Brownies: Their Book

<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE BROWNIES ON SKATES.</h2> <div class='poem2'> <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i014a-o.png" width-obs="137" height-obs="181" alt="O" title="" /></div> <br/><br/><br/>NE night, when the cold moon hung low<br/> And winter wrapped the world in snow<br/> And bridged the streams in wood and field<br/> With ice as smooth as shining shield,<br/> Some skaters swept in graceful style<br/> The glistening surface, file on file.<br/><br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="show" summary="show"> <tr><td align='left'><br/>For hours the Brownies viewed<br/><span style="margin-left: 4em;">the show,</span><br/> Commenting on the groups<br/><span style="margin-left: 4em;">below;</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></td> </tr></table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015a.png" width-obs="179" height-obs="162" alt="Have the feet" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'><br/><br/><br/><br/> Said one: "That pleasure might be ours&mdash;<br/> We have the feet and motive powers;<br/> No mortal need us Brownies teach,<br/> If skates were but within our reach."<br/></div> <div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015b.png" width-obs="229" height-obs="164" alt="In a carriage" title="" /></div> <div class='poem2'><br/> Another answered: "Then, my friend,<br/> To hear my plan let all attend.<br/> I have a building in my mind<br/> That we within an hour can find.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="gun" summary="gun"> <tr><td align='left'> Three golden balls hang by the door,<br/> Like oranges from Cuba's shore;<br/> Behind the dusty counter stands<br/> A native of queer, far-off lands;<br/><div class='poem'> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">The place is filled with various things,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">From baby-carts to banjo-strings;</span><br/> Here hangs a gun without a lock<br/> Some Pilgrim bore to Plymouth rock;<br/> And there a pair of goggles lie,<br/> That saw the red-coats marching by;<br/> While piles of club and rocker skates<br/> Of every shape the buyer waits!<br/> Though second-hand, I'm sure they'll do,<br/> And serve our wants as well as new.<br/> That place we'll enter as we may,<br/> To-morrow night, and bear away<br/> A pair, the best that come to hand,<br/> For every member of the band."<br/> At once, the enterprise so bold<br/> Received support from young and old.<br/></div> </td> </tr></table></div> <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i015d.png" width-obs="139" height-obs="82" alt="Brownie" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> A place to muster near the town,<br/> And meeting hour they noted down;<br/> And then retiring for the night,<br/> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</SPAN></span>They soon were lost to sound and sight.<br/> <br/> When evening next her visit paid<br/> To fold the earth in robes of shade,<br/> <br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="boldly" summary="boldly"> <tr><td align='left'> <span style="margin-left: 17em;">From out the woods across</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 20em;">the mead,</span> <span style="margin-left: 17em;">The Brownies gathered</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 20em;">as agreed,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 17em;">To venture boldly and</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 20em;">procure.</span><br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/> </td> </tr></table></div> <div class='poem'> The skates that would their fun insure.<br/> As mice can get to cake and cheese<br/> Without a key whene'er they please,<br/> So, cunning Brownies can proceed<br/> And help themselves to what they need.<br/></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i017.png" width-obs="446" height-obs="523" alt="Out procuring" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> For bolts and bars they little care<br/> If but a nail is wanting there!<br/> Or, failing this, with ease descend<br/> Like Santa Claus and gain their end<br/> As children to the windows fly<br/> At news of Jumbo passing by,<br/> So rushed the eager band away<br/> To fields of ice without delay.</div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</SPAN></span><br/></p> <div class='poem3'> Though far too large at heel and toe,<br/> The skates were somehow made to go.<br/> But out behind and out before,<br/> Like spurs, they stuck a span or more,<br/> Alike afflicting foe and friend<br/></div> <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i018a.png" width-obs="123" height-obs="160" alt="Feet in the air" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> In bringing journeys to an end.<br/> They had their slips and sudden spreads,<br/> Where heels flew higher than their heads,<br/> As people do, however nice,<br/> When venturing first upon the ice.<br/> But soon they learned to curve and wheel<br/> And cut fine scrolls with scoring steel,<br/> To race in clusters to and fro,<br/> To jump and turn and backward go,<br/><br/></div> <div class='poem2'> Until a rest on bed so cool,<br/> Was more the wonder than the rule.<br/> <br/> But from the lake they all withdrew<br/> Some hours before the night was through,<br/> And hastened back with lively feet<br/> Through narrow lane and silent street,<br/> Until they reached the broker's door<br/> With every skate that left the store.<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and drawing"> <tr><td align='left'>And, ere the first<br/> The skates were<br/> Of their brief ab-<br/> Was left within the<br/></td><td align='center'><ANTIMG src="images/i018b.png" width-obs="167" height-obs="159" alt="Walking" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>faint gleam of day,<br/> safely stowed away;<br/> sence not a trace<br/> dusty place.<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />