dead. 
 But, f^entle reaikn*, don t l)eliev(^ 
 That Brownies would their hands relie\ 
 Of lovinjjf missives nuide to cheer 
 The hearts of those they held so dear, 
 Till every valentine they made 
 Was in the rijiht location laid. 
 
 ,iwi^!;(ii|i 
 
 
 m9^ 
 
 nh .Hi ; 
 
 -^'f^^&FM^T« 
 
 ■ifcl*'' 
 
 
 "M 
 
 't/-- 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 iMJtMMm- 
 
 ym 
 
 'T is hard enough in sunnuer itours 
 To ehnd> around on walls or towers. 
 When vines, perhaps, a hold supply. 
 And nis^hts are line, and stones are dry, 
 But harder still the task to clindj 
 Ai'ound in sli[)pery winter time, 
 'When snow, or rain, or ice, or all, 
 l\Iay interfere witli those wlio ei-awl. 
 Then wondt>r not if letters fell 
 And for a time were scattered well. 
 And with moro cares the mind oppressed 
 That was disturbed enough at best. 
 
THE HHOWMES IN rElUU'AKY. 
 
 
 And tlioiif^li jjjr(>at care 
 
 tlic Bi'ownics sliowcd, 
 
 Sonu' fell from huildiuiis 
 
 Avitli their load 
 To ('at(di on lines 
 
 that sti'eteh(>(l in air 
 And swini; like 
 
 nialet'actoi's there, 
 Some by the heels, 
 s(mie l)v the head 
 
 • ■ — . 
 
 As clianee the timely 
 
 net had spivad, 
 Till friends 
 
 wei'e t'oi'ced 
 to stop their fun, 
 And here and tliere 
 
 I'oi' ladders run 
 So safe positions mi<fht 
 he iiain<'d 
 
 While vet 
 a spark 
 of life 
 remained. 
 
 Their hreath 
 was slioi't, 
 tlieir necks 
 wei'e lonir 
 
 Ere t hex- 
 were frecMl 
 from wires 
 strong. 
 
 u'-'V 
 
 :i-^-1 
 
 
 
m 
 
 r-P- 
 
 ^ 
 
 iw*- 
 
 'II / 
 
 THE UROWXIEH IN FEBIIUAIIY. 
 
 On firo-cHCiipcs tliey climlx'd ul)ont. 
 On l)i'ack('ts, cups, and tvinnuiiiji;s st(mt, 
 And on th(» root' or window-Kill 
 Tlicy kept tlu'ir minds on business still, 
 Till verses of a tender strain, 
 And those of a more eomie vein. 
 With pictnres drawn t<> suit eaeli ease, 
 (■ould safely reacdi their proper place. 
 
 Said one: "Hut that deliji,ht it brings 
 
 To chiUb'cn to recei\-e such things, 
 
 I M throw my packets in the Hre 
 
 And to some liiding-pjace retire, 
 
 Becausi; 1 've hardly got a stitch 
 
 Tliat is not toi*n with hook ox hitch 
 
 While clind)ing round just hke a mouse, 
 
 To slip them into eveiy house." 
 
 At times a false alarm would spring 
 
 And wildest consternation bring. 
 
 Then into l)arr<'ls and boxes near 
 
 At once thoy 'd dive and disappear 
 
 Till, reassured, at length tliey rose 
 
 To l)ring their lid)ors to a close. 
 2;i 
 
Tin: liltOWNTKS IN rKIUa'AHY. 
 
 got his share 
 Saw liow tile crcatnro looks for whom 
 The world is loath to furnish room, 
 And learned in couplets seril)l»kMl free 
 Just what ills epitaph might be. 
 But he Avlio had a noltle mind, 
 With generous heart and feelings kind, 
 Was told hy picture and hy verse 
 How teai's would fall around ;his hoarse, 
 And sweett'st flowers strew the -round 
 When he his final rest had fonnd. 
 The children to surnusing fell, 
 Still wondering who knew them so well; 
 
 •J 4 
 
THE IJHOWNIKS TN FEHllLARY. 
 
 --ii-i.t^ -•,^:/J. 
 
Tin; ItUOWNIKS IN I'KltlUARY. 
 
 KiifW every whim, and hope, and four, 
 liike kind, ohsei-vini; mothers dejii-; 
 And ill ad(h'esses full and plain 
 They studieil hard the key to j^ain. 
 Hut every hand was stran<;(' and n<'W, 
 And ^ave them not the slij;'ht«'st c\\n\ 
 For Bi'ownies study everywhere 
 'I'o covei' up their tra(dvs wi<^h caro, 
 And, crowded thoiinii they often are 
 l"'or time to Work or travel far. 
 Their hands and feet sliow extra i>()\ver 
 T(» suit the lateness of tho liour. 
 Then roads wei-e tilled from sitle to side 
 With Brownies as they ran to liide; 
 Thi* weaker, aided by the sti'ong, 
 Wore hurried on their way along, 
 Foi' it would ill become the hand 
 To now deny a liel])in<; hand 
 To those on whom the nianitold 
 Misfortunes (>■ ihe nii,dit had t(dd. 
 
 We a re 
 
 creatures 
 
 of 
 tlje 
 
 I7ii'l?t 
 
 At}d iijust 
 
 at 
 day 
 
 UyJil 
 
 26 
 
 '4i 
 
TUK BRO\\^NTP]S FX MAKCTT. 
 
 Brownie band, wliilo roaming i-onnd 
 In })lustonng ^larcli, ono ovtming fonnd 
 Tlienisclvcs upon a windy liciglit 
 That Itroujiiit the Capitol in sight. 
 Said ono: "That dome that looms so higli 
 It seems to pierce the starry sky, 
 Proves we Ixdiold, trom where we stand, 
 Tlie central city of the land. 
 
 Here you the JNIandarin may see 
 Wlio rejuvsents the Land of Tea; 
 The Russian from the vast domain 
 Where iron-handed despots reign; 
 The Pasha working for the weal 
 Of states heneath a neiglibor's heel ; 
 Outlying tracts, of which we hear 
 But little, have theh* lookoui.s near 
 To see that nothing wrong is planned 
 Or carried on against their land: 
 
 27 
 
THE ]51{0^\'NIES IN Jr.VKCH. 
 
 '''•'^/V Ct/ 
 
 Though il may seem scjuvc worth tlic show- 
 To miard an icchcvn' [yom a foe, 
 
 ^1 
 
 r 
 
 :;« 
 
THE BROWNIES IN MA1«;H. 
 
 Oi' come with t'eathcrs, frills, and style, 
 To I'opresent some desert isle. 
 Now wliile we chanee to be so nigh, 
 A trip into the town we '11 try. 
 Tln-oufjh its hroad avenues w^e '11 race, 
 And j^ain some knowledge of the place; 
 And ere the night gives place to day, 
 A \isit to the White House pay." 
 
 Another cried : 
 
 "The rac(^ begin. 
 And don't be slow 
 
 to c(mnt me in ; 
 For I '11 be with 
 
 you to ascend 
 The White House steps, 
 
 you may depend." 
 The city that l)efore them lay 
 Was, after all, some miles away; 
 And though tlie Brownies travel fast, 
 Full half an liour or more had passed 
 While they were crossing country there 
 To r(^ach a leading thoroughfare. 
 Tliey clamlx'i'cd over walls of stone 
 With brusli and ivy overgrown. 
 But neither thorns nor poison-vine 
 Could check their ])a('e, o)' break their Uno. 
 Like soldiers cliarging some redou])t 
 When "Deatli or Victory!" they shout. 
 The eager Brownies onward v n, 
 So juin])ed and looked ahead to scan 
 
 Li'.t 
 
THE BKOWNIi:s IN MAKCH. 
 
 Tlie certain i)lac'e tlioy souj^lit to win, 
 
 So idungcd in ditclies to tlu' (?hin, 
 
 So s('ranil)l(Ml n]) tho slippt'iy bank, 
 
 So, tumbling', to the ])<>ttoni sank 
 
 To rise ajjain and still renew 
 
 Tlio struji'ule for the ])()int in view. 
 
 Thus, at tile start into tlie town, 
 
 Wet tln'ou'jli and thi-ont-li from toe to crov 
 
 And (h'i 
 
 freeb 
 
 thev hied, 
 
 And (lrii)i)ini;" rreely, on tluy me 
 
 Nor ehani-'ed tlieir plan noi' tni-ned aside. 
 
 For darinj? Brownies ne\'er dread 
 
 A eold from wetting' foot or head. 
 
 No influenza, jjfout, or ^^rip 
 Comes like a penalty to nip 
 Theii' operations through the year 
 Or keep them nuifiHed up in fear. 
 Wlicn town, was reached, the lirownies tried 
 Their speed through streets both long and wide. 
 They s))ryly moved as locusts light 
 When Helds (»f giain break on tlieir sight, 
 
 And i)revious fasts have whetted keen 
 
 Their appetite for something green. 
 
 But nothing tlieii' attention (h'ew 
 
 Tntil the While Mouse came in view. 
 
 Then evei'y foot came to a stan<l, 
 
 And every visage did expand 
 
 In giving freedom to the smile 
 
 Tliat lighted up each I'ace the while. 
 
 Said oni> ; "A sn(»w-white mansion, sure, 
 
 Designed some centuries to endure; 
 
 Let ffje ctay 
 he dci.x'h or bi-t'^lit 
 Hi ep tlje I] part 
 (iji'tljin you liqhi 
 

 THE BROWNIES IN MAItCH. 
 
 Broiul at the l)as(', compact and low, 
 
 Huilt more foi- service tlian for show; 
 
 No p(>aks for tlninderbolts to strike, 
 
 To tempt tornadoes and the like. 
 
 Those who of plamiiiin- it had charjje 
 
 Displayed yood sense and cantion lai',i;'e." 
 
 Another s|)oke, who ventured nij^'h 
 
 And scanned the ])lace witli searcliiny- eye: 
 
 "With holts and hars some two oi- three 
 
 The dooi's are fast, as they should he 
 
 Where so mu(di plate is lyini;' round 
 
 As in this mansion may l>e found." 
 
 One soon I'eplied : "We little care 
 
 How many holts and hai-s are there, 
 
 Or heavy locks that would defy 
 
 The prowlinjjf hurylar's ]»ick or pry. 
 
 ui 
 
THE UROWXIES IX MAIICH. 
 
 W<' pass inside ji place at "will, 
 In spite of all the earo and skill 
 
 
 /•/(i-Mf^^-y 
 
 That may he spent in work about 
 A plan to keep intrudors out. 
 
 3'J 
 
THE BKOWNIE8 IN MAECH. 
 
 The massive doors that may outface 
 Tlie seeker after bread or place, 
 Can on their heavy hinges rest, 
 Because the Brownie band is blest 
 With powers tliat make the bolt and law 
 As worthless as a Inirley-straw. 
 For one, I 'm not content to go 
 Till more al)out the place I know 
 Than may ])e gained by just a sight 
 Of outer walls and columns white. 
 I neither seek a place of power. 
 Nor food to serve the passing hour; 
 But, all the same, I 'ni bound to win 
 An entrance to the rooms within. 
 
 We '11 not disturl) their silverware, 
 
 Nor furniture so rich and rare ; 
 
 We '11 simply all the paintings ^'iew, 
 
 And have, perhaps, a dance or two 
 
 In those historic rooms, to show 
 
 How we as well can trip the too 
 
 As those who proudly gather heri^ 
 
 To grand reci-ptions every year." 
 
 Ere long they raml)led round with ease. 
 
 As if they had a bunch of keys. 
 
 The President was not around, 
 
 And those in charge were sleepei-s sound. 
 
 So they were free to dance or run 
 
 From room to room in search of fim. 
 
 Upon the library they made 
 
 A full advance, or rather, raid; 
 
 Q<i^ 
 
THE liKOWNTES IN MAECH. 
 
 ■» ^ 
 
 The volumos there tlio BroAviiies found 
 
 From liaiul to hand wore passed around, 
 
 Until eacli niemher wise could tell 
 
 The author, and his views as well. 
 
 Tlierc on all sides they bent to pore 
 
 O'er hooks on taldes and on tioor, 
 lMi,u'ii,e;(Ml ill reading lon^ dchates 
 Al)out tlie laws or rights of States, 
 To find if ]>roph('ci('s were true, 
 PropouiKlcd wIk'11 llic land was nc^w. 
 Sonic read of loiiy'-rori^'otteii tliiii<^'s; 
 Of wars with nci^hhors and with kinj^s ; 
 Of rows with tribes of Indians red, 
 In forest, swani)), and lava-bed. 
 
 Like students tliirstinf; after fame, 
 Tln'V took the y>aj.^'es as tliey eame, 
 Wliil(> more stood round and listened well, 
 As it a sermon on them fell 
 With all the earnest, stiikinL? power 
 That turns to ^-loom the brightest hour. 
 
 Then in the lary'est room they found 
 
 They danced in sets l)oth s({uare and round. 
 
 Oh. couhl the ])ortraits on the wall. 
 
 That many an honored nann^ recall. 
 
 Have glanced down through the lifelike shade 
 
 Of lashes that the Iniish had made, 
 
 They would have witnessed more than we. 
 
 While in the Hesli, can hope to see; 
 
 Or had they tongues, and cared to speak 
 
 About each frolic, prank, or freak, 
 
 34 
 
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH. 
 
 They could more woikU'ou.s tales relate 
 WiWM^^i Tliaii stin-ed them in tlieir mortal state 
 
 For never since that house first stood 
 On its foundations firm and good, 
 Was such a scene enacted tliere 
 Of dances round and dances square ; 
 Strange dances that are only seen 
 In Asiati(! grova's, I ween, 
 
 30 
 
THE UliOWNIES IN MARCH. 
 
 By stroiinis tliat wutor far Cathay, 
 Or tliroiiiili Japan's rich valleys stray, 
 Were inti'oducod and foriiUMl arijijht 
 U])(tii that (*ar])ot soft and ])rij;ht; 
 Now whirling' I'ouiid, now s(inattinj; low, 
 Now l)oundinji>' like the stai'tlod <loo, 
 
 Until tiicir heads came very near 
 To contact Avith the (diaiidelier. 
 Vor Hi'ownies have elastic* toes, 
 As lie who reads their history knows. 
 And not a i-ahhit of the plain. 
 Or acrohat who jumps for fj;ain. 
 Or spry performers anywliore, 
 Can sjH'liiiJC more liijhtly in the air. 
 Odd titiui'cs, that are only found 
 Where ice forever coats the j^round 
 And peo[)le wade around in snow. 
 And dances therefoi'e must l)o slow, 
 Upon the pro«;Tamme found a place; 
 And thus with diujnity and j^raco 
 The (Mnniinj.? Brownies took in liund 
 TIk' dances of the tVozen land. 
 
 Then came the ])a)'n-door ji^, and reel. 
 And tliui"- that tries the Hij^hland heel, 
 The contra-dance, fandango too. 
 And ,<>;host-(lan(M' of tlu^ i)ainted Sioux. 
 All chani!,in<^ ])artners every set, 
 r^W''''Mi '''''*'.y howed and scraped, and crossed and met, 
 
 \r *!/ '\nd carried throujjjh in lively way 
 
 The figures of the present day. 
 
 :;() 
 
mmm 
 
 THE BUOWNIES IN MAIU'H. 
 
 On oi'imuu'iits and triiiiiiiin^s stout 
 Some clinibc'd, to keep a sliarj) lookout 
 In case while sport went on they 'd find 
 Huiprises of a sudden kind, 
 And they some sif^'nal would reijuire 
 Upon the instant to retire. 
 
 They sat in chairs 
 
 l)oth new and old, 
 
 To prove how many 
 
 tlicy wcmld hold; 
 
 And on them jumped 
 
 for half an hour, 
 To try their strength or springing i)ower. 
 Although no time they had to sleep 
 Ere morning light would on them creej), 
 Some Brownies crawled, with laughter gi'cat, 
 Into the very l)ed of state, 
 Until some seven faces l)riglit 
 Were peeping from the linen white. 
 
 Said one: "We wish to have it said 
 That we have tried the nation's hed. 
 And we can now aver with pride 
 That Uncle Sam does well provide 
 For those whom ho is pleased to call 
 
 To Washington, to govern all." 
 
 a? 
 
 ..^^' 
 
 ■-%!«. 
 
 ^^■. 
 
I'm; iMiowxTKs IX :\rAi{('ir. 
 
 Alas! so many Brownies spry 
 Were anxious on that bed to lie, 
 Wherein j^n'eat men had taken rest 
 When with their conntry's eares oi)i)ressed, 
 They hrokc it down, and tund)led throuf^h 
 
 ;j« 
 

 THE iniOWNIKS IN MAUCH. 
 
 Upon the Hoor with much ado ; 
 
 The sphntcrcd shits and parted wim 
 
 (jlavc evidence of ruin dire. 
 
 Those who l)y (diance esca])ed the crash, 
 
 Were nowise slow to make a dash 
 
 To aid the roj^ues who sank from sight 
 Envehtped in the bedding white. 
 
 And work enough they found to d(), 
 As from the creaking wreck they (h'ew 
 By liands and lieels, for nier<^y's sake, 
 The hapless victims of the break. 
 Some Brownies, I'olled into a ball, 
 Had scarcely strength for aid to call; 
 While mor(>, half smothered in the bed, 
 Were dragged to light not far from dead. 
 
 Some gas])ed for water, some foi" wine 
 
 Brought from the vineyards of the Rhine, 
 
 And every sort of drink had found 
 
 A welcome there, had they Ijif'en roimd. 
 
 To help the action of the lieart. 
 
 And strength to nerves and brain impart. 
 
 The tloor was littered all u.-out 
 
 With those who had some cause to shout. 
 
 If ])a(l contusion, break, and sprain 
 
 (xavo them good reason to complain; 
 
 But other injuries they knew 
 
 Than outward bniises, Idack and blue. 
 
 Internal troubles, doctors say, 
 
 Are hardest ailments to allay ; 
 
 as) 
 
THK lUlOWNIKS IN iMAUl H. 
 
 At yoii\r tasK 
 bt newer Inte 
 For rije moiTierits 
 will not uJAit, 
 
 And now the doctors of the l)and 
 Had cases of this kind on hand: 
 Some swallowed feathers, hair, and dust, 
 And some had cotton down them tiirust 
 So far. they donl)te<l which was best — 
 To take it (»ut, or let it rest. 
 
 And had the band surprises known 
 
 While in that wild confusion thrown, 
 
 While some were stm^fjlinj; in the liold 
 
 Of twisted wire, or blanket fold, 
 
 Or by the shock were senseless made, 
 
 And flat upon the ('ar])et laid, 
 
 Th(\v miii'ht have found it hard indeed 
 
 To leave with all their wonted s])eed ; 
 
 But, lucky foi" the Browniie Wnvv, 
 
 No ti'oublr came frcmi su(di u H(mreo. 
 
 "When all at lenj^th were l)rouf]fht to -siew, 
 
 To work the active Brownies flew 
 
 To reconstruct tlu' bed of state 
 
 That nearly ])rovi'd a ]>ed of fate. 
 
 Said one: "Ambition leads astray 
 Its ill-starred victims day by day; 
 The race for wealth, or social fame. 
 Oft ends in courts, or stripes of shame, 
 And even we may troulde find 
 Through an ambitious turn of mind." 
 But little time could they remain 
 To moralize on louj^injjs vain. 
 Because the eastern sky was spread 
 With streaks of purple and of red. 
 
 ■10 
 
"PP 
 
 mm 
 
 THE UROWNTES TN MARCH. 
 
 Which told tlic snii was on its wuy 
 
 To opi'ii wide tlic gjitcs of day, 
 
 And lot the golden tlood of light 
 
 Disjx'l once more the gloom of night. 
 
 So Brownies hastened from the .spot — 
 
 Wlio took the L'ad it mattered not 
 
 So all could find a place to hide 
 
 Where they tlmnigli day conld safely hide ; 
 
 And with a view of keeping clear 
 
 Of swampy fields or marshes drear, 
 
 Now dark against the In'ightening sky 
 
 They ran along on ridges high, 
 
 Wliere greatest speed could l)e attainetl, 
 
 And hiding-places quickly gained. 
 
 ^11 the sfilrs (irf K^O'te Uun! 
 We must scam/tifr f<ir tt noit/. 
 
 41 
 
 > 
 
Ik 
 
 ^111 K 1^1 JO W NIKS 
 
 IN APIilL. 
 
 ('Veiling', wlicii tlic fields were Imvo, 
 
 And mildrr <,n"('\v tlio April tiir, 
 
 Tli(> Brownies mot, willi faces brij];lit, 
 
 In ])leasant spoi't to s])end the niglit. 
 
 Foi' lioni's they had l»een st(nv(Ml away 
 
 In waitii'.u' for the close of day — 
 
 Some jammed in hollows of tli(» trees, 
 
 Alore cronclied upon their hands and knees 
 
 Behind the lo^'s and honlders white 
 
 That hid them from the jieople's sii^ht, 
 
 Wiio still were passini;- to and fro 
 
 rpon the waii'on roail helow. 
 
 To sec and not he seen Ihey aim, 
 
 And s(|neczed in eveiy shajx' the frame, 
 
 Tjike Weasels in a fence of stone 
 
 1'liey showed a nose or eye alone. 
 
 And e\-ery monieiil pojjped a face 
 
 Anew fi'om some nnlooked-foi- ]»lace. 
 
 The hnman kind hotli small and yreat 
 
 fan never ti-uly estimate 
 
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL. 
 
 ,^ 
 
 How oft they ai'o, 
 when passing' hy, 
 Fit ohiects for ^ 
 
 
 a Brownie's eye. ^ 
 
 They see them -^.^..^PlpSSf^f SS^Sl^JpS;:?^ '. •- 
 
 in their hiisy r^-^^^^^^^^?^^/:^'!.^ -. 
 
 
 
 
 When excrcisiiin' all their powers; 
 
 They see them wlien they sliii'k their task, 
 
 Or for too iMiicli of others ask ; 
 
 im\ 
 
top "lojt 
 
 roaiici v/ou\i 
 
 u) i n 
 Upward 
 steppi n4' 
 
 THE BEOWXTES IN ArRHi. 
 
 Tlu'v know the ones who freely give 
 That sick and or^jhan Imlx's may live, 
 And see the hand withhold the cent 
 Tliat for the heathen should he spent; 
 They know when^ frowns too niueh ahide, 
 And where destruction follows pride ; 
 They know that underneath the sniile 
 The villain oft may lurk the while; 
 They know that lips may kisst's press, 
 And ])out displeasure none the less; 
 And Brownies do not soon forget 
 
 Impressions that ai'e HIV (irndy set, — 
 What once tlicy leai'ii, Bt^^ yon may l)i' sure, 
 ^\'ill in their memory long endm'C. 
 
 I)Ut hands move round the dial-plate, 
 And hours will |)ass, if one can wait 
 Until the moving seconds slow 
 Shall iilc their I'ccords as they go; 
 So liright the sunny lioui's ])assed, 
 And flitting l»ats came out at last, 
 'i'heii. with a whispei', sign, or call. 
 The Hi'ownies soon connneneed to crawl 
 Fi'oiii hiding-places here and thei'e, 
 For ev( iiing pleasures to ])i'epare. 
 Said one: "The month at lengtii is hei-e, 
 'i'o ev( ry youugstei-'s heart so dear, 
 Because the coutdiT far and widi^ 
 flas thing its wilder coat aside. 
 And they those pleasures can renew 
 That were denied the season tlwouifli. 
 
 44 
 
THE BKOWNIES IN APRIL. 
 
 A^ain tlie sidewalk, marked with clialk, 
 Tells where to hop, or skip, or walk; 
 Again the hoops are rolling spry, 
 Again the kites are soaring high, 
 Again the tops on every street 
 Are spinning round the pi'ophi's feet, 
 And Brownies should not he hehind 
 At tiying sport of every kind." 
 
 Another said: "The truth you speak; 
 New life now glows in eveiy cheek, 
 Peiuied np for months without a ehance 
 In open air to run and dance : 
 They nuist, indeed, with pleasure hail 
 The time when outdoor sports prevail. 
 As for ourselves, we httle care : 
 Through all the year we have our share 
 Of fun; however cold or luA 
 The months may be, it matters not. 
 But still some play may not he wrong 
 That to tlie present days bi'long. 
 The time of year is now at hand 
 For troops to march in ordtc gr-md, — 
 To tramp ahout as soldiers do 
 Might well hecome tlie BrowTiio ■ low. 
 For me, I like that sort of tli ng, — 
 To step erect, to wheel, and bring 
 Myself around in projier ])ose 
 To either face my friends or foes. 
 But some, 1 know, would rather hop, 
 
 Or s})in for hours a buzzing top; 
 
 45 
 
THE imOWNIES IN APRIL. 
 
 Wliilc othoi's still im'fei' to stoop 
 And cliaso for miles a rolling lioop. 
 There 's no aeeounting for one's taste : 
 Some like to skip, more like to paste 
 A kite, and watch it jmrndly sail 
 Above the town with streaming tail.'" 
 
 A third remarked : " We might indeed 
 To different kinds of sport proceed. 
 But I know wlu>re we can pi'ovide 
 Oui'selves with hoops to roll and guide 
 With careful hand, until we prove 
 Who l)est can keep one on the move; 
 And if I don't mistake my man, 
 You '11 see me hounding in the van 
 Ere many scjuares are gone about, 
 Oi' many furlongs measured out. 
 Because I "m neither lame nor Idind, 
 N(»r out of ti'aining, as you '11 find. 
 But can the highest speed maintain 
 Until a given ])oint I gain." 
 This brought replies from half the band, 
 And all declared they could not stand 
 Such talk while tliey, themselves, were ble.st 
 With s))eed not second to the best. 
 This wordy war, as one might know, 
 Soon made them all decide to go 
 And get the lioops, and i)rove, hideed, 
 If one i'(tuld all the others lead. 
 A building, standing near, that eve 
 Was ))r(»mptly entered without leave; 
 
 46 
 
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL. 
 
 ^'^A/f.. 
 
 f Co^: 
 
 Bui that is ((uitc a coiinuon tiling 
 With Brownies, who such {)ow('i" hriiig 
 
TFIE HUOWNIES IN AI'KIL. 
 
 Tliiit locks Jill prove of no uvail, 
 
 And scarce need mention in tlie tale. 
 
 Soon liarrels were rolled to open air, 
 
 Where each c(,u](l •••et his proper share 
 
 Of woi'k at ^tll|>pinll^ li()o])s away 
 
 To serve Iheni throni^li their evening play. 
 
 Mi'e loiiti" the Brownies' fun ])e,i>"an 
 
 As in an anxious crowd they ran. 
 
 All strivinii' to keej) well controlled 
 
 The hoops that fast 
 1m 'fore them rolled. 
 
 <feth!m„. 
 
 '.^^'^ 
 
 
 In vain each Brownii 
 in that race 
 
 Would Iry to hold 'the foreinost jdaee, 
 Foi' ill the height of all their [iride, 
 
 ■18 
 
THE IMtOWNIKH [N Al'itTL. 
 
 iM 
 
 Suinc I'oct would trip, or hoops collide, 
 Winch often to a tuiii])lc led. 
 Then some one else would shoot ahead, 
 And those wliosc^ chance was counted poor, 
 Throu^-h slips or falls would thus secure 
 A i)lace in fi'ont, and for a while 
 Be wearing a triumphant smile. 
 
 They rolle<l tluin up and down the hill, 
 Around the church and tlour-mill, 
 
 ^Pp€-f^ 
 
 
 
 
 ifi^ifh ,y-_ -- 'igrjv!^;^ 
 
 And o'er the bridge, without a rail, 
 Whore one misstep might woe entail 
 
 On half the hand, so close they ran 
 
 Along the edges of the span. 
 
 One well may won<ler, crowding so. 
 
 How hoops were kept upon the go. 
 
 40 
 
THF. HHOWNIES IN AI'lUTi. 
 
 But Brownies have a mystic way 
 Beyond the reach of mortal clay, 
 xViid we can only, wondering', jjjaze, 
 And feel impelled to lavish praise. 
 
 To ]>e the first is much, 
 
 you '11 find, 
 With them as with 
 
 the human kind; 
 And though a second 
 
 ]daco or juize 
 Is duly valued 
 
 in their eyes, 
 'T is only. si)eakin,n' hy the letter, 
 Accei>ted wlien they can't d(» ])etter. 
 At times they left the dusty road 
 And tln'ouyh the Helds endurance showed, 
 
 Witli many a tap and harder whack 
 'i'o >iiv(^ the hoops the proper tack, 
 'i'hus sport went on, witli hero and there 
 An accident, or sud<len scare, 
 ^Vllich still is likely to he fonnd 
 W'hii'e dai'int;' lirownies scamper round. 
 Some hi'ok<' theii" iioops, and had to stop 
 To mend, and far Ix'hind would drop; 
 Some lost their iiats, and others tore 
 The stronu'est iiarments that they wore; 
 Tiitil it seemed as if the play 
 Would prove ex])ensive in its way. 
 And hrjiio- the tailors of the hand 
 Next niorniiiy- into uood demand. 
 
 50 
 

 THE UnoWN'rKS IN AI'IML. 
 
 Ob. 
 
TTIK liKOWNIKH IN APHIL. 
 
 
 ■'■"^r- 
 
 ^TfCoX 
 
 And in a tliousaiul other ways 
 JIad won from all the lii^ln'st pruisi' — 
 Now taken (luickly from their sight, 
 While fun was at its jfreatest heif^ht, 
 To stru^iile in a place that giive 
 Small )»i-omist' hnt to ])e their j^rave ! 
 So wild aiai'ms wei'C (juickly spread, 
 And comi'ades yathered there in dread, 
 And foi' a moment tried in vain 
 A iilimpsc of those helow to {j^ain. 
 
 Hut 
 
 thoui-ii their eves ec 
 
 )nld nanurht hehold, 
 
 The splashinj;" and the shontinji; told 
 They still had life, and wonld l)e fj;lad 
 If lU'onipt assistance conld he had. 
 Then for a time it htoked, indexed. 
 
 As if the Mrownies must 
 
 j)rocee« 
 
 1 
 
 Th(M'eafter to their nifj,htly praidvs 
 
 With iifrievonsly diminished ranks. 
 
 But I>rownies, hless them! how they spring 
 
 To save from harm the slightest thing, 
 
 52 
 
THE UKOWNIKS IN AI'IUL. 
 
 Much nioi'o to iv.scuo three or four 
 
 Whose loss they (lee]>ly would «le])loro. 
 
 No leiif^tliy rope was thereal»oiit 
 
 Witli which to draw their comrades out, 
 
 Who iM'oved by many a thrilliuj^ note 
 
 They mauaj^ed still to keep atioat. 
 
 But soon the cunning Brownies planned 
 
 A way to lend a helping hand; 
 
 Indeed, delay in .such a spot 
 
 Would soon prove fatal to thi^ l<jt. 
 
 Because the well was dee]) and old. 
 
 And water at the time was cold, 
 
 And would not please them as it might 
 
 Upon some sulti-y summer's night. 
 
 The lofty sweep that o'er them stood 
 AVas inade to render service good : 
 To tliis, ere many moments pas.sed, 
 They nuide an empty barrel fa.st. 
 Meanwhile a few took time to throw 
 Encouragement to tlio.se helow, 
 And told with words of hope and love 
 How work was going on al)()ve. 
 
 The active Brownies jumped around, 
 
 Each aiding where a chance he found; 
 
 And soon tiie parts wer(> well supplied. 
 
 And firm and fast the knots they tied; 
 
 Then lowered with a cheering yell 
 
 The life-preserver down the well. 
 
 The wretches who received the fall 
 
 Were glad enough in this to crawl, 
 
'%k 
 
 I'lii: itiiowxiKs i\ Ai'inr 
 
 A prnlH'l' |il;irc 
 
 So. llius iissistfd 
 It iiiiuiil ni-lit'l 
 III fact, wlifii 
 A iiii-iilii'i' siiiri 
 Aipl <|uii'k<'iis 
 Willi -tiiikI 
 Ndw ii|i. 11(1 
 Till' virtiiiis 
 AihI siitV, 
 
 ii di'lpiiiiiii' 
 
 III coiir^r (if 
 
 caiiH' ill 
 
 'I'llrll slllllltS 
 
 I'rdiii a 
 
 ."•)i 
 

 THE HKOWNIKH IN Al'llIL. 
 
 And iiiiiiiy stivtcliiMl a williiii; liaiid 
 
 '[\> ui<l tln'ir coinradcs tVoiii the swiiiy' 
 
 That l»i'()ii;^lit tliciM IVoiii tli<' iry spi-iiij;-. 
 
 Oh, hai)|»y hour! when they could tiiid 
 
 Safe in their anus coiupanions i\ind, 
 
 From (hin<i;('i' that no hl't- had cost, 
 
 Tiionuh all wcit' looked npon as lost. 
 
 With tVclinj; sjyokc a Browjiic hi'i<i;ht : 
 
 "Our friends we seldom vahie riyht, 
 
 However well they may he tried, 
 
 'Till they are taken from our si(U'; 
 
 We then can estimate how l)lest 
 
 Were we who such tl'Ue friends ]»ossessed, 
 
 And <fraees name and vii'tues tind. 
 
 To which our eyes were wholly hlindl" 
 
 Then all aronnd the hlazino; wood 
 To warm themselves those Brownies stood, 
 Still thanking? fri(>nds for timely aid, 
 And praisinf? them for skill dis])layed ; 
 And scarcely was their clothinn' dry 
 When si^ns of day showed in the sky. 
 
 CD 
 
THE JSKOAVNTEM IN Al'lilL. 
 
 in t iv I r 
 
 but 
 
 10 ire most 
 
 in t^|e 
 
 won lit 
 Vjolcl your 
 pl.Tce, 
 
 F^ut I'lv tli(\v s<)U<i-lit ii safe rotrcut, 
 
 Once iiioiv they liasti'iu'd tlmniKli tlu' street, 
 
 To thai .K'sci'tctl Imildinii; bound 
 
 When- tlit'ir siii»|»ly of lioops was t'omid, 
 
 To i>nt thfin in their i)r()})er place 
 
 With willinu: hands in every case, 
 
 That never throui^di the Brownies' sport 
 
 A dealer eoul<l a loss repoil. 
 
 Then hoops weic set, as <me may tliink, 
 
 With many a hasty rap and clink; 
 
 And ttarrels lliat liad dropped apart 
 
 Were fixi'd with all the cooper's art, 
 
 I'titil each one. as u'ood as when 
 
 it (nit\vai'(l lolled, was stored again. 
 
 Whtri rhe birds cnmrtifnreroclitp 
 
 no 
 
m 
 
 tw 
 
 THE BROW\[KS IX M.\^; 
 
 ^ May l)roujiht j^'huliicss to tlic land, 
 And signs of life on (•\<'iy liand, 
 And tutU't'ul l>i]'ds ])oui('<l out their song 
 In richest tones the whoh' day long, 
 The Brownies met to '-arrv througli 
 Some work they liad that nigiit in view. 
 They met, according to their plan. 
 Where turnpikes at right angles ran, 
 And so in several ditferent ways 
 They hurried through the evenhig haze. 
 All straining every nerve and joint 
 To rea<di on time the meeting-))oint. 
 
 Tf|e busy Ijand and Kind 
 Will Icaup gooti uvurlfs bcljiijd. 
 
 mi 
 
 PI 
 
THE nUOWNIES IN AIAY. 
 
 Nor tliiiik it rifi;ht for some to play, 
 
 Or dilly-dally by the way, 
 
 AVhile others stamp impatient feet 
 
 Or sit upon the anxious seat. 
 
 Wlien Brownies say, "At six we '11 dine," 
 
 They do not mean it shall l)e nine. 
 
 Because one's chessiny' is too slow, 
 
 Or lie nmst ehat an hour or so. 
 
 And stare in windows at the price 
 
 Of t]iin«>-s so very clu'ap and nice, 
 
 Tli(» Brownie j^nest arrivini;- late 
 
 Will not he troid)led witli a plate. 
 
 Oi' when they say, "At dark we '11 meet," 
 
 On such a road, or sudi a street, 
 
 No tardy laundress makes tliem late; 
 
 No gaiters niourninti' for a mate. 
 
 No glove>* mis]dace(l hy careless hands 
 
 Take moments that the trip demands; 
 
 Bnt, with perhaps som(> time to spare, 
 
 The Brownie hand will all he ther(^ 
 
 All l)reathless with a lengthy race 
 
 The Brownies gathered at tht^ place; 
 
 Then started off at once to find 
 
 Tiie pie<'e of woik they had in mind, 
 
 And soon before a dwelling tine 
 
 The band drew n\) in (hmble hue. 
 
 Said one: "This house we stand alunit 
 
 Is all in shape for titling out. 
 
 The furniture is ready all. 
 
 The carpets lying in tlie hall, 
 
 5!) 
 
THi: miOWNII.s IN MAY. 
 
 1 
 
 The |ia]K'i' t'oi- the walls is tlu'rc 
 111 rolls, piled uiKU'i'iicath the stair; 
 But ti'(>ul)le ot a serious kind 
 Has luucli disturbed the people's mind 
 Who here intended to reside, 
 And so all tliiiii^'s are laid aside. 
 Thus jteople oft a hlank will draw 
 Though plans are laid witliont a tiaw. 
 Ves. thou!;li they stndy day by day 
 And throw no precious hours away, 
 ImiI lie awakt' of iiiy-lits to plan 
 S()nn> beltei' way to eojie with man, 
 Still unforeseen misfortunes rise 
 And every hope in rnin lies, 
 Sotiietiines a shar]> decline in stocks 
 The bottom ont of business knocks; 
 Suiiietiines a contlaii'ratioii dire 
 Sends fdi'tuiies up ill smoke and fire; 
 Sonietiines the (trie who was to tread 
 The altar ste])s, with tlowers sjtread, 
 Alas! with treiublini;- limbs has trod 
 Tlie patiiway to the broken sod,"' 
 
 Another said 
 
 think our skill 
 
 Will answer all demands that will 
 l^e made to-nii,dit, in every case, 
 While pnttini>' things in proj)er place. 
 If Brownies cannot drive a tack, 
 But up a bedstead or a ra(dv, 
 'T is lime we should be In'afjiyinf; less 
 Ahoui the powers that we possess." 
 
 00 
 
 i 
 
THE BROWNIES IN MAY. 
 
 A third ropluMl: "J think so too, 
 And I, for oiio, my shan^ will do, 
 I Ctire not whether on the floor 
 J stretch the carpet more and more, 
 Or with the paste the walls I smear, — 
 1 '11 do my portion, neA^er fear. 
 At outdoor work I 've done my share, 
 As those w^ho know me can declare ; 
 I Ve proved myself no nerveless l)oy 
 With hod, or })i('kax, spade or loy; 
 And those wlio '11 try me even now 
 Will have to wipe a sweating hrow." 
 
 Another cried: "Whatever i)art 
 
 You take in hand to show your art. 
 
 Or mode of working, fast and free. 
 
 You '11 find, I think, your match in me. 
 
 I 'm not the one to advertise 
 
 What I can do wlien wants arise; 
 
 But it inventions are required 
 
 Just call on one who is inspired." 
 
 So chatting freely, plans were hud 
 And soon a move the Brownies made ; 
 Some in the room spread carpets wide 
 And held them down at either side, 
 Still stretching them to suit the case. 
 While others tacked them in their place. 
 Some on the ladders stood to spread 
 The paste on walls high over head, 
 WhiU> others hung the paper there 
 Without a wrinkle, twist or tear; 
 
 01 
 
 ) 
 
THE imOAVNIES IN MAY. 
 
 And llicii tln' l»()V(l('i' pasted fust, 
 
 To make a fine cft'cct at last. 
 
 What iM.wcr lies in Brownies' hands! 
 
 What skill til answci- all demands! 
 
 Oiitdodrs (ir indddi's, all the same, 
 
 Till' liiiilicst praise they ri^'htly claim. 
 
 Xo old indentures can he found 
 
 To jii'ove they were to masters hound, 
 
 Who hoxed them Well alxmt the ears 
 
 l''or dnllinii' saws or ])reakinj^' shears; 
 
 No one has (dainied in note or will 
 
 To him they owe their wondi'ous skill, 
 
 Or thi'onL;h his I'ostei'inif care had jjjainod 
 
 The honoivd place they have attained. 
 
r^0^. 
 
 THE BROWNIES IN MAY. 
 
 No strong trados-iinions, old or now, 
 Their slu'ltcriiig arras around thorn tlnvw, 
 But through the dust of centuries dead, 
 With skilful hand and cunning head, 
 They rose equipped for every task 
 That night could })ring, or need could ask — 
 A hand, indeed, to which one tunis 
 When hope into the socket hums, 
 And other hands than mortal may 
 Take up the tools we fling away. 
 
 So work went on 
 
 as moments flew, 
 For much the Brownies 
 
 had to do. 
 They put the hat-rack 
 
 in the hall. 
 The calendar 
 
 upon the wall, 
 And hoisted up 
 
 th(^ ancient clock 
 Into its niche 
 
 without a shock ; 
 Then wound it up, and set it right, 
 According to the time of night; 
 For though the Brownies never hear 
 A watch, or any such affaii'. 
 The rooster knows not hotter when 
 To crow, and rouse the slee])ing lien, 
 Than do the cunning Brownies know 
 The flitting moments as they go. 
 
 63 
 
THK UKOWXFKS I\ MAY. 
 
 Then busy liaiids the })i('tuivs found 
 Tluit \v<>ro to j^a'iice the walls around; 
 And \v\t]\ the rest, to tlieii' d«dif;ht, 
 A Brownie ])i('tuiv came in sij^lit. 
 And with discvihiination fine 
 'Plicy linnj? it on tlio favor line, 
 Wlicrc the obsorvinji eye could rest 
 L'lMtu it, from all points the best. 
 
 Tlicii hainiiifi's for a time were still 
 As Hrowiii.'s did the ])arlor till, 
 All d'owdiiii-; there in ^Teut surprise, 
 Till' work of art to eiiticize. 
 One spdkc, when he had looked with care 
 At every Brownie numinjf there. 
 "But one," said he, ''as far as known 
 Has to the world th<' Brownies shown 
 Drawn to the life, and all the hand 
 ('om]»letc. as heiv to-iiiirht we stand; 
 And though the name is wantinjjj here, 
 I lis style of handling us is clear. " 
 III 
 
THE BROWNIES IN IMAY. 
 
 No sooner was 
 
 tilt' carpet laid 
 And paper on 
 
 the walls displayed, 
 Thau they ])egan, 
 
 with nmch ado, 
 All soi'ts of thing's 
 
 to bi-ing- in view. 
 
 /^'SLr-otrl COX 
 
 And wliile they pushed, with eager haste, 
 A ladder- was at times displaced 
 Whereon some stood to hang aright 
 The mirrors and the mottoes hright. 
 Then down would rattle, in a fall, 
 The Brownies, ornaments and all. 
 But many a man arul w^ife can tell 
 How moving tries the patience well, 
 
 And how they are both lame and sore 
 
 a task 
 this is o'er, 
 ler not 
 at Brownies found 
 
 fALi>ieti Cott '^^^^ 
 
 Some hardshi[)s as they worked around. 
 Said one: "My friends, but that I grieve 
 
 00 
 
w^i ' . tmm m.i m mim 
 
 THE BROWNIES IN MAY. 
 
 For pcojjlo in distri'ss, T M Icjivo 
 Tlif work just wlici'c it is, and ^o 
 To soitir retreat, and never show 
 'I'lie least coiieern in such a faso, 
 Or knock my joints all ont of i»laee." 
 
 lint t 
 
 liouiili one lier«' and there would uet 
 
 i)isc(iiniii:'e(l at the ills thev met, 
 
 Tl 
 
 le mass of workei's wove content 
 
 To finish all hefore they went. 
 And kept eiiii'a.yed without a rest 
 Ai'i'aniiiiii'- thinfi's as pleased tliem best. 
 
 Of 
 
 oiu'se. slin-ht accidents 1>efell- 
 
 Some ai'ticjcs. 1 
 
 lowevei' We 
 
 liey Workeil to keep the pieces wlloh 
 
 At t 
 
 iliies would yet hcNond control. 
 
 And overt ui'iied, or downward Hew, 
 To cause alarms, and daniaL'e, too. 
 
 IS true some tlnnys rec<'ived a 1)1 
 
 ow 
 
 That 
 
 lowered them ill pi-ice, yon know. 
 
 Jint that mi-iht happen anywl 
 
 icre 
 
 oi; 
 
<Si 
 
 THE BIJOWNTES IN MAY. 
 
 With scTvaiits showing ^'cjitt'st care 
 Said one: "Tliciv is a time t'( 
 
 
 And tinu' for woi-k, as writers say; 
 But work o'er which sonic make a fuss, 
 Or strive t(» shii'k, is fun for ns. 
 Wo Brownies don't s])en(l all our hours 
 In secret caves, or sliady howers. 
 But now and tlien, as folks will find, 
 Come forth to render service kind; 
 And when we tui'u our hands to toil 
 There \s not a tiller of the soil 
 
TIIH liltOWNIKH IN MAY. 
 
 
 Or liimdicrfit'tsmaii in the liiiid 
 
 Can lidld ii ciUHllr (<• the hand!" 
 
 Hnt ill! the same, the ti-utli to tell, 
 
 TIk'V tunnd smiu' tliinu's that tried thcni well. 
 
 Not nscd to all thf ins and outs 
 Of inotU'rn funiituiv, 
 
 sonic shouts 
 Would now and tlum 
 
 t'i'(»ni Bi'ownies rise 
 That told of tnuUdo 
 
 and surprise 
 Where through a suddeu 
 heave or suap 
 
 liev were renui 
 
 uled 
 
 of a traj), 
 And, heads aud heels, 
 in i^n'at disnuiy. 
 
 Were folded ii|) aiid store(I away, 
 \\ liile wlmt to sa\' or what to do 
 
 To 111 
 
 irraii' them no one Uiiew, 
 
 As iiiDi'iiiiiu' close and (doser drew, 
 
 The I 
 
 irownie workers faster tlew 
 
 l''roiii room to iMom, ahove, helow, 
 l-'or the\ Were neithei" slack nor s 
 
 As when some cveati 
 
 h)w. 
 hoof 
 
 histi'.i'lis the ants' sand-castle roof, 
 And those amused in fear and doul)t 
 
 u-e s passing 
 
 W 
 
 itli liau' and l)au'.i;'ai;'e run ahout. 
 
 So I'uslied each Hrownie with his lojid, 
 Now hlockiny- up a comrade's road, 
 
THK liHoWNIKS IN MAY, 
 
 Now tninhlinj; over what lie Ixn-e, 
 Or dropping; tlint to run t'oi* more. 
 When everything, from first to last, 
 Had through their hands in order passed, 
 And all the house looked clean and new, 
 So they had nothing else to do 
 But quit the place, and get from sight 
 While there was yet a shade of night, 
 Said one: "I wish we could provide 
 A plac(^ near l)y tliis house to hide, 
 So we might watch the gi'cat surprise 
 That will cjilarge the ])eople's ('y<'s 
 When they arrive and gaze around 
 And see that (n^erything has found 
 Its ])lace, as well as if their care 
 Aud skill had hccn exerted there. 
 But we nnist now he on the move 
 And every tick of time improve. 
 Or else not all oui* powei's to run 
 Can save us tVom tlie rising sun." 
 
 But morning light 
 came on apace 
 
 And found the Brownies 
 in the place. 
 
 Then wild and stirring 
 scenes hegan, 
 As from the upper floors they ran : 
 Some took the steps with active spring. 
 As light as hirds upon the wing, 
 While more, to save a moment's time, 
 
 (lit 
 
UK r.ltinVNIKS IN MAY. 
 
 ■^^^^mm. 
 
 ^i^ 
 
 JKi'-yiJ 
 
 ^_^e*e::: 
 
 y^^',^' 
 
 
THK iiJiOWNlKfS IN JUNE. 
 
 A street or squave, or wildly toss 
 
 Their limbs above a fence (»)• wall 
 
 Upon tlie safest side to fall. 
 
 ■\nd slioi't the time they now re(|uired 
 
 To rea<di the lii(liii<^-])la('e desired. 
 
 Where (hey eoiild rest l)oth hand and head 
 
 Till iiiuht once iiioi-e her iiiaiith spread. 
 
 ay 
 
 ,ay, 
 
 'S 
 
 ake 
 •ross 
 
 TIIK iJKOWNlKS IN jrXK. 
 
 M^ niu'ht ill June, when skies wei'e (deai 
 Thi' Brownies soui-'ht a city neai". 
 Hi^ht well theii' }»lans had all liecn laid 
 To rea(di the tovrn at eveninji' sha<le, 
 And spend the nijjfht in sporting- there 
 Upon a bridge so hiyli in aii* 
 
 That ships tVoni every counti-y ran 
 
 In safety underneath its span. 
 
 Impatiently, you well may think. 
 
 They waited for th( sun to siid<. 
 
 It seemed to loiter in the sky 
 
 And vexed tlieui as the time drew nijj^h 
 
 71 
 
 Tf^c u)orlct is cold 
 
 totljose ujl^offtil 
 
 So Iif'Opyuiirl;olol 
 
Till l'.i;(t\VNIi;s IN .UNE 
 
 I-'or tliciii u> start upon tlii'ii- way, 
 l'"i()iii stations tliat tln'oiiii'li all tlic day 
 Atl'ui'di'd tlicin a i-cstin^ place, 
 And scivrncd tlicni from tlif Ininian race 
 
 It lias to In' a uifti'd v\{' 
 
 That fan the ciiinniii;' Eii'ownirs spy; 
 
 No i(iuniionpla<M'. plain hnsiiioss si<flit 
 
 Can lirin;^' tlic shadowy I'Oju'ncs to lig'lit : 
 
 It takes a \'isioii slron^'ci' far 
 
 Than that to sec tliciu as tlicy two 
 
 \\ JHii h\ ilic rocks and \vvvs coiKM'alcd 
 
 They wait llnii' turn t(t take the Held. 
 
 < Mic Ilia)- iic (piick to note a flaw 
 In Liraiuiiiar. ctitpU'tti', oi- law; 
 
 < *!■ ill tlif It'dti'cr-i'ohnnn sre 
 
 A luiiiici'al whnv it should n't l»o; 
 l''ind ci'i-ors in tln' 
 
 j^roccr's liill, 
 Or liyiitiK'ss in his wi'ig'lit, 
 
 but still 
 r.ack special sluu'])iU"SS 
 
 to bcliold 
 The sli<;ddcsl y'lijupsc of 
 
 Brownies hold ; 
 
Tin: imOWNIKS IN ,||\K 
 
 Tlmt thrv tlirouyl 
 
 1 SCIM 
 
 iiid-siylit (•;iu mark 
 
 TiK'ir (luiiiu« ill tlir liiiiil and dark 
 
UK IIKOWMI'.S IN .H'N'i:. 
 
 The wislii'd-foi- iijolit soon iiijidr lior call 
 A 11. 1 spread (Ml- land and sea Itt-r pall, 
 
■-^'i 
 
 THE BIJOWXIKS IN .irXK. 
 
 And sciircc tlic l»;i) liad tric-l its wiiit^ 
 Beforo tin' lii-ownics in ii striiii;- 
 Were ski])j)iii«i- <l")\vn tln' rojid ir ^\ee 
 To reach tliosc citit's l>y tlie sea. 
 Tlicy iH'cdcd not the huildinus tall, 
 Bnt to the lii'idii'f fast Inu'ricd all. 
 
 Tli(\v rraclicil it when the lamps' lii'ii>-lit glaro 
 
 kcvcaled its bowed |>ro]»oi1ioiis fail', 
 
 With ends well andioi'cd cithri' side 
 
 In cities s])readinj>' t'ai' and wide. 
 
 From root's (A' huildint^'s standing;' niji;h, 
 
 The Brownies li'ot a (diancc to eye 
 
 The strn<-tni'e stretched with yraci'tul sweeji 
 
 .Across the ri\'er, ilark and deep. 
 
 Said one: "We hei an sport and {day 
 
 Upon this hridg'e till hreak of day, 
 Of seeinu' wonders never tiro, 
 Nor lai-k a tdiance to elinil) a wire. 
 In fact. ea<di mendtei' iiei'e ean find 
 A rojx' to snit his hand or mind. 
 On which to cliinh, or swing- at ease 
 Jjike niotd\eys (tn Brazilian trees." 
 Now here and tliere the Brownies went. 
 On seeinu- all the Itridge inteid ; 
 Soin<' ha<l till' ner\-e 
 and strength 
 to ci'awl 
 At once upon 
 
 the towers ^P'r^s^ 
 
 tall, 
 
 \ 
 
iiiK i;i;()\VMi:s i\ ,h\k 
 
 Ami rii^iit ;iimI left 
 tlii'ii" iiiiiiiccs 
 
 tlll'cW. 
 
 or (lislaiit jxiiiits 
 
 Id i:;iiii 
 
 ;i \U'\\\ 
 
 < >r iiuy.r ll|Mill I III' sr;i 
 
 li-iit 
 
 ilJlt llll'iill^ll ;i r\\\ 
 
 At 
 
 s|iiv;i(ls ;it lliuiil. 
 iliH'S. wliilf (■liiill>iiiL;' 
 
 >S.1 
 
 7 
 
 [k^ffW-J 
 
 roiii's (tt wii'c 
 
 Tlir t<>iiiii(ist l-Jrow iiic's 
 
 liniHls would tire 
 
 And sli|i|iiii:i' li.'K'k. his 
 
 wri^iit \\(»ul<l liriiio- 
 No Miiall distrt'S.s to all 
 
 tile stl'ilio- 
 
 That 
 
 • •iUll Ih low wil 
 
 To hold tl 
 
 iiiiuhl and main 
 K'ir own a;4aiiist 
 ill"' stfain. 
 
 'I'li'ii 'l"\\ii iliry M sit to 
 
 ivst. or chill 
 111 l!i-o\\nii .st\lc, of this 
 
 Of that, 
 
 ( >r ,ui 
 
 :iii<'<'s on the li 
 
 I >i>(\ 
 
 to thro 
 
 w 
 
 liat la.\ so d.-ii'k and 
 
 far liclow, 
 
 <M 
 
 A 
 
 iV, 
 
'I'lii'. i!i;()\\Nii;s IX JINK 
 
 Tllrli on tlir f(>ot-|)!ltll. loilii' find wide, 
 l''(»i' half ill! Iioiiv tlii'ir speed was ti'ied; 
 Si)iiietiiiies ill scjuads of eight or nine 
 They took their stations in a line. 
 And haek and forth between the jders 
 'I'liey ran a race, 'mid slioiits and cheers 
 I'' roll! those who eliinhed on eal>les lii^h 
 To wat<di tlieiii as tiiey scampered l)y. 
 
 Said one: "I "\-e heard it said that men 
 Have come iiixm this hridi^'e, and when 
 No oflicer did near them stand. 
 To interfere with s(diemes on hand, 
 'I'hey reache(l the center heani, or rail. 
 
 And Jumped, yet li\-ed to tell the tale." 
 
 Allot 
 
 ler saKi 
 
 1) 
 
 w 
 
 annol let 
 
 inman ix 
 
 cvcv <f{' 
 
 art ( 
 
 )i us 
 
 lironyh (lai 
 
 let CO 
 
 w 
 
 tu* 
 
 
 ? 
 
 
 fc> ^ 4^. iffi M"'2SL.<i^>^ "EPS*' 5 
 
 .e**^ 
 
■iiii; i;i;()\VNii:s in .iink 
 
 Now to tilt' sclt'sjimc ])lace we Ml jjfo, 
 And lake (.iiv idaccs in a row; 
 And. at a Liivci] siuiial, s]>viii!j; 
 l/ikc l.irds when takin.u' to the wiii^', 
 And ktc|) t'fct downward, it' we can, 
 A I'dini;' 1o the jumper's ])lan 
 
 O 1)1' 
 
 not tunifd awrv m an', 
 
 l)nt strike tiie water jilunih and fair, 
 A tilled tvinarked : " \'ou aru'ue well 
 
 And show \dlll' sense, t'ol 
 
 truth to tell 
 
 W 
 
 e mav. if we hut uianaLi,(' riylit, 
 
 iinnoi'laii/.i' oni'sclvcs to 
 
 ■niiiht. 
 
 (hir man nia\ .innii> and still escape 
 
 W 
 
 ithont a hiu't of any sliap 
 
 \r\ 1 
 
 If IS oiu\' one ui a 
 
 II 
 
 The millions on this Inriuni!,' hall. 
 
 i!ut whciv was ever seen a el'<twd 
 Like ns. with fortitndt' endowed, 
 
 hat makes ns ni a Ixxlv u'o 
 
 W 
 
 n'onii'li liivatest datiu'ers one can know ? 
 (■ Ac i^'oiH' ihrouiih many startlin.a; W(M's 
 
 And ti'N'iii'j,' srcn"s, as history sin 
 
 )WS. 
 
 people donl»t. let them hul rea( 
 
 1 
 
 An 
 
 a learn no 
 
 w we take little heed 
 
 Of duikers that u'o hand in hand 
 With all the doings of the hand, 
 And even now yon "11 find that we 
 Are N'aliaiit in a hiij^'h dearer. 
 Instead of shrinkinii' in disyi-ace, 
 i-iaih one will want the liij;liest plaee, 
 
 '-4 
 
 .,:,3»i*s*°*""'' 
 
THE BROWNIES I\ JUNE. 
 
 A f'ourtli cxclaiiiit'd: "Tliciv's t'iiiiit'. no doiiht, 
 
 111 siicli ii ,jiiiii|t, if well worked out ; 
 
 But I, for one, lu'rc let me say, 
 
 Won't look for fanic in siwdi a way. 
 
 L«'t those who want to feed the lish 
 
 Jump from tlic striu'tiuo, if tlicy wish. 
 
 But be assured iho lowest |)late, 
 
 Or wire, upon this ])ri(l<'-e so yi-eat, 
 
 Will high eiiou>;h from water seem 
 
 Before you souse into the stream. 
 
 Now those with me who do not siiow 
 
 ci-azv w 
 
 ish to famous ui 
 
 ow, 
 
 Beneath the bridge in boats will keep, 
 And aid the ones wlio take the leap." 
 A fair <livision nctw was made: 
 Upon the bi'idii'e those Bi-owiiies stayed 
 Who did n't wish to liave it said 
 Tliat human beinji's were ahead; 
 While tlio.se who Aid n't care to seek 
 For fame tlnHtuuli su(di a foolish fi-eak 
 VW'ut down for boats, and (|ni('kly ran 
 Beneath the center of tiie span, 
 
 To be pi'epared tlieii' friends to save. 
 When they should dro]> into the wavi 
 Now, dark against the starrv skv, 
 
 All tl 
 
 lose who were the jump to tiy 
 
 Crawled out upon the cal)le dim. 
 And i)er(die(l Hke bii'ds upon a liml). 
 All waitinii,' foi- the siunal scream 
 That was to start them foi- tlie stream. 
 
•riii: i!i;(»\VNii:s i\ .irsi;. 
 
 f 
 
 Said oiir : "My word is still my 1»(>ii(l, 
 So acts and woi'ds must coitcsjxjikI. 
 P)iit had I not tlic uttcrinKM' iiiiide 
 That I, i'or one, was not aiVaid, 
 And IVccly pivc my name. I vow 
 I "d hardly make the pi'omisc now 
 i^>u1 one was (piick to liixc tlio sjiout. 
 And at the cry they all spranj;' out 
 Like heroes hold, without (hday, 
 And downwai'd took their i'a|)i<l way. 
 They stru,i!;ii,led hard, while in mid-aii', 
 To keep themselves erect and fair, 
 P)iit (juite a hi'ee/e was sweeping;' rounc 
 l)et\\een the ocean and the sound, 
 And as it o'ei' the i'i\'ei' I'an 
 It played sad havoc with theii' plan. 
 In si»ite of iVantic kicks and tliiiy's, 
 And arms gyrating round like winys. 
 
 80 
 
soon 
 
^>, 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 1.4 IIIIII.6 
 
 '/] 
 
 
 V 
 
 PhotogiBphic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 
 

Tin: lUiowNiKs ix .iune. 
 
 Now had that dariiij; Brownie crowd 
 Been just with mortal j,'ifts endowed, 
 One half tin band or thereabout, 
 WoiUd have been snuffed completely out; 
 An<l nevei' niort have brouj^lit a smile 
 On human fare to play awhile. 
 But. thanks to thfir mysterious power 
 That stood tlicni wrll in that dread hour, 
 Thry liad no tliou<iht of ending' liere 
 For li'ood and all their bi-isflit career. 
 
 Some stayed so lon<>; beneath the wave 
 Friends frai'cd thf river was their grave. 
 But pvt'tty soon a distant yell 
 Would ]trove them safe, and swimming well 
 They wriit so deep that when they rose 
 Some pounds of mud came with their toes, 
 And to the snrtV.ce <piite a few 
 Bi'ought slK'ddci'-crabs, and lobst(»rs, too, 
 \Vlii(di (dearly ]»roved 
 
 to friends around 
 That they the river's 
 
 bed had found. 
 Though Brownies may "' 
 mishaps sustain 
 
 82 
 
 L 
 
THE BROWNTES IN TUNE. 
 
 TliJit cjiDse soinc fear, if not soiiic ))iiiii, 
 Thoy seldom fail to cany througii 
 The work laid out for thciii to do; 
 
 —- --s-S^-iS?^- And thoii«-'l) a few wviv somewhat sore, 
 
 And vowed they M take that lea)) no more, 
 Still, not a In-oken hone was there, 
 Or ffarment toi-n ])eyond repair. 
 
 Each was in trim to ((uickly crawl 
 
 In waitinj,' l»oats, that took them all 
 
 Away as fast as oars could i^uide 
 
 The i)arty to the nearest side. 
 
 And then the hand had harely time 
 
 To ((uit the ])hice er(> niornini; prime. 
 
 sa 
 
THE lUJOWXIES IN JULY 
 
 soon as sunnv-faood •July cv'^^niy 
 
 liroiiirht round the time when hanners fly ^'CCT 
 
 On ovory pole, o'er every door, '■'"■^V 
 
 The eoiintry tlirouuli from sliort> to sliore, 
 
 The Brownies met to Imve tlieir say 
 
 KesiH'ctinu; lnde])endence Day. 
 
 Said <uu': "Jf I have reekoned riglit 
 
 The (hiys as they have taken tli}j;lit, 
 
 We stand iiiKtn th<' veiy brink 
 
 Of that li'rcal <hiy when jjeople tliink 
 
 Of heroes who so friH'ly j>"ave 
 
 Tlieir sacred Hves on tield and wave, 
 
 That ti'enerations yet to bo . 
 
 Mi^ht Hve and move in liberty." 
 
 Another said: "My comrade ti-ue. 
 Your mental almanac won't do, 
 Yoii 're just two dozen hours too fast ; 
 1 have the days from first to last 
 All jotted down in black and white 
 As plain as printer's ink can write; 
 To-morrow night will usher in 
 The time for l)anners and for din. 
 When children all are up and dressed 
 Before the stai's have gone to rest, 
 
THE JU;()WNli:,S IN .I[LY. 
 
 And wlicii tlu' sun looks 
 
THE IJKOWNTES TN JULY. 
 
 Coth 
 cloy 
 
 JO'i-f 
 
 TIlut 
 
 (./I tlif 
 6raii 
 
 That city strotchiiis in its prido, 
 
 AVitli streets so lou^', and parks so wide, 
 
 Tliat holds tlio Hall wlioro Congivss 1»roke 
 
 To ilinders tine the monaivh's yoke, 
 
 To n<'vei' after he resij?ii<Hl 
 
 To tiniher of that ^'allin^' kind. 
 
 Around the tuhle we will stand 
 
 Where i»eople signed, with steady hand. 
 
 The doenment that did declare 
 
 Their home and country free as air. 
 
 We know what that act hr(»ujjfht alxmt— 
 
 Eacli tiylit, surrender, sicLje and rout, 
 
 Wiiich followed soon tiie declaration 
 
 To found a free and mighty nation, 
 
 That like a link uow lies between 
 
 The oceans l)oisterous and serene; 
 
 And wliile one ])art is wrapped hi snow 
 
 Till trees heud down to earth helow 
 
 With loads that storms have on them laid, 
 
 Still other ])arts are all arrayed 
 
 in iiowets tiiat sweetest fragrance send 
 
 To suuny skies tliat o'er them hend. 
 
 Tlie war was long, and many fell. 
 
 As history's ])ages fully tell. 
 
 No conflict of a year or two 
 
 ("ould such a commonwealth suhdne. 
 
 Nor could it cause the king to say 
 
 The colonies might go their way. 
 
 Hut seasons rolled, and still the tight 
 
 For lilx'i'ly, or monarch's right, 
 
 80 
 
 Oe brnue 
 wUtt} troub'* 
 
 tries 
 
 T^« coujara 
 
 only 
 
THE imOWNIEH IN JLLY. 
 
 In i(!y fields throuf,'h wintry days, 
 
 On scorcliinj? plains in summer's blaze, 
 
 F'ar off from land on oeean's wave, 
 
 Where hearts when ffw were doul)ly ])rave, 
 
 To bind in ehains, ur to be free, 
 
 Tlie war went on l)y land and sea. 
 
 The child that stood npon the pave, 
 
 And saw his father, iinn and grave. 
 
 With gun in hand and horn at side, 
 
 March off to stem tyrannic pride. 
 
 Grew np in time to take a hand 
 
 In battling for his native land — 
 
 To the same tune from drum and fife, 
 
 Went bravely forth to give his life.'' 
 
 That night, indeed, the Bro-WTiies' feet 
 
 Went pattering through the silent street. 
 
 Unnoticed by the men in l)lue 
 
 Who searching glances ever threw 
 
 As here and there with solenm round 
 
 They guarded people sleeping sound. 
 
 Said one: "This town is counted slow, 
 And fun is poked at it, we know. 
 About how gravely people move. 
 And how they never leave one groove. 
 But we, who have no ax to grind 
 Or boon to ask, can speak our mind ; 
 And folk there are witliin oin* reach 
 Now fast asleep, that well could teach 
 The stirring, gi-asping po}>ulace 
 Of many a more ambitious place, 
 
 87 
 
THE lUU )\VNIES IN JULY. 
 
 The lumcst way to sell an<I Imy, 
 Tlio way to live, and way to dio, 
 ^tlicr frioiidlv hints 
 
 The Hall was roachod in half an lionr, 
 
 As ono niifjlit jndfie who knows their power, 
 
 HH 
 
THE BKOWNIEH IN JULY. 
 
 And how tliey laufrl, at bolt and bar, 
 At lieavy staples diiven far, 
 And locks that few can comprehend. 
 With combinations without end. 
 As thronf,di th(^ ancient rooms they passed 
 On many thinjifs their eyes were cast 
 That brouj^dit a smile, a frown, or sigh. 
 According to what di-ew the eye. 
 Said one: "The rust is working well 
 To make away with swoi'd and shell 
 And liaisket. They will hardly last 
 Until another centuiy 's past." 
 Another answered: "Well, wlio cares 
 How soon the rust eats such affairs f 
 The blunder1)uss, head-cleaving blade. 
 Horse-pistol, shell, and hand-grenade 
 But call to mind tlie trying days 
 Wlien people saw their hamh^ts blaze. 
 And saw the hireling Hessians stride 
 Upon the land with pomp and pride. 
 But other steel and other lead 
 Than they had brought they found to dread ; 
 
 And many mounds soon rose to show 
 Tliat many came, wlio failed to go." 
 From place to place tli(^ Brownies went 
 At this they paus»Ml, by that they bent 
 To study out the writing old 
 Tliat something of its history told. 
 Around tli(> iidvstaiid, straiige to view. 
 The Brownies stood, a wondering cirw, 
 
 80 
 
THE BROWNIES IN JULY. 
 
 Commenting on the 
 
 futoful drops 
 It once gave out to knock 
 
 tlie props 
 Away forever fi'om 
 
 a throne 
 Tliat it was thought eonld 
 
 stand alone. 
 The Brownies tided 
 to imitate 
 Thi' iiiaiiiicr of the statesmen great, 
 Who l)y that self-same desk of oak 
 On. od for horn's, and linnly spoke 
 
 Of , duties, slights, and harms, 
 
 And stirred the people ^ij) to arms. 
 Oft asking in a stinging vein 
 If they would wear a hond or chain. 
 
 Or wt're ])repared at once to fling 
 Defiance at the tyrant king! 
 Aroimd tlu'mselves the flags they wrapped 
 That o'er the Continentals flapped, 
 When through their ranks, on hill and vale, 
 The whistling hullets swept like hail. 
 Said one: ''By weapons hacked and woni 
 And hattle-tlags ])lo()d-stained and torn, 
 That iind a place on every wall, 
 'T is plain as A B C to all 
 No easy task they undertake 
 Who aim established laws to hreak. 
 To right their wrongs like men begin, 
 
 90 
 
THE niJOWNIEH IN JULY. 
 
 And indopondcnco strive 
 
 to will," 
 To reacli a sofa long 
 
 and wide 
 Tho Brownios ran from 
 
 every Kid(>, 
 Eacli striving,' to be first to treat 
 Himself to such a famous seat. 
 
 Said one: "Upon this sofa stron.i? 
 Tliat here you sec has I'csted loiifr 
 And been well tried by moth and rat, 
 The Father of His Country sat, 
 And ealled to mind the hopes and fears 
 And hardships of tliose tr^in^^ years 
 When in his army, staneh and true, 
 There was not one whole coat or shoe. 
 No pride in grand pai-ade or show 
 They took at su(Oi a time, we know. 
 To march around the streets in i-aj;s 
 With naked feet on snowy fla,us, 
 Gave little jdeasnre to the band 
 Who had theii- eountry's life in hand. 
 The loud huirahs from those arouuil. 
 At such a scene would empty sound. 
 A tattered force he had to lead 
 O'er icy stream and marshy mead. 
 But well he knew, that hero bold. 
 Beneath each coat of rajjged fold 
 A heart was beatiii,n' true and tried 
 As was the weapon at his side." 
 
 91 
 
 Wiwtwi«*y;*iMi« 
 
^ 
 
 ^^- v -, 
 
 THE BllOWNIES TN JITI.Y. 
 
 Another said: "Tliis still is fomul 
 Wlu'iv too inucli wraii^liiifj; doi'S abound; 
 While those at iumic dispute and s])out 
 Alumt their orders and iheir douht, 
 Those in the tield who face the too 
 Are staudiu}; Itarefoot in the snow. 
 Such was the fate of Euf^land's host 
 U]M>n the cold Criuiean coast, 
 While vessels lay a+ (n(dior near, 
 With full su])i>lies f;.r half a year, 
 Awaitii'.,; orders from sonu' Jirown, 
 (h- Smith, or Jones, iu Siouchm Town." 
 
 Thus Brownies talked, 
 as talk they will. 
 And passed opinions 
 
 freely still. 
 But all the while 
 enjoying well 
 Each show that to 
 their notice fell. 
 Around the hell that loiuUy rang 
 When independence was its clang, 
 The Browuies stood ; nay, some were bold 
 To cliuih upon the relic old. 
 And uiourned to see the fissure wide 
 That time had opened in its side. 
 Said one: "They rang the bell too hard, 
 Or else it tumbled in the yard 
 Froui belfry beams, and struck a stone. 
 That cracked it thus, and changed its tone. 
 
 92 
 
 \ 
 
THE HUOWNIKH IN .HhY. 
 
 ••V -v\ai 
 
 r 
 
 #■■ 
 
 ^:fvsK?::v;^ 
 
 It now sounds like 
 an cai-tlicn pot, 
 
 But what of that ( 
 It matters not. 
 
 It did its duty 
 ou that day, 
 And to its credit, 
 let nie 
 
 That there was meaning in its ring 
 That well might stun a listening king. 
 
 93 
 
TIIK HKOWNIKS IN JULY. 
 
 Now let it rost, tor sword or s^i" 
 
 ('an ne'er mido wliat has l)een done." 
 
 So many Brownies had a mind 
 
 Upon that hell a jdace to find; 
 
 They started it npon the ^o 
 
 Till, swaying wildly to and fro, 
 
 It cansed a panic and a scare 
 
 That soon distnrhed tlK^ In-avest there. 
 
 Home to the chain ahove held fast; 
 
 Some tliit upon the hell were cast, 
 
 With arms and lej^'s extended wide, 
 And with it sailed from side to side; 
 While clanging loud with heavy stroke 
 Tlie rt^stless clapper silence hroke. 
 Alarmed lest such a fearful din 
 Would hring the wondering people in. 
 The Brownies tried in every way 
 To choke it off without delay. 
 At risk of limh, and life as well, 
 Home l)ravely hung helow the l)ell, 
 As hack and forth it rocked and swung. 
 And did their hest to hold its tongue; 
 And glad enough were Bro^vTiies bold 
 When they at length the bell controlled. 
 Ho all were free to gain the street, 
 And hasten o. ' ^^t^. to their retreat. 
 
 Be sobec 
 
 actiue 
 
 vigil,ir|r 
 
 flrjd braue 
 
 JMoquicfier 
 
 roclefend 
 
 tl;.Tl swift 
 
 tos;iue. 
 
 m #! MMm 
 
 Whtn jfrtfi puroul-rh»t>^ fir** 
 T^e Brownie bii'ni retii'fs. 
 
 04 
 
•'ti.r-ll'fj Cox.. ■■' .. 
 
 THE BROWNIES IX AUGUST. 
 
 :VlQjje)1, Aiijfiist took its place in lino, 
 
 The Brownies met at day's decline. 
 Said one: "At leiiQ-th we stand ])eside 
 A stream that is the nation's pride. 
 No longer river finds its way 
 Around the world, to gulf or hay; 
 And, since our pleasures first hegan, 
 No better journey can we plan 
 Than one upon the liver hright 
 That rolls b.^ore us here to-night." 
 Another said : " I well agree 
 With what you say; and trust to me 
 To be the pilot for the hand, 
 To take the lead antl give connnand. 
 I know tlie river well, my friends, — 
 •Tust where it starts and where it ends. 
 Each bend and l)ar from first to last 
 Is in my mind established fast. 
 
 1»5 
 
 Lil(i>tl|t'OCp.iii'j 
 
 floilJ 
 
 Still tl|.>cla^3 
 uJill roiiif 
 an J jJo. 
 
wmmm 
 
 THE BKOWNIES IN AUOUST. 
 
 Tlio trip will tako a week or more; 
 We '11 hide by day along the shore, 
 And when retimis the evening gloom, 
 Our journey to the sea resume. 
 Wc well might visit every State 
 That lies within this Union great, 
 Then spread abroad the truthful tales 
 Of mountains high or lovely vales. 
 And wonders that one may behold 
 In wells of oil, or mines of gold ; 
 But, for the ])resent, we will keep 
 Our journey to the briny deep, 
 An<l trust tliat later on we may 
 To othei- States a visit pay." 
 Another said : 
 
 " Tilt' scheme is fail", 
 And for the trip 
 
 we '11 n(j\v ]»repare. 
 No one need view 
 
 with jealous eye 
 Our course as here 
 
 and there we hie, 
 Tor think their loyal State we slight 
 Because 't is small, or far from sight; 
 For well we know attractions fine — 
 From l)uilding stone to towering pnie, 
 From iishing-port to marble mart. 
 From vine-clad fi(>lds to coldest part. 
 From center town to border land — 
 Await the coming of the band." 
 
 90 
 
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST. 
 
 Why need I use my valued space 
 To tell of smiles that ht each face, 
 Or eyes that rolled with knowino- squint 
 To see how others took the liiut. 
 No longer talk was needed there 
 To make the Brownies soon repair 
 To where some boats could be secured 
 That Ijy the river's bank were mooi'ed. 
 The pleasing sight should be allowed 
 To all mankind, when Brownies crowd 
 Into a boat, with jam and din. 
 All anxious to be counted in. 
 The Brownies, as j'ou know, are not 
 Inclined to grumble at their lot, 
 Or wliino because some are not blessed 
 With comforts granted to the rest. 
 'T is pleasant drifting with the tide. 
 Or down a stream to smoothly glide, 
 But su(di mild currents often tend 
 To rougher waters at the end; 
 And Brownies found in their descent 
 Some rapids that great mischief meant; 
 Where ]>oats careened in every case. 
 And made a deck-load out of place. 
 Indeed, the pilot's craft was caught 
 Upon a snag, and quick as thought 
 Was overturned until the keel 
 Did to the moon its shape reveal ! 
 The Brownies all, from stem to stern, 
 Were forced to clinsr for life, and learn 
 
 Tijc dny 
 ujiH pomp 
 tn spi t« 
 of booAt 
 
 \Vf|f f) ynull 
 
 (rom your 
 post. 
 
 07 
 
, „a- 
 
 ^.^ 
 
 THK HKOWNir.S TX AldUST, 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
Wk-^cI oni J. 
 
 Icnf 
 For lif? nt 
 
 brief 
 
 THK JiliOWXIKS IX AlOrsT. 
 
 Of iiothins <'!«*" tliaii Brownies drowned. 
 One eried : " 'T is stranjj^e tliat no one knew 
 About these falls, now plain in view, 
 Though tunil)]ing here witli stunning din 
 Smee first the world ])egan to spin.'' 
 Another said: "My friend, too late 
 A])out our ignorance you pi'ate.' 
 Did we of dangers earlier know, 
 We might avoid nuudi ])aiii and woe. 
 'T is useless now to bend and strain 
 In hope a fi-iendly shore to gain. 
 Let each one his position keep, 
 And take the (diances of the leap." 
 
 The fleet of boai.^ with even bow. 
 Seemed sweeping to their ruin now; 
 Already eyes strained out to see 
 How deep the fearful plunge would be. 
 One boat was caught just at the b(>n(l, 
 Oi' s])ring, and turning end for end 
 With all its crew, stern foremost sped, 
 When most they wisln^d to look ahead. 
 Tlu! scene below tht> falls was wild : 
 Tlie crews were all together piled, 
 Some Brownies clinging to an oar. 
 Some to a trembling friend, and more 
 Advising how they should proceed 
 And courage show in time of need. 
 But water may b(> deep and rough, 
 And, like a kettle, boil enough 
 
 \ 
 
THE lUJOWXIES IX AU(}UST. 
 
 To plojiso tho spryost speckled ti'oiit 
 That ever lluvw a tail al)oiit, 
 And yet lack force to (|uite subdue 
 ()]■ ovcnvlielin a Bnnvuie crew. 
 
 IIKI 
 
THE JIROWNIES IN AUGUST. 
 
 And graceful palms attontioii drew. 
 
 The Brownies viewed the land with pride, 
 
 Saw tine plantations, every side. 
 
 That spoke of peace and patient toil, 
 
 And rich returns from fertile soil. 
 
 At times they went on land to try 
 
 The tempting fruit that caught the eye, 
 
 And found the kind hoth good and fail* 
 
 That ripens in the southern air. 
 
 One said : " The people of this clhne 
 
 Were brave throughout troublous time; 
 
 Now enterprise and thrift, as well, 
 
 On every side their story tell." 
 
 Another said : '' Sometime we may 
 
 In sugar-mills our skill display. 
 
 Or in the fields of eotton show 
 
 How much about the plant we know; 
 But now our duty is to steer 
 Ahead, nor heed attractions here." 
 
 At times, some laid aside the oar 
 And ran for miles along the shore, 
 And to some noted station got 
 Ere those in boats could sight the spot. 
 
 101 
 
THF, HHOWNir^S IS AlUJUST. 
 
 
 
 
 Once wliile they in a hayon lay, 
 
 To liidc from hnniankind away, 
 
 Home allijfators at tlio side 
 
 To interview the Brownies tried, 
 
 And only throngli their mystic skill 
 
 Were they preserved to charm us still. 
 
 Home fonfflit, and some jnjnped fore and aft. 
 
 And more were glad to (jnit the craft 
 
 To take their chances on the land 
 
 102 
 
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST. 
 
 And loavo tlic reptiles in cominand. 
 Tims oft the Brownies were delayed 
 As to tlio jwulf their trip they made, 
 But, nothint; daunted, still intact, 
 With every member free to act. 
 They drifted on from ni<,dit to niyht 
 To reach the point, with si)irits li^dit. 
 Where pours the river's waters free 
 From many mouths into the sea. 
 
 .--=' ii -sasi "^^ 
 
 At length the Brownies looked ahead. 
 And saw the Crescent City spread 
 111 grandeur by the widening stream. 
 They saw the domes and steeples gleam 
 That marked the site of church and hall. 
 Then caught a ghmp^'je of shipping tall 
 Where ocean waves and river Ideiid, 
 And knew their journey at an end. 
 
 Mju)tl((> Iprgdiy Trip is done 
 And thf Browrrie hand must run 
 
 l(»;! 
 
'rilK ]] I JO W.NIKS JN 
 
 sKi^rKMin^Pv. 
 
 SILVER CTCSccllt ill llic sky, 
 St'i»trinl)t'r's moon was sailiiiii" liiti;li, 
 In cii-litccn hundred and ninety-two, 
 When lii'ownies met to carry through 
 An enteri)iMse they had in view. 
 Said one: "We soon, as you 're aware, ,y 
 
 Will have tlie ureat ('oluinl)ian Fair, 
 
 Tije "loiiiptit 
 
 so free 
 
 Is the on? 
 
 for you 
 
 
 
 
 >)•'- -./, 
 
 
 
 rf-. .^ J ■••'■:■ \v,i''*'' 
 
 \ 
 
 104 
 
TFFE intDWMES I\ SEPTEMBF.Il. 
 
 
 Sk.:^^-" 
 
 
 ■:■■ --'Siiwr 
 
 
 '-^"':r>'^'.' '\m 
 
 
 
 '■'•• --i^A'- 
 
 &~^=S*.^.-.»^:-=Lr-%_^^ft?i, .'-"v-^' 
 
 
 
 
■I'JIK ItHOWNIKS JN SKl'TKMHKH. 
 
 mpoiiiion 
 Ckroundi 
 
 When biimiors will 
 
 to wiiuls he spread, 
 An<l speeches made, 
 a ])<»eiM Ite read, 
 And voices miiij^ie, 
 rich and stronj;, 
 111 reiideriujj aiitlienis 
 loud and hnijU'." 
 Another said : 
 
 "Tlieii I 'ill afraid, 
 Unless we ^'ive 
 
 some mystic aid 
 In pushing- workers 
 
 who are slow, 
 They Ml not he ready 
 
 for the show." 
 A third remarked : 
 
 "No better way 
 Can we our loyalty 
 
 (lis) day 
 Than here to lend 
 
 a helpinj? luuid 
 In tinishinj^ these 
 
 Imildings grand 
 That ornament this 
 
 spaciont ground. 
 'T will to the countiy's 
 good redound, 
 And spare the hlush that 
 else might speak 
 
 lOO 
 
 colH oi*l|ol 
 
 Of uifll doing 
 
 wwiry not 
 
THK JUJOWNIF'.S IN JSFJ'TKMJJKlt. 
 
 Of slianic on f'fiir 
 
 C!oluinl)i!rs cliock." 
 This was ciiouyli to 
 
 start the hand. 
 And soon the work 
 
 was closely scanniMl, 
 To sec Avhcrc they 
 
 could lay a Hoor. 
 Put in a sash, 
 
 oi' hann' a door, 
 ()]■ even on 
 
 the raftei's stronj; 
 Make hold to lielj* 
 
 till' work alnniT. 
 Now colmnns tall 
 
 they climbed to j;et 
 A closer look 
 
 at what was set 
 Upon the to|>, with 
 
 winj;s outs])read, 
 A staff in hand, 
 
 or wreath on head. 
 On counting them 
 
 the Brownies found 
 Just thirteen columns 
 
 standing round. 
 Said one : "No douht 
 
 the scul})tor meant 
 The early States 
 
 to repres(!nt, 
 
 107 
 
 
 lA 
 
 1:!!! 
 
THE BKOWNIES IN SE1'TE:\[151:R. 
 
 '-^^ 
 
 And ix'wo a lesson «iTiitis liciv, 
 As well as oniamcnt \hv pier.'" 
 The Woiiian's l^nildiii^" drew their eyes, 
 But they l)eiield tile same with si^hs, 
 Because the topmost tile was laid, 
 And left no chance for Brownie aid. 
 But other huildiniis of the Fair 
 Could take some tiniehes her(> and there; 
 So off the Browiues 
 
 ran for tools, 
 For i»aint-pots, haumu'rs, 
 
 saws, and rules, 
 Tliat weary workmen 
 
 (luickly threw 
 Aside when evenini;' 
 
 whisth's hlew. 
 Said one : " The hrush 
 
 is suited well 
 For Brownie hands, 
 
 the truth to tell; 
 As fo]' myself, 
 
 no more I ask 
 Than el])ow-room 
 
 at such a task. 
 And I Ml not he the last to mount 
 A laihler, and to some account. 
 l''or I will never he l)eliind 
 lu s[)readinu- jiaint, keep that in mind. 
 It may he red, or «>Teen, or blue, 
 Or yellow, or another hue. 
 
THE JJUOWNIES IN SEPTEMBER. 
 
 10 
 
 It matters not, my work shall go 
 
 As fast as any one's, 1 know." 
 
 Another said : '' Onr skill we '11 try 
 
 Upon this dome-capped l)nildin<,' nigh. 
 
 Some others here a stir can make 
 
 With brushes, or I nmch mistake, 
 
 And honors will not all descend 
 
 On one alone, yoTi may depend. 
 
 Each Brownie here nmst do his part; 
 
 No shrinking hand or timid heart 
 
 Will serve as an excuse to-night, 
 
 Or make a memher's lal)or light." 
 
 Then work h(^gan without delay. 
 
 Though plenty there had more to say, 
 
 And could have talked and argued still 
 
 Alxmt their gifts or special skill; 
 
 But l^rownies, when there 's work to do, 
 
 That nmst ere dawn he hurried through, 
 
 Ai'e eager to improve each hour 
 
 And work with all their skill and power. 
 
 Each took the tool that suited best 
 
 His turn of mind, for all were blessed 
 
 With skill that made them handle well 
 
 Whatever to their i)ortion fell ; 
 
 Then clind)ing here and mounting there. 
 
 Each loyal Brownie did his slunv. 
 
 All clearly showing from the start 
 
 They had the nation's good at heart. 
 
 Son>!(\ spreading brown paint, moved ahea( 
 
 More followed with a coat of red; 
 
 1(1!) 
 
THE BKOWNIES IN SEPTEMHEK. 
 
 Then quickly, ere tlie first had 
 
 Still other colors W(>re applied. 
 
 Said one : " Thoii,i>'li not 
 
 apprenticed out 
 To masters hard, and 
 
 knocked alxmt, 
 To learn a trade 'twixt 
 
 kick and hlow 
 That often with 
 
 instruction 
 
 We 're not 
 
 so far 
 
 hehind 
 
 mankind 
 At putting- 
 
 thinij:s 
 
 in shape, 
 
 they '11 find ; 
 For we can saw 
 
 and paint and bore, 
 And, Ix'tter still, do some 
 
 thini^s more 
 
 In mystic ways, hy Brownie rlde^, 
 
 Tiiat are unknown to hiunan schools. 
 
 It may se<'m odd, ind<'ed, to smothei 
 
 One coat so fjnickly with another, 
 
 But we from Uicu no lessons take, 
 
 Nor ask advice; hut sim])ly make 
 
 Our time and task on hand agree, 
 
 no 
 
 dried, 
 
 iiiiiiiiiwwiv • 
 
THE BROWNIES IN HEPTEMBER. 
 
 -.1,0 
 
 To dtsfroy 
 
 your l^enK'^ 
 
 1 o "1 e. 
 
 And keep from complications free. 
 
 The morning sun niiglit raise his head 
 
 Before one half onr paint was spread, 
 
 If we should work as if afraid 
 
 Of new departures in the trade. 
 
 The paiut is there, it matters not 
 
 If mixed on wall, or mixed in pot, 
 
 And what the BroAvnies spread ahout 
 
 Will last until the wood gives out." 
 
 Some sad mishaps disturhed a few, 
 
 And gave their clothes a foreign hue; 
 
 Before the task was well in hand 
 
 They formed a que(>r, hespattered })an(l — 
 
 Some red as rohins when they time 
 
 Their voices sweet in sunny Jime ; 
 
 Some gi'een as Erin's hanner old 
 
 When on St. Patrick's day unrolled; 
 
 More, like canaries froui the Isles, 
 
 Awakened many jokes and smiles. 
 
 The coat that Joseph left l)ehin(l, 
 When to the pit he was consigned, 
 Showed not more colors to the sun 
 Than Hrownie garl> wheji they 
 were done. 
 Thougli hurried greatly at th(> last, 
 As morning light was creeping fast, 
 The very vaiu^ that told the way 
 The wind was l)]()wing, night and day. 
 Received a touch from Brownies hold 
 Until it h)oked like hurnished gold. 
 
 Ill 
 
THE BROWNIES m SEPTEMliEK. 
 
 The Brownies made themselves at home ; 
 
 They elamhered over roof and dome, 
 
 They set the glass and tacked the slate 
 
 And tm on towers tall and straight, 
 
 And nailed the ornaments in phice 
 
 That to the hnildings added grace. 
 
 The highest point or peak about 
 
 The structm'e grand they hunted out ; 
 
 'T was there they wished their skill to show, 
 
 'T was there they plied the willing ])low. 
 
 And swung theii' Hinisy scaffolds light, 
 
 Regardless of the giddy height. 
 
 No brains of weak, unhealthy tone 
 
 To dizzy grow the Brownies own; 
 
 While hands have strengtli, and toes are sure. 
 
 The head lias faitli and feels secure. 
 
 So up they go and never reid. 
 
 Although the clouds around them wheel. 
 
 No wonder, then, the work that night 
 With magic speed was set aright 
 No wonder, then, the workmen stared 
 When to their stations they repaired. 
 They found their work had jumped ahead 
 While they were fast asleep in bed! 
 They woidd have struck for higher pay 
 If they had longer time to stay. 
 Now fr<Hn some place, where, as they thought, 
 Such things were kept, the Brownies l)rought 
 A brand-new tlag, with stri[)es of white 
 Alternate set with crimson bright ; 
 
 112 
 
THE RROWNIE.S IN SEPTEMBER. 
 
 While many stars, 
 
 in order due, 
 One corner filled 
 
 on field of blue. 
 A mammoth flag, — 
 
 I cannot name 
 The yards of bunthig 
 
 in the same ; 
 But safe it is 
 
 for me to say 
 T would draw the eye 
 
 ten miles away, 
 And l(^t one know, 
 
 beyond n doubt, 
 What nation bung 
 
 the emblem out. 
 It muttered not 
 how large 
 of size. 
 The Brownie band 
 had found 
 a pi'ize ; 
 xVnd now it did 
 their fancy 
 please 
 To give the symbol 
 to the breeze. 
 The wind that from 
 the lake 
 was strong 
 
THE BROWTs'IES IN SEPTEMBEK. 
 
 I 
 
 Played t'lvcly with tlic colors lonji, 
 And wi'apiK'd the Brownies in its fold; 
 But still tiiey worked nor lost their hold, 
 While u]) it ran ; 'mid joyful ci'ies, 
 Above the (grounds it proudly Hies! 
 Said one : " We '11 leave it tioatinjjj there, 
 Through hlizzai'd, storm, or milder air, 
 To let the folks who reach thesis shores, 
 From every nation out of dooi's, 
 Learn how it fei'ls to draw at last 
 One l)reatli of freedom from the blast; 
 
 Here tlu'y may hear oiu' ea^de scream, 
 Learn liberty is not a dream, 
 And stand beside this inland sea. 
 Beneath the banner of the free! 
 As centuries shall roll away 
 The i)eopl(^ will all honor pay 
 With special zeal to Nin(>ty-two, 
 And tell the gi'eat ex})loit anew 
 When, in despite of plot or plea, 
 Colund)Us steered his vessels three 
 To tind the unknown region here, 
 Eespected now both far and near." 
 
 Ti'j IS cl ny 
 
 but oiic-e 
 
 you emi 
 
 i?tiJoy 
 
 l| o u) you 
 rf;e tinie 
 «iiiplo y. 
 
 I i 
 
aljort 
 fl|)|3ear 
 Gul co>jst(ir;t 
 
 tickiilg 
 
 nialu's tl;e 
 
 y e<» r. 
 
 THE JSROAV^NIES IN OCTOBER. 
 
 HEN trees were bending witli their loads, 
 Aronnd the fanners' snng abodes, 
 '^^^ And limbs were stooping from the top, 
 '-«>-.Q.o ^Ynd groaning for a friendly prop 
 So they might last until the day 
 When ])urdens would be borne away, 
 The Brownie band, at day's decline, 
 Assembled in an orchard fine. 
 Said one : " This season of the year 
 Is to the BroAvnie's heart most dear, 
 Because it brings to us a chance 
 Some person's harvest to advance^; 
 To climb tlu^ trees and sliake each bough 
 Is work that must engnge us now 
 Till everything is safe and sound ; 
 And when the morning comes around, 
 How will the farmer stand and stare 
 To hnd his fruit all gathered there ! 
 A task he thought he 'd have to do 
 Himself before the week was through." 
 
 115 
 
THE BEOWXIES TN OCTOBER. 
 
 Anothor said: "Tlio truth to tell, 
 The task is ono that suits us well. 
 There will he work enou<;h for all ; 
 The p;roiui(ls are large, the trees are tall, 
 And many l)ushels must be drawn 
 Away before the morn shall dawn." 
 A third remarked: "And not alone 
 To fruited trees nmst earo be shown; 
 October ])rin<>s the ripened hue 
 To s(iuashes and great pumpkins too; 
 And nothing shall the Brownies leave 
 Tliat should attention now receive. 
 
 We '11 not transport upon our backs 
 
 The heavy baskets and the sacks, 
 
 But get some teams to lighter make 
 
 The work that now we undertake; 
 
 For well you know (mr task 
 must close 
 
 Before the sun his visage 
 shows." 
 
 Then up the trees some 
 Brownies went 
 
 To shake the limbs with apples bent; 
 
 And ^-xore began at once to haul 
 The pumpkins, 
 
 taking vines and all ; 
 
 no 
 
THE DHOWNIES IN ()CT()J5ER. 
 
 Wliilo otliors hurried off with speed 
 To find stronjf teams 
 to serve their need. 
 
 Tliey were not long — for Brownies smart 
 At sueh u thne display th(>ir art ; 
 To he of service they ean teach 
 Whatever comes within their reach — 
 
 varioiisji'igs 
 
 Of all that was 
 ])rogressiug there. 
 Though goats are 
 seldom taught 
 to haul, 
 Like horses taken 
 from the stall, 
 
 117 
 
THE JJHOWNIES IN OCITOBEK. 
 
 Tlioy (lid their duty 
 
 in the main, * 
 And answered well 
 the ^uidins rein. 
 It needs some training, 
 
 as a rule, 
 To make a heast keep 
 eahn and eool. 
 And draw a heavy load along 
 Without some frisky aetion wrong; 
 And one eould hardly think to see 
 The Brownies' teams work i)atii'ntly 
 Who had no training on the road 
 Or " ])reaking-in " to l)ear a load. 
 But it nuist he 
 
 a creature rare — 
 Not worthy of 
 
 a farmer's care — 
 That Bi'ownies cannot 
 
 soon suhdue 
 Wlien tliey have work 
 
 to carry through. 
 But [)igs, at times, 
 
 as ])c(»ple know, 
 Are ol)stinate 
 
 and loatli to go 
 Tlie way tlie driver may recjuire, 
 But turn ahout with great desire 
 To take the road that shortest lies 
 Between them and their quiet sties. 
 
 118 
 
THE BUOWNIEH IN ()( TOHEH. 
 
 So now and then sonic trouldo rose 
 When neither em'))inf^ bit nor Itlows 
 Conld proud and frisky spirits l)ind, 
 Or serve to chanj^e the stubborn mind ; 
 Then broken waji'ons nii^iit })e seen, 
 And scattered loads upon the green, 
 And Brownies with all strength employed 
 A dire c<dlision to avoid. 
 
 iWct^ 
 
 A Bi'ownie, 
 
 who applied 
 
 the switch, 
 Was roughly tumbled in the ditch ; 
 And one, who roughly used his toe, 
 Was dragged for fifty yards, or so. 
 
 ryff< 
 
 sm^&i 
 
 ll'J 
 
THE BHOWNIEH IX (KTOHKIl. 
 
 And thus, in idiilosopliio 
 
 strain, 
 A comvudc (lid tlio ctiso 
 
 explain : 
 "This fact is known the worhl 
 
 around 
 Where'er the hunmn race 
 is found — 
 If j,'entle treatment won't prevail, 
 'T is not nuich use to strike or rail ; 
 Thev little ^ain who strive to win 
 
 By heatinj; precepts 
 Thus i)arents, tired 
 Mav hit the 
 
 througli the skin, 
 l)y anfjfor's spark, 
 child, yet miss 
 the murk : 
 For kind rei)roof 
 and gentle hand 
 Will more respect and 
 love command. 
 Now, kindness works as well, 
 you '11 find, 
 With heasts, as with the 
 Iniman kind. 
 So lay aside l)oth whip 
 and thoujf?, 
 And keep }-our feet where 
 they hehmg." 
 A husy scene the or(diard 
 showed. 
 Ere every tree had lost its load; 
 
 i«?cl 
 
 liiO 
 
I'lli; IIHoWNir.S IN (MTdltKI!. 
 
 ^■^'•'■^fk.OoK ^^"'^'•~ 
 
 11 
 
 yoine towered tuU, while liinl)s but few 
 
 All at the topmost portion gi-ew. 
 
 I'-'i 
 
 >.v.4<»: 
 
THE IJKOWNIES IN Ot'TOBER. 
 
 The btark was smooth, 
 the trunks were 
 straight ; 
 And, thoiigh the 
 Brownies' skill 
 w'as great. 
 Oft to the gi'omid 
 they VI slip 
 and slide 
 And tmnble down 
 
 on every side, 
 Before a sa\nng grasp was laid 
 Upon a l)raneh to render aid. 
 
 They labored 
 hard 
 through all 
 the hours; 
 The apples 
 rattled down 
 in showers; 
 There were mishaps, you may believe. 
 A few did stunning falls ivceive 
 As they pcnformed some daring feat 
 Or some one shook them from a seat. 
 Or where a branch, they tliought was stout 
 And trusty, with a snap gave out. 
 But Brownies think this only fun, 
 AVlien there is work that must be done; 
 And those who rost", though lame and sore. 
 Would soon be at the top onee more. 
 
THE imoWNIES JN OCTOBER, 
 
 Wlien oarly dawn came creeping there, 
 It showed the trees all standing bare. 
 The goats were free 
 
 to come and go; 
 The pigs were Mt'M 
 
 rooting to and fro; Miiij''yi-,'\^ 
 
 ■ o-imWft, 
 
 
 The baskets, bags, and wagons, too, 
 Were each in place as good as new. 
 Bnt not a Brownie was in sight, 
 For all had vanished with the night. 
 
 U'a 
 
ma 
 
 THE BKOWXIES IX 
 
 caat or wcit, 
 Horjfst dr,>( ij^ 
 
 NOVEMBEK. 
 
 — --^ Bt'caiise it ])rings Thimksgiviiig Day, 
 
 Wlieii those who have been scatterqii wide 
 Assenihle at tlie fireside 
 To render thanks for l)eing blessed, 
 And iiave a (hnner of the })est." 
 Thus spoke a httle Brownie spiy 
 As that great day was (h-awing nigh. 
 
 Another said: "And, truth to tell. 
 We might enjoy a feast as well. 
 Although no pumpkins on the vine 
 For us like burnisiicd gohl nuiy shine, 
 Or turkeys gather at our eall. 
 To feed and fatten through tl',< fall. 
 Be sure we have a way to find 
 A dinner, if we 're so inclined ; 
 We 11 not go hungiy, never fear; 
 Thvw 's not a ])antry, far or near. 
 
THE BliOWNlEH IN NOVEMBER. 
 
 But WO can reach and take a share 
 
 Of things that are provided there. 
 
 Noiiglit will ])e missed, and that 's where we 
 
 Excel tlie human kind, you see. 
 
 We magnify whate'er we choose, 
 
 And thus the people nothing lose. 
 
 Now into separate ])ands divide, 
 
 And travel thi-ough the coiuitry wide! 
 
 Let some a southern (Mmrse pursue. 
 
 And some the North Star keei) in view; 
 
 11' 
 
 While others travel west and <>ast 
 To gather sonietlihig for our feast. 
 But let tiie work he understood 
 That we may liave all tliat is good. 
 Not ovennueh of any disli, 
 But such assortment as we wish. 
 Let those who to the north proceed, 
 Procure the poultry we will need ; 
 Let those who turn tiieir faces west, 
 Bring i)ies and puddings of the hest; 
 The southern Itand can imt in ))lace 
 The fruit that should our tal)l(^ grace: 
 While those wdio on their errand run. 
 
THE BROWNIEH IN NOVEMBER. 
 
 As if t(» meet the risiiij; sun, 
 ("an, as tlieir part, if noujjht prevents, 
 Jirinii coffee, tea, and condiments, 
 That nothinjij may be wantinfjf there 
 To make our feast a <^rand affair." 
 Then all r ic id, without delay, 
 Toward evei /int was on the way. 
 Tlu' poultry that can tind repose, 
 Safe from the fox and kindred foes, 
 By roosting on a friendly bouii'li. 
 Cannot escape the Brownit's now. 
 Said one, whose pai't it was to l)ear 
 A braee of 
 turkeys, as 
 his share 
 
 ''That fowl has surely little wit 
 
 Who on a <dieri'y-tree will sit: 
 
 Its branch can be cut off with ease, 
 
 And while it dreams of corn and peas, 
 
 The bird is carried from the spot 
 
 A mile or two, and knows it not. 
 
 We Ml not disturb the people here 
 
 With lliitterinj;' sounds, or sca-eams of fear, 
 
 But (piietly along- the road 
 
 We '11 bear the i-oost with all its load, 
 
THE BROWNU:;S IN NOVEMBER. 
 
 And thus peiform our part assijyned 
 Witliout awakiiifi tlioufjlits unkind," 
 'T is little uso to tell a wife 
 To jj;uai'd tlic ]>anti'y as her life; 
 ()]• tell the maid whose wits are slow 
 She uuist ])e watchfid, or must go ; 
 Beeause the Brownies have a way 
 To carry on theii' work or jday, 
 And what they want they soon receive 
 Without so nuich as "hy yoiu" leave." 
 But where they visit, there they hless : 
 The household treasures t>r()W no less, 
 And happy is the home Avhose tloor 
 The ]iro\vnie Itand has scampered o'er. 
 All harmful things will ever flee 
 From little ones who hcnd the knee 
 Beside the bed where Brownies cn-ep, 
 Or play their pranks while people sleep. 
 When one is thinking least ahout 
 The hand, they 're passing hi and out, 
 Or scanning with a watchful eye 
 
 mmr^^ 
 
 VJ7 
 
r- -'«5<^,ji' 
 
 
 I 
 
 THE BROWNIES IN NOVEJIBER. 
 
 Eacli motion made l)y people nigh. 
 A little noise, and, like a flash, 
 In wild alarm, away they dash ! 
 A sneeze, a sudden word, or cough. 
 And quick as liglitning they are off! 
 Perhaps to venture l)aek no more 
 
 Until a month has 
 circled o'er. 
 
 In time the rich supplies 
 were found, 
 
 And carried to the 
 trysting-ground : 
 
 Tlie poultry was not 
 lacking therc^ 
 That fattened in Ww nortliern air, 
 Wliile ouhers pi'oved the fertile West 
 Was rich in pastry of the l)est. 
 The South soon yielded fruitage fine, 
 From orchard, grove, and clinging vine: 
 The orange, apple, luscious grape. 
 And inits of every size and shape. 
 And quickly from the eastern land 
 Returned the nimhle-footed hand 
 Who, through some ai't or method strange. 
 To more than one large kitchen range 
 Without delay did entrance gain. 
 And, as it happened, not in vain. 
 
 128 
 
THE UKOWNIES IN N0VE:«BER. 
 
 It does n't take tlio Brownies long 
 To cook a fowl, it' notliing 's wrong, 
 Because there is no ])ickering there 
 Concerning "overdone" or "rare." 
 If wood is scar(H', or slow to burn, 
 The smoke will cook it to a turn ; 
 Whatever piece the carvers send, 
 They do not wdiiningly contend 
 
 For leg, or neck, or wing that daps, — 
 Whatever fills the hungry gaps 
 Will do; and thus, not hard to please. 
 The Brownies pass their hves in ease. 
 
 y 
 
 That night the feast was truly grand : 
 Enough for all w^as there at hand; 
 And some who thought that they were through, 
 Would start again on something new; 
 And the right ear of many a cook 
 Glowed w^arm that night as they partook 
 Of pies and cakes of every style. 
 And freely praised her skill the while. 
 It mattered not if tea was cold, 
 
 12 "J 
 
THE nJU)WNlJ>' JN NOVEJIBER. 
 
 
 
 ^^'^'^^;^>'i/ 
 
 
 '^IMIK Co 
 
 
 
 130 
 
 ^V^' ^■^"•■t*-'-" 
 
THE HUOWNIEH IN NOVEMUEK. 
 
 Or C'oifee weak, or l)uttor old, 
 Or broad was close allied to doudi, 
 No Browiiio told aiiotlicr so. 
 Time slips alonj^, liowo'cr wo try- 
 To cliook the lioiirs passinj^ by; 
 And ovoii Browiiios cannot stay 
 The niomonts as tlioy Hit away; 
 And tliongb tlio nigbts were gi'owinj,' long, 
 Some birds connnoncod tlieir morning song 
 Before tbe lively band was tbrongb, 
 And from tbe ban(|uot-gromid withdrew. 
 It is not often Brownies take 
 Ui)on tbemsolvos to boil and bake, 
 Or gather up witb wondrous liastt; 
 Supplies to satisfy their taste ; 
 But, wben they do, 't is safe to say 
 There 's not muoh left to tiirow away. 
 
 I 
 
 ! i| 
 
 r !l 
 
 Ai/vit-^ c 
 
 1 "A 
 
 Thougb boiling soup may spatter round 
 Before tbe waiting plate is found. 
 And sonu' may even get a burn 
 Who tbiuk for soup it is their turn, 
 
 liii 
 
THE HHOWNIES IN NOVKAIIU'.U. 
 
 1 
 
 tad) clay 
 adopt tl)« 
 
 T P'^Vf 
 Te nglif 
 
 They liii^'r round the taltlc still 
 
 Till every one lias had his till. 
 
 But let it he a feast oi- ride, 
 
 Or swiui, oi" sail on waters wide, 
 
 That iutert'sts the Brownie kind, 
 
 They always keep the fact in mind 
 
 That they must ii<»t allow the sun 
 
 To show his face ere they ai'e done 
 
 And safely stowed away trom si^ht, 
 
 In waiting,' t'oi- another ni^ht. 
 
 So, while some tasted bread and pie 
 
 And eakes that well mi^'lit jdease the eye, 
 
 And poured the tea and eotfee liot 
 
 In cujjfuls tVoiH the hoilini^' l>ot. 
 
 Or gnawed the a]»])les till they wore 
 
 An inroad to the seedy coi'e. 
 
 And to the hones ^'ave ^''t^Jitest care 
 
 While still a shred of meat was there, 
 
 Till there was nothing', hi<>;h or low, 
 
 WoTild yield fair picking; for a crow — 
 
 Some found a elianci* to tiu'n their eyes 
 
 Wlu're sij^ns of day hef^'aii to rise. 
 
 Between the l)ites of that rich feast 
 
 They cast quick glances to the east, 
 
 To notice when the stars gi-ew pale. 
 
 Or hid heneath an azure veil; 
 
 And, though reluctant to withdraw, 
 
 Those watchful Br(Avniies danger saw. 
 
 And urged their friends to quit the ground 
 
 While they were spry to move around, 
 
 132 
 
THE I5ROWXTKS IN NOVI'.MIir.l!. 
 
 Or vhr the sini would on thorn fall, 
 Ami iiuiko oxainpU'S of them all. 
 In spite of hints or waruiiii;- ••rics, 
 Sonio lin^'cn'd at the cakes and ]>i<"s, 
 Still coujitino- on tlic sixH'd tlwy M make 
 When they at last the road would take. 
 
 Then when the pkites were clean, and they 
 No loni,'er on the si)ot could stay, 
 They ci-ossed the country in a hurry, 
 Tliey passed the houses Avith a ttuii-y. 
 As when the h-aves all laid in <lust 
 Are taken with a sudden s-ust. 
 In vain the watcli-do^ rolle<l his eye 
 To note the ot),ieets tleetin^' l»y: 
 Before a second ,ulan<'e ho threw. 
 The lively l)and was out of view- 
 Around a l)end, to forests wide, 
 Where every one could safely hide. 
 
 12 
 
 \M 
 
TITF. J^liOWXIKS IN 
 DECEMHKK. 
 
 fields were lyinj? hvown and bare, 
 Tlic signs of snow weri^ in the air, 
 And in the leatless forest (hvar 
 No more the songsters ehurmed the ear. 
 When cunning Brownies met and planned 
 A task well suited for the ])and. 
 Said one : '' Tlie glorious day is near 
 That is to >onng and old so dear, 
 Beeausi' it calls those truths to mind 
 The most important to numkind, 
 And ])rings to every generous heart 
 The wish to take an active part 
 In cheenng up th(> homes of all 
 With i)resents, howsoever snudl." 
 Another said: '^Through all the year 
 No iK'tter season can appear 
 Tlian this for Brownies to comhine. 
 And in some no])le action shine. 
 
 134 
 
 Bot\\ </oatl| 
 
 ntu( Alto 
 
 from (lay 
 
 to (lay 
 
 Hn.^f o\\ tin 
 
 sfnge 
 
 n part to 
 
 play, 
 
n\K JIKctWNIES IN DECKMItKlt. 
 
 To some 
 f()t d.iys drng 
 
 s'oujiy hy 
 Tomor-s lil^f 
 
 tijpy fi^ 
 
 The fi«'l(] is wide, uh hU can sec ; 
 
 No Jicillrul iinns need folded he. 
 
 All iiic! till! |>()oi', iiiliriu, jiiid old, 
 
 P«'i'liiii»s lack food, pcrliaps iirc cold; 
 
 And those to whom the \v<»ild j^rows dai'k, 
 
 While lin<;ei'H still the vital si»ai'k, 
 
 With many other people l»ronjj;ht 
 
 To misery's cnp, may well he tauj,dit 
 
 That f^oodness, let what may he said 
 
 In contradict i< , is not dead. 
 
 But to a Children's Home, near hy. 
 
 We will to-niji^ht our thouj;hts a])ply, 
 
 And hi no weak or sparing; way 
 
 Our mystic powx^'s at <mce disjilay; 
 
 For not alone the Chiistmas ti'ee 
 
 We will supply Avith lal)or free. 
 
 But ere we leave it standini,' there, 
 
 It shall the (dioicest presents l)ear 
 
 That <'an the s])arklini>" eyes invite. 
 
 Or till tlie heart with pure delijijlit." 
 
 To learn the task that nmst l)e done — 
 Thoujijh full of danfjer or of fun — 
 Is all the Brownies care to know. 
 At once a willin^iess they show 
 To carry out the scheme as planned 
 With every means at their conuuand. 
 As when the sun throujfli orchard trees 
 Looks down upon the waitiuij heos. 
 And tells them folia<?e now is dry, 
 And all the l)lossoms open lie, — 
 
 135 
 
««"- 
 
 THE BllO^YNlES IN DECEISIBEll. 
 
 And quickly sproadiiif? in their flight, 
 They dart to woods and meadows bright,— 
 So Browniies with a sudden start 
 In all directions now depart. 
 Some to the forest started out 
 To tind a tree hoth tall and stout, 
 
 i-iW 
 
 To tind a tree noiu lau imu ^tuut, 4 'r'"^ 1 !?■ J- 
 
 That would support the loads that they pi~^S^-J^4^ 
 Intended on its Und^s to lay; ' wf'MWMr 
 
 
 ■ ' --eTV'-Z'" 
 
 I \y •■'!"'■' m-,^ 
 
 Wliilo others travel(Ml t<> the to^vn 
 With lengthy lists all jotted down, 
 
 Determined to ransack the place 
 Before they homeward turned a face. 
 However well th(> doors were harrcd 
 Or large the "No A(hnittance" card. 
 And well they carried out their plan. 
 As lu-re and there they freely ran 
 From cHUfly shops, and places where 
 They sought (me certain sort of ware. 
 
 lao 
 
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER, 
 
 To hiY^ev shops wliere they 
 
 could find 
 All inorcliundisc of 
 cvoiy kind. 
 Up-staii's and down, as 
 
 husinoss led, 
 The busy Bi-ownies 
 
 (luickly sped. 
 Said one, while they were 
 on the race 
 To lind some goods to suit the case: 
 "We have n't tune sueh things to make 
 As we require, so we must tak(> 
 What other hands than ours have made 
 To meet the gveiit demands of trade; 
 But well we know that nothing 's lost. 
 However much the things ma*y cost; 
 For gr<'at(U' good will surely flow 
 Thi-ough what we take aiid what bestow, 
 Than jteople think who are content 
 To count tlu'ii- profits cent by eent. 
 
 ^SSJii^ .'i,'.i'''i" ;''*iiR*..":,^ — £•-. 
 
 12" 
 
 Moi'c ways than one may Itlessings fall 
 On worthy heads bolh great and small; 
 
 i:i7 
 
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER. 
 
 Th(. loss that causes tears and sigbs 
 May prove a lilessing in dispiise. 
 We better know where everythmg 
 Will iii-eatest good and pleasure bring 
 Than'those who daily tax the brain 
 At bargaimng for private gain. 
 We Brownies neither l>uy nor sell, 
 But give and take, yet prosper well, 
 And muse how little people know 
 Where next our handiwork will show." 
 In time th<' scattered Bi'ownies met 
 Those who had gone the gifts to get, 
 And those whose task it was to fell 
 A Christmas tre(> to hold them well. 
 Rewarded with a ])rize, ere long 
 Returned, well pleased, the axmen strong; 
 Tlie tree was promptly hoisted there. 
 And tirmly lixed with greatest care, 
 Until it stood as when it strove 
 To overlook th(> silent grove. 
 Then work was found for evt>ry hand: 
 The ladtlers soon were in demand, 
 And whatsoever would unite 
 With something else to l>uild a height 
 On whicii to elind) and reacli around 
 Till every In-anch its biu'den found. 
 Saiil (.ne : " .My friends, we s(«ldom find 
 A task so pleasing U> the mind; 
 When work for children 's under way, 
 How does the liand its skill dis]»lay ! 
 
THE BEOWNIES IN DECEJVnJER. 
 
 Then eveiy sound to niusio tnnis, 
 
 And every thonglit witli kindness Imrns, 
 
 Delig-litM task! to thus Ix'tVicnd 
 
 The orphans as the year we end. 
 
 I Avould not miss this niglit of toil 
 
 For greatest sport, or sweetest spoil 
 
 That in a pantry can ])e stored 
 
 To grace some rich man's dainty ):oard. 
 
 I fancy I can see the eyes 
 
 Of children widen witli snrprise, 
 
 And see tlie smiles extend so wide 
 
 From cheek to cheek when this is spied, 
 
 And they learn not a single tot 
 
 In all the jtlace lias l)eeii forgot. 
 
 For l)()vs — the guns, the skates and l)ats; 
 
 For L the dolls and rul)l)er eats, 
 
 The ])o<iks. the tn\ and fancy thinu> 
 That Christnia ,'> the mai'ket hrings; 
 And candy, coloi'ed red in slivaks. 
 To sweeten all their teeth for we.ks." 
 But hattles are not alway> won 
 By those who have the light Ix'gun; 
 And thoiigli our good intentions may 
 Be such as no on(> should ffaitiMiy, 
 We may hy trials he <listi^ -ed. 
 As if our cause was not the hest. 
 So Brownies did not pass the night 
 Without misha])s that caused them fright ; 
 Some kuhlers of the greatest length 
 
 Wei-e lacking in tlie ])roper strength 
 
 l;t!i 
 
:.*t 
 
 THE BKOWNIES IN DECEMBEK. 
 
 To hoiiv tlio orowd that clamhorod higli, 
 Thoiv gifts ui)()ii a braiK'li to tie; 
 Or down would eoiue some rude affair 
 On wliieh they stood to do their share; 
 And round tlie floor the presents rolled 
 Tliat at the time they chanced to hold. 
 Some toys received distressing whacks, 
 That gave tlieni l)roken hnihs or hacks. 
 By coming down from gi'catest height, 
 'Mid (;andy, horns, and weapons hright, 
 Some costly works were shaken loose. 
 That were not mad(> for roughest use. 
 The l)i'avest heaiis were filled with dread, 
 As something crashed high overhead; 
 And it was dangerous to thi'ow 
 A glance ahove, the cause to know. 
 
 Here crashed a doll, in spit(^ of care, 
 
 And there a goat or cotton hare; 
 
 Down whirling through tiie branches fell 
 
 The felt -made elei»liant as well, 
 
 With wiggling trunk, a gl;issy stare. 
 
 And sawdust spouting from a tear. 
 
 To roll ahout, as if in pain 
 
 Upon some sun-dried Asian |)lain. 
 
 But then the BrimTiies' skill suhlime 
 
 Stood them in hand at such a time: 
 
 A tap, a twist, a shake or two, 
 
 And hrokeu things were good as nt'W. 
 
 The watch its ticking would resume. 
 
 Though wheels had scattered rouiul the room; 
 
 140 
 
 LLIU 
 
THE BllOWNIEH 
 
 ^, IN 1)1X'J;JI]5EK. 
 
 The shattered hmhs 
 
 of (lolls were set 
 By those who first 
 
 the patient met; 
 And ull u surgeon's 
 
 skill was shown 
 In niakinjj; splints to 
 
 mend each hone, 
 
 1 1 1 
 
r 
 
 THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER. 
 
 Till on the in ' they took their plaee, 
 Without ii liiHi> or loss of grace. 
 At times iiiisini(lerstiui(linss rose, 
 And comrades almost came to blows, 
 When some an injury received, 
 Or were at rash remark aggrieved; 
 But calmer friends would claim the, tioor, 
 And words like these would peace restore 
 " Be careful of yom- hand, my friend. 
 And let it not in wrath descend; 
 For oftentimes a liasty blow 
 Has caused the striker lifelong woe, 
 And broken fritnidship's silver chain, 
 To mend which many strive in vain." 
 Lik(> cunning squirrels when they try 
 To hide away a good supply 
 Of nuts, to serve for winter's store 
 When generous autumn is no more. 
 Some actiN-e Brownies, spm-ning all 
 The chairs and ladders, dared to crawl 
 From limb to limb, with actions l)old 
 And hands that sehhmi lost their hold. 
 Till to the brittle top 
 
 they passed, 
 And tied the Christmas 
 
 presents fast. 
 Ho work went on, as it 
 must go 
 When Brownies all united 
 throw 
 
r 
 
 I 
 
 THE BKOWNIES IN DECIEMliElJ. 
 
 Their (laiiiig skill and 
 
 mystic power 
 Into the laltor of 
 
 the hour. 
 'T is hard to tell or 
 
 paint aright 
 Their acts that long 
 
 December night 
 Upon one page, however wide, 
 So pen and pencil must subside. 
 But those who know the Brownie l)and 
 May well l)elieve no idle hand 
 Wa« resting ther(>, that had a chance 
 The undertaking to advance. 
 One, nnming (mt one time to spy 
 If signs of day were in the sky, 
 Mistook tlie northern lights in play 
 For early hints of morning gi-ay : 
 80 with the false alann he ran. 
 And almost overthrew their plan. 
 Indeed the work was scarcely more 
 
 Than half-way through, when at the door 
 The rogui' appeared with such a shout 
 Tiiat every Brownie faced a])out. 
 The ti'ee was nearly ovei'tnrned 
 Befoi'e his strange mistake was learned; 
 But neither slij), nor fall, nor break 
 dm make the Brownie l)an(l forsake 
 A task their willing han<ls may tind, 
 
 Till they are satisjied in mind. 
 u;.i 
 
 Upo'l your guard 
 \>e found 
 
 For snf.in 13 
 unbound. 
 
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER. 
 
 So tlu'iv they clinilxMl ulxmt, and tied 
 The handsoiuo j-'ifts on every side, 
 And piled some tlunt-s around the base 
 That were too lari-e to han^' in plaee. 
 Wlien every chiUl that shind)ered there 
 Was sure to have its proper share, 
 Did one remark, with native pride: 
 "Tlie task lias niueh (mr patience tried. 
 But still tins thouuht the heart revives— 
 We 've l)ri,i'hteniMl many children's lives/'^ 
 And when the ^vork at last was throu^di. 
 And Brownies from the place withdrew, 
 They h'ft, indeed, a (^n-istmas tree 
 That made the children shout with glee. 
 
 Til 1' il.vyi. 
 ,10(1 ruttiils. 
 Htt )) crouulin^ 
 
 SO 
 
 T||ty really 
 
 Ij o I- c n c 
 
 don't you 
 
 hn ouj. 
 
 00 A 
 
 ^^ AND : 
 
 0NLY^|Z5 
 
 PjP«eep/ 
 
 WMATIS^^ 
 
 SM^OURHE/IRT 
 
 R IGHt/^ 
 
 ^ LIQHT 
 
 U4