Citation
The brownies at home

Material Information

Title:
The brownies at home
Creator:
Cox, Palmer, 1840-1924
Century Company ( publisher )
Place of Publication:
New York
Publisher:
Century Co.
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
[6], ix-xi, [1], 144 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Fairies -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Months -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Family -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Elves -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Ethnic groups -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Seasons -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Sleighing -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Valentine's Day -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Fourth of July celebrations -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Liberty Bell -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Orchards -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Thanksgiving Day -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Christmas -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Charity -- Juvenile poetry ( lcsh )
Juvenile poetry -- Brooklyn Bridge (New York, N.Y.) ( lcsh )
Juvenile poetry -- Mississippi River ( lcsh )
Publishers' advertisements -- 1893 ( rbgenr )
Family stories -- 1893 ( local )
Bldn -- 1893
Genre:
Publishers' advertisements ( rbgenr )
Family stories ( local )
poetry ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
United States -- New York -- New York
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

Summary:
Relates in verse the adventures of the Brownies during each month of the year.
General Note:
Illustrations by Palmer Cox.
General Note:
Publisher's advertisements precedes text.
Statement of Responsibility:
by Palmer Cox.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
026619133 ( ALEPH )
ALG3550 ( NOTIS )
214285130 ( OCLC )

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Full Text
GE

<<

<* PALMER



'



NOW

| The Baldwin Library
| n Bre
mH Florida

















Bsawnids,

8
1
N 3
~
8

As a
ight of
book

the de
theo









THE vee
kG AT HOME See

BY
PALMER COX



PUBLISHED BY
THE CENTURY CO.
NEW YORK



Copyright, 1891, 1892, by THe Curtis PusLisuinc Company;
Copyright, 1893, by Tue Century Co.



LIKE fatries and goblins, are imaginary lit-
tle Sprites, who are supposed to delight in
harmless pranks and helpful deeds. They
work and Sport while weary households
sleep, and never allow themselves to be seen
by mortal eves.





CONTENTS.

PAGE.




BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SNOW—AND GO
ON A SLEIGH-RIDE—WHERE THEY HAVE A LIVELY
Time—suT ENJOY THEIR EXPEDITION.

BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.
TURNING THEIR ARTISTIC SKILL TO MAKING |
VALENTINES—THEY DISTRIBUTE REMEMBRANCES
Far AND WIDE—THUS ASTONISHING THE NATIVES.



Brownies In Marca.

THE BAND VISITS THE NATIONAL CAPITAL —
AND MAKES A RAID UPON THE WHITE HousE— - 27
AFTER A DANCE IN THE East ROOM—THEY
VENTURE INTO THE STATE BEDROOM.





. PAGE.
BROWNIES IN APRIL.
SPRING GIVES THEM New Lire—THEY BEGIN ©
to Rott Hoops—anp MANY HarrpreaptH Es. 42
CAPES GIVE CHANCES TO SHOW THEIR DEVOTION
TO ONE ANOTHER.



VME UR rrp cay oe
Coun Coc MW fae -

Brownies In May.

Movine TIME ENABLES THE BAND TO PROVE
irs Goop Wint—A New House Put IN OrR-
DER—AND NO TRACE FOUND OF THE KINDLY
HELPERS.



BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Upon' THE BROOKLYN BrRIDGE—A GRAND RACE
OVER THE Lorry Roapway—Some SEEK THE Top “1
oF A TOWER—OTHERS DESCEND TO THE BOTTOM
SSS ‘OF THE RIVER.

Farmer CO®




BROWNIES IN JULY.
VISITING THE OLD STATE HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA,





THE BAND EXAMINES THE RELICS THERE— THEY 84
REFLECT UPON THE LENGTH OF THE REVOLUTION—
AND REJOICE OVER ITS RESULT.
Pumer Com
BROWNIES IN AUGUST.
A BOAT-RIDE UPON THE GREAT FATHER OF
WATERS BRINGS THE BAND TO THE SUNNY 95

SoUTH—WHERE THEY DELIGHT IN FRUITS
AND FLOWERS—BUT ARE NOT PLEASED WITH
MG, eS ©=36)——sC ALLIGATORS.

Paina ER et mH Maan





x



PAGE.
BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.
Tar Band JOURNEYS TO CHICAGO—
AND LENDS A HAND TOWARD PREPAR- 104.
ING THE WoRLD’s Farrn— As A FiIn-
ISHING ToucH, THEY Hoist THE STAR-
SPANGLED BANNER AMID CHEERS.



on
ai al t,t,

ut ,
VIO amen COX 7



ees






BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

AGRICULTURE ENGAGES THEIR ATTEN-
TION— PRESSING OBSTINATE ANIMALS INTO
SERVICE, THEY PUT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
ouT oF Jack FRost’s REACH.

¥ Wi «
aN im a



BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.
COLLECTING ALL THE DELICACIES OF THE SEASON 124
—THE BAND PREPARES A SUMPTUOUS FEAST -—AND
THEN EnJoys NatTuRe’s Bounty.



BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

Tur BROWNIES SELECT A FINE CHRISTMAS TREE—
WHICH IS LOADED TO THE TIP TOP WITH GIFTS—
AND THE HEARTS OF PooOR CHILDREN ARE MADE
GuaD.











BOOKS BY PALMER COx:
PUBLISHED bY THF CENTURY CO,

THE BROWNIES: THEIR Se

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards. $1. so

ANOTHER BROWNIE BOOK














Reuse Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.56



THE BROWNIES AT HOME



Quarto, 150 pages. Price. in boards. $1. 50

THE BROWNIES AROUND
THE Moore






THE BROWNIES Seis
THE UNION a

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1. 50 2 :

THE BROWNIES ABROAD












Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.50



pitt THE BROWNIES IN, THE
ae PHILIPPINES



Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, e 50

“THE BROWNIES LATEST
ADVENTURES

Quarto, 150 pages. Price. in boards. $1.50

THE BROWNIES MANY MORE
NIGHTS

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.50

THE BROWNIE CLOWN OF
BROWNIETOWN

Oblong, 103 pages. Price, in boards, $1.00

THE BROWNIE PRIMER

12 mo, 108 pages. Price, in cloth, $ .40 net.


















On mountain high and valley low,
And gliding sleigh 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 light
Will answer our demands to-night;
We must have something large and strong
To carry all the band along,
And stand the strain of going fast

On wintry roads where drifts are cast.”

Another cried: “I know a place

- Where rests a rig to suit the case;

"T is like a life-boat, long and wide,

In which the sailors brave the tide:

"T will hold us all. I well believe

Full half the band can seats receive,
1





THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

While those who are a seat denied
Can in some other manner ride.
It has the plumes, all blue and red,



To stream so gaily overhead.
There ’s nothing lacking there, I know,
That we require to make a show.”
A third remarked: ‘‘To make it grand
A splendid team is near at hand;
They will not take a second lash
Before the harness goes 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 before them lies,—
Once on the road, you may depend,
They ’ll strive to find the other end.
When going fast the lines I ‘Il hold,—
More teams than one I have controlled
While comrades trembled in their places
With bristling hair and pallid faces.”
Another spoke: “Excuse my smile;
No disrespect is meant the while;
But, sir, to state the matter plain,
You ’re hardly fit to hold a rein.
You may have strength, and courage too,
And in your way may wonders do.
But °*t is not all in pull and haul,
Some judgment there must be, withal;
And that ’s a quality or crown
With which you are not weighted down.”

2







THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Then brief discussions started there

In settling which the whip should bear;

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willy SALMER Cox
caftaty, Cty



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

For half a dozen filed a claim

To wield that implement of shame.
Said one: “I ‘ll make it snap so loud
°T’ will wake an echo in the cloud.”
But others said: “You ’re far too bold;
No hasty hand the whip should hold,
That in each trivial action may





See cause to bring it into play.”
Those who have seen the Brownie band
In other scenes by sea or land,
Know how the cunning rogues agree
Upon a scheme, whate’er it be;
While those who have not studied o’er
Their wondrous 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,
The happy band









Some
to the team
attention lent, “

And on the harness
were intent.

More through the yard as
sprightly sped, (

To drag the cutter from the shed, &

The seats to portion or divide

So every one could share the ride,—
4

was on
the road. ~



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

The Brownies when occasion calls

Can almost roll themselves in balls,

In order to conform aright

To places that may crowd them tight.
But one by one the seats were jammed,
And spaces in between were crammed
With Brownies well content to seat
Themselves among the others’ feet.

\t
4

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5 nA { HANI iN
} GSU '

i i Hele f

al: fl

SUAS NE EP =
esi
Ce

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Mage HS 0

d rayatel! yi
tee | a

: an AA amet















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 bright

As from the sleigh peeped out that night.
5



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

For several miles, with nothing wrong,
Behind the team they slid along.

But, though the start was all indeed
That one could wish for sport and speed,
They found mishaps, you may depend,

If you pursue them to the end.

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a "lise al veal aunds* cena raise

Some, rather than to be left out

‘At such a time, had crawled about
6





THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Until they found a friendly brace

- Or rail that offered them a place;

While, disregarding pride and ease,

Some 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 a 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 fling

That seemed to roughly set aside

Their claims to any farther ride.

They bounced 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 gravest kind.

7



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

But through agility so grand

'T is seldom found outside the band,
They held their own while in the air,
And, chasing after the affair,

The plank was soon regained by each ~
Before it passed beyond their reach.
They circled round the country wide,
And then commenced their homeward ride
But as they near the city drew,

The road divided into two.

Some thought the right-hand one the best.

The left seemed better to the rest;

And each one pulled, to reason blind,



According to his turn of mind.

Too many cooks around the pot

Will spoil the broth, now doubt it not:
Too many hands to reins applied

Will surely spoil the finest ride.

The team was not inclined to wait

Until they settled their debate,

But an impartial spirit showed,

And did not take to either road,

But carried out the neutral plan

And straight ahead between them ran.
Now some pulled left, and more pulled right,
While those 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,
8



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

And all that showed above the seat,
At sundry places, were the feet;

While those who took the outward fall
Had all the field in which to sprawl,
And nobly strove to do their share

In covering’ all the ground was there.








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But those who had the team to drive,

And to their duty were alive,
9



THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Had barely time a glance to throw

At comrades tumbling in the snow,

When to a sloping place they drew

Where danger more apparent grew.

Then followed soon a sudden pitch,

And sleigh and load went in the ditch!

Now every one began to find

A chance to exercise his mind,

For speedy action wins the prize

At such a time, you may surmise.

Some grabbed the team without delay,

And some began to right the sleigh,

While others dug to bring to light

Companions who had gone from sight.

It was no easy task to know

Just who was missing in the snow,

For when the sleigh was overthrown

Each thought about himself alone,

And took small heed, as o’er he went,

How friends 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

Where some one in the snowdrift fell;
A foot would next uplifted be
And tell who struggled 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 -



Fem te Zz
ten gal ey aed
ee St oct





THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Thus was distress much quicker found
Than in these lines I now compound.
But as they had no time to spare

To talk about the mishap there,

They turned the team the proper way,
And gained the road that nearest lay.
Although the shaking up was bad,
They thought the pleasant ride they had
Did more than pay for the upset
Which at the forking road they ’d met.
Hach horse again had found its stall,
Was watered, fed, rubbed down, and all,
Before the lagging winter day

Began to drive the night away.

BEARY

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,

That briefly hid them all from sight;

Then, breaking out into the light,

With equal interest, equal speed,

Hach struggled hard to gain the lead,

While bright and brighter spread the glare

Of morning as they scampered there,
11





THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.









Till needed shelter came in view

And secret haunts that well they knew.
Then Brownies found a place to hide,
And chat about their splendid ride.

FROM THE ARROWS OF THESUN |
NOW THE BROWNIE BAND MUST RUN



12





An early chance the Brownies found
To meet and talk about the way
The people toil from day to day,—
Some piling up whate’er they please
And turning it to gain with ease;
Some losing what they ’ve saved for years
In spite of all their care and tears.
Said one: “Through all the rack and strife
That may be found in human life
From year to year, the truth 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 heart can deeply harrow.
The miser, tyrant, soldier, king,
Have felt its power, and its sting.
And after all ’t is well indeed
That men should Cupid’s arrow heed,

13





THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

For love ’s a gift that man alone,
As poets sing, can call his own,
And shall not Brownies do their part
To praise the true and loving heart?
Now we who note from day to day
Mankind at large, as well we may,
Can speak our minds both fair and free
On matters that we chance to see,
And this is plain as is the nose
On every face this meeting shows:
No sweeter sight can meet the eye
Than hearts bound in one loving tie,



Prepared to brave all kinds of weather
And, if need be, to bleed together.” _
A third remarked: “Your speech defines
The feeling in the poets’ lines,

So count it not as odd if we

In sentiment and soul agree.

"T is strange to see a grasping man,
Whose mind to money-getting ran,



Devote his time and patient care

To rhymes in praise of woman fair.
How many thousands, great and small,—
Yes, millions,— on this earthly ball

Do find surprises in the mail.

Some stare thereon with anger pale,
Then. crowd the documents from sight
Or hold them up for laughter light;
While more with pleasure and with pride
Display the gifts on every side,

14



THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

That prove without a doubt or fear
. They still are loved and counted dear.”
“Your glowing words have filled my head
With notions strange,” another said.
“To-night the band will undertake
Some striking valentines to make,
And then to buildings low and high,
When all are done, we ’ll quickly fly,
And leave them there to cause surprise
When people in the morning rise. ©
Those who delight to pick and choose
The words that best express their views,
Can as their part devote their time
To spinning out the strings of rhyme,
While others draw the pictures 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 we start,
To prove we ’re not devoid of art;
The work is done, ‘right off the reel,’
In which all hands an interest feel.”
“T know a place,” another cried,
“Where we with paint can be supplied.
And paper, too, of every grade
For just such dainty painting made.
No other task, the truth to tell,
Could suit the Brownies half so well
As this which gives a chance to show
And tell the people what we know.”

15







THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

To find the paint and paper, too,

And pen and ink the Brownies flew;
Then, safely housed away from sight,
Some painted pictures half the night,
While others matched the form or face -
With verses full of wit or grace,
According to the kind required

To pique, or ae as a desired.



Fasneg COX,

Some Brownies of a comic vein

From work on hand did pleasure gain,
And smiled to think how well their wit
Would certain heads around them fit;
While more with sentiment divine
Poured love into each glowing line,
Until the ardent declaration

Was bound to start a palpitation.
16



THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

They round the dictionary press’d

To choose the words that suited best
To tell of Love’s undying flame

That at first sight or meeting came,
nwa And ever warm and warmer glowed

As time still greater beauty showed.

A Brownie has a level head,

Although perhaps not college-bred,

And knows just when to stop and start,
Or round a phrase to catch the heart;

And though sarcastic flings at men

They may indulge in now and then,

The earnest, active Brownie mind

To thoughts of love is more inclined;

So hearts and arrows, in the main,

The Brownies’ missives did contain.

When every picture was complete

And all the verses had their feet,

The Brownies wrote addresses down

And started promptly through the

town,

BD sy ae vt a: wey wo _ B
: PP an he TT, QF ei eas) _

heart





To soon distribute, as they planned,

In humble homes and mansions grand,

The valentines that were designed

To mystify the human kind.

They climbed up winding stairs so higk

Their breath gave out ere they were nigh
17



THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

The place they sought—
the upper flat;










Tec 1. So on the steps
= oe in rows they sat
al Fs 5 To pant a while
NS ( ; ‘and moralize
(en
A 9.07 How people from

low stations rise.
‘At other buildings

Brownies called
And in the

elevators crawled—












i hme" Cox
yr

Oy



Then, shooting up from first to last,
To all the floors they quickly passed,
And smiled to see how these affairs
Saved the long tramping wilh
up the stairs;
And wished in every house
they ’d find
Some useful fixture aif
of the kind. ,w&S
But fear at times Me
instead of fun ieee
The Brownies knew
ere they were done.
One, slipping off
just as it rose,
Was caught by comrades
by the toes,






























































THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

And carried in that wretched plight,
At risk of being lost outright,

Till, at a halt, he had acquired

A situation more desired.



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 bent

Found some mishaps as on they went,

And trials that would soon disgrace

Or crush a less determined race.

While on a lone suburban road
The Brownies ran, each with his load,
A bridge that needed some repairs
Gave way and much increased their cares;
For though some held to stringers well
And broken planks that all but fell,

A number, tumbling from the path,

Were quickly treated to a bath.

No meditated leap was here,

With graceful pose from float or pier,

Tnto a summer flood that gave

Warm invitations to its wave;

But head and heels, just as they ran,

The Brownies’ sudden dive began

To currents neither warm nor nice,

For here and there a cake of ice

Was drifting on the water chill

And proved that winter lingered still.
19





THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.
























































































































All out of practice.
as they were,
Without a moment
to bestir
And with a stitch
of clothing part, ‘i
They had to try \
the swimmers’ art,
And, with their
valentines in hand,
As best they could,
strike out
for land.

EN
% aie
K tial j




Tv MG




Son a= ey
e \












=F AN Sw A 5
cre ies ‘ Y 1 4 i S
Fw WG eS,
" W
A
ee

ws

\:
Ws .
\\ .

YY iN \ 3 *
SSN ee






See 7 N
EC

a5 RN La 38
PEE EA ENS

& ray: 2 SS 3
= cs 4 3
ESS ER Cox
es = SSS, N
a=

































THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

Now mortal folk, as well we know,
Would soon have let their bundles go,
And troubled neither hand nor head
About the saints, alive or dead.

But, gentle reader, don’t believe

gins

That Brownies would their hands relieve \ 2

Of loving missives made to cheer
The hearts of those they held so dear,
Till every valentine they made

Was in the right location laid.

ae ay
Ani i
Wa cy Al a 3 ou i ‘a

"T is hard ae in summer hours
To climb around on walls or towers,
‘When vines, perhaps, a hold supply,
And nights are fine, and stones are dry,
But harder still the task to climb
Around in slippery winter time,

Sy When snow, or rain, or ice, or all,

Then wonder not if letters fell



Ze And with more cares the mind seed

That was disturbed enough at best.
21















iii ER inti CR Scares mn


























And though great care
the Brownies showed,
Some fell from buildings

with their load
To catch on lines

that stretched in air
And swing like
malefactors there,
Some by the heels,-
some by the head
As chance the timely
net had spread,
Till friends
were forced
to stop their fun,
And here and there.
for ladders run









































Mate






aa
a

















So safe positions might
be gained
While yet
a spark
of life
remained.
Their breath
was short,
their necks
were long
Ere they
were freed
from wires








xi














i



























strong.



THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

On fire-escapes they climbed about,

On brackets, caps, and trimmings stout,
And on the roof or window-sill

They kept their minds on business still,
Till verses of a tender strain,

And those of a more comic vein,

With pictures drawn to suit each case,
: Could safely reach their proper place.
Said one: “But that delight it brings

To children to receive such. things,

I °d throw my packets in the fire

And to some hiding-place retire,

Because I ’ve hardly got a stitch

That is not torn with hook or hitch

While climbing round just like a mouse,

To slip them into every house.”





















Ee Puy
POON ROS
ee ee SN = meas eess
ee ee ee ee

CHO! Oly

S ‘ Cees ore ee (& _O) =A\ i
S iy oer yee : Ce asia Spe ain

ase



At times a false alarm would spring
And wildest consternation bring,
Then into barrels and boxes near
At once they ’d dive and disappear
Till, reassured, at length they rose

To bring their labors to a close.
23



THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

The valentines for old and young
Were into doors and windows flung;
The full-grown people, dames and misters, fa
The brothers and, of course, the sisters,
Were all remembered by the band, :
And valentines reached every hand. .
The people wondered—





well they might !—
- How mail had got there
in the night.
For high and low
on every side
Were packages sealed up,
or tied—
The selfish man,
who did n’t care- -
For friend or neighbor,
got his share, |
Saw how the creature looks for whom
The world is loath to furnish room,
. And learned in couplets scribbled free
Just what his epitaph might be. .
But he who had a .noble mind,
With generous heart and feelings kind,



Was told by picture and by verse

How tears would fall around his hearse,
And sweetest flowers strew the ground
When he his final rest had found.

The children to surmising fell,



Still wondering who knew them so well;
240





THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.














A “t “ff a au
i SNe ii ssp HH
SNK SRS
Gi i b f Ne
ANS i ASN \ -

Ba ; 7
Ue ie a

ne 2 Sg

OWA

W

"i



x at ft Sc
% u
a a
~\ NY

BNE

M Sa;
“SYN








THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

Knew every whim, and hope, and fear,
Like kind, observing mothers dear;

' And in addresses full and plain

They studied hard the key to gain,
But every hand was strange and new,
And gave them not the slightest clue.
For Brownies study everywhere

To cover up their tracks with care, .
And, crowded though they often are
For time to work or travel far,

Their hands and feet show extra power
To suit the lateness of the hour.
Then roads were filled from side to side
With Brownies as they ran to hide;
The weaker, aided by the strong,

Were hurried on their way along,

For it would ill become the band

To now deny a helping hand

To those on whom the manifold
Misfortunes of the night had told.

And must
vanish

at
day
light.



26





ef

THE: BROWNIES IN MARCH.




ae | Brownie band, while roaming round
=_—— In blustering March, one evening found
Themselves upon a windy height
That brought the Capitol in sight. -
Said one: “That dome that looms so high
Tt seems to pierce the starry sky,
Proves we behold, from where we stand,
The central city of the land.
Here you the Mandarin may see |
Who represents the Land of Tea;
The Russian from the vast domain
Where iron-handed despots reign;
The Pasha working for the weal
Of states beneath a neighbor’s heel;
Outlying tracts, of which we hear
But little, have their lookouts near
To see that nothing wrong is planned

Or carried on against their land:
27



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.















































































































































Though it may seem scarce worth the show

To guard an iceberg from a foe,
28



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

Or come with feathers, frills, and style,

To represent some desert isle.

Now while we chance to be so nigh,

A trip into the town we ’Il try.

Through its broad avenues we ‘ll race,

And gain some knowledge of the place;

And ere the night gives place to day,

A visit to the White House pay.”

Another cried:
“The race begin,

And don’t be slow
to count me in;

For I ‘ll be with
you to ascend

The White House steps,
you may depend.”

The city that before them lay

Was, after all, some miles away;

And though the Brownies travel fast,

Full half an hour or more had passed

While they were crossing country there

To reach a leading thoroughfare.

They clambered over walls of stone

With brush and ivy overgrown,

But neither thorns nor poison-vine

Could check their pace, or break their line.

Like soldiers charging some redoubt

When “Death or Victory!” they shout,

The eager Brownies onward ran,

So jumped and looked ahead to scan
29





THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

The certain place they sought to win,

So plunged in ditches to the chin,

So scrambled up the slippery bank,

So, tumbling, to the bottom sank

To rise again and still renew

The struggle for the point in view.

Thus, at the start into the town,

Wet through and through from toe to crown

And dripping freely, on they hied,

Nor changed their plan nor turned aside,

For daring Brownies never dread

A cold from wetting foot or head.

a No influenza, gout, or grip

Comes like a penalty to nip
Their operations through the year,
Or keep them muffled up in fear.
When town was reached, the Brownies tried

Their speed through streets both long and wide.

They spryly moved as locusts light

When fields of grain break on their sight,



pA

eee

And previous fasts have whetted keen

Their appetite for something green.

But nothing their attention drew —

Until the White House came in view.
' Then every foot came to a stand,

And every visage did expand

In giving freedom to the smile



That lighted up each face the while. Let the clay
Said one: “A snow-white mansion, sure, >ecark or beight

Keep the heact

Designed some centuries to endure; within you light.

30





THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.





oe Pee se ee me to =~ : erin
a ee = ~~ a a ee gi FALMER COX

Broad at the base, compact and low,
Built more for service than for show; |
No peaks for thunderbolts to strike,

To tempt tornadoes and the like.

Those who of planning it had charge
Displayed good sense and caution large.”
Another spoke, who ventured nigh

And scanned the place with searching eye:
“With bolts and bars some two or three
The doors are fast, as they should be ~
Where so much plate is lying round ,
As in this mansion may be found.”

One soon replied: “We little care

How many bolts and bars are there,

Or heavy locks that would defy

The prowling burglar’s pick or pry.
31

’



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

We pass inside a place at will,
In spite of all the care and skill

































oo
ZE LZ EE
[ ii
AN iH













































—



=

oT



SSS
ey SS =



= nS














SAINT ISN SENS SENT AYE ASNS.














Vaneele i i ip i WN Hed |
Ge Ha
: i 5 ceil ey























































SS





































9, OU



























































































That may be spent in work about

A plan to keep intruders out.
32



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.
The massive doors that may outface
The seeker after bread or place,
Can on their heavy hinges rest,
Because the Brownie band is blest





With powers that make the bolt and law







a la ae
ig 4 | Ve o
ma
ee
a
se Geil
He hl
As worthless as a barley-straw.
For one, I ’m not content to go
Till more about the place I know

Than may be 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 ’m bound to win
An entrance to the rooms within.

We ‘ll not disturb their silverware,
Nor furniture so rich and rare;
We ’ll simply all the paintings view,
And have, perhaps, a dance or two
In those historic rooms, to show

How we as well can trip the toe
As those who proudly gather here

To grand receptions every year.”
Ere long they rambled round with ease,
As if they had a bunch of keys.
The President was not around,
And those in charge were sleepers sound,

So they were free to dance or run
From room to,room in search of fun.

Upon the library they made



A full advance, or rather, raid ;
33



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

The volumes there the Brownies found
From hand to hand were passed around,
Until each member wise could tell
The author, and his views as well.
There on all sides they bent to pore
O’er books on tables and on floor,

Engaged in reading long debates

About the laws or rights of States,

To find if prophecies were true,

Propounded when the land was new.

Some read of long-forgotten things:

Of wars with neighbors and with kings;

Of rows with tribes of Indians red,

In forest, swamp, and lava-bed.

Like students thirsting after fame,

They took the pages as they came,

While more stood round and listened well, -

As if a sermon on them fell

With all the earnest, striking power

That turns to gloom the brightest hour.

Then in the largest room they found

They danced in sets both square and round.

Oh, could the portraits on the wall,

That many an honored name recall,

Have glanced down through the lifelike shade

Of lashes that the brush had made,

They would have witnessed more than we,

While in the flesh, 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 wondrous tales relate
Than stirred them in their mortal state:



ZB
ay eS

f iE
i) ce Y

rs Fs ee
r sf i HA

tA Ae THU:
Tee ate (ll Hal
: wy oa ii





Hts

{





=



ie ‘i!

Uiteh

4 eh yi
on

va











AnH | Roe













For never since that house first stood
On its foundations firm and good,
Was such a scene enacted there

Of dances round and dances square;
Strange dances that are only seen

In Asiatic groves, I ween,
35



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

By streams that water far Cathay,

Or through Japan’s rich valleys stray,

Were introduced and formed aright

Upon that carpet soft and bright;

Now whirling round, now squatting low,

-Now bounding like the startled doe,
Until their heads came very near
To contact with the chandelier.
For Brownies have elastic toes,
As he who reads their history knows,
And not a rabbit of the plain,
Or acrobat who jumps for gain,



Or spry performers anywhere,

Can spring more lightly in the air.

Odd figures, that are only found

Where ice forever coats the ground

And veople wade around in snow,

And dances therefore must be slow,

Upon the programme found a place;

And thus with dignity and grace

The cunning Brownies took in hand

The dances of the frozen land.

Then came the barn-door jig, and reel,
And fling that tries the Highland heel,
The contra-dance, fandango too,

And ghost-dance of the painted Sioux.
All changing partners every set,

They bowed and scraped, and crossed and met,
And carried through in lively way

The figures of the present day.

36





THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

On ornaments and trimmings stout
Some climbed, to keep a sharp lookout
In case while sport went on they ’d find
Surprises of a sudden kind,
And they some signal would require
Upon the instant to retire.
They sat in chairs

both new and old,
To prove how many

they would hold;
And on them jumped

for half an hour,
To try their strength or springing power.
Although no time they had to sleep
Ere morning light would on them creep,
Some Brownies crawled, with laughter great,
Into the very bed of state,
Until some seven faces bright
Were peeping from the linen white.





Said one: “We wish to have it said
That we have tried the nation’s bed,
And we can now aver with pride
That Uncle Sam does well provide
For those whom he is pleased to call
To Washington, to govern all.”

37



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.






















































































































































































































































































































Al {It i i" til
sa ili
SS a |
ZS. NEN
ty <—o
a ioe ; aah i
ti et Hi i ( aie
1 j } i \ eH li !
Hh ye
i i ui (ui ei eu
ful 5 SP i zn
ye 16 ga i
; Se :
= i Au =
MY i | My e=
OF.) A oer
ee | AS } a
Up
AVE
Sy) ee)
=~ )) oa
sy az SES
eee ‘@
CALZ ;

=

=" AHMER cox

ce





Alas! so many Brownies spry

Were anxious on that bed to lie,

Wherein great men had taken rest

When with their country’s cares oppressed,
They broke it down, and tumbled through

38



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

Upon the floor with much ado;
The splintered slats and parted wire
Gave evidence of ruin dire.



Those who by chance escaped the crash,
Were nowise slow to make a dash
To aid the rogues who sank from sight
Enveloped in the bedding white.
And work enough they found to do,
As from the creaking wreck they drew
By hands and heels, for mercy’s sake,
The hapless victims of the break.
Some Brownies, rolled into a ball,
Had scarcely strength for aid to call;
While more, half smothered in the bed,
Were dragged to light not far from dead.



Some gasped for water, some for wine
Brought from the vineyards of the Rhine,
And every sort of drink had found

A welcome there, had they been round,
To help the action of the heart,

And strength to nerves and brain impart. .
The floor was littered all about

With those who had some cause to shout,
If bad contusion, break, and sprain

Gave them good reason to complain;

But other injuries they knew

Than outward bruises, black and blue.
Internal troubles, doctors say, ;

Are hardest ailments to allay;



39



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

And now the doctors of the band
Had cases of this kind on hand:
Some swallowed feathers, hair, and dust,
And some had cotton down them thrust
So far, they doubted which was best—
To take it out, or let it rest.
And had the band surprises known
While in that wild confusion thrown,
While some were struggling in the hold
Of twisted. wire, or blanket fold,
Or by the shock were senseless made,
And flat upon the carpet laid,
They might have found it hard. indeed
To leave with all their wonted speed;
But, lucky for the Brownie force,



No trouble came from such a source.

When all at length were brought to view,

To work the active Brownies flew

To reconstruct the bed of state

That nearly proved a bed 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 trouble find
Through an ambitious turn of mind.”



But little time could they remain

Ce re To moralize on longings vain.

be never late Because the eastern sky was spread
For the moments .
will not wait, _ With streaks of purple and of red,

40



THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.





























































































Which told the sun was on its way

To open wide the gates of day,

And let the golden flood of light
Dispel once more the gloom of night.
So Brownies hastened from the spot—
Who took the lead it mattered not

So all could find a place to hide
Where they through day could safely bide;
And with a view of keeping clear

Of swampy fields or marshes drear,
Now dark against the brightening sky
They ran along on ridges high,

Where greatest speed could be attained,
And hiding-places quickly gained.



All the stars ave gone Ivow!
We must scamper for it now,

41







THE BROWNIES

IN APRIL.

evening, when the fields were bare,
And milder grew the April air,

The Brownies met, with faces bright,
In pleasant sport to spend the night.
For hours they had been stowed away
In waiting for the close of day—

Some jammed in hollows of the trees,
More crouched upon their hands and knees
Behind the logs and boulders white
That hid them from the people’s sight,
Who still were passing to and fro
Upon the wagon road below.

To see and not be seen they aim,

And squeezed in every shape the frame,
Like weasels in a fence of stone

They showed a nose or eye alone.

And every moment popped a face

Anew from some unlooked-for place.
The human kind both small and great
Can never truly estimate

42















How oft they are,
when passing by,
Fit objects for
a Brownie’s eye.
They see them
in their busy










i Wr j Selly



es

ae



Sa Re ae 7 ASPAYYVEM Om.
Se a HN My

Witer-9] hee
7




Aimer Cox

When exercising all their powers ;
They see them when they shirk their task,

Or for too much of others ask;
43



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

They know the ones who freely give
That sick and orphan babes may live,
And gee the hand withhold the cent

That for the heathen should be spent;
They know where frowns too much abide,



a. ue And where destruction follows pride;

moun 2 wd They know that underneath the smile
ste be Sag The villain oft may lurk the while;
now begin, They know that lips may kisses press,

And pout displeasure none the less;



And Brownies do not soon forget
Impressions that are firmly set,— | |
you may be sure, |
long endure.

What once they learn,



Will in their memory
But hands move round the dial-plate,
And hours will pass, if one can wait
Until the moving seconds slow
Shall file their records as they go;
So bright the sunny hours passed,
And flitting bats came out at last,
Then, with a whisper, sign, or call,
The Brownies soon commenced to crawl
From hiding-places here and there,
For evening pleasures to prepare.
Said one: “The month, at length is here,
To every youngster’s heart so dear,
Because the country far and wide
Has flung its winter coat aside,
And they those pleasures can renew

That were denied the season through.
44





THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Again the sidewalk, marked with chalk,
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 people’s feet,
And Brownies should not be behind
At trying sport of every kind.”
Another said: “The truth you speak;
New life now glows in every cheek,
Penned up for months without a chance
In open air to run and dance:

They must, indeed, with pleasure hail
The time when outdoor sports prevail.



As for ourselves, we little care:
Through all the year we have our share
Of fun; however cold or hot

The months may be, it matters not.
But still some play may not be wrong

That to the present days belong.

The time of year is now at hand

For troops to march in order grand,—

To tramp about as soldiers do

Might well become the Brownie crew.

For me, I like that sort of thing,—

To step erect, to wheel, and bring

Myself around in proper pose

To either face my friends or foes.

But some, I know, would rather hop,

Or spin for hours a buzzing top;
45



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

While others still prefer to stoop

And chase for miles a rolling hoop.

There ’s no accounting for one’s taste:
Some like to skip, more like to paste

A kite, and watch it proudly sail

Above the town with streaming tail.”

A third remarked: ‘We might indeed
To different kinds of sport proceed.
But I know where we can provide
Ourselves with hoops to roll and guide
With careful hand, until we prove
Who best can keep one on the move;
And if I don’t mistake my man,

You ‘ll see me bounding in the van
Ere many squares are gone about,



Or many furlongs measured out,
Because I ’m neither lame nor blind,
Nor out of training, as you ’Il find,
. But can the highest speed maintain
Until a given point I gain.”
This brought replies from half the band,
And all declared they could not stand
Such talk while they, themselves, were blest
With speed not second to the best.
This wordy war, as one might know,
Soon made them all decide to go
And get the hoops, and prove, indeed,
If one could all the others lead.
A building, standing near, that eve



Was promptly entered without leave ;
46



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

2 Aint
—_Z_sE











—S
FE eee



YK WE \
ANN Za
= EE a





iil TU
rc co ll q (

oO

<=





















































































































































But that is quite a common thing

With Brownies, who such power bring
47 .



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

That locks all prove of no avail,

And scarce need mention in the tale.

Soon barrels were rolled to open air,

Where each could get his proper share

Of work at stripping hoops away

To serve them through their evening play.

Ere long the Brownies’ fun began

As in an anxious crowd they ran,

All striving to keep well controlled

; The hoops that fast
before them rolled.

















** w@
Aare ai
Lil

AIAG courte

H Ke
by EPO A
ee sy oe ils
ay s 5 3 ES





ON i
ae

_













ary

re

if C49
y
ti








ag
oS wo



ES
<=



In vain each Brownie Se

rg

in that race

Would try to hold the foremost place,
For in the height of all their pride,

48



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Some feet would trip, or hoops collide,
Which often to a tumble led.

Then some one else would shoot ahead,
And those whose chance was counted poor,



Through slips or falls would thus secure
A place in front, and for a while
Be wearing a triumphant smile.
They rolled them up and down the hill,
Nee uet, Around the church and flour-mill,

















































































































































AHA
IN
NN ae

AERTS
BENE” FALMER COX,



And o’er the bridge, without a rail,
Where one misstep might woe entail
On half the band, so close they ran
Along the edges of the span.
One well may wonder, crowding so,

How hoops were kept upon the go.
49





THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

But Brownies have a mystic way

Beyond the reach of mortal clay,

And we can only, wondering, gaze,

And feel impelled to lavish praise.

To be the first is much,
you ’ll find,

With them as with
the human kind;

And though a second
place or prize

Is duly valued

cy

in their eyes,
"T is only, speaking by the letter,
Accepted when they can’t do better.
At times they left the dusty road
And through the fields endurance showed,
With many a tap and harder whack
To give the hoops the proper tack.
Thus sport went on, with here and there
An accident, or sudden scare,
Which still is likely to be found
Where daring Brownies scamper round.
Some broke their hoops, and had to stop
To mend, and far behind would drop;
Some lost. their hats, and others tore
The strongest garments that they wore;
Until it seemed as if the play
Would prove expensive in its way,
_ And bring the tailors of the band

Next morning into good demand.
50








THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

One strange mishap occurred that night,
For though the stars were shining bright, OM
While chasing hoops some Brownies fell Wes

Head foremost in a curbless well. 2s



The fearful downward dive was fast,
But water broke the fall at last.

"T is sad to gaze into a place

Where friends have met with sore disgrace,
And are immured in durance vile
Without a fee, a saw, or file,

Or aught that might assist them there
To breathe once more the open air.

But sadder still to see one’s friend

Into a prison hole descend

Where neither saw, nor file, nor fee

Can be of use to set him free.

‘Such was the scene, and such the woe
That struck the band a telling blow,
And stilled the heart, and paled the face,
Of every Brownie in the race..

To think of friends who side by side
Had dared the steep toboggan slide ;
Had on the ocean spread their sail,

Had ridden on the spouting whale,
51



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.







PALMER cox

And in a thousand other ways

Had won from all the highest praise—
Now taken quickly from their sight,

While fun was at its greatest height,

To struggle in a place that gave

Small promise but to be their grave!

So wild alarms were quickly spread,

And comrades gathered there in dread,
And for a moment tried in vain

A glimpse of those below to gain.

But though their eyes could naught behold,
The splashing and the shouting told

They still had life, and would be glad

If prompt assistance could be had.

Then for a time it looked, indeed,

As if the Brownies must proceed
Thereafter to their nightly pranks

With grievously diminished ranks.

But Brownies, bless them! how they spring

To save from harm the slightest thing,
52



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Much more to. rescue three or four

Whose loss they deeply would deplore.

No lengthy rope was thereabout

With which to draw their comrades out,

Who proved by many a thrilling note

They managed still to keep afloat.

But soon the cunning Brownies planned

A way to lend a helping hand;

Indeed, delay in such a spot

Would soon prove fatal to the lot,

Because the well was deep and old,

And water at the time was cold,

And would not please them as it might
Upon. some sultry summer’s night.

The lofty sweep that o’er them stood
Was made to render. service good:
To this, ere many moments passed,
They made an empty barrel fast.
Meanwhile a few took time to throw
Encouragement to those below,

And told with words of hope and love
How work was going on above.



The active Brownies jumped around,
‘Each aiding where a chance he found;
And soon the parts were 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, .
BB



THE’ BROWNIES IN APRIL.












climbed aloft to keep
upon the sweep,
by their weight,

the burden great;

Then Brownies
A proper place
So, thus assisted
Tt might uplift
In fact, when

A mightier spirit
And quickens
With grand

comrades are distressed,
stirs the rest,
as inventive mind

results, as oft.we find.











Now up, no sooner than they wished,
The victims of the fall were fished,
And safe, ‘though in
a dripping plight,
In course of time they
came in sight.
Then shouts went up

the band,



THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

And many stretched a willing hand

To aid their comrades from the swing
That brought them from the icy spring.
Oh, happy hour! when they could find
Safe in their arms companions kind,
From danger that no life had cost,
Though all were looked upon as lost.
With feeling spoke a Brownie bright:
“Our friends we seldom value right,
However well they may be tried,

"Till they are taken from our side;

We then can estimate how blest ;
Were we who such true friends possessed,
And graces name and virtues find,

To which our eyes were wholly blind!”



Then all around the blazing wood

To warm themselves those Brownies stood,
Still thanking friends for timely aid,

And praising them for skill displayed ;
And scarcely was their clothing dry

When signs of day showed in the sky.

55





Be fai re

foremost
in the
race,
And having
wont
holel your
place,

THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

But ere they sought a safe retreat,

Once more they hastened through the street,

To that deserted building bound
Where their supply of hoops was found,
To put them in their proper place
With willing hands in every case,
That never through the Brownies’ sport
A dealer could a loss report.
Then hoops were set, as one may think,
With many a hasty rap and clink;
And barrels that had dropped apart
Were fixed with all the cooper’s art,
Until each one, as good as when
It outward rolled, was stored again.



When the bied’s commence to chip
Then the Brownie band must skip.

56





THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

The busy hand ancl kind
Will leave gooct works behinel .



\ May brought gladness to the land,
" And signs of life on every hand,
And tuneful birds poured out their song
In richest tones the whole day long,
The Brownies met to carry through
\ Some work they had that night in view.
They met, according to their plan,
Where turnpikes at right angles ran,
And so in several different ways
They hurried through the evening haze,
All straining every nerve and joint
To reach on time the meeting-point.







THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

They ’re not the kind to careless be
About appointments, as we see,













Ee AoE









g {Pani pgess A =
B42 LES

2
Lf fj

y bg SSS
of oI) SG
Ye



WA: Ys Eb

VM 8 Mei
Me A Ca ba ih V Wty
LEEW Wl,

ee
se



“Miri =

58

A i



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Nor think it right for some to play,
Or dilly-dally by the way,
While others stamp impatient feet



Or sit upon the anxious seat.

When Brownies say, ‘At six we ‘Il dine,”

They do not mean it shall be nine.
Because one’s dressing is too slow,
Or he must chat an hour or so,
And stare in windows at the price
Of things so very cheap and nice,
The Brownie guest arriving late
Will not be troubled with a plate.
Or when they say, “At dark we ‘Il meet,”
On such a road, or such a street,
No tardy laundress makes them late; _
No gaiters mourning for a mate, |
No gloves misplaced by careless hands
Take moments that the trip demands;
But, with perhaps some time to spare,
The Brownie band will all be there.
All breathless with a lengthy race
The Brownies gathered at the place;

' Then started off at once to find

~The piece of work they had in mind,
And soon before a dwelling fine
The band drew up in double line.
Said one: “This house we stand about
Is all in shape for fitting out.
The furniture is ready all,
The carpets lying in the hall,

59



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

The paper for the walls is there

In rolls, piled underneath the stair;

But trouble of a serious kind

Has much disturbed the people’s mind
Who here intended to reside,

And so all things are laid aside.

Thus people oft a blank will draw.
‘Though plans are laid without a flaw.
Yes, though they study day by day

And throw no precious hours away,

But lie awake of nights to plan

Some better way to cope with man,

Still unforeseen misfortunes rise

And every hope in ruin lies.

Sometimes a sharp decline in stocks

The bottom out of business knocks;
Sometimes a conflagration dire

Sends fortunes up in smoke and fire;
Sometimes the one who was to tread

The altar steps, with flowers spread, _
Alas! with trembling limbs has trod

The pathway to the broken sod.”
Another said: “TI think our skill
Will answer all demands that will
Be made to-night, in every case,
While putting things in proper place.
If Brownies cannot drive a tack,



Put. up a bedstead or a rack,
°T is time we should be bragging less

About the powers that we possess.”
60





THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

A third replied: “I think so too,
And I, for one, my share will do.

I care not whether on the floor

I stretch the carpet more and more,



Or with the paste the walls I smear,—
I °ll do my portion, never fear. .
At outdoor work I ’ve done my share,
As those who know me can declare;
I ’ve proved myself no nerveless boy
With hod, or pickax, spade or loy;
And those who ’ll try me even now
Will have to wipe a sweating brow.”
Another cried: “Whatever part

You take in hand to show your art,

Or mode of working, fast and free,

You ‘ll find, I think, your match in me.

I ’m not the one to advertise
What I can do when wants arise;

But if inventions are required

Just call on one who is inspired.”

So chatting freely, plans were laid



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
am g The paste on walls high over head,
van While others hung the paper there

Without a wrinkle, twist or tear;
61







-THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

agg nn aig





ll i











And then the border pasted fast,

To make a fine effect at last.

What power lies in Brownies’ hands!
What skill to answer all demands!
Outdoors or indoors, all the same,
The highest praise they rightly claim.
No old indentures can be found

To prove they were to masters bound,
Who boxed them well about the ears
For dulling saws or breaking shears;

No one has claimed in note or will

To him they owe their wondrous skill,
Or through his fostering care had gained

The honored place they have attained.
62



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

No strong trades-unions, old or new,
Their sheltering arms around them threw,
But through the dust of centuries dead,
With skilful hand and cunning head,
They rose equipped for every task

That night could bring, or need could ask—
A band, indeed, to which one turns

When hope into the socket burns,

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
the 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 bear
A watch, or any such affair,
The rooster knows not better when
To crow, and rouse the sleeping hen,
Than do the cunning Brownies know.

The flitting moments as they go.
63





THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Then busy hands the pictures found
That were to grace the walls around;
And with the rest, to their delight,
A Brownie picture came in sight.
And with discrimination fine

They hung it on the favor line,
Where the observing eye could rest
Upon it, from all points the best.

A wl il low

pull | til ANT i i il A
ai tA IRA MI WN Ca uh
y yess Lh) UU A yy yh

f
A

ATTN YY



CCININNL



” Palmer Cox,

Then hammers for a time were still

As Brownies did the parlor fill,

All crowding there in great surprise,

The work of art to criticize. |
One spoke, when he had looked with care
At every Brownie running there.

“But one,” said he, “as far as known -
Has to the world the Brownies shown
Drawn to the life, and all the band
Complete, as here to-night we stand ;
And though the name is wanting here,

His style of handling us is clear.”
64



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

No sooner was

the carpet laid
And paper on -

the walls displayed,



Than they began,
4 {ii

PAGMER COX



with much ado,
All sorts of things
to bring in view.
And while they pushed, with eager haste,
A ladder was at times displaced
Whereon some stood to hang aright
- The mirrors and the mottoes bright.
Then down would rattle, in a fall,
The Brownies, ornaments and all.
But many a man and wife can tell
How moving tries the patience well,
And how they are both lame and sore
When such a task
as this is o’er.









Then wonder not
that Brownies found





















Some hardships as they worked around.
Said one: “My friends, but that I grieve

65







THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

For people in distress, I ’d leave

The work just where it is, and go
To some retreat, and never show
The least concern in such a case,

Or knock my joints all out of place.”



Discouraged at the ills they met,

The mass of workers were content

To finish all before they went,

And kept engaged without a rest
Arranging things as pleased them best.
Of course, slight accidents befell—
Some articles, however well

They worked to keep the pieces whole,
At times would get beyond control,
And overturned, or downward fiew,

To cause alarms, and damage, too.

'T is true some things received a blow
That lowered them in price, you know,

But that might happen anywhere
66



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

With servants showing greatest care.
Said one: “There is a time for play, _

vy in \ |
a hg 4) t
) Cal

rience TE

ra iN et
i i “ | Hi
(i Ba i" H



























_————
=


































te
= =< | i































a ———





































= f
SS
= =







































































And time for work, as writers say ;
But work o’er which some make a fuss,
Or strive to shirk, is fun for us.
We Brownies don’t spend all our hours
In secret caves, or shady bowers,

~ But now and then, as folks will find,
Come forth to render service kind;
And when we turn our hands to toil

There ’s not a tiller of the soil
67











THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Or handicraftsman in the land
Can hold a candle to the band!”
But all the same, the truth to tell,
They found some things that tried them well.
Not used to all the ins and outs
Of modern furniture,
: some shouts
Nt ; ay Would now and then
| ‘ i. y ( from Brownies rise
ae x My i That told of trouble .
Neg and surprise
NY I 2 Where through a sudden
Ke heave or snap
3 They were reminded
em of a trap,
Almen con And, heads and heels,
in great dismay,
Were folded up and stored away,
While what to say or what to do
To liberate them no one knew.
As morning close and closer drew,
The Brownie workers faster flew —
From room to room, above, below,
For they were neither slack nor slow.
Ag when some creature’s passing hoof
Disturbs the ants’ sand-castle roof,
And those aroused in fear and doubt
With bag and baggage run about,
So rushed each Brownie with his load,

Now blocking up a comrade’s road,
68

















| THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Now tumbling over what he bore, —

Or dropping that to run for 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 place near by this house to hide,

So we might watch the great surprise

That will enlarge the people’s eyes

When they arrive and gaze around _

And see that everything has found —

Its place, as well as if their care

And skill had been exerted there.

But we must now be on the move

And every tick of time improve,

Or else not all our powers to ay

Can save us from the rising sun.’

But morning light
came on apace

And found the Brownies
in the place:

Then wild and stirring



scenes began,
As from the upper Gore they ran:
Some took the steps with active spring,
As light as birds upon the wing,
While more, to save a moment’s time,
69



THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Upon the rail made haste to climb,
Where lying down,
or else astride,
As fancy led,
they took
the slide,
And downward
shooting, to
the hall,
Slid over
newel post
and all!




















































































































es i t,
SAAS. lt

SK ras a When Brownies
Ve seach the
ee I N wr open air,
AY EER JAN NIRA Ay H Pero LL by
Aa ar inst Ita NUN NWS. C7: i | ‘i Escaping after
ZERO T pao s NI | some affair —
= ili eX ANS Slit | I That ’s kept
oa Te LL aN Sy 25 It
ee {KS fe EN AL them busy
= eh % NURS iit!
Kat aig if AWN ; Wi till the day
ae ed RE SANA el NI. Gives them
er ( \ YO .
oe Ls 4 2 = short time
= : an C2 :
ase AS =< Ni 0 ae ‘6 to flit
NT Pi ee Ga) Ss SE a AN = Y away,
\ az Z aS | it ll ny 5 9,8 S \\ | QCM =
es —— a iy 4 A NM 75 OY . so Zs It does :
ee ill Ry es a 2 alt
— Bits ONS) not take
—— i |

e s them
long

q

Ml
Almer COX ZA

to cross

70



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

A street or square, or wildly toss

Their limbs above a fence or wall

Upon the safest side to fall.

And short the time they now required

To. reach the hiding-place desired,

Where they could rest both hand and head
Till night once more her mantle spread.



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.



The worlel is cola
to those who fail

i . ye night in June, when skies were clear ate teed
Â¥ The Brownies sought a city near.
Right well their plans had all been laid
To reach the town at evening shade,
And spend the night in sporting there
Upon a bridge so high in air
That ships from every country ran
In safety underneath its span.
Impatiently, you well may think,
They waited for the sun to sink.
It. seemed to loiter in the sky

And vexed them as the time drew nigh
71





THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

For them to start upon their way,

From stations that through all the day
Afforded them a resting place,
And screened them from the human race.



It has to be a gifted eye

That can the cunning Brownies spy;

No commonplace, plain business sight

Can bring the shadowy rogues to light:

Tt takes a vision stronger far

Than that to see them as they are

When by the rocks and trees concealed

They wait their turn to take the field.

One may be quick to note a flaw

In grammar, etiquette, or law;

Or in the ledger-column see

A numeral where it should n’t be;

Find errors in the
grocer’s bill,

Or lightness in his weight,
but still

Lack special sharpness
to behold

The slightest glimpse of
Brownies bold;



72



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

For few there are among
the crowd
Whose optic nerves

are so






endowed

















7a Sg aS, |
Bi pe

AW eS




























f

A , i eo
WWW go 2 rail NB
eo ae meee
Weal wi : gf Ms
ff" aio




















a

ot ty

Wt
a Ds eet ea
b 14g OE PEE aye
eo ee






ag BE
oe ae aM2y4e
TL eee kes
reo wy 4D ad 7a
wg tO, eg 2 se

That they through second-sight can mark

‘Their doings in the light and dark.
73



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































AVAYVAAT UA A



























































‘ i si ims TALMER COX

The wished-for night soon made her call

And spread o’er land and sea her pall,
TA



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

And scarce the bat had tried its wing
Before the Brownies in a string
Were skipping down the road in glee
To reach those cities by the sea.
They heeded not the buildings tall,
But to the bridge fast hurried all.
They reached it when the lamps’ bright glare
Revealed its bowed proportions fair,
With ends well anchored either side
In cities spreading far and wide.



From roofs of buildings standing nigh, ©
The Brownies got a chance to eye
The structure stretched with graceful sweep
Across the river, dark and deep.
Said one: “We here can sport and play
Upon this bridge till break of day,
Of seeing wonders never tire,
Nor lack a chance to climb a wire.
In fact, each member here can find
A rope to suit bis hand or mind,
On which to climb, or swing at ease
Like monkeys on Brazilian trees.”
Now here and there the Brownies went,
On seeing all the bridge intent;
Some had the nerve
and strength
to crawl
At once upon
the towers
tall,











THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

And right and left
their glances
threw,
Of distant points
to gain
a view,
Or gaze upon the sea
; of light
That through a city
spreads at night.
At times, while climbing .
ropes of wire,
The topmost Brownie’s
hands would tire,
And slipping back, his
weight would bring
No small distress to all
the string
That clung below with
might and main
To hold their own against
the strain.
Then down they ’d sit to
rest, or chat
In Brownie style, of this

. oe or that,
Or glances,on’ the flood
( on to throw
That lay so dark and
far below.

76

i
y
N
N
5
5
N
k
i





THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Then on the. foot-path, long and wide,
- For half an hour their speed was tried;
Sometimes in squads of eight or nine
They took their stations in.a line,
And back and forth between the piers
They ran a race, ’mid shouts and cheers
From those who climbed on cables high
To watch them as they scampered by.
Said one: “I ’ve heard it said that men
Have come upon this bridge, and when
No officer did near them stand,
To interfere with schemes on hand,
They reached the center beam, or rail,
And jumped, yet lived to tell the tale.”
Another said: “We cannot let

A human being ever get










y, py The start of us In any way
yy :
Zi Through daring deeds,
Zz - let come what may.
| i€
iy
L,
Wh oe, BA tees ON cl ole,
LN leat ieee eSATA
TA PC RNG, 14
; a a Vo Z ea y/; ti s BH
AGL UH At ZEN
1 i {| h Wy 2 Ss il
iy i NS 4 Uf =
i} Me ;

T7



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Now to the selfsame place we ’ll go,
And take our places in a row;

And, at a given signal, spring

Like birds when taking to the wing,
And keep feet downward, if we can,
According to the jumper’s plan



To be not turned awry in air,
But strike the water plumb and fair.”
A third remarked: “You argue well
And show your sense, for truth to tell
We may, if we but manage right,
Immortalize ourselves to-night.

One man may jump and still escape
Without a hurt of any shape, ©

Yet he is only one in all

The millions on this turning ball.

But where was ever seen a crowd

Like us, with fortitude endowed,

That makes us in a body go

Through greatest dangers one can know?
We ’ve gone through many startling woes
And trying scenes, as history shows.

If people doubt, let them but read

And learn how we take little heed

Of dangers that go hand in hand

With all the doings of the band,

And even now you ’ll find that we

Are valiant in a high degree.

Instead of shrinking in disgrace,

Each one will want the highest place.”

78



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

A fourth exclaimed: ‘‘There’s fame, no doubt,
In such a jump, if well worked out;

But I, for one, here let me say,

Won’t look for fame in such a way.

Let those who want to feed the fish

Jump from the structure, if they wish

But be assured the lowest plate,

Or wire, upon this bridge so great,

Will high enough from water seem

Before you souse into the stream.

Now those with me who do not show

A crazy wish to famous grow,.

Beneath the bridge in boats will keep,

And aid the ones who take the leap.”

A fair division now was made:

Upon the bridge those Brownies stayed

Who did n’t wish to have it said —

That human beings were ahead ;

While those who did n’t care to seek

For fame through such a foolish freak

Went down for boats, and quickly ran

Beneath the center of the span,

To be prepared their friends to save,
When they should drop into the wave.
Now, dark against the starry sky,
All those who were the jump to try
Crawled out upon the cable dim,
And perched like birds upon a limb,
All waiting for the signal scream

That was to start them for the stream.
- 99





THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.


















a=) ne fi
Tia fas
MTG

1

NAN

i

My 3 : ;
| Jen yi 7 ¢/ i
nt Sin A
sl EN RS) !
AANA Nea HANA

Said one: “My word is still my bond,
So acts and words must correspond.
But had I not the utterance made
That I, for one, was not afraid,
And freely gave my name, I vow
I ’d hardly make the promise now!”
But one was quick to give the shout,
And at the cry they all ‘sprang out
Like heroes bold, without delay,
And downward took their rapid way.
They struggled hard, while in mid-air,
To keep themselves erect and fair,
But quite a breeze was sweeping round
Between the ocean and the sound,
And as it o’er the river ran
It played sad havoe with their plan.
In spite of frantic kicks and flings,
And arms gyrating round like wings.
80



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Some soon began to spread, or bend,
And some were capsized, end for end,
While more, through luck, or extra skill,
Kept going down, feet foremost, still.
Few words were passed between them there,
For little breath they had to spare;
But, judging by the look they wore,





If they were on the bridge once more
They ’d hardly take that daring spring
For all the fame that it could bring.
While striving for a balance good,
They caught each other where they could;
And once that nervous grip was gained,
Through fear or friendship it remained.
And thus, uniting firm and fast,

As rapidly they downward passed,

A chain was formed, while one could wink,
Composed of many a twisted link,
That lengthened as the flood they neared,
And, still unbroken, disappeared.

If Brownies in the boats below

Had twenty eyes apiece to throw,
They hardly could keep track of all
As through the air they whirling fall;
They splashing fell on every side,

All disappearing in the tide!

Those who had spread their very best
Went quickly under with the rest, 7
But first they rose again in sight, SS ss
And signaled boatmen left and right. Se

81



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Now had that daring Brownie crowd
Been just with mortal gifts endowed,
One half the band, or thereabout,

Would have been snuffed completely out;
And never more have brought a smile
On human face to play awhile.

But, thanks to their mysterious power
That stood them well in that dread hour,
They had no thought of ending here

For good and all their bright career.



Some stayed so long beneath the wave
Friends feared the river was their grave.
But pretty soon a distant yell
Would prove them safe, and swimming well.
They went so deep that when they rose
Some pounds of mud came with their toes,
And to the surface quite a few
Brought shedder-crabs, and lobsters, too,
Which clearly proved
to friends around
That they the river’s
bed had found.
Though Brownies may



mishaps sustain
82



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

That cause some fear, if not some pain,






They seldom fail to carry through
The work laid out for them to do;
S__asesses== And though a few were somewhat sore,
And vowed they ’d take that leap no more,
Still, not a broken bone was there,
Or garment torn beyond repair.
Each was in trim to quickly crawl
In waiting boats, that took them all
Away as fast as oars could guide
The party to the nearest side, —
And then the band had barely time.
To quit the place ere morning prime.






AT MORNING HT.
WE TAKE OUR FLIGHT,

83





THE BROWNIES IN JULY.







i 4
Ts Looe
VF ON
@ Ps
4 | =
7

The happy
soon as sunny-faced July ean only
Brought round the time when banners fly) “ie

and
On every pole, o’er every door, Liberty

The country through from shore to shore,
The Brownies met to have their say
Respecting Independence Day.
Said one: “If I have reckoned right
The days as they have taken flight,
We stand upon the very brink
Of that great day when people think
Of heroes who so freely gave
Their sacred lives on field and wave,
That generations yet to be
Might live and move in liberty.”

- Another said: “My comrade true,
Your mental almanac won’t do,
You ’re just two dozen hours too fast,
I 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 banners and for din.
When children all are up and dressed

Before the stars have gone to rest,
84





THE BROWNIES IN JULY.











And when the sun looks

down at folk

The earth is blue with
- powder smoke.”

A third remarked:

“Then let it be
Our plan to-

morrow
























































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PALMER COX, :



THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

That city stretching in its pride,

With streets so long, and parks so wide,
That holds the Hall where Congress broke
To flinders fine the monarch’s yoke,

To never after be resigned

To timber of that galling kind.

Around the table we will stand

Where people signed, with steady hand,
The document that did declare

Their home and country free as air.

We know what that act brought about—

Each fight, surrender, siege and rout,

Which followed soon the declaration

To found a free and mighty nation,

That like a link now lies between

The oceans boisterous and serene;



And while one part is wrapped in snow
Till trees bend down to earth below
With loads that storms have on them laid,
Still other parts are all arrayed

In flowers that sweetest fragrance send
To sunny skies that o’er them bend.
The war was long, and many fell,

As history’s pages fully tell.

No conflict of a year or two

Could such a commonwealth subdue, —
Nor could it cause the king to say

The colonies might go their way.

But seasons rolled, and still the fight

For liberty, or monarch’s right,
86





THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

In icy fields through wintry days,

On scorching plains in summer’s blaze,

Far off from land on ocean’s wave,

Where hearts when few were doubly brave,
To bind in chains, or to be free,

The war went on by land and sea.

The child that stood upon the pave,

And saw his father, firm and grave,

With gun in hand and horn at side,

March off to stem tyrannic pride,

Grew up 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 Brownies’ feet

Went pattering through the silent street,
Unnoticed by the men in blue

Who searching glances ever threw

As here and there with solemn 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 within our reach
Now fast asleep, that well could teach
The stirring, grasping populace

Of many a more ambitious place,
87





THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

The honest way to sell and buy,
The way to live, and way to die,
And other friendly hints

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The Hall was reached in half an hour,

As one might judge who knows their power,
88



Full Text
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THE vee
kG AT HOME See

BY
PALMER COX



PUBLISHED BY
THE CENTURY CO.
NEW YORK
Copyright, 1891, 1892, by THe Curtis PusLisuinc Company;
Copyright, 1893, by Tue Century Co.
LIKE fatries and goblins, are imaginary lit-
tle Sprites, who are supposed to delight in
harmless pranks and helpful deeds. They
work and Sport while weary households
sleep, and never allow themselves to be seen
by mortal eves.


CONTENTS.

PAGE.




BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SNOW—AND GO
ON A SLEIGH-RIDE—WHERE THEY HAVE A LIVELY
Time—suT ENJOY THEIR EXPEDITION.

BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.
TURNING THEIR ARTISTIC SKILL TO MAKING |
VALENTINES—THEY DISTRIBUTE REMEMBRANCES
Far AND WIDE—THUS ASTONISHING THE NATIVES.



Brownies In Marca.

THE BAND VISITS THE NATIONAL CAPITAL —
AND MAKES A RAID UPON THE WHITE HousE— - 27
AFTER A DANCE IN THE East ROOM—THEY
VENTURE INTO THE STATE BEDROOM.


. PAGE.
BROWNIES IN APRIL.
SPRING GIVES THEM New Lire—THEY BEGIN ©
to Rott Hoops—anp MANY HarrpreaptH Es. 42
CAPES GIVE CHANCES TO SHOW THEIR DEVOTION
TO ONE ANOTHER.



VME UR rrp cay oe
Coun Coc MW fae -

Brownies In May.

Movine TIME ENABLES THE BAND TO PROVE
irs Goop Wint—A New House Put IN OrR-
DER—AND NO TRACE FOUND OF THE KINDLY
HELPERS.



BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Upon' THE BROOKLYN BrRIDGE—A GRAND RACE
OVER THE Lorry Roapway—Some SEEK THE Top “1
oF A TOWER—OTHERS DESCEND TO THE BOTTOM
SSS ‘OF THE RIVER.

Farmer CO®




BROWNIES IN JULY.
VISITING THE OLD STATE HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA,





THE BAND EXAMINES THE RELICS THERE— THEY 84
REFLECT UPON THE LENGTH OF THE REVOLUTION—
AND REJOICE OVER ITS RESULT.
Pumer Com
BROWNIES IN AUGUST.
A BOAT-RIDE UPON THE GREAT FATHER OF
WATERS BRINGS THE BAND TO THE SUNNY 95

SoUTH—WHERE THEY DELIGHT IN FRUITS
AND FLOWERS—BUT ARE NOT PLEASED WITH
MG, eS ©=36)——sC ALLIGATORS.

Paina ER et mH Maan





x
PAGE.
BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.
Tar Band JOURNEYS TO CHICAGO—
AND LENDS A HAND TOWARD PREPAR- 104.
ING THE WoRLD’s Farrn— As A FiIn-
ISHING ToucH, THEY Hoist THE STAR-
SPANGLED BANNER AMID CHEERS.



on
ai al t,t,

ut ,
VIO amen COX 7



ees






BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

AGRICULTURE ENGAGES THEIR ATTEN-
TION— PRESSING OBSTINATE ANIMALS INTO
SERVICE, THEY PUT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
ouT oF Jack FRost’s REACH.

¥ Wi «
aN im a



BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.
COLLECTING ALL THE DELICACIES OF THE SEASON 124
—THE BAND PREPARES A SUMPTUOUS FEAST -—AND
THEN EnJoys NatTuRe’s Bounty.



BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

Tur BROWNIES SELECT A FINE CHRISTMAS TREE—
WHICH IS LOADED TO THE TIP TOP WITH GIFTS—
AND THE HEARTS OF PooOR CHILDREN ARE MADE
GuaD.








BOOKS BY PALMER COx:
PUBLISHED bY THF CENTURY CO,

THE BROWNIES: THEIR Se

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards. $1. so

ANOTHER BROWNIE BOOK














Reuse Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.56



THE BROWNIES AT HOME



Quarto, 150 pages. Price. in boards. $1. 50

THE BROWNIES AROUND
THE Moore






THE BROWNIES Seis
THE UNION a

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1. 50 2 :

THE BROWNIES ABROAD












Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.50



pitt THE BROWNIES IN, THE
ae PHILIPPINES



Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, e 50

“THE BROWNIES LATEST
ADVENTURES

Quarto, 150 pages. Price. in boards. $1.50

THE BROWNIES MANY MORE
NIGHTS

Quarto, 150 pages. Price, in boards, $1.50

THE BROWNIE CLOWN OF
BROWNIETOWN

Oblong, 103 pages. Price, in boards, $1.00

THE BROWNIE PRIMER

12 mo, 108 pages. Price, in cloth, $ .40 net.















On mountain high and valley low,
And gliding sleigh 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 light
Will answer our demands to-night;
We must have something large and strong
To carry all the band along,
And stand the strain of going fast

On wintry roads where drifts are cast.”

Another cried: “I know a place

- Where rests a rig to suit the case;

"T is like a life-boat, long and wide,

In which the sailors brave the tide:

"T will hold us all. I well believe

Full half the band can seats receive,
1


THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

While those who are a seat denied
Can in some other manner ride.
It has the plumes, all blue and red,



To stream so gaily overhead.
There ’s nothing lacking there, I know,
That we require to make a show.”
A third remarked: ‘‘To make it grand
A splendid team is near at hand;
They will not take a second lash
Before the harness goes 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 before them lies,—
Once on the road, you may depend,
They ’ll strive to find the other end.
When going fast the lines I ‘Il hold,—
More teams than one I have controlled
While comrades trembled in their places
With bristling hair and pallid faces.”
Another spoke: “Excuse my smile;
No disrespect is meant the while;
But, sir, to state the matter plain,
You ’re hardly fit to hold a rein.
You may have strength, and courage too,
And in your way may wonders do.
But °*t is not all in pull and haul,
Some judgment there must be, withal;
And that ’s a quality or crown
With which you are not weighted down.”

2




THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Then brief discussions started there

In settling which the whip should bear;

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THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

For half a dozen filed a claim

To wield that implement of shame.
Said one: “I ‘ll make it snap so loud
°T’ will wake an echo in the cloud.”
But others said: “You ’re far too bold;
No hasty hand the whip should hold,
That in each trivial action may





See cause to bring it into play.”
Those who have seen the Brownie band
In other scenes by sea or land,
Know how the cunning rogues agree
Upon a scheme, whate’er it be;
While those who have not studied o’er
Their wondrous 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,
The happy band









Some
to the team
attention lent, “

And on the harness
were intent.

More through the yard as
sprightly sped, (

To drag the cutter from the shed, &

The seats to portion or divide

So every one could share the ride,—
4

was on
the road. ~
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

The Brownies when occasion calls

Can almost roll themselves in balls,

In order to conform aright

To places that may crowd them tight.
But one by one the seats were jammed,
And spaces in between were crammed
With Brownies well content to seat
Themselves among the others’ feet.

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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 bright

As from the sleigh peeped out that night.
5
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

For several miles, with nothing wrong,
Behind the team they slid along.

But, though the start was all indeed
That one could wish for sport and speed,
They found mishaps, you may depend,

If you pursue them to the end.

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Some, rather than to be left out

‘At such a time, had crawled about
6


THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Until they found a friendly brace

- Or rail that offered them a place;

While, disregarding pride and ease,

Some 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 a 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 fling

That seemed to roughly set aside

Their claims to any farther ride.

They bounced 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 gravest kind.

7
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

But through agility so grand

'T is seldom found outside the band,
They held their own while in the air,
And, chasing after the affair,

The plank was soon regained by each ~
Before it passed beyond their reach.
They circled round the country wide,
And then commenced their homeward ride
But as they near the city drew,

The road divided into two.

Some thought the right-hand one the best.

The left seemed better to the rest;

And each one pulled, to reason blind,



According to his turn of mind.

Too many cooks around the pot

Will spoil the broth, now doubt it not:
Too many hands to reins applied

Will surely spoil the finest ride.

The team was not inclined to wait

Until they settled their debate,

But an impartial spirit showed,

And did not take to either road,

But carried out the neutral plan

And straight ahead between them ran.
Now some pulled left, and more pulled right,
While those 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,
8
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

And all that showed above the seat,
At sundry places, were the feet;

While those who took the outward fall
Had all the field in which to sprawl,
And nobly strove to do their share

In covering’ all the ground was there.








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But those who had the team to drive,

And to their duty were alive,
9
THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Had barely time a glance to throw

At comrades tumbling in the snow,

When to a sloping place they drew

Where danger more apparent grew.

Then followed soon a sudden pitch,

And sleigh and load went in the ditch!

Now every one began to find

A chance to exercise his mind,

For speedy action wins the prize

At such a time, you may surmise.

Some grabbed the team without delay,

And some began to right the sleigh,

While others dug to bring to light

Companions who had gone from sight.

It was no easy task to know

Just who was missing in the snow,

For when the sleigh was overthrown

Each thought about himself alone,

And took small heed, as o’er he went,

How friends 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

Where some one in the snowdrift fell;
A foot would next uplifted be
And tell who struggled 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 -



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ten gal ey aed
ee St oct


THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.

Thus was distress much quicker found
Than in these lines I now compound.
But as they had no time to spare

To talk about the mishap there,

They turned the team the proper way,
And gained the road that nearest lay.
Although the shaking up was bad,
They thought the pleasant ride they had
Did more than pay for the upset
Which at the forking road they ’d met.
Hach horse again had found its stall,
Was watered, fed, rubbed down, and all,
Before the lagging winter day

Began to drive the night away.

BEARY

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,

That briefly hid them all from sight;

Then, breaking out into the light,

With equal interest, equal speed,

Hach struggled hard to gain the lead,

While bright and brighter spread the glare

Of morning as they scampered there,
11


THE BROWNIES IN JANUARY.









Till needed shelter came in view

And secret haunts that well they knew.
Then Brownies found a place to hide,
And chat about their splendid ride.

FROM THE ARROWS OF THESUN |
NOW THE BROWNIE BAND MUST RUN



12


An early chance the Brownies found
To meet and talk about the way
The people toil from day to day,—
Some piling up whate’er they please
And turning it to gain with ease;
Some losing what they ’ve saved for years
In spite of all their care and tears.
Said one: “Through all the rack and strife
That may be found in human life
From year to year, the truth 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 heart can deeply harrow.
The miser, tyrant, soldier, king,
Have felt its power, and its sting.
And after all ’t is well indeed
That men should Cupid’s arrow heed,

13


THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

For love ’s a gift that man alone,
As poets sing, can call his own,
And shall not Brownies do their part
To praise the true and loving heart?
Now we who note from day to day
Mankind at large, as well we may,
Can speak our minds both fair and free
On matters that we chance to see,
And this is plain as is the nose
On every face this meeting shows:
No sweeter sight can meet the eye
Than hearts bound in one loving tie,



Prepared to brave all kinds of weather
And, if need be, to bleed together.” _
A third remarked: “Your speech defines
The feeling in the poets’ lines,

So count it not as odd if we

In sentiment and soul agree.

"T is strange to see a grasping man,
Whose mind to money-getting ran,



Devote his time and patient care

To rhymes in praise of woman fair.
How many thousands, great and small,—
Yes, millions,— on this earthly ball

Do find surprises in the mail.

Some stare thereon with anger pale,
Then. crowd the documents from sight
Or hold them up for laughter light;
While more with pleasure and with pride
Display the gifts on every side,

14
THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

That prove without a doubt or fear
. They still are loved and counted dear.”
“Your glowing words have filled my head
With notions strange,” another said.
“To-night the band will undertake
Some striking valentines to make,
And then to buildings low and high,
When all are done, we ’ll quickly fly,
And leave them there to cause surprise
When people in the morning rise. ©
Those who delight to pick and choose
The words that best express their views,
Can as their part devote their time
To spinning out the strings of rhyme,
While others draw the pictures 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 we start,
To prove we ’re not devoid of art;
The work is done, ‘right off the reel,’
In which all hands an interest feel.”
“T know a place,” another cried,
“Where we with paint can be supplied.
And paper, too, of every grade
For just such dainty painting made.
No other task, the truth to tell,
Could suit the Brownies half so well
As this which gives a chance to show
And tell the people what we know.”

15




THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

To find the paint and paper, too,

And pen and ink the Brownies flew;
Then, safely housed away from sight,
Some painted pictures half the night,
While others matched the form or face -
With verses full of wit or grace,
According to the kind required

To pique, or ae as a desired.



Fasneg COX,

Some Brownies of a comic vein

From work on hand did pleasure gain,
And smiled to think how well their wit
Would certain heads around them fit;
While more with sentiment divine
Poured love into each glowing line,
Until the ardent declaration

Was bound to start a palpitation.
16
THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

They round the dictionary press’d

To choose the words that suited best
To tell of Love’s undying flame

That at first sight or meeting came,
nwa And ever warm and warmer glowed

As time still greater beauty showed.

A Brownie has a level head,

Although perhaps not college-bred,

And knows just when to stop and start,
Or round a phrase to catch the heart;

And though sarcastic flings at men

They may indulge in now and then,

The earnest, active Brownie mind

To thoughts of love is more inclined;

So hearts and arrows, in the main,

The Brownies’ missives did contain.

When every picture was complete

And all the verses had their feet,

The Brownies wrote addresses down

And started promptly through the

town,

BD sy ae vt a: wey wo _ B
: PP an he TT, QF ei eas) _

heart





To soon distribute, as they planned,

In humble homes and mansions grand,

The valentines that were designed

To mystify the human kind.

They climbed up winding stairs so higk

Their breath gave out ere they were nigh
17
THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

The place they sought—
the upper flat;










Tec 1. So on the steps
= oe in rows they sat
al Fs 5 To pant a while
NS ( ; ‘and moralize
(en
A 9.07 How people from

low stations rise.
‘At other buildings

Brownies called
And in the

elevators crawled—












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Then, shooting up from first to last,
To all the floors they quickly passed,
And smiled to see how these affairs
Saved the long tramping wilh
up the stairs;
And wished in every house
they ’d find
Some useful fixture aif
of the kind. ,w&S
But fear at times Me
instead of fun ieee
The Brownies knew
ere they were done.
One, slipping off
just as it rose,
Was caught by comrades
by the toes,



























































THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

And carried in that wretched plight,
At risk of being lost outright,

Till, at a halt, he had acquired

A situation more desired.



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 bent

Found some mishaps as on they went,

And trials that would soon disgrace

Or crush a less determined race.

While on a lone suburban road
The Brownies ran, each with his load,
A bridge that needed some repairs
Gave way and much increased their cares;
For though some held to stringers well
And broken planks that all but fell,

A number, tumbling from the path,

Were quickly treated to a bath.

No meditated leap was here,

With graceful pose from float or pier,

Tnto a summer flood that gave

Warm invitations to its wave;

But head and heels, just as they ran,

The Brownies’ sudden dive began

To currents neither warm nor nice,

For here and there a cake of ice

Was drifting on the water chill

And proved that winter lingered still.
19


THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.
























































































































All out of practice.
as they were,
Without a moment
to bestir
And with a stitch
of clothing part, ‘i
They had to try \
the swimmers’ art,
And, with their
valentines in hand,
As best they could,
strike out
for land.

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THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

Now mortal folk, as well we know,
Would soon have let their bundles go,
And troubled neither hand nor head
About the saints, alive or dead.

But, gentle reader, don’t believe

gins

That Brownies would their hands relieve \ 2

Of loving missives made to cheer
The hearts of those they held so dear,
Till every valentine they made

Was in the right location laid.

ae ay
Ani i
Wa cy Al a 3 ou i ‘a

"T is hard ae in summer hours
To climb around on walls or towers,
‘When vines, perhaps, a hold supply,
And nights are fine, and stones are dry,
But harder still the task to climb
Around in slippery winter time,

Sy When snow, or rain, or ice, or all,

Then wonder not if letters fell



Ze And with more cares the mind seed

That was disturbed enough at best.
21















iii ER inti CR Scares mn























And though great care
the Brownies showed,
Some fell from buildings

with their load
To catch on lines

that stretched in air
And swing like
malefactors there,
Some by the heels,-
some by the head
As chance the timely
net had spread,
Till friends
were forced
to stop their fun,
And here and there.
for ladders run









































Mate






aa
a

















So safe positions might
be gained
While yet
a spark
of life
remained.
Their breath
was short,
their necks
were long
Ere they
were freed
from wires








xi














i



























strong.
THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

On fire-escapes they climbed about,

On brackets, caps, and trimmings stout,
And on the roof or window-sill

They kept their minds on business still,
Till verses of a tender strain,

And those of a more comic vein,

With pictures drawn to suit each case,
: Could safely reach their proper place.
Said one: “But that delight it brings

To children to receive such. things,

I °d throw my packets in the fire

And to some hiding-place retire,

Because I ’ve hardly got a stitch

That is not torn with hook or hitch

While climbing round just like a mouse,

To slip them into every house.”





















Ee Puy
POON ROS
ee ee SN = meas eess
ee ee ee ee

CHO! Oly

S ‘ Cees ore ee (& _O) =A\ i
S iy oer yee : Ce asia Spe ain

ase



At times a false alarm would spring
And wildest consternation bring,
Then into barrels and boxes near
At once they ’d dive and disappear
Till, reassured, at length they rose

To bring their labors to a close.
23
THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

The valentines for old and young
Were into doors and windows flung;
The full-grown people, dames and misters, fa
The brothers and, of course, the sisters,
Were all remembered by the band, :
And valentines reached every hand. .
The people wondered—





well they might !—
- How mail had got there
in the night.
For high and low
on every side
Were packages sealed up,
or tied—
The selfish man,
who did n’t care- -
For friend or neighbor,
got his share, |
Saw how the creature looks for whom
The world is loath to furnish room,
. And learned in couplets scribbled free
Just what his epitaph might be. .
But he who had a .noble mind,
With generous heart and feelings kind,



Was told by picture and by verse

How tears would fall around his hearse,
And sweetest flowers strew the ground
When he his final rest had found.

The children to surmising fell,



Still wondering who knew them so well;
240


THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.














A “t “ff a au
i SNe ii ssp HH
SNK SRS
Gi i b f Ne
ANS i ASN \ -

Ba ; 7
Ue ie a

ne 2 Sg

OWA

W

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% u
a a
~\ NY

BNE

M Sa;
“SYN





THE BROWNIES IN FEBRUARY.

Knew every whim, and hope, and fear,
Like kind, observing mothers dear;

' And in addresses full and plain

They studied hard the key to gain,
But every hand was strange and new,
And gave them not the slightest clue.
For Brownies study everywhere

To cover up their tracks with care, .
And, crowded though they often are
For time to work or travel far,

Their hands and feet show extra power
To suit the lateness of the hour.
Then roads were filled from side to side
With Brownies as they ran to hide;
The weaker, aided by the strong,

Were hurried on their way along,

For it would ill become the band

To now deny a helping hand

To those on whom the manifold
Misfortunes of the night had told.

And must
vanish

at
day
light.



26


ef

THE: BROWNIES IN MARCH.




ae | Brownie band, while roaming round
=_—— In blustering March, one evening found
Themselves upon a windy height
That brought the Capitol in sight. -
Said one: “That dome that looms so high
Tt seems to pierce the starry sky,
Proves we behold, from where we stand,
The central city of the land.
Here you the Mandarin may see |
Who represents the Land of Tea;
The Russian from the vast domain
Where iron-handed despots reign;
The Pasha working for the weal
Of states beneath a neighbor’s heel;
Outlying tracts, of which we hear
But little, have their lookouts near
To see that nothing wrong is planned

Or carried on against their land:
27
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.















































































































































Though it may seem scarce worth the show

To guard an iceberg from a foe,
28
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

Or come with feathers, frills, and style,

To represent some desert isle.

Now while we chance to be so nigh,

A trip into the town we ’Il try.

Through its broad avenues we ‘ll race,

And gain some knowledge of the place;

And ere the night gives place to day,

A visit to the White House pay.”

Another cried:
“The race begin,

And don’t be slow
to count me in;

For I ‘ll be with
you to ascend

The White House steps,
you may depend.”

The city that before them lay

Was, after all, some miles away;

And though the Brownies travel fast,

Full half an hour or more had passed

While they were crossing country there

To reach a leading thoroughfare.

They clambered over walls of stone

With brush and ivy overgrown,

But neither thorns nor poison-vine

Could check their pace, or break their line.

Like soldiers charging some redoubt

When “Death or Victory!” they shout,

The eager Brownies onward ran,

So jumped and looked ahead to scan
29


THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

The certain place they sought to win,

So plunged in ditches to the chin,

So scrambled up the slippery bank,

So, tumbling, to the bottom sank

To rise again and still renew

The struggle for the point in view.

Thus, at the start into the town,

Wet through and through from toe to crown

And dripping freely, on they hied,

Nor changed their plan nor turned aside,

For daring Brownies never dread

A cold from wetting foot or head.

a No influenza, gout, or grip

Comes like a penalty to nip
Their operations through the year,
Or keep them muffled up in fear.
When town was reached, the Brownies tried

Their speed through streets both long and wide.

They spryly moved as locusts light

When fields of grain break on their sight,



pA

eee

And previous fasts have whetted keen

Their appetite for something green.

But nothing their attention drew —

Until the White House came in view.
' Then every foot came to a stand,

And every visage did expand

In giving freedom to the smile



That lighted up each face the while. Let the clay
Said one: “A snow-white mansion, sure, >ecark or beight

Keep the heact

Designed some centuries to endure; within you light.

30


THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.





oe Pee se ee me to =~ : erin
a ee = ~~ a a ee gi FALMER COX

Broad at the base, compact and low,
Built more for service than for show; |
No peaks for thunderbolts to strike,

To tempt tornadoes and the like.

Those who of planning it had charge
Displayed good sense and caution large.”
Another spoke, who ventured nigh

And scanned the place with searching eye:
“With bolts and bars some two or three
The doors are fast, as they should be ~
Where so much plate is lying round ,
As in this mansion may be found.”

One soon replied: “We little care

How many bolts and bars are there,

Or heavy locks that would defy

The prowling burglar’s pick or pry.
31

’
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

We pass inside a place at will,
In spite of all the care and skill

































oo
ZE LZ EE
[ ii
AN iH













































—



=

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ey SS =



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SAINT ISN SENS SENT AYE ASNS.














Vaneele i i ip i WN Hed |
Ge Ha
: i 5 ceil ey























































SS





































9, OU



























































































That may be spent in work about

A plan to keep intruders out.
32
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.
The massive doors that may outface
The seeker after bread or place,
Can on their heavy hinges rest,
Because the Brownie band is blest





With powers that make the bolt and law







a la ae
ig 4 | Ve o
ma
ee
a
se Geil
He hl
As worthless as a barley-straw.
For one, I ’m not content to go
Till more about the place I know

Than may be 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 ’m bound to win
An entrance to the rooms within.

We ‘ll not disturb their silverware,
Nor furniture so rich and rare;
We ’ll simply all the paintings view,
And have, perhaps, a dance or two
In those historic rooms, to show

How we as well can trip the toe
As those who proudly gather here

To grand receptions every year.”
Ere long they rambled round with ease,
As if they had a bunch of keys.
The President was not around,
And those in charge were sleepers sound,

So they were free to dance or run
From room to,room in search of fun.

Upon the library they made



A full advance, or rather, raid ;
33
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

The volumes there the Brownies found
From hand to hand were passed around,
Until each member wise could tell
The author, and his views as well.
There on all sides they bent to pore
O’er books on tables and on floor,

Engaged in reading long debates

About the laws or rights of States,

To find if prophecies were true,

Propounded when the land was new.

Some read of long-forgotten things:

Of wars with neighbors and with kings;

Of rows with tribes of Indians red,

In forest, swamp, and lava-bed.

Like students thirsting after fame,

They took the pages as they came,

While more stood round and listened well, -

As if a sermon on them fell

With all the earnest, striking power

That turns to gloom the brightest hour.

Then in the largest room they found

They danced in sets both square and round.

Oh, could the portraits on the wall,

That many an honored name recall,

Have glanced down through the lifelike shade

Of lashes that the brush had made,

They would have witnessed more than we,

While in the flesh, 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 wondrous tales relate
Than stirred them in their mortal state:



ZB
ay eS

f iE
i) ce Y

rs Fs ee
r sf i HA

tA Ae THU:
Tee ate (ll Hal
: wy oa ii





Hts

{





=



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Uiteh

4 eh yi
on

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For never since that house first stood
On its foundations firm and good,
Was such a scene enacted there

Of dances round and dances square;
Strange dances that are only seen

In Asiatic groves, I ween,
35
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

By streams that water far Cathay,

Or through Japan’s rich valleys stray,

Were introduced and formed aright

Upon that carpet soft and bright;

Now whirling round, now squatting low,

-Now bounding like the startled doe,
Until their heads came very near
To contact with the chandelier.
For Brownies have elastic toes,
As he who reads their history knows,
And not a rabbit of the plain,
Or acrobat who jumps for gain,



Or spry performers anywhere,

Can spring more lightly in the air.

Odd figures, that are only found

Where ice forever coats the ground

And veople wade around in snow,

And dances therefore must be slow,

Upon the programme found a place;

And thus with dignity and grace

The cunning Brownies took in hand

The dances of the frozen land.

Then came the barn-door jig, and reel,
And fling that tries the Highland heel,
The contra-dance, fandango too,

And ghost-dance of the painted Sioux.
All changing partners every set,

They bowed and scraped, and crossed and met,
And carried through in lively way

The figures of the present day.

36


THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

On ornaments and trimmings stout
Some climbed, to keep a sharp lookout
In case while sport went on they ’d find
Surprises of a sudden kind,
And they some signal would require
Upon the instant to retire.
They sat in chairs

both new and old,
To prove how many

they would hold;
And on them jumped

for half an hour,
To try their strength or springing power.
Although no time they had to sleep
Ere morning light would on them creep,
Some Brownies crawled, with laughter great,
Into the very bed of state,
Until some seven faces bright
Were peeping from the linen white.





Said one: “We wish to have it said
That we have tried the nation’s bed,
And we can now aver with pride
That Uncle Sam does well provide
For those whom he is pleased to call
To Washington, to govern all.”

37
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.






















































































































































































































































































































Al {It i i" til
sa ili
SS a |
ZS. NEN
ty <—o
a ioe ; aah i
ti et Hi i ( aie
1 j } i \ eH li !
Hh ye
i i ui (ui ei eu
ful 5 SP i zn
ye 16 ga i
; Se :
= i Au =
MY i | My e=
OF.) A oer
ee | AS } a
Up
AVE
Sy) ee)
=~ )) oa
sy az SES
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CALZ ;

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ce





Alas! so many Brownies spry

Were anxious on that bed to lie,

Wherein great men had taken rest

When with their country’s cares oppressed,
They broke it down, and tumbled through

38
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

Upon the floor with much ado;
The splintered slats and parted wire
Gave evidence of ruin dire.



Those who by chance escaped the crash,
Were nowise slow to make a dash
To aid the rogues who sank from sight
Enveloped in the bedding white.
And work enough they found to do,
As from the creaking wreck they drew
By hands and heels, for mercy’s sake,
The hapless victims of the break.
Some Brownies, rolled into a ball,
Had scarcely strength for aid to call;
While more, half smothered in the bed,
Were dragged to light not far from dead.



Some gasped for water, some for wine
Brought from the vineyards of the Rhine,
And every sort of drink had found

A welcome there, had they been round,
To help the action of the heart,

And strength to nerves and brain impart. .
The floor was littered all about

With those who had some cause to shout,
If bad contusion, break, and sprain

Gave them good reason to complain;

But other injuries they knew

Than outward bruises, black and blue.
Internal troubles, doctors say, ;

Are hardest ailments to allay;



39
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.

And now the doctors of the band
Had cases of this kind on hand:
Some swallowed feathers, hair, and dust,
And some had cotton down them thrust
So far, they doubted which was best—
To take it out, or let it rest.
And had the band surprises known
While in that wild confusion thrown,
While some were struggling in the hold
Of twisted. wire, or blanket fold,
Or by the shock were senseless made,
And flat upon the carpet laid,
They might have found it hard. indeed
To leave with all their wonted speed;
But, lucky for the Brownie force,



No trouble came from such a source.

When all at length were brought to view,

To work the active Brownies flew

To reconstruct the bed of state

That nearly proved a bed 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 trouble find
Through an ambitious turn of mind.”



But little time could they remain

Ce re To moralize on longings vain.

be never late Because the eastern sky was spread
For the moments .
will not wait, _ With streaks of purple and of red,

40
THE BROWNIES IN MARCH.





























































































Which told the sun was on its way

To open wide the gates of day,

And let the golden flood of light
Dispel once more the gloom of night.
So Brownies hastened from the spot—
Who took the lead it mattered not

So all could find a place to hide
Where they through day could safely bide;
And with a view of keeping clear

Of swampy fields or marshes drear,
Now dark against the brightening sky
They ran along on ridges high,

Where greatest speed could be attained,
And hiding-places quickly gained.



All the stars ave gone Ivow!
We must scamper for it now,

41




THE BROWNIES

IN APRIL.

evening, when the fields were bare,
And milder grew the April air,

The Brownies met, with faces bright,
In pleasant sport to spend the night.
For hours they had been stowed away
In waiting for the close of day—

Some jammed in hollows of the trees,
More crouched upon their hands and knees
Behind the logs and boulders white
That hid them from the people’s sight,
Who still were passing to and fro
Upon the wagon road below.

To see and not be seen they aim,

And squeezed in every shape the frame,
Like weasels in a fence of stone

They showed a nose or eye alone.

And every moment popped a face

Anew from some unlooked-for place.
The human kind both small and great
Can never truly estimate

42












How oft they are,
when passing by,
Fit objects for
a Brownie’s eye.
They see them
in their busy










i Wr j Selly



es

ae



Sa Re ae 7 ASPAYYVEM Om.
Se a HN My

Witer-9] hee
7




Aimer Cox

When exercising all their powers ;
They see them when they shirk their task,

Or for too much of others ask;
43
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

They know the ones who freely give
That sick and orphan babes may live,
And gee the hand withhold the cent

That for the heathen should be spent;
They know where frowns too much abide,



a. ue And where destruction follows pride;

moun 2 wd They know that underneath the smile
ste be Sag The villain oft may lurk the while;
now begin, They know that lips may kisses press,

And pout displeasure none the less;



And Brownies do not soon forget
Impressions that are firmly set,— | |
you may be sure, |
long endure.

What once they learn,



Will in their memory
But hands move round the dial-plate,
And hours will pass, if one can wait
Until the moving seconds slow
Shall file their records as they go;
So bright the sunny hours passed,
And flitting bats came out at last,
Then, with a whisper, sign, or call,
The Brownies soon commenced to crawl
From hiding-places here and there,
For evening pleasures to prepare.
Said one: “The month, at length is here,
To every youngster’s heart so dear,
Because the country far and wide
Has flung its winter coat aside,
And they those pleasures can renew

That were denied the season through.
44


THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Again the sidewalk, marked with chalk,
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 people’s feet,
And Brownies should not be behind
At trying sport of every kind.”
Another said: “The truth you speak;
New life now glows in every cheek,
Penned up for months without a chance
In open air to run and dance:

They must, indeed, with pleasure hail
The time when outdoor sports prevail.



As for ourselves, we little care:
Through all the year we have our share
Of fun; however cold or hot

The months may be, it matters not.
But still some play may not be wrong

That to the present days belong.

The time of year is now at hand

For troops to march in order grand,—

To tramp about as soldiers do

Might well become the Brownie crew.

For me, I like that sort of thing,—

To step erect, to wheel, and bring

Myself around in proper pose

To either face my friends or foes.

But some, I know, would rather hop,

Or spin for hours a buzzing top;
45
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

While others still prefer to stoop

And chase for miles a rolling hoop.

There ’s no accounting for one’s taste:
Some like to skip, more like to paste

A kite, and watch it proudly sail

Above the town with streaming tail.”

A third remarked: ‘We might indeed
To different kinds of sport proceed.
But I know where we can provide
Ourselves with hoops to roll and guide
With careful hand, until we prove
Who best can keep one on the move;
And if I don’t mistake my man,

You ‘ll see me bounding in the van
Ere many squares are gone about,



Or many furlongs measured out,
Because I ’m neither lame nor blind,
Nor out of training, as you ’Il find,
. But can the highest speed maintain
Until a given point I gain.”
This brought replies from half the band,
And all declared they could not stand
Such talk while they, themselves, were blest
With speed not second to the best.
This wordy war, as one might know,
Soon made them all decide to go
And get the hoops, and prove, indeed,
If one could all the others lead.
A building, standing near, that eve



Was promptly entered without leave ;
46
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

2 Aint
—_Z_sE











—S
FE eee



YK WE \
ANN Za
= EE a





iil TU
rc co ll q (

oO

<=





















































































































































But that is quite a common thing

With Brownies, who such power bring
47 .
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

That locks all prove of no avail,

And scarce need mention in the tale.

Soon barrels were rolled to open air,

Where each could get his proper share

Of work at stripping hoops away

To serve them through their evening play.

Ere long the Brownies’ fun began

As in an anxious crowd they ran,

All striving to keep well controlled

; The hoops that fast
before them rolled.

















** w@
Aare ai
Lil

AIAG courte

H Ke
by EPO A
ee sy oe ils
ay s 5 3 ES





ON i
ae

_













ary

re

if C49
y
ti








ag
oS wo



ES
<=



In vain each Brownie Se

rg

in that race

Would try to hold the foremost place,
For in the height of all their pride,

48
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Some feet would trip, or hoops collide,
Which often to a tumble led.

Then some one else would shoot ahead,
And those whose chance was counted poor,



Through slips or falls would thus secure
A place in front, and for a while
Be wearing a triumphant smile.
They rolled them up and down the hill,
Nee uet, Around the church and flour-mill,

















































































































































AHA
IN
NN ae

AERTS
BENE” FALMER COX,



And o’er the bridge, without a rail,
Where one misstep might woe entail
On half the band, so close they ran
Along the edges of the span.
One well may wonder, crowding so,

How hoops were kept upon the go.
49


THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

But Brownies have a mystic way

Beyond the reach of mortal clay,

And we can only, wondering, gaze,

And feel impelled to lavish praise.

To be the first is much,
you ’ll find,

With them as with
the human kind;

And though a second
place or prize

Is duly valued

cy

in their eyes,
"T is only, speaking by the letter,
Accepted when they can’t do better.
At times they left the dusty road
And through the fields endurance showed,
With many a tap and harder whack
To give the hoops the proper tack.
Thus sport went on, with here and there
An accident, or sudden scare,
Which still is likely to be found
Where daring Brownies scamper round.
Some broke their hoops, and had to stop
To mend, and far behind would drop;
Some lost. their hats, and others tore
The strongest garments that they wore;
Until it seemed as if the play
Would prove expensive in its way,
_ And bring the tailors of the band

Next morning into good demand.
50





THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

One strange mishap occurred that night,
For though the stars were shining bright, OM
While chasing hoops some Brownies fell Wes

Head foremost in a curbless well. 2s



The fearful downward dive was fast,
But water broke the fall at last.

"T is sad to gaze into a place

Where friends have met with sore disgrace,
And are immured in durance vile
Without a fee, a saw, or file,

Or aught that might assist them there
To breathe once more the open air.

But sadder still to see one’s friend

Into a prison hole descend

Where neither saw, nor file, nor fee

Can be of use to set him free.

‘Such was the scene, and such the woe
That struck the band a telling blow,
And stilled the heart, and paled the face,
Of every Brownie in the race..

To think of friends who side by side
Had dared the steep toboggan slide ;
Had on the ocean spread their sail,

Had ridden on the spouting whale,
51
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.







PALMER cox

And in a thousand other ways

Had won from all the highest praise—
Now taken quickly from their sight,

While fun was at its greatest height,

To struggle in a place that gave

Small promise but to be their grave!

So wild alarms were quickly spread,

And comrades gathered there in dread,
And for a moment tried in vain

A glimpse of those below to gain.

But though their eyes could naught behold,
The splashing and the shouting told

They still had life, and would be glad

If prompt assistance could be had.

Then for a time it looked, indeed,

As if the Brownies must proceed
Thereafter to their nightly pranks

With grievously diminished ranks.

But Brownies, bless them! how they spring

To save from harm the slightest thing,
52
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

Much more to. rescue three or four

Whose loss they deeply would deplore.

No lengthy rope was thereabout

With which to draw their comrades out,

Who proved by many a thrilling note

They managed still to keep afloat.

But soon the cunning Brownies planned

A way to lend a helping hand;

Indeed, delay in such a spot

Would soon prove fatal to the lot,

Because the well was deep and old,

And water at the time was cold,

And would not please them as it might
Upon. some sultry summer’s night.

The lofty sweep that o’er them stood
Was made to render. service good:
To this, ere many moments passed,
They made an empty barrel fast.
Meanwhile a few took time to throw
Encouragement to those below,

And told with words of hope and love
How work was going on above.



The active Brownies jumped around,
‘Each aiding where a chance he found;
And soon the parts were 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, .
BB
THE’ BROWNIES IN APRIL.












climbed aloft to keep
upon the sweep,
by their weight,

the burden great;

Then Brownies
A proper place
So, thus assisted
Tt might uplift
In fact, when

A mightier spirit
And quickens
With grand

comrades are distressed,
stirs the rest,
as inventive mind

results, as oft.we find.











Now up, no sooner than they wished,
The victims of the fall were fished,
And safe, ‘though in
a dripping plight,
In course of time they
came in sight.
Then shouts went up

the band,
THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

And many stretched a willing hand

To aid their comrades from the swing
That brought them from the icy spring.
Oh, happy hour! when they could find
Safe in their arms companions kind,
From danger that no life had cost,
Though all were looked upon as lost.
With feeling spoke a Brownie bright:
“Our friends we seldom value right,
However well they may be tried,

"Till they are taken from our side;

We then can estimate how blest ;
Were we who such true friends possessed,
And graces name and virtues find,

To which our eyes were wholly blind!”



Then all around the blazing wood

To warm themselves those Brownies stood,
Still thanking friends for timely aid,

And praising them for skill displayed ;
And scarcely was their clothing dry

When signs of day showed in the sky.

55


Be fai re

foremost
in the
race,
And having
wont
holel your
place,

THE BROWNIES IN APRIL.

But ere they sought a safe retreat,

Once more they hastened through the street,

To that deserted building bound
Where their supply of hoops was found,
To put them in their proper place
With willing hands in every case,
That never through the Brownies’ sport
A dealer could a loss report.
Then hoops were set, as one may think,
With many a hasty rap and clink;
And barrels that had dropped apart
Were fixed with all the cooper’s art,
Until each one, as good as when
It outward rolled, was stored again.



When the bied’s commence to chip
Then the Brownie band must skip.

56


THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

The busy hand ancl kind
Will leave gooct works behinel .



\ May brought gladness to the land,
" And signs of life on every hand,
And tuneful birds poured out their song
In richest tones the whole day long,
The Brownies met to carry through
\ Some work they had that night in view.
They met, according to their plan,
Where turnpikes at right angles ran,
And so in several different ways
They hurried through the evening haze,
All straining every nerve and joint
To reach on time the meeting-point.




THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

They ’re not the kind to careless be
About appointments, as we see,













Ee AoE









g {Pani pgess A =
B42 LES

2
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y bg SSS
of oI) SG
Ye



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58

A i
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Nor think it right for some to play,
Or dilly-dally by the way,
While others stamp impatient feet



Or sit upon the anxious seat.

When Brownies say, ‘At six we ‘Il dine,”

They do not mean it shall be nine.
Because one’s dressing is too slow,
Or he must chat an hour or so,
And stare in windows at the price
Of things so very cheap and nice,
The Brownie guest arriving late
Will not be troubled with a plate.
Or when they say, “At dark we ‘Il meet,”
On such a road, or such a street,
No tardy laundress makes them late; _
No gaiters mourning for a mate, |
No gloves misplaced by careless hands
Take moments that the trip demands;
But, with perhaps some time to spare,
The Brownie band will all be there.
All breathless with a lengthy race
The Brownies gathered at the place;

' Then started off at once to find

~The piece of work they had in mind,
And soon before a dwelling fine
The band drew up in double line.
Said one: “This house we stand about
Is all in shape for fitting out.
The furniture is ready all,
The carpets lying in the hall,

59
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

The paper for the walls is there

In rolls, piled underneath the stair;

But trouble of a serious kind

Has much disturbed the people’s mind
Who here intended to reside,

And so all things are laid aside.

Thus people oft a blank will draw.
‘Though plans are laid without a flaw.
Yes, though they study day by day

And throw no precious hours away,

But lie awake of nights to plan

Some better way to cope with man,

Still unforeseen misfortunes rise

And every hope in ruin lies.

Sometimes a sharp decline in stocks

The bottom out of business knocks;
Sometimes a conflagration dire

Sends fortunes up in smoke and fire;
Sometimes the one who was to tread

The altar steps, with flowers spread, _
Alas! with trembling limbs has trod

The pathway to the broken sod.”
Another said: “TI think our skill
Will answer all demands that will
Be made to-night, in every case,
While putting things in proper place.
If Brownies cannot drive a tack,



Put. up a bedstead or a rack,
°T is time we should be bragging less

About the powers that we possess.”
60


THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

A third replied: “I think so too,
And I, for one, my share will do.

I care not whether on the floor

I stretch the carpet more and more,



Or with the paste the walls I smear,—
I °ll do my portion, never fear. .
At outdoor work I ’ve done my share,
As those who know me can declare;
I ’ve proved myself no nerveless boy
With hod, or pickax, spade or loy;
And those who ’ll try me even now
Will have to wipe a sweating brow.”
Another cried: “Whatever part

You take in hand to show your art,

Or mode of working, fast and free,

You ‘ll find, I think, your match in me.

I ’m not the one to advertise
What I can do when wants arise;

But if inventions are required

Just call on one who is inspired.”

So chatting freely, plans were laid



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
am g The paste on walls high over head,
van While others hung the paper there

Without a wrinkle, twist or tear;
61




-THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

agg nn aig





ll i











And then the border pasted fast,

To make a fine effect at last.

What power lies in Brownies’ hands!
What skill to answer all demands!
Outdoors or indoors, all the same,
The highest praise they rightly claim.
No old indentures can be found

To prove they were to masters bound,
Who boxed them well about the ears
For dulling saws or breaking shears;

No one has claimed in note or will

To him they owe their wondrous skill,
Or through his fostering care had gained

The honored place they have attained.
62
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

No strong trades-unions, old or new,
Their sheltering arms around them threw,
But through the dust of centuries dead,
With skilful hand and cunning head,
They rose equipped for every task

That night could bring, or need could ask—
A band, indeed, to which one turns

When hope into the socket burns,

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
the 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 bear
A watch, or any such affair,
The rooster knows not better when
To crow, and rouse the sleeping hen,
Than do the cunning Brownies know.

The flitting moments as they go.
63


THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Then busy hands the pictures found
That were to grace the walls around;
And with the rest, to their delight,
A Brownie picture came in sight.
And with discrimination fine

They hung it on the favor line,
Where the observing eye could rest
Upon it, from all points the best.

A wl il low

pull | til ANT i i il A
ai tA IRA MI WN Ca uh
y yess Lh) UU A yy yh

f
A

ATTN YY



CCININNL



” Palmer Cox,

Then hammers for a time were still

As Brownies did the parlor fill,

All crowding there in great surprise,

The work of art to criticize. |
One spoke, when he had looked with care
At every Brownie running there.

“But one,” said he, “as far as known -
Has to the world the Brownies shown
Drawn to the life, and all the band
Complete, as here to-night we stand ;
And though the name is wanting here,

His style of handling us is clear.”
64
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

No sooner was

the carpet laid
And paper on -

the walls displayed,



Than they began,
4 {ii

PAGMER COX



with much ado,
All sorts of things
to bring in view.
And while they pushed, with eager haste,
A ladder was at times displaced
Whereon some stood to hang aright
- The mirrors and the mottoes bright.
Then down would rattle, in a fall,
The Brownies, ornaments and all.
But many a man and wife can tell
How moving tries the patience well,
And how they are both lame and sore
When such a task
as this is o’er.









Then wonder not
that Brownies found





















Some hardships as they worked around.
Said one: “My friends, but that I grieve

65




THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

For people in distress, I ’d leave

The work just where it is, and go
To some retreat, and never show
The least concern in such a case,

Or knock my joints all out of place.”



Discouraged at the ills they met,

The mass of workers were content

To finish all before they went,

And kept engaged without a rest
Arranging things as pleased them best.
Of course, slight accidents befell—
Some articles, however well

They worked to keep the pieces whole,
At times would get beyond control,
And overturned, or downward fiew,

To cause alarms, and damage, too.

'T is true some things received a blow
That lowered them in price, you know,

But that might happen anywhere
66
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

With servants showing greatest care.
Said one: “There is a time for play, _

vy in \ |
a hg 4) t
) Cal

rience TE

ra iN et
i i “ | Hi
(i Ba i" H



























_————
=


































te
= =< | i































a ———





































= f
SS
= =







































































And time for work, as writers say ;
But work o’er which some make a fuss,
Or strive to shirk, is fun for us.
We Brownies don’t spend all our hours
In secret caves, or shady bowers,

~ But now and then, as folks will find,
Come forth to render service kind;
And when we turn our hands to toil

There ’s not a tiller of the soil
67








THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Or handicraftsman in the land
Can hold a candle to the band!”
But all the same, the truth to tell,
They found some things that tried them well.
Not used to all the ins and outs
Of modern furniture,
: some shouts
Nt ; ay Would now and then
| ‘ i. y ( from Brownies rise
ae x My i That told of trouble .
Neg and surprise
NY I 2 Where through a sudden
Ke heave or snap
3 They were reminded
em of a trap,
Almen con And, heads and heels,
in great dismay,
Were folded up and stored away,
While what to say or what to do
To liberate them no one knew.
As morning close and closer drew,
The Brownie workers faster flew —
From room to room, above, below,
For they were neither slack nor slow.
Ag when some creature’s passing hoof
Disturbs the ants’ sand-castle roof,
And those aroused in fear and doubt
With bag and baggage run about,
So rushed each Brownie with his load,

Now blocking up a comrade’s road,
68














| THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Now tumbling over what he bore, —

Or dropping that to run for 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 place near by this house to hide,

So we might watch the great surprise

That will enlarge the people’s eyes

When they arrive and gaze around _

And see that everything has found —

Its place, as well as if their care

And skill had been exerted there.

But we must now be on the move

And every tick of time improve,

Or else not all our powers to ay

Can save us from the rising sun.’

But morning light
came on apace

And found the Brownies
in the place:

Then wild and stirring



scenes began,
As from the upper Gore they ran:
Some took the steps with active spring,
As light as birds upon the wing,
While more, to save a moment’s time,
69
THE BROWNIES IN MAY.

Upon the rail made haste to climb,
Where lying down,
or else astride,
As fancy led,
they took
the slide,
And downward
shooting, to
the hall,
Slid over
newel post
and all!




















































































































es i t,
SAAS. lt

SK ras a When Brownies
Ve seach the
ee I N wr open air,
AY EER JAN NIRA Ay H Pero LL by
Aa ar inst Ita NUN NWS. C7: i | ‘i Escaping after
ZERO T pao s NI | some affair —
= ili eX ANS Slit | I That ’s kept
oa Te LL aN Sy 25 It
ee {KS fe EN AL them busy
= eh % NURS iit!
Kat aig if AWN ; Wi till the day
ae ed RE SANA el NI. Gives them
er ( \ YO .
oe Ls 4 2 = short time
= : an C2 :
ase AS =< Ni 0 ae ‘6 to flit
NT Pi ee Ga) Ss SE a AN = Y away,
\ az Z aS | it ll ny 5 9,8 S \\ | QCM =
es —— a iy 4 A NM 75 OY . so Zs It does :
ee ill Ry es a 2 alt
— Bits ONS) not take
—— i |

e s them
long

q

Ml
Almer COX ZA

to cross

70
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

A street or square, or wildly toss

Their limbs above a fence or wall

Upon the safest side to fall.

And short the time they now required

To. reach the hiding-place desired,

Where they could rest both hand and head
Till night once more her mantle spread.



THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.



The worlel is cola
to those who fail

i . ye night in June, when skies were clear ate teed
Â¥ The Brownies sought a city near.
Right well their plans had all been laid
To reach the town at evening shade,
And spend the night in sporting there
Upon a bridge so high in air
That ships from every country ran
In safety underneath its span.
Impatiently, you well may think,
They waited for the sun to sink.
It. seemed to loiter in the sky

And vexed them as the time drew nigh
71


THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

For them to start upon their way,

From stations that through all the day
Afforded them a resting place,
And screened them from the human race.



It has to be a gifted eye

That can the cunning Brownies spy;

No commonplace, plain business sight

Can bring the shadowy rogues to light:

Tt takes a vision stronger far

Than that to see them as they are

When by the rocks and trees concealed

They wait their turn to take the field.

One may be quick to note a flaw

In grammar, etiquette, or law;

Or in the ledger-column see

A numeral where it should n’t be;

Find errors in the
grocer’s bill,

Or lightness in his weight,
but still

Lack special sharpness
to behold

The slightest glimpse of
Brownies bold;



72
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

For few there are among
the crowd
Whose optic nerves

are so






endowed

















7a Sg aS, |
Bi pe

AW eS




























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A , i eo
WWW go 2 rail NB
eo ae meee
Weal wi : gf Ms
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ot ty

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b 14g OE PEE aye
eo ee






ag BE
oe ae aM2y4e
TL eee kes
reo wy 4D ad 7a
wg tO, eg 2 se

That they through second-sight can mark

‘Their doings in the light and dark.
73
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































AVAYVAAT UA A



























































‘ i si ims TALMER COX

The wished-for night soon made her call

And spread o’er land and sea her pall,
TA
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

And scarce the bat had tried its wing
Before the Brownies in a string
Were skipping down the road in glee
To reach those cities by the sea.
They heeded not the buildings tall,
But to the bridge fast hurried all.
They reached it when the lamps’ bright glare
Revealed its bowed proportions fair,
With ends well anchored either side
In cities spreading far and wide.



From roofs of buildings standing nigh, ©
The Brownies got a chance to eye
The structure stretched with graceful sweep
Across the river, dark and deep.
Said one: “We here can sport and play
Upon this bridge till break of day,
Of seeing wonders never tire,
Nor lack a chance to climb a wire.
In fact, each member here can find
A rope to suit bis hand or mind,
On which to climb, or swing at ease
Like monkeys on Brazilian trees.”
Now here and there the Brownies went,
On seeing all the bridge intent;
Some had the nerve
and strength
to crawl
At once upon
the towers
tall,








THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

And right and left
their glances
threw,
Of distant points
to gain
a view,
Or gaze upon the sea
; of light
That through a city
spreads at night.
At times, while climbing .
ropes of wire,
The topmost Brownie’s
hands would tire,
And slipping back, his
weight would bring
No small distress to all
the string
That clung below with
might and main
To hold their own against
the strain.
Then down they ’d sit to
rest, or chat
In Brownie style, of this

. oe or that,
Or glances,on’ the flood
( on to throw
That lay so dark and
far below.

76

i
y
N
N
5
5
N
k
i


THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Then on the. foot-path, long and wide,
- For half an hour their speed was tried;
Sometimes in squads of eight or nine
They took their stations in.a line,
And back and forth between the piers
They ran a race, ’mid shouts and cheers
From those who climbed on cables high
To watch them as they scampered by.
Said one: “I ’ve heard it said that men
Have come upon this bridge, and when
No officer did near them stand,
To interfere with schemes on hand,
They reached the center beam, or rail,
And jumped, yet lived to tell the tale.”
Another said: “We cannot let

A human being ever get










y, py The start of us In any way
yy :
Zi Through daring deeds,
Zz - let come what may.
| i€
iy
L,
Wh oe, BA tees ON cl ole,
LN leat ieee eSATA
TA PC RNG, 14
; a a Vo Z ea y/; ti s BH
AGL UH At ZEN
1 i {| h Wy 2 Ss il
iy i NS 4 Uf =
i} Me ;

T7
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Now to the selfsame place we ’ll go,
And take our places in a row;

And, at a given signal, spring

Like birds when taking to the wing,
And keep feet downward, if we can,
According to the jumper’s plan



To be not turned awry in air,
But strike the water plumb and fair.”
A third remarked: “You argue well
And show your sense, for truth to tell
We may, if we but manage right,
Immortalize ourselves to-night.

One man may jump and still escape
Without a hurt of any shape, ©

Yet he is only one in all

The millions on this turning ball.

But where was ever seen a crowd

Like us, with fortitude endowed,

That makes us in a body go

Through greatest dangers one can know?
We ’ve gone through many startling woes
And trying scenes, as history shows.

If people doubt, let them but read

And learn how we take little heed

Of dangers that go hand in hand

With all the doings of the band,

And even now you ’ll find that we

Are valiant in a high degree.

Instead of shrinking in disgrace,

Each one will want the highest place.”

78
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

A fourth exclaimed: ‘‘There’s fame, no doubt,
In such a jump, if well worked out;

But I, for one, here let me say,

Won’t look for fame in such a way.

Let those who want to feed the fish

Jump from the structure, if they wish

But be assured the lowest plate,

Or wire, upon this bridge so great,

Will high enough from water seem

Before you souse into the stream.

Now those with me who do not show

A crazy wish to famous grow,.

Beneath the bridge in boats will keep,

And aid the ones who take the leap.”

A fair division now was made:

Upon the bridge those Brownies stayed

Who did n’t wish to have it said —

That human beings were ahead ;

While those who did n’t care to seek

For fame through such a foolish freak

Went down for boats, and quickly ran

Beneath the center of the span,

To be prepared their friends to save,
When they should drop into the wave.
Now, dark against the starry sky,
All those who were the jump to try
Crawled out upon the cable dim,
And perched like birds upon a limb,
All waiting for the signal scream

That was to start them for the stream.
- 99


THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.


















a=) ne fi
Tia fas
MTG

1

NAN

i

My 3 : ;
| Jen yi 7 ¢/ i
nt Sin A
sl EN RS) !
AANA Nea HANA

Said one: “My word is still my bond,
So acts and words must correspond.
But had I not the utterance made
That I, for one, was not afraid,
And freely gave my name, I vow
I ’d hardly make the promise now!”
But one was quick to give the shout,
And at the cry they all ‘sprang out
Like heroes bold, without delay,
And downward took their rapid way.
They struggled hard, while in mid-air,
To keep themselves erect and fair,
But quite a breeze was sweeping round
Between the ocean and the sound,
And as it o’er the river ran
It played sad havoe with their plan.
In spite of frantic kicks and flings,
And arms gyrating round like wings.
80
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Some soon began to spread, or bend,
And some were capsized, end for end,
While more, through luck, or extra skill,
Kept going down, feet foremost, still.
Few words were passed between them there,
For little breath they had to spare;
But, judging by the look they wore,





If they were on the bridge once more
They ’d hardly take that daring spring
For all the fame that it could bring.
While striving for a balance good,
They caught each other where they could;
And once that nervous grip was gained,
Through fear or friendship it remained.
And thus, uniting firm and fast,

As rapidly they downward passed,

A chain was formed, while one could wink,
Composed of many a twisted link,
That lengthened as the flood they neared,
And, still unbroken, disappeared.

If Brownies in the boats below

Had twenty eyes apiece to throw,
They hardly could keep track of all
As through the air they whirling fall;
They splashing fell on every side,

All disappearing in the tide!

Those who had spread their very best
Went quickly under with the rest, 7
But first they rose again in sight, SS ss
And signaled boatmen left and right. Se

81
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

Now had that daring Brownie crowd
Been just with mortal gifts endowed,
One half the band, or thereabout,

Would have been snuffed completely out;
And never more have brought a smile
On human face to play awhile.

But, thanks to their mysterious power
That stood them well in that dread hour,
They had no thought of ending here

For good and all their bright career.



Some stayed so long beneath the wave
Friends feared the river was their grave.
But pretty soon a distant yell
Would prove them safe, and swimming well.
They went so deep that when they rose
Some pounds of mud came with their toes,
And to the surface quite a few
Brought shedder-crabs, and lobsters, too,
Which clearly proved
to friends around
That they the river’s
bed had found.
Though Brownies may



mishaps sustain
82
THE BROWNIES IN JUNE.

That cause some fear, if not some pain,






They seldom fail to carry through
The work laid out for them to do;
S__asesses== And though a few were somewhat sore,
And vowed they ’d take that leap no more,
Still, not a broken bone was there,
Or garment torn beyond repair.
Each was in trim to quickly crawl
In waiting boats, that took them all
Away as fast as oars could guide
The party to the nearest side, —
And then the band had barely time.
To quit the place ere morning prime.






AT MORNING HT.
WE TAKE OUR FLIGHT,

83


THE BROWNIES IN JULY.







i 4
Ts Looe
VF ON
@ Ps
4 | =
7

The happy
soon as sunny-faced July ean only
Brought round the time when banners fly) “ie

and
On every pole, o’er every door, Liberty

The country through from shore to shore,
The Brownies met to have their say
Respecting Independence Day.
Said one: “If I have reckoned right
The days as they have taken flight,
We stand upon the very brink
Of that great day when people think
Of heroes who so freely gave
Their sacred lives on field and wave,
That generations yet to be
Might live and move in liberty.”

- Another said: “My comrade true,
Your mental almanac won’t do,
You ’re just two dozen hours too fast,
I 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 banners and for din.
When children all are up and dressed

Before the stars have gone to rest,
84


THE BROWNIES IN JULY.











And when the sun looks

down at folk

The earth is blue with
- powder smoke.”

A third remarked:

“Then let it be
Our plan to-

morrow
























































ee
: 4, Oy’.
Ng ‘el PE: » 9
~ ae Me YP yy GEA?
LENE angele GM gy

a ea 4
Ee hy BNNs
cu we eS i

Aa’


















ae

PALMER COX, :
THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

That city stretching in its pride,

With streets so long, and parks so wide,
That holds the Hall where Congress broke
To flinders fine the monarch’s yoke,

To never after be resigned

To timber of that galling kind.

Around the table we will stand

Where people signed, with steady hand,
The document that did declare

Their home and country free as air.

We know what that act brought about—

Each fight, surrender, siege and rout,

Which followed soon the declaration

To found a free and mighty nation,

That like a link now lies between

The oceans boisterous and serene;



And while one part is wrapped in snow
Till trees bend down to earth below
With loads that storms have on them laid,
Still other parts are all arrayed

In flowers that sweetest fragrance send
To sunny skies that o’er them bend.
The war was long, and many fell,

As history’s pages fully tell.

No conflict of a year or two

Could such a commonwealth subdue, —
Nor could it cause the king to say

The colonies might go their way.

But seasons rolled, and still the fight

For liberty, or monarch’s right,
86


THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

In icy fields through wintry days,

On scorching plains in summer’s blaze,

Far off from land on ocean’s wave,

Where hearts when few were doubly brave,
To bind in chains, or to be free,

The war went on by land and sea.

The child that stood upon the pave,

And saw his father, firm and grave,

With gun in hand and horn at side,

March off to stem tyrannic pride,

Grew up 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 Brownies’ feet

Went pattering through the silent street,
Unnoticed by the men in blue

Who searching glances ever threw

As here and there with solemn 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 within our reach
Now fast asleep, that well could teach
The stirring, grasping populace

Of many a more ambitious place,
87


THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

The honest way to sell and buy,
The way to live, and way to die,
And other friendly hints

x

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hy

%
%,
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es
Nt

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t





























































































































































































The Hall was reached in half an hour,

As one might judge who knows their power,
88
THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

And how they laugh at bolt and bar,

At heavy staples driven far,

And locks that few can comprehend,
With combinations without end.

As through the ancient rooms they passed
On many things their eyes were cast
That brought a smile, a frown, or sigh,
According to what drew the eye.
Said one: “The rust is working well
To make away with sword and shell
And musket. They will hardly last
Until another century ’s past.”
Another answered: ‘Well, who cares
How soon the rust eats such affairs?
The blunderbuss, head-cleaving blade,
Horse-pistol, shell, and hand-grenade

But call to mind the trying days

When people saw their hamlets 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
That many came, who failed to go.”
From place to place the Brownies went:
At this they paused, by that they bent
To study out the writing old

That something of its history told.
Around the inkstand, strange to view,

The Brownies stood, a wondering crew,
89






‘

THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

Commenting on the
fateful drops

It once gave out to knock.
the props

Away forever from
a throne

That it was thought could
stand alone.



Sey By i
lait i
= as 3

|
|

Bz



es

The Brownies tried

i”
PALMER COX



to imitate
The manner of the statesmen great, |
Who by that self-same desk of oak
Once stood for hours, and firmly spoke
Of taxes, duties, slights, and harms,
And stirred the people up to arms,
Oft asking in a stinging vein |
If they would wear a bond or chain,



Or were prepared at once to fling

Defiance at the tyrant king!

Around themselves the flags they wrapped -

That o’er the Continentals flapped,

When through their ranks, on hill and vale,
The whistling bullets swept like hail.
Said one: “By weapons hacked and worn
And battle-flags blood-stained and torn,
That find a place on every wall,
'T is plain as A B C to all
No easy task they undertake
Who aim established laws to break,
To right their wrongs like men begin, »

; 90


THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

And independence strive

; to win.”

To reach a sofa long
and wide

The Brownies ran from



every side,
Each striving to be first to fe
Himself to such a famous seat.
Said one: “Upon this sofa strong
That here you see has rested long
And been well tried by moth and rat,
The Father of His Country sat,
And called to mind the hopes and fears
And hardships of those trying years
When in his army, stanch and true,
There was not one whole coat or shoe.
No pride in grand parade or show
They took at such a time, we know.
To march around the streets in rags
With naked feet on snowy flags,
Gave little pleasure to the band
Who had their country’s life in hand.
The loud hurrahs from those around
At such a scene would empty sound.
A tattered force he had to lead
! O’er icy stream and marshy mead,
oe ees <= But well he knew, that hero bold,

Me BE ENN Beneath each coat of ragged fold
A heart was beating true and tried

eee voy
As was the weapon at his side.”
a1






THE BROWNIES IN JULY.”

Another said: ‘This still.is found |

Where too much wrangling does abound;

While those at home dispute and spout .

About their orders and their doubt,

Those in the field who face the foe

Are standing barefoot in the snow.

Such was the fate of England’s host

Upon the cold Crimean coast,

While vessels lay at anchor near,

With full supplies for half a year,

Awaiting orders from some Brown,

Or Smith, or Jones, in London Town.”

Thus Brownies talked,
as talk they will,

And passed opinions
freely still,

But all the while
enjoying well

Each show that to



AeneR Cox

their notice fell.
Around the bell that loudly rang
When independence was its clang,
The Brownies stood; nay, some: were bold
To climb upon the relic old,
And mourned 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
From belfry beams, and struck a stone,

That cracked it thus, and changed its tone.
| 92
THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

~ i
SP OF x:



ers
STD. 4
= nz

)) It now sounds like
an earthen pot,
S But what of that?
It matters not.

aus























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fick anes It did its duty
: a A reat) on that day,
aN AS Seana i And to its credit,
ALM, | aN ( 5 < quis j let me
: say,
That there was meaning in its ring

That well might stun a listening king.
93




































THE BROWNIES IN JULY.

‘Now let it rest, for sword or gun
Can ne’er undo what has been done.”
So many Brownies had a mind
Upon that bell a place to find;

They started it upon the go ©



Till, swaying wildly to and fro, Be sober
It caused a panic and a scare a
That soon disturbed the bravest there. No ee
Some to the chain above held fast; than suit

osave,

Some flat upon the bell were cast,
With arms and legs extended wide,

And with it sailed from side to side;
While clanging loud with heavy stroke

The restless clapper silence broke.
Alarmed lest such a fearful din

Would bring the wondering people in,

The Brownies tried in every way
To choke it off without delay.

At risk. of limb, and life as well,
Some bravely hung below the bell,

And hasten off

As back and forth it rocked and swung,
And did their best to hold its tongue;
And glad enough were Brownies bold
When they at length the bell controlled,
So all were free to gain the street,

to their retreat.

CN RN

When slave put out their fires
The Brownie band retires,








94


Like the ocear's
ebb and
flow
Stitl the clays
will come
and go.

; August took its place in line,



The Brownies met at day’s decline. _
Said one: ‘‘At length we stand beside
A stream that is the nation’s pride.

No longer river finds its way

Around the world, to gulf or bay;
And, since our pleasures first began,
No better journey can we plan

Than one upon thé river bright

That rolls before us here to-night.”
Another said: “I well agree

With what you say; and trust to me
To be the pilot for the band,

To take the lead and give command.

I know the river well, my friends,—
Just where it starts and where it ends.
Each bend and bar from first to last

Is in my mind established fast.
95




THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

The trip will take a week or more;
We ‘ll hide by day along the shore,
And when returns the evening gloom, |
Our journey to the sea resume.



We 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 present, we will keep
Our journey to the briny deep,
And trust that later on we may
To other States a visit pay.”
Another said:
“The scheme is fair,

And for the trip

we ‘ll now prepare.
No one need view

with jealous eye



Our course as here
and there we hie,
Nor think their loyal State we slight
Because ’t is small, or far from sight;
For well we know attractions fine—
From building stone to towering pine,
From fishing-port to marble mart,
From vine-clad fields to coldest part,
From center town to border land—

Await the coming of the band.”
96
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

Why need I use my valued space

To tell of smiles that lit each face,

Or eyes that rolled with knowing squint
To see how others took the hint.

No longer talk was needed there



=

The day

To make the Brownies soon repair will cone
m Spt

To where some boats could be secured Wher youll

. be missing

That by the river’s bank were moored. ae

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 you know, are not
Inclined to grumble at their lot,

Or whine 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 such mild currents often tend

To rougher waters at the end;

And Brownies found in their descent
Some rapids that great mischief meant;
Where boats 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 cling for life, and learn
97


THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.” FRR






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surround

A party, though

At length, to cause
no small dismay,
A misty fall before

them lay,
That seemed to speak
with thunder sound


Turn early
wisdom's

en
For life at
best i's

beef.

THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

Of nothing else than Brownies drowned.
One cried: “’T is strange that no one knew
About these falls, now plain in view,
Though tumbling here with stunning din
Since first the world began to spin.”
Another said: “My friend, too late ©
About our ignorance you prate.

Did we of dangers earlier know,

We might avoid much pain and woe.

*T is useless now to bend and strain

In hope a friendly shore to gain.

Let each one his position keep,

And take the chances of the leap.”

The fleet of boats, 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 bend,
Or spring, and turning end for end
With all its crew, stern foremost sped,
When most they wished to look ahead.
The scene below the falls was wild:
The 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 be deep and rough,
And, like a kettle, boil enough

99
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

To please the spryest speckled trout
That ever threw a tail about,
And yet lack force to quite subdue
Or overwhelm a Brownie crew.
The Brownies can be roughly tossed
Into a stream and not be lost;

For through their skill

to swim and dive











They manage well
to keep alive
Till succor comes,
as sure it will
If friends are up
‘and paddling still.
Thus night by night
the Brownies
passed
Through trials
strange, until
at last
They reached
‘the southern
country mild,
Where sweet
the white
magnolia —
smiled,
Where
sugar-cane
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

And graceful palms attention drew.

The Brownies viewed the land with pride,
Saw fine 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 both good and fair

That ripens in the southern air.

One said: “The people of this clime

Were brave throughout a 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 cotton 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
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.



































Once while they in a bayou lay,

To hide from humankind away,

Some alligators at the side

To interview the Brownies tried,

And only through their mystic skill

Were they preserved to charm us still.
Some fought, and some jumped fore and aft,
And more were glad to quit the craft

To take their chances on the land
102 ;
THE BROWNIES IN AUGUST.

And leave the reptiles in command.
Thus oft the Brownies were delayed
As to the gulf their trip they made,
But, nothing daunted, still intact,
With every member free to act,
They drifted on from night to night
To reach the point, with spirits light,
Where pours the river’s waters free
From many mouths into the sea.




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At length the Brownies looked ahead,

And saw the Crescent City spread
In grandeur by the widening stream.
They saw the domes and steeples gleam
That marked the site of church and hall,
Then caught a glimpse of shipping tall
Where ocean waves and river blend,
And knew their journey at an end.

Now the lengthy Crip is cone
And the Brodie Land ‘must run.

103







THE BROWNIES IN alas ext
so free
Is the one

. SEPTHM BER. ne ee

sILvEeR crescent in the sky,
September’s moon was sailing high,
In eighteen hundred and ninety-two,
When Brownies met to carry through
An enterprise they had in view. _

Said one: “ We soon, aS you ’re aware,

Will have the great Columbian Fair,












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104
THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Exposilion

THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

When banners will
to winds be spread,
And speeches made,
a poem be read,
And voices mingle,
rich and strong,
In rendering anthems
loud and long.”
Another said:
“Then I ’m afraid,
Unless we give
some mystic aid
In pushing workers
who are slow,
They ll not be ready
for the show.”
A third remarked:
‘““No better way
Can we our loyalty
display
Than here to lend
a helping hand
In finishing these
buildings grand
That ornament this
spacious ground.
"T will to the country’s
good redound,
And spare the blush that

else might speak
106



Inall seasons
cold or hot
Of well doing

weary not


THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

Of shame on fair

Columbia’s cheek.”
This was enough to

start the band,
And soon the work

was closely scanned,
To see where they

could lay a floor,
Put in a sash,

or hang a door,
Or even on

the rafters strong
Make bold to help

‘the work along.
Now columns tall

they climbed to get
A. closer look

at what was set
Upon the top, with

wings outspread,
A staff in hand,

or wreath on head.
On counting them

the Brownies found
Just thirteen columns

standing round.
Said one: “No doubt

the sculptor meant
The early States

to represent,
107








THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

And give a lesson gratis here,

As well as ornament the pier.”

The Woman’s Building drew their eyes,
But they beheld the same with sighs,
Because the topmost tile was laid,

And left no chance for Brownie aid.

But other buildings of the Fair

Could take some touches here and there;
So off the Brownies



ran for tools,
For paint-pots, hammers,

saws, and rules,
That weary workmen

quickly threw
Aside when evening

whistles blew.
Said one: “The brush

is suited well
For Brownie hands,

the truth to tell;
As for myself,



no more I ask

Than elbow-room

at such a task,
And I ‘Il not be the last to mount
A ladder, and to some account.
For I will never be behind
In spreading paint, keep that in mind.
Tt may be red, or green, or blue,

Or yellow, or another hue.
108


THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER,

It matters not, my work shall go

As fast as any one’s, I know.”
Another said: “Our skill we ‘Il try
Upon this dome-capped building nigh,
Some others here a stir can make
With brushes, or I much mistake,
And honors will not all descend

On one alone, you may depend.

Each Brownie here must do his part;
No shrinking hand or timid heart
Will serve as an excuse to-night,



Or make a member’s labor light.”
Then work began without delay,
Though plenty there had more to say,
And could have talked and argued still
About their gifts or special skill;
But Brownies, when there ’s work to do,
That must ere dawn be hurried through,
Are eager to ‘improve each hour
And work with all their skill and power.

_ Hach took the tool that suited best

His turn of mind, for all were blessed
With skill that made them handle well
Whatever to their portion fell ;
Then climbing here and mounting there,
Each loyal Brownie did his share,
All clearly showing from the start
They had the nation’s good at heart.
Some, spreading brown paint, moved ahead,

More followed with a coat of red;
109
THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

Then quickly, ere the first had dried,
Still other colors were applied.
Said one: “Though not
apprenticed out










To masters hard, and
knocked about,
To learn a trade ’twixt
kick and blow
That often with
instruction
g0,
We ’re not
so far
behind
mankind
At putting
things
in shape,
they ‘ll find;
For we can saw
and paint and bore,
And, better still, do some
things more



In mystic ways, by Brownie rules,
That are unknown to human schools.
It may seem odd, indeed, to smother
One coat so quickly with another,
But we from men no lessons take,
Nor ask advice; but simply make

Our time and task on hand agree,
110
THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

And keep from complications free.
The morning sun might raise his head
Before one half our paint was spread,
If we should work as if afraid

Of new departures in the trade.



The paint is there, it matters not Turn yourbeck
If mixed on wall, or mixed in pot, aC
And what the Brownies spread about “ote
Will last until the wood gives out.” | name,
Some sad mishaps disturbed a few,
And gave their clothes a foreign hue;
Before the task was well in hand
They formed a queer, bespattered band—
Some red as robins when they tune
Their voices sweet in sunny June;
Some green as Erin’s banner old.
When on St. Patrick’s day unrolled;
More, like canaries from the Isles,

Awakened many jokes and smiles.
The coat that Joseph left behind,
When to the pit he was consigned,
Showed not more colors to the sun
Than Brownie garb when they




were done.

Though hurried greatly at the last,
As morning light was creeping fast,
The very vane that told the way

The wind was blowing, night and day,
Received a touch from Brownies bold

Until it looked like burnished gold.
111
THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

The Brownies made themselves at home;

They clambered over roof and dome,

They set the glass and tacked the slate

And tin on towers tall and straight,

And nailed the ornaments in place

That to the buildings added grace.

The highest point or peak about

The structure grand they hunted out;

"T was there they wished their skill to show,

"T was there they plied the willing blow,

And swung their flimsy scaffolds light,

Regardless of the giddy height.

No brains of weak, unhealthy tone

To dizzy grow the Brownies own;

While hands have strength, and toes are sure,

The head has faith and feels secure.

So up they go and never reel,

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 would have struck for higher pay
If they had longer time to stay.
Now from some place, where, as they thought,
Such things were kept, the Brownies brought
A brand-new flag, with stripes of white



know. Alternate set with crimson bright;
112
THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

fi While many stars,
r in order due,
One corner filled
on field of blue.
A mammoth flag,—
I cannot name
The yards of bunting
in the same;
But safe it is
for me to say
'T would draw the eye
ten miles away,
And let one know,
beyond a doubt,
What nation hung
the emblem out.
It mattered not
how large
of size,
The Brownie band
had found
a prize;
And now it did
their fancy












SN please

\’ To give the symbol
to the breeze.
Mk The wind that from
i i the lake
HT was strong




| f i | | | |

HH {




THE BROWNIES IN SEPTEMBER.

Played freely with the colors long,
And wrapped the Brownies in its fold;
But still they worked nor lost their hold,
‘While up it ran; ‘mid joyful cries,
Above the grounds it proudly flies!
Said one: “We ‘ll leave it floating there,
Through blizzard, storm, or milder air,
To let the folks who reach these shores,
From every nation out of doors,
Learn how it feels to draw at last
One breath of freedom from the blast;
Here they may hear our eagle 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 people will all honor pay
With special zeal to Ninety-two,
And tell the great exploit anew
When, in despite of plot or plea,
Columbus steered .his vessels three
To find the unknown region here,
Respected now both far and near.”



114



This da
is biee
you cay
enjoy

Take heed
how you
the time
employ.





The passing
moments
short

appear
But constant

Ticking
makes the

year,

A=VATLEN trees were bending with their loads,
Around the farmers’ snug abodes,

ae Win, And limbs were stooping from the top,

20 And groaning for a friendly prop
So they might last until the day
When burdens 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 Brownie’s heart most dear,
Because it brings to us a chance
Some person’s harvest to advance;

To climb the trees and shake each bough

Is work that must engage us now

Till everything is safe and sound;

And when the morning comes around,

How will the farmer stand and stare

To find his fruit all gathered there!

A task he thought he ’d have to do

Himself before the week was through.”
~ 115


THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

Another said: ‘The truth to tell,
The task is one that suits us well.
There will be work enough for all;
The grounds are large, the trees are tall,
And many bushels must be drawn
Away before the morn shall dawn.”
A third remarked: ‘And not alone
To fruited trees must care be shown ;
October brings the. ripened hue

To squashes and great pumpkins too;
And nothing shall the Brownies leave
That should attention now receive.



We ‘Il 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 our task





must close yd
Before the sun his visage eS.
shows.”
Then up the trees some
Brownies went
To shake the limbs with apples bent;
And more began at once to haul
The pumpkins,



taking vines and all;

aN
TaN
$y
THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

While others hurried off with speed
To find strong teams -
to serve their need.




a “ a a .
Wat laet ¢ =
cas . ull AMS es
yet eiolll/ =
3 Nea. A



They were not long—for Brownies smart
At such a time display their art;
To be of service they can teach

eS G3) Whatever comes within their reach—

They har ‘ed 3
ey harnessed AP the pos, a
Pigs
see tne Piss,
And faste to various _yigs



So each might-do
a

. Ber
Shan,
Of all that was
progressing there.
Though goats are
seldom taught
to haul, oe
Like horses taken = i¢
from the stall, .

117


THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

They did their duty
in the main,

And answered well
the guiding rein.

It needs some training,



as a rule,
To make a beast keep
calm and cool,
And draw a heavy load along
Without some frisky action wrong;
And one could hardly think to see
The Brownies’ teams work patiently
-Who had no training on the road
Or “breaking-in” to bear a load.
But it must be
a creature rare—
Not worthy of
a farmer’s care—
That Brownies cannot
soon subdue
When they have work
to carry through.
But pigs, at times,



as people know,
Are obstinate

and loath to go
The way the driver may require,
But turn about with great desire
To take the road that shortest lies

Between them and their quiet sties.
118
THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

So now and then some trouble rose
When neither curbing bit nor blows
Could proud and frisky spirits bind,

Or serve to change the stubborn mind;
Then broken wagons might be seen,

And scattered loads upon the green,

And Brownies with all strength employed

A dire collision to avoid.












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A Brownie,
. who applied
the switch,
Was roughly tumbled in the ditch;
_ And one, who roughly used his toe,

“Was dragged for fifty yards, or so.
119
THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

And thus, in philosophic
strain,

A comrade did the case
explain :

“This fact is known the world

around



Where’er the human race
is found—

Sa a a

If gentle treatment won't prevail, 4

"T is not much use to strike or rail;

They little gain who strive to win

By beating precepts through the skin.
Thus parents, fired
May hit the

by anger’s spark,
child, yet miss
the mark:
For kind reproof
and gentle hand
Will more respect and






love command.
Now, kindness works as well,
you ‘ll find,
With beasts, as with the
human kind,
So lay aside both whip
and thong,
And keep your feet where
they belong.”
A busy scene the orchard
showed,

Ere every tree had lost its load;
120


THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.





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Some towered: tall, while limbs but few

All at the topmost portion grew.
121
THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

The bark was smooth,
the trunks were
straight ;
And, though the
Brownies’ skill
was great,
Oft to the ground
they ’d slip
and slide
And tumble down
on every side,



Before a saving grasp was laid
Upon a branch 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 receive

As they performed some daring feat

Or some one shook them from a seat,

Or where a branch, they thought was stout
And trusty, with a snap gave out.

But Brownies think this only fun,

When there is work that must be done;
And those who rose, though lame and sore,

Would soon be at the top once more.
122


THE BROWNIES IN OCTOBER.

“When early dawn came creeping there,
It showed the trees all standing bare.

The goats were free
to come and go;

The pigs were

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The baskets, bags, and wagons, too,
Were each in place as good as new.
But not a Brownie was in sight,
For all had vanished with the night.



123




Ty all nations

THE BROWNIES IN east or west.

Honest dealing
pays the best.

NOVEMBER.

qj
(| i =f Hl & month is dear to grave and gay,

Because it brings Thanksgiving Day,
When those who have been scattered wide
Assemble at the fireside
To render thanks for being blessed,
And have a dinner of the best.”
Thus spoke a little Brownie spry
As that great day was drawing nigh.

Another said: “And, truth to tell,
We might enjoy a feast as well.
Although no pumpkins on the vine
For us like burnished gold may oe
Or turkeys gather at our call, ed
To feed and fatten through the fall,
Be sure we have a way to find
A dinner, if we ’re so inclined ;







We ’ll not go hungry, never ashe

124
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

But we can reach and take a share

Of things that are provided there.

Nought will be missed, and that ’s where we
Excel the human kind, you see.

We magnify whate’er we choose,

And thus the people nothing lose.

Now into separate bands divide,

And travel through the country wide!

Let some a southern course pursue,

And some the North Star keep in view;



While others travel west and east

To gather something for our feast.

- But let the work be understood

That we may have all that is good,
Not overmuch of any dish,

But such assortment as we wish.

Let those who to the north proceed,
Procure the poultry we will need;
Let those who turn their faces west,
Bring pies and puddings of the best;
The southern band can put in place
The fruit that should our table grace;

While those who on their errand run,
125
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

As if to meet the rising sun,
Can, as their part, if nought prevents,
Bring coffee, tea, and condiments,
That nothing may be wanting there
To make our feast a grand affair.”
Then all the band, without delay,
Toward every point was on the way.
The poultry that can find repose,
Safe from the fox and kindred foes,
By roosting on a friendly bough,
Cannot escape the Brownies now.
Said one, whose part it was to bear
A brace of
turkeys, as
his share:






‘> ~ Dee i nO
“That fowl has surely little wit
Who on a cherry-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 ’ll not disturb the people here

With fluttering sounds, or screams of fear,
But quietly along the road

We ‘ll bear the roost with all its load,

126
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

And thus perform our part assigned
Without awaking thoughts unkind.”
*T is little use to tell a wife

To guard the pantry as her life;

Or tell the maid whose wits are slow
She must be watchful, or must go;
Because the Brownies have a way

To carry on their work or play,

And what they want they soon receive
Without so much as “by your leave.”
But where they visit, there they bless:
The household treasures grow no less,
And happy is the home whose floor
The Brownie band has scampered o’er.
All harmful things will ever flee

From little ones who bend the knee
Beside the bed where Brownies creep, '

Or play their pranks while people sleep.

When one is thinking least about
The band, they ’re passing in and out,
Or scanning with a watchful eye

ri



NAR Ra
ag

PaumaRe COX
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

Each motion made by 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 lightning they are off!
Perhaps to venture back no more
Until a month has
circled o’er.
In time the rich supplies
were found,
And carried to the
trysting-ground :
The poultry was not
lacking there
That fattened in the northern air,
While others proved the fertile West
Was rich in pastry of the best.
The South soon yielded fruitage fine,
From orchard, grove, and clinging vine:



The orange, apple, luscious grape,

And nuts of every size and shape.

And quickly from the eastern land
Returned the nimble-footed band

Who, through some art or method strange,
To more than one large kitchen range
Without delay did entrance gain,
And, as it happened, not in vain.



THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

It does n’t take the Brownies long
To cook a fowl, if nothing ’s wrong,
Because there is no bickering there
Concerning “overdone” or “rare.”
If wood is scarce, or slow to burn,
The smoke will cook it to a turn;



Whatever piece the carvers send,
They do not whiningly contend
For leg, or neck, or wing that flaps,—
Whatever fills the hungry gaps
Will do; and thus, not hard to please,
’ The Brownies pass their lives in ease.



That night the feast was truly grand:
Enough for all was 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 warm 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,
; 129
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.







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THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

Or coffee weak, or butter old,

Or bread was close allied to dough,

No Brownie told another so.

Time slips along, howe’er we try

To check the hours passing by;

And even Brownies cannot stay

The moments as they flit away;

And though the nights were growing long,
Some birds commenced their morning song -
Before the lively band was through,

And from the banquet-ground withdrew.
Tt is not often Brownies take

Upon themselves to boil and bake,

Or gather up with wondrous haste
Supplies to satisfy their taste ;

But, when they do, ’t is safe to say

There ’s not much left to throw away.



Though boiling soup may spatter round

Before the waiting plate is found,

And some may even get a burn |
Who think for soup it is their turn,

131


Each da
adopt the,
a

To'vight
what wrongs
you can

THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

They linger round the table still

Till every one has had his fill.

But let it be a feast or ride,

Or swim, or sail on waters wide,

That interests the Brownie kind,
They always keep the fact in mind
That they must not allow the sun

To show his face ere they are done
And safely stowed away from sight,
In waiting for another night.

So, while some tasted bread and pie
And cakes that well might please the eye,
And poured the tea and coffee hot

In cupfuls from the boiling pot,

Or gnawed the apples till they wore
An inroad to the seedy core,

And to the bones gave greatest care
While still a shred of meat was there,
Till there was nothing, high or low,
Would yield fair picking for a crow—
Some found a chance to turn their eyes
Where signs of day began to rise.

Between the bites of that rich feast
They cast quick glances to the east,

To notice when the stars grew pale,

Or hid beneath an azure veil;

And, though reluctant to withdraw,

Those watchful Brownies danger saw,

And urged their friends to quit the ground
While they were spry to move around,



132
THE BROWNIES IN NOVEMBER.

Or else the sun would on them fall,

And make examples of them all.

In spite of hints or warning cries,

Some lingered at the cakes and pies,

Still counting on the speed they ’d make

When they at last the road would take.
Then when the plates were clean, and they
No longer on the spot could stay,
They crossed the country in a hurry,
They passed the houses with a flurry,
As when the leaves all laid in dust
Are taken with a sudden gust.
In vain the watch-dog rolled his eye
To note the objects fleeting by:
Before a second glance he threw,
The lively band was out of view
Around a bend, to forests wide,
Where every one could safely hide.



133




THE BROWNIES IN
DECEMBER.

ie Fne fields were lying brown and bare,
: The signs of snow were in the air,
And in the leafless forest drear
No more the songsters charmed the ear,
When cunning Brownies met and planned
A task well suited for the band.
Said one: “The glorious day is near
That is to young and old so dear,
Because it calls those truths to mind
The most important to mankind,
And brings to every generous heart
The wish to take an active part
In cheering up the homes of all



With presents, howsoever small.” en
Another said: ‘Through all the year Botly youth

and age
No better season can appear ate “
5 ° . ave on the

Than this for Brownies to combine, stage

. i : apart lo
And in some noble action shine. play.

134


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To more like

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y

THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER,

The field is wide, as all can see;

No neutral arms need folded be.

Ah me! the poor, infirm, and old,

Perhaps lack food, perhaps are cold;

And those to whom the world grows dark,

While lingers still the vital spark,

With many other people brought

To misery’s cup, may well be taught

That goodness, let what may be said

In contradiction, is not dead.

But to a Children’s Home, near by,

We will to-night our thoughts apply,

And in no weak or sparing way

Our mystic powers at once display ;

For not alone the Christmas tree

We will supply with labor free,

But ere we leave it standing there,

It shall the choicest presents bear

That can the sparkling eyes invite,

Or fill the heart with pure delight.” _
To learn the task that must be done— ~
Though full of danger or of fun—
Is all the Brownies care to know.

At once a willingness they show

To carry out the scheme as planned
With every means at their command.
As when the sun through orchard trees
Looks down upon the waiting bees,
And tells them foliage now is dry,

And all the blossoms open lie,—
135
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

And quickly spreading in their flight,

They dart to woods and meadows bright,—
So Brownies with a sudden start
Tn all directions now depart.
Some to the forest started out

To find a tree both tall and stout,
That would support the loads that they 7
Intended on its limbs to lay;









as EE
BE. St =



BEeeseS
ZZ LE

While others traveled to the town

With lengthy lists all jotted down,
Determined to ransack the place
Before they homeward turned a face,
However well the doors were barred
Or large the “No Admittance” card.
And well they carried out their plan,
As here and there they freely ran
From candy shops, and places where

They sought one certain sort of ware,
136


THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

To larger shops where they
could find

All merchandise of
every kind.

Up-stairs and down, as
business led,

The busy Brownies



quickly sped.
Said one, while they were
on the race
To find some goods to suit the case:
“We have n’t time such things to make
As we require, so we must take
What other hands than ours have made
To meet the great demands of trade;
But well we know that nothing ’s lost,
However much the things may cost;
For greater good will surely flow
Through what we take and what bestow,
Than people think who are content
To count their profits cent by cent.



More ways than one may blessings fall

On worthy heads both great and small;
137
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

The loss that causes tears and sighs
May prove a blessing in disguise.

We better know where everything
Will greatest good and pleasure bring
Than those who daily tax the brain
At bargaining for private gain.



We Brownies neither buy nor sell,
But give and take, yet prosper well,
And muse how little people know
Where next our handiwork will show.”
In time the scattered Brownies met
Those who had gone the gifts to get,
And those whose task it was to fell
A Christmas tree to hold them well.
Rewarded with a-prize, ere long
Returned, well pleased, the axmen strong;
The tree was promptly hoisted there,
And firmly fixed with greatest care,
Until it stood as when it strove
To overlook the silent grove.
Then work was found for every hand: —
The ladders soon were in demand,

And whatsoever would unite

With something else to build a height

On which to climb and reach around

Till every branch its burden found.

Said one: “My friends, we seldom find

A task so pleasing to the mind;

When work for children ’s under way,

How does the hand its skill display !
138




THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

Then every sound to music turns,

And every thought with kindness burns.
Delightful task! to thus befriend

The orphans as the year we end.

I would not miss this night of toil

For greatest sport, or sweetest spoil
That in a pantry can be stored

To grace some rich man’s dainty board.
I fancy I can see the eyes

Of children widen with. surprise,

And see the smiles extend so wide
From cheek to cheek when this is spied,
And they learn not a single tot

In all the place has been forgot.

For boys—the guns, the skates and bats;
For girls—the dolls and rubber cats,
The books, the toys and fancy things
That Christmas to the market brings;
And candy, colored red in streaks,

To sweeten all their teeth for weeks.”
But battles are not always won

By those who have the fight begun;
And though our good intentions may

Be such as no one should gainsay,

We may by trials be distressed,

As if our cause was not the best.

So Brownies did not pass the night
Without mishaps that caused them fright :
Some ladders of the greatest length

Were lacking in the proper strength
139


THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

To bear the crowd that clambered high,
Their gifts upon a branch to tie;

Or down would come some rude affair
On which they stood to do their share;
And round the floor the presents rolled
That at the time they chanced to hold.
Some toys received distressing whacks,
That gave them broken limbs or backs.
By coming down from greatest height,



"Mid candy, horns, and weapons bright,
Some costly works were shaken loose,
That were not made for roughest use.
The bravest hearts were filled with dread,
As something crashed high overhead ;
And it was dangerous to throw
A glance above, the cause to know.

Here crashed a doll, in spite of care,

And there a goat or cotton hare;

Down whirling through the branches fell

The felt-made elephant as well,

With wiggling trunk, a glassy stare,

And sawdust spouting from a tear,

To roll about, as if in pain

Upon some sun-dried Asian plain.

But then the Brownies’ skill sublime

Stood them in hand at such a time:

A tap, a twist, a shake or two,

And broken things were good as new.

The watch its ticking would resume,

Though wheels had scattered round the room;
140













THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

The shattered limbs
of dolls were set
By those who first
the patient met;
And all a surgeon’s
skill was shown
In making splints to
mend each bone,





TOLL «

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Sa <=
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Lies
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

Till on the tree they took their place,
Without a limp or loss of grace.
At times misunderstandings rose,
And comrades almost came to blows,
When some an injury received,
Or were at rash remark aggrieved;
But calmer ‘friends would claim the floor,
And words like these would peace restore:
“Be careful of your hand, my friend,
And let it.not in wrath descend;
For oftentimes a hasty blow
Has caused the striker lifelong woe,
And broken friendship’s silver chain,
To mend which many strive in vain.”
Like 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 active Brownies, spurning all
The chairs and ladders, dared to crawl
From limb to limb, with actions bold
And hands that seldom lost their hold,
Till to the brittle top
they passed,
And tied the. Christmas
presents fast.
So work went on, as it
must go
When Brownies all united
throw



142
THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

Their daring skill and
mystic power
Into the labor of
the hour.
"T is hard to tell or
paint: aright
Their acts that long . For safan is
December night ~* acs

Upon one page, however wide,



So pen and pencil must subside.

But those who know the Brownie band

May well believe no idle hand

Was resting there, that had a chance

The undertaking to advance.
One, running out one time to spy
If signs of day were in the sky,
Mistook the northern lights in play
For early hints of morning gray:
So with the false alarm he ran,
And almost overthrew their plan.
Indeed the work was scarcely more

Than half-way through, when at the door

The rogue appeared with such a shout

That every Brownie faced about.

The tree was nearly overturned

Before his strange mistake was learned;



But neither slip, nor fall, nor break
Can make the Brownie band forsake
A task their willing hands may find,

Till they are satisfied in mind.
143


THE BROWNIES IN DECEMBER.

So there they climbed about, and tied
The handsome gifts on every side,

And piled some things around the base
That were too large to hang in place.
When every child that slumbered there
Was sure to have its proper share,

Did one remark, with native pride:

“The task has much our patience tried,
But still this thought the heart revives—
We ’ve brightened many children’s lives.”
And when the work at last was through,
And Brownies from the place withdrew,
They left, indeed, a Christmas tree

That made the children shout with glee.








144

Goodbye until
». | alater day.



The days
and nights
Keep crowding

sa
They really
bore one
dort you
know.




well say